The view from............ Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy

A snowHead

Bit of a lose end

It was a very chilled start to the day and with only Olivia really to get out the front door it was pretty chilled! Clare is on all day lessons and then has a Club des Sports meeting for parents this evening. So after the house was quieter and with Ben playing quietly in his room I was lucky enough to have a pretty chilled breakfast before doing some home husband stuff like laundry - ahh the joys!

Looking out the window it was cold and clear so those who have just arrived for their ski holiday have lucked out somewhat. With some luck the snow will also have dried out a little too! The wind has also dropped off making it a perfect mid Winters day (technically it is now mid Winter) with 'only' about 7 weeks to go.... oh and then about 10 weeks of Spring too!

Anyway Ben and I made a den and played a little... he then noticed a school friend of his doing some igloo building down in the courtyard therefore there was absolutely no asking twice he shot down there to do some digging. However it was a weird morning as apart from watching some of the ski racing on TV before I knew it Olivia was coming back from race training and it was time to get lunch sorted before sending her back (SL in the morning and GS in the afternoon).

Anyway the afternoon whilst Olivia has been out skiing Ben has been running around with his friend here, there and everywhere. It has been a rare lazy day for this time of the year but it has felt like that. I had tried to persuade Ben that he might like to come for a ski with me but he was more interested in staying out of ski boots and playing which is fine.... last thing I want to do is push him and one day he will end up resenting skiing or worse still living here!

Anyway Olivia got back from skiing, Bens playdate finished up and it was time for bath, dinner and bed. Daddy did his best to make a wholesome and healthy meal but probably not as much as Clare would have liked.... Clare was at a Club des Sport meeting so she was not back until after the kids were in bed. All go!

Meanwhile the 'action' on the mountain today in the glorious sunshine sounded pretty grim and its sad to note that two people lost their lives out there today in one slide. It was a group from Estonia traversing into the Cugnai back bowl that triggered a slid with 4 of them being buried - one partially. One was dug out OK and two people had already suffocated by the time they were found! Being on the WhatsApp group for all the professionals in Val including the PGHM, Police, Instructors and Pisteurs etc an alert went out mid afternoon asking for anyone who could in the vicinity to come along to take part in a probe line search! For those that dont know if suspected persons are not wearing transceiver etc then sniffer dogs / or a probe line (whereby people in long lines probe the ground systematically for a 'hit' on a buried person - yea not nice or particularly quick / effective). One of my colleagues was at the scene helping!

So a slide as you enter the Cugnai is scary but it was not the only person caught in slides out there today and certainly it looks like PIDA this morning produced a lot of movement. Blimey stay safe people!

So the kids are now in bed and tomorrow I start a new week. I have some people for off piste in the morning and I cant remember what I have for the afternoon.

Stay safe.

TTFN

The sad starting site for the slide today...

Down to where the persons were found!

A snowHead

@motyl, we had just finished lunch down in Le Lac and I heard at least one chopper going round the corner with urgency around 1430-1500.

Terrible news; they were way out of the way by the looks of it but hadn’t paid heed to the fair warning they had been given. Maybe the attitude of “it’ll never happen to us” got the better of them.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@Steve Angus,
Should be said that rescue dogs/probe line can only be used if the slope is judged to be safe - no point people/dogs dying trying to save people.
It happens every season in Espace Killy, and many other ski areas. Sad

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Sad news about the avalanche. Unfortunately as said, it inevitably happens every year.

Steve I have PMd you re: a lesson!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

We did two laps of Cugnai yesterday morning, last one at 12. No sign of instability. Learned of the avi same way you did. Mountain is boss.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Fionelo - ironically they werent really that far out of the way as the slide happened on the main traverse into the Cugnai bowl - anyone that has ever done the Cugnai bowl - well they will have crossed this slope! I also think much of it actually comes down to people not being aware rather than ignoring warnings - they dont know what the flags and signs mean which is a shame on the industry!
Kenzie - yes good point - they dont often go into the scene of these things if there is more danger lurking!
HoneyBunny - got and replied! Yes it does happen every year you are right - very sad. Remember the dad and daughter dying in the Combe du Geant on the Pissaillas zone a few years ago on a closed piste! Horrendous!
Dr John - you werent the only person to have done Cugnai yesterday morning before this all happened - eeeek!

