March 30, 2007

• practise in the powder

  It has been snowing so Chris and I were on the first lift up this morning to practise in the powder.  We were able to put Darren’s tips to use and have definitely improved – well at least I don’t fall over all the time now.  Then I popped into town to meet Denise and Elizabeth in the Cappuccino Bar for lunch after which I went on a bit of a shopping spree, buying some new tops for my trip away to Nice during the summer.  A couple of new clothes shops have opened and unlike England where I feel too old to enter some ‘trendy’ shops, here shop assistants are not ageist or ignore you whilst they chat to their colleagues.

March 26, 2007

• virgin snow

  It warmed up last night and started to snow and was still snowing this morning so we decided to go up the slopes despite the weather to search out the virgin snow.    It was not a complete whiteout but the snowy conditions had kept the punters away and there were absolutely no queues at any of the lifts.  We went nearly to the top after taking the Club Med lift up and found the shallow powder field there on which to practise.  We were the first down and left our tracks several times as we tried to put into practise what Darren had taught us on our lesson.  And it seemed to work – well I didn’t fall over at least!  Very gentle turns, trying to put the weight on the uphill ski and looking forward at all times. (…)

March 22, 2007

• K2 Misdemeanour skis

  Today we met up with the Beaumonts, here for a 2 week holiday.  Helen and Jules are the couple from Durham who stayed in our holiday flat but who have now bought their own apartment in Monetier.  Despite the freezing conditions and icy wind, we met them at Serre Ratier, Helen sporting brand new K2 Misdemeanour skis.  We took them to the boulder field where Helen had an unfortunate accident after accidentally jumping off a 3 ft drop back onto the piste.  I heard the thud and Chris swore he felt the ground shudder!  This was unfortunate as Helen hurt the knee she damaged in an accident over Xmas.  Deciding she should rest, Helen took the lift back down while Jules came and did some off piste with us.  We called it a day early as Jules is off to La Grave tomorrow to meet up with Charlotte who is a ski instructor at Les Deux Alpes, and another ‘Snowhead’ famous for skiing at the Mondial last October in just a pair of shorts with his ski pass clipped onto his nipple ring!  Chris elected to take the lift back whilst Jules and I skied the Casse du Boeuf black run back down to Villeneuve in what was probably my fastest time ever. 
  As we had offered Jules a lift home, we were able to visit their new flat and they showed us around the whole complex which included their own private pool and soon to be built sports area.  It’s a very well built building which included all the white goods including a washing machine and dish washer.   Helen and Jules have not brought their boys with them this time; Richard and Adam are now 17 and 18 respectively but did bring Meg their dog that is very like my old dog Zac. (…)

March 15, 2007

• Chalet in St Chaffrey

  We went to look at a lovely wooden chalet in St Chaffrey, owned by the lately retired Briancon Post Master General.  Could perhaps be good for a couple of people we know who are looking for chalets in the area.  They have had an offer, however, from a Parisien couple but they are having trouble with the finance and as the interest rate went up last week by 1%, this sale may fall through. (…)

March 11, 2007

• we won’t be skiing again until next season

  Sunday 11th March
  Again I dropped Alex off early at the Casse de Boeuf lift so that he could get that black run in early. He managed it twice as it is not in such direct sunlight as the Luc Alphand. (…)

March 8, 2007

• Rossignol B2 Bandits

  A quieter day today with just Lauren, Alex and I on the slopes, as Lin had her French lesson to attend and Chris was busy at home. (…)

February 27, 2007

• The Cumming-Barts

  Yesterday we met up with Jerry (Cumming-Bart) who is over from Watford for the week with his brothers, Jack and Justin, and two other friends Terry and John, all of whom we have met previous years.  Jerry, Jack and John where meant to be booked into Karin’s place, Les Marmottes, but due to a double booking, they had been placed in the Hotel Boule de Neige opposite which is very comfortable and which serves real French food every evening.  Justin and Terry are staying in a studio apartment in Chantemerle, owned by an English girl who originally wanted to buy our apartment. (…)

February 16, 2007

• K2 Fujitives

  On Tuesday I had rented another pair of skis to try – K2 Fujitives.  So the same make as my Sweet Luv’s but a more advanced all mountain ski.  They were lighter than the B3’s with a more gradual sidecut, so felt less cumbersome.  Chris insisted I have a pair and as we know the guy in the ski hire shop and have sent business his way, he gave us a considerable discount and also set up an account for us.  He could not believe how old we were – he thought we were about 40 – and he and the other assistants thought it quite amusing that a nearly 55 year old woman was buying twin tipped park rat skis.   Unused to spending money on myself, these will have to be an early birthday present. 
  They are great in powder, altho’ we are still trying to perfect our technique, and very impressive on piste.  Being brand new with razor sharp edges, I can get great edging on piste.  It’s good to be able to dig into an icy run and turn well instead of sliding all the time.  It’s quite amazing what a difference a good pair of skis can make.  I suspect it does not matter so much as a beginner but now that I am a good intermediate (Chris insists I am now verging on expert status but I beg to differ) using better skis definitely helps with technique, style and confidence. (…)

February 14, 2007

• lovely weather for their final ski

  Yesterday was Chris’ birthday.  I gave him a jumper and ski jacket.  Unfortunately the jacket was too small for him but guess who it fits perfectly!  He really needs a new skiing coat as his black puffa jacket has faded so much in the sun and being filled with down, would be impossible to dye.   As Chris is not big on birthdays, we decided that I would carry out my regular babysitting stint as normal.  We had a couple of last minute invites – to dinner at Denise and Michel’s as Denise’s friend Penny was staying, whom I’ve met before, and also for drinks at Kevin and Antoinette’s.  But we did spend an enjoyable day skiing with the Irish contingency and it was lovely weather for their final ski. (…)

February 9, 2007

• B3s an off-piste ski

  No snowfall today and beautifully sunny.  Chris suggested I hire some B3’s for the day, which are an off-piste ski, in order to try our hand at powder skiing.  We attempted an unpisted red called the Bois, a run that drops off the Casse du Beouf and is rarely open.  We could see why this was so as we negotiated small ravines and streams but we were quite pleased with ourselves for accomplishing this run which was a first for us. (…)

February 3, 2007

• skiing today

  We decided to go up skiing today despite it being the weekend and were pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was.  We just did some easy runs near the top after taking the bubble lift up to Frejus as we both had twinges in our backs after attempting too many moguls yesterday. (…)

January 25, 2007

• Scott Missions

  Chris and I were up early and heading for the slopes by 9.30.  Unfortunately this coincided with all the Club Med customers who jostled and pushed their way onto the telecabine without a thought for others!  Chris was all for trying some powder skiing, having rented some Scott Missions which are fat boys (not massively so tho’) and after heading right to the top to the Cucumelle we attempted the black back down.  I could go across but turning was practically impossible and induced some heckling from some guys on the lift above – something about my derriere – I think we really need some lessons in powder skiing.  We continued to try, however, until our legs gave up and it clouded over.  Once back on the piste tho’, skiing this seemed really easy. (…)

November 16, 2002

• a nice bit of pasture to ski down

  I shouldn’t have had that extra ½ pint last night. We were able to drive further up the mountain today and found a nice bit of pasture to ski down. (…)