Nice snow

Monday morning and what a rush it was this morning! Clare was on a chalet start at 0900 which means leaving slightly earlier meanwhile I was needing to get to the office for off piste pack collection. It also doesnt help when the school bus is somewhat late as 10 minutes makes a big difference to the timings.

Anyway somehow I managed to get to the meeting point with all the kit on time and orderly and the clients were bang on time so it was all go!

My team for the morning was 5 young medical students who didnt really know the off piste in the area, but were all solid young and strong and wanting a mix of technique with fun and adventure and some decent snow finding. So off we set in the glorious sunshine and headed up Bellevarde. After transceiver checking and kit giving out we did a tester off the verte and it was OK (I was expected that it would be tracked out) so we stepped it up a gear. A new variation I haven't done before of the Jardins de Borsat produced some lovely snow and fresh tracks which was a good sign - happy days! By now I made the decision that my first trip in the Tour du Charvet was in order. By going a way out wide we found lovely fresh snow and wonderful ambiance! Perfect.

Down the steeps was OK and then through the gorge and flats out was very pleasant too! We had time to finish off with a Super S and S Prime and it was amazingly good snow for the most part actually... even in the narrow part the snow was really lovely! We cut back to the piste and I think you would call it a successful morning.

I took all the gear back to the office and headed home.

This afternoon whilst the sun has been shining I have managed to get some bits done and emails sorted etc. Tomorrow meanwhile I have a packed schedule so will sign off for now with some photos of today and another photo from yesterday as the chopper came in to land with doctor on board!

TTFN

First doors the pistes are always in such lovely condition and tempting!

It might not look like it but the snow coverage and quality was amazing down the Tour du Charvet

Sobering images!

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

That was truly a nice and fun day

I really enjoyed my time on the hill today. The nice weather helped and where I went was a bit different from where I have been skiing of late but also had a good laugh! However the day didnt start too well.

It was not mega hectic start to the day but there was something wrong with the buses and had to wait an absolute age to get into town and of course when the buses are that busy it takes ages at each stop to let people on and off the bus. Doh!

Anyway I got there about 1 minute late and ironically it turned out that the am session clients are staying in my block down here in La Daille - could have started from down here after all that! Double doh!

We got going and clarified that we wanted to develop general technique on red terrain so when the going gets tougher and or they are on black runs it doesnt all fall apart. We spent the majority of the time up Solaise on the Arcelle and boy it was in perfect nick... some of the best conditions I have ever skied it. Also it seemed about as quiet down there as it can get (doesnt stop some have a go heros sliding like idiots thinking its good skiing though!). So we lapped and lapped working on stuff and there was some great changes made. We also had a good laugh too. It was a fun session on a piste that I love teaching on.

After skiing back down the front of Solaise at the end I headed to under the Sun Bar for lunch. Had a quick catch up with Clare who was also in there for lunch too!

With the sun still shining bright and with a TINY bit of heat in it I met up with my pm booking. As someone on Facebook has just said he looks a little bit like John Bon Jovi in the photo so whilst he's a SH lets call him JBJ or in reality Tim.

Anyway the plan for the afternoon was to find nice off piste snow, some ambience, a little technique and a nice afternoon away from the crowds. We headed up Bellevarde and skied to the Borsat so we could quickly get to the Jardins Borsat and the snow was not quite as good as yesterday but decent enough... not a bad start. Diving off the back into the Tour du Charvet we had lovely snow across the flats out left but the steeps were quite chopped up and the ski out equally so. Datcha Nose and the Bus Stop finished the day off nicely and especially the Bus Stop we had excellent snow - cold and dry pow!

This evening with Ben at Judo it has been a quiet house!

Tomorrow the weather will be the same once again; Ben will have a ski with Clare and a friend of his before the Flèche race in the morning and Olivia is race training. In the afternoon Clare is heading down the valley with Ben for his appointment and there will also be a good shop to pick up. By the looks of the booking notes I have a beginner in the morning followed by a more advanced person in the afternoon!

The sunny weather continues.

TTFN

Lovely out in the Tour du Charvet today

John Bon Jovi in my lesson - well looks like it doesnt it!

P.S. Double ironically both am and pm lessons all staying in my building here in La Daille - what are the chances of that eh!

After all it is free

Always time for a first

Well having done this job for 25 years nearly now there is still time for a first and today was it. Before I tell you what it was here is a little background on it...

One of the main reasons WHY having client / coach (or office) contact before and during the booking process is so important is that a ski lesson is not just a transaction in the same way booking a taxi is... however in this day and age there are certain 'instant booking' UBER style ski school agents that try and miss this important part out. However ski schools need to try and modernise to follow the times and TDC are no exception and this is where todays problem lies....

If our office had spoken to the client rather than the client booking via the portal direct and paying etc without any spoken contact etc then they might have known that there had been a wrong click of the buttons as the client clicked the beginner 'ski' lesson button and not the 'snowboard' button! So there I was at the meeting point in ski boots this morning when two young girls turn up clutching a snowboard each - whoops! More on that in a moment...

With the sun shining, Clare on a day off to ski with Ben and his friend and for them both to do the Flèche ski race whilst Olivia is race training it was a relatively chilled start to the day - yay!

Ben would head to the race with his friend and bless him I dont think (certainly at the moment) he will be as competitive as his big sister although he likes skiing. He's more of a gentle boy than anything and he did well but his buddy and bestie got the flechette and he didnt quite get it... but he will get stronger and stronger im sure of it... he's built for it thats for sure - haha! Anyway Clare was mum and coach to them this morning and Olivia meanwhile was flying down the Legattaz working on her GS skills! She is looking forward to the race on Saturday and im looking forward to going as dad and watcher!

... so anyway I was at the meeting point (no problems with the buses this morning) and these girls turned up so for the very first time ever I did a lesson without being able to demonstrate anything - just verbal instructions and static demonstrations with hands / feet etc! The girls were more than happy to do the lesson anyway as they knew it was their fault and they realised that the amount of time I would spend on the board would be minimal and alternatives as described could happen. I did get a few strange looks but luckily the girls were both quite natural, the snow perfect for learning etc so actually it was not really an issue at all ALTHOUGH it was certainly a first teaching a snowboard lesson in the wrong kit totally (or vice-a-versa!).

So that was a very interesting morning and to be honest it actually worked to our benefit that the Village lift was not working as the area under it about 1/2 way up is perfect for teaching beginner boarders and with no one to scrape the snow around it could not have been better. Well done and thank you girls!

So lunch was at the usual under Sun Bar spot and then this afternoon I had a client I had not seen for a couple of years. Nice to have you back Simon.

So we headed across to Tignes for a change of scenery for him and worked on some nice technique development but he is a neat and tidy skier if not the fastest out there. There was punchy breeze winds this afternoon but when out the breeze the sun was very pleasant!

I think tomorrow we might work on some carving with him. Anyway we shall see... he's just a solid skier that likes to take it slow but makes beautifully rounded turns!

After work Olivia and I watched some skiing videos her coach had sent through, I got some house chores done and then Clare was back with a large shop that needing put away!

Tomorrow evening will be mega busy as im working all day, then we have some friends around for a cuppa after that and then I need to head into town as have a Vie Val d'Is avalanche safety chat to deliver in the evening. Phew. At the moment Friday I am off though before the ski race on Saturday although Friday could become booked up - we shall see.

TTFN - apologies if late posting tomorrow!

Dude 1 and dude 2! - they look the part!

PS (as these things often are if they fly under the radar as the authorities try and make them wherever possible!) there was a couple of people 'lost' off piste last night that required a long night of searching mainly by the pisteurs and PGHM and then extraction by helicopter this morning - lucky but idiotic people!

Colder

It was a long (and cold) day today. I didnt sleep too well either making it feel even longer! Whilst the sun was trying to shine today it was a punchy southerly wind that make it feel colder. Normally southerly winds are the warm winds too! eeek!

Anyway I headed with the same person as yesterday up the Bellevarde and we worked on carving today and found some great snow but in particular the Grand Pre. It was amazing snow and he did very well. In fact I was impressed how quickly he made changes today - bravo!

We ended up finishing a few minutes early which suited me just fine as I was mighty cold. Brrr.

At lunchtime under the Sun Bar is was full on busy it really was as I was trying to sort out on email a couple of bookings and eat my sandwich.

Anyway this afternoon it was the first of 5 seasonnaire sessions I have this season and what a team I had... super strong skiers - one girl in particular a former junior national ski racer for GB... anyway we started with a warm up on the Face (now that is VERY VERY VERY rare I do something like that - like maybe once every few years and perhaps the first time ever in the afternoon) before working on some drills for piste skiing. Being the first of 5 sessions and probably the only one we will do on piste I wanted touch base on several areas of technique.

So it was onto carving and long turns (the stade was in perfect nick to work on that!) and then finally moguls. I was shattered by the end! But a good session.

I rushed home as my evening has been equally busy as we had some friends around for a cuppa and no sooner was that done but I was getting ready for another Vie Val d'Is avalanche talk - my second of the season!

Im now ready for bed so will leave you with some photos.

Tomorrow it looks like I have some time off before Olivias race on Saturday - oh and we have some friends (our first visitors from Geneva) staying with us tomorrow night.

Night all.

TTFN

Rather interesting cloud formations around Mont Blanc

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Welcome down time

It was a really late night last night.... and then I didnt sleep well once again so it was just as well that I was not booked this morning. However (as those who have kids know) still had to get up and get the kids out the front door. In a VERY rare turn of events Clare was off this morning too so after the kids were on the bus we were free agents but that usually means in the Winter its an admin day and it has turned into that.

Clare popped into town. I was replying to some emails, booked our car in for its biannual French equivalent of its MOT as well as try and sort out a diagnostics report that needs doing on a property we are going to sell - more on that in a moment! I also popped up the mountain to record my weekly TDC snow report (it takes quite a long time to do that actually by the time you set up, practice, record, muck it up, redo, get interrupted, say the wrong thing for a second time etc) ... anyway got that recorded.

The main thing this afternoon was I finally managed to get my Dads old chair that I broke all those weeks back fixed.... well I say fixed as this was the next stage in the fixing process but today was a bit day as all the glued pieces of wood that had been broken I glued back together with the dowels I had sucked into the wood ends. So as I sit here the chair looks like a chair once again but a few more things needing to do but im happy it looks loved again and not a 'bag of bones'.

Ive also downloaded the start list for Olivias big first race of the season tomorrow. Its in La Plagne and there are 9 Club des Sport kids in the girls U12 racing tomorrow and a total of 72 girls in the category! She has a good BIB number of 14 so hopefully she will have a really good first run. Ive been a bit of a tiger dad and researched some of the other girls that are probably going to do well and win the race so I can sneakily watch them! One of Olivias big rivals whereby Olivia and her over the last couple of years have been head to head in races is also there tomorrow so it will be fascinating!

Anyway tomorrow morning im up really early as we need to leave Val very early. eeek. However it should be a nice day out.

Meanwhile on the hill today it looks like a carbon copy of yesterday by the looks of things with a lot of sunshine.... when will it end - no time soon I dont think! We have friends coming from Geneva tonight for a few nights so I had better tidy the place up and get everything ready!

Yes I mentioned a house for sale.... so Clare and I (well its Clares really as she bought it when she first came to Val all those years ago) have decided to sell the flat we have been renting out in the town centre... its 39m2 and 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom... we are looking for €550,000 for it (before anyone comments on the price that is about average or slightly under for Val d'Isere prices and we are just SUPER lucky we bought it 20 years ago when she could afford it with a mortgage). Anyway if anyone wants to buy a slice of Val d'Isere paradise or know of someone who does then send them my way!

Ermmm it has not been the most interesting update today im afraid but there we go.

Pray for snow as we can always do with some more and also fingers crossed for some good news re Olivia for tomorrow. Im back teaching on Sunday.

TTFN

Just look at that - one of the busiest runs in town and there is all of one person on it (and one person on the Mont Blanc chair too)... wowsers eh! This was at lunchtime today whilst I was up recording my weekly snow report video!
<img src = "https://scontent-mrs2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/473739030_10170794661950416_2175898997610852388_n.jpg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=f727a1&_nc_ohc=mOdPvMVMoXEQ7kNvgGQyx_T&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-mrs2-1.xx&_nc_gid=A5jnaCLNuSwRssFVJyjkwlA&oh=00_AYC71LmG5RZE5L_SJcd81Z8TbDs7kUeS5iwhF01V6fMSyA&oe=6790493C"
And further to the right - yea quiet eh! Come on out!

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

2nd of steve's images is:

snow reports

Any idea where to buy some kids race skis (preferably Tignes but Val fine too), 110cm, something like the Rossi Hero Multi Sport.

My daughter is on a pair of generic 100cm kids skis and is starting to properly stand on her outside ski and arc her turns so want to get her something with a bit more response.

TheLem - whoops - yea thanks for posting that on my behalf - dont know what went wrong before!
Chamwow - If I were you I would go into Mattis Sport in snow square as that would probably be the best place to at least enquire for something specific.... for those wondering why I would not know better with our kids we get it all direct from the manufacturers so dont really go into shops with kids skis in mind!

You know it makes sense.

Wow what a day

Our friends arrived late last night so in a way it was a late night but actually pretty much as soon as they arrived I went to bed so I probably actually got to sleep much earlier than I normally would do.

Anyway it was a jolly early start to the day so we could be up and out the front door nice and early and long before first light. Anyway Olivia was up and raring to go but of course Ben and his lack of needing sleep meant he was up and about as soon as he heard us moving - doh!

So the friend of one of Olivias race mates collected us and after rendezvousing at the Club house we set off. It was a bit of a rollercoaster ride as we were rushing to keep up the club van but we made it to La Plagne finally at just before 0900.... the first thing Olivia says / gives to me as soon as we pull in is a sick bag - poor thing does get mighty travel sick! So we collected bibs, lift passes etc and set off.... the day didnt start too good as to get from the lower level up to the race piste level it is either an elevator (the queue was about 30 mins long with all the race kids) OR walk about (as I was to count) 107 steps.... so walking it was. However on the other hand the day DID start well as we managed to park for free with the other race vans (win) and then we were allocated two 'accompanying' lift passes for coaches / parents etc so that was a win as didnt need to buy a lift pass. Result!

So off we went to inspect the course and the best way of describing it was a gliders attacking course. Olivias bib number was 14 so for the first run she was right near the front of the pack bib number wise in terms of having a clean course but they ended up doing 4 runs today and they kept swapping it all round so the bib 'position' didnt really matter in the end!

It is a busy day, helping the kids out, carrying gear, helping them warm up, being a parent, photographer and everything in between.

At one point I was worried that the wind was going to get too strong and they might have to pull the course as it was vicious but luckily the drag lift could stay open and the wind was not peristant enough to create huge problems! Anyway the sun was shining and I didnt think it was too cold to be honest but the kids were on the whole freezing!

I always make myself popular at these races by making sure I have stocked up on salami as well as a massive grab bag of crisps so you can continually give the kids top of of snacks during the day... Olivia in particular is really bad at eating and hydrating at these things so important to offer snacks often!

Anyway so by about 1400 we were all done and ready for the prize giving and this year in the Coupe Bronze races the results and prizes are individual! Todays races were all about girls born in 2013 and 2014 and Olivia was born in 2014. There were 9 Club des Sports present today ranging from Val at one end of the upper Tarantaise all the way down to La Plagne at the other and everywhere in-between such as Les Arcs, Tignes and La Rosiere.

Out of the 72 girls they had 2 x 2 run races over the day and she ranked first for her age in one and second for her age in the other and overall 7th and then 8th in total for the day. Oh yea another 2 podiums in one day. Go my girl!

I was mega surprised that they gave the girls trophies PER race as well as a huge bundle of sweets for prizes too. So a VERY VERY proud dad watching her go on the podium twice beating girls from all over the region including the international academy of Apex2100 over in Tignes!

So after all the excitement of the day it was time to get back to Val and get home.

Our guests decided that a celebratory take away was in order so we have all enjoyed a Jami delivery this evening - boy the burgers are amazing there! Now im watching the recorded Wengen downhill and I cant wait to get to bed.

Tomorrow will be slightly worse weather but im back to work tomorrow (well in the am at least).

TTFN

Inspection time this morning

Table toppers!

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Well done, Olivia! Very Happy

A snowHead

Great news. Congrats to Olivia.

A snowHead

Great news. Congrats to Olivia.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Well done Olivia and her helper.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Thanks everyone!

Slightly unique!

Clare (she's also slightly under the weather so being out of ski boots today for her was a good thing and good timing) was not working today and Ben was only skiing with Club this afternoon so it meant it was just me and Olivia that needed to get up and with Olivia starting race training at 0930 it was pretty chilled start to the day. Also our guests (well they are on a mini break) slept in so it really was a chilled start to the day!

By the time I was ready it looked rather average out there and certainly the first time in a while it has been anything other than bright blue skies out there. In all fairness it really wasnt that bad at all out there today and we had good vis, a little wind, a little sun, a little mini snow storm all over the 3 hour session.

My team this morning was a couple from Paris who follow me on social media and had only ever had lessons with a certain ski school in red! Their English was pretty good thankfully and they both skied well and he actually knew Val really well.... so what did they want out of the session.... well mainly to just get another set of eyes on their skiing compared to the normal type of lessons they are used to BUT the husband REALLY REALLY wanted me to take his wife down the Vallee Perdu.

Dont get me wrong if they really want to do it then so be it but I think its a complete waste of time.... its not skiing, there isnt really anything exciting about it - its just a scramble for nothing really in my opinion but hey ho.

So we worked on the Bellevarde and did all the red run options I could think of and did some tricky drills with them but their short turns were pretty solid by the end - awesome! We touched on carving too. Yay. Before long we were down the Vallee Perdu and to be honest it skied quite well today but again its not my favourite!

I was home for lunch and Olivia was back from training with her friend so that her sorted for a friend. Meanwhile Ben was going to gear up for skiing this afternoon and our friends out skiing so I was able to watch the ski racing on TV and generally have a pretty chilled afternoon.

The weather has been a little up and down out there and tomorrow we might have a few cm's of new snow to play with!

TTFN

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@Steve Angus,
I think VP is to VdI what VBlanche is to Chamonix - something people have heard of & want to tick off the bucket list.
To be honest (I'm expecting some bullets for this comment) I rate VP over VB - it doesn't take all day, any decent skier who has done it a few times can take red run skiing mates through without a mountain guide, and said mates feel they have really had an adventure.

You'll need to Register first of course.

@Steve Angus, thank you. Completely agree re. VP. Waste of time and energy.
@Kenzie, No, not remotely comparable. VP is basically a silly kids run. VB is a proper off piste route. While not exactly demanding at least needs to be respected.

Top tip: If you really want a thrill, forget the winter and walk up VP in the summer. It’s like being in the set of Jurassic Park. I guarantee you will be jaw dropped.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I took the kids to VP today and they loved it.

For us parents it's a box to tick if we visit the resort, but for them it was a mini adventure they'll remember more than all the pistes, whatever their colour.

After all it is free

Oh thanks, now I have an excuse to take the kids to VB.

Well certainly divided opinion on that one. I can see the appeal especially for kids but otherwise - no not much in it for me!

Better weather than anticipated

I slept OK last night but the alarm clock always goes off too quickly for my liking - haha!

With our guests still sleeping upstairs we crept around as quietly as we could and got the kids out the front door to school.... I enjoy playing catch with the kids waiting for the bus in the morning even though it was really late this morning!

So I headed to the meet point and met up with me am lesson. It is a lady who has done a lot of skiing with TDC over the years but I personally have never skied with her. I got a great handover from my colleague who could not do the session this week with her as normal! So we headed up Bellevarde and opted to walk down the steps outside before getting the go! I noticed that Borsat was not moving very quickly so made the call to head down Collett to make sure we could get to Grand Pre and knowing that since most people get to Grand Pre via the Borsat that it would be a lot quieter there until Borsat was up and running.

Why was Borsat not moving - well all I can assume is that there was wind at the top of it as it was a little blowy top of the Grand Pre it must have been that! Anyway I must say that it was absolutely the best piste conditions on the Grand Pre with no one about at all.... it was amazing... we had the place to ourself! So we lapped and lapped the Grand Pre mainly working on psychology with her to be honest and getting her timing and rhythm back! It was pretty cold though so we took refuge in the Empreinte Avaline for hot choc before we took the lifts home.

I had a quick turnaround before heading back up the Olympic as I was meeting a colleague to do some transceiver training practice which we duly did before he headed back to town for his lunch whilst I skied back to La Daille as was off this afternoon, which it looks like will be the last pm off for a while!

So this afternoon I have had my builder around so we could go through some of the snagging list together which was useful. I have also finished (I think) fixing my beloved Dads mum chair I broke when we first moved in and got that back into position and done a few other bits too!

Meanwhile on the mountain we have a Retour d'est which has made it a powder day up at the Fornet today! It has been somewhat cloudy for the most part day for most of the resort although not a white out at all but the closer to Fornet you go the more it was a powder white out day.... take your picks! This afternoon though for the most part it has been broken clouds and the pistes are excellent!

Not a lot else to report today really. Clare is on a mammoth all day beginner lesson today so I reckon her feet will be tired when she finally gets her boots off later! Our guests are off soon and it will be back to normal in this household!

TTFN

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Great weather but busy

Im not really sure why it was so busy out there today and whether it was because of the small amount of fresh snow we had last night... being a retour d'est it mainly was up at the Fornet etc and even then by all accounts it was pretty modest!.... or whether it was the sun that was shining brightly or both!

Anyway it was busy waiting for the Olympic to open and the queue was down to the foot of the snow. Also until the sun gets going it is quite chilly out there BUT for the most part this has been a very mild Winter so far.

I met my lady for the off nicely on time and the plan for today was to work on her tolerance to feeling in / out of control as well as reactions to the skis picking up speed in the fall line. So we did a more traditional lap of the green triangle and she certainly applied herself royally - amazing. Once again (despite being busy) the pistes were in wonderful condition.

It was a lot of fun up there and we enjoyed ourself... we did need to stop to warm up with a hot chocolate though. All in all a good morning and great progress being made! Sometimes by working on psychology and not technique you can make better progress as was evident today.

Lunch was the usual place and menu (haha) and I actually spent most of the time working on replying to message from people enquiring about the sale of our place.

This afternoon I was with a lovely young couple of girls who were just trying to improve their confidence as they basically had spent the last few days trying to keep up with well meaning partners around the mountain... yes one of those where you try and prove that what they are doing is actually great technique and rushing around like mad things playing keep up is detrimental to them and in actual fact they probably are actually better skiers than the people they are trying to keep up with. We mainly worked on a couple of classic errors you often come across in this job and slowly but surely improved their ability to cope with varying challenges they might find on the mountain eg ice / moguls etc

It was another fun session.

After work I was doing the usual house chores and Ben was at his Judo class after school so it was pretty chilled this evening all in all!

Tomorrow the weather will NOT be like it was today but how bad it will be - well only time will tell.

TTFN

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Definitely busy this week, and even some queues over lunchtime !
Val is apparently at just over 80% occupied and the bus situation at the end of the ski day
is appalling at the new Gare Routiere, so the police have been brought back in to help with the queues.
The bus to Tignes at around 1640 couldn’t accommodate everyone so lots of unhappy skiers.
Bonus of staying in La Daille is you avoid all this Very Happy

snow reports

Nice to see Olivia got a mention on the british version of Radio Val today.

Police, town employees and I’m guessing some of the tourist board ladies wandering round the bus station today watching what is and isn’t working.

You know it makes sense.

muppet - the whole new bus station is a disaster. Was talking to a friends daughter who is an official Val ambassador type person for the tourist office - not sure exactly what she does. Anyway she does on a Saturday in peak season hang out at the bus station helping tourists out in one of those Val jackets.... anyway she said it has been disastrous this year compared to last! Oh and thanks re Olivia mention - gave Laura who reads the English stuff a nudge as she thought even the first year rookies should be recognised with their results!
Dr John - I think it generally works pretty well doesnt it?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Weather could not decide

I had an awful nights sleep but thats another story!

Getting the kids sorted this morning was not too bad... Olivia was race training and she had a dummy race whereas Clare was taking Ben to kids club. The weather looked OK out there thankfully so game on.

I headed to the meeting point with Olivia and we bumped into her old coach on the bus so that was nice for him to congratulate her in person for the weekends race results! Anyway I left her at the meet point and met up with my lady and we looked at the weather and I decided that being a little lower in altitude would probably give us the best chance of being able to see / ski / enjoy ourselves. This was not as if the weather was horrible it really wasn't but my client really does not like bad weather at all and her confidence is totally shot unless she can see well so it was an important call.

Anyway we started off on the magic carpet and I utilised one of my favourite little tricks to get people more grounded and stable when the weather is not ideal! Later on we did some laps of the Madeleine. The funny thing was that one minute the battle between the sun breaking through versus the clouds was being won by one and then the other.... there was also some snow trying to fall from the sky too but NOTHING to change a thing... in fact a breeze was having more of an effect putting some nice pockets of snow for those off piste by the looks of things!

So we had a nice morning we really did and made the most of the conditions but there were times when the weather looked like it was going to move in and the Madeleine would be to tricky if that happened but also it held off.

At hot choc break time I managed to log on right at the correct time to see the live timing for Olivias race going on. Its AMAZING the technology now as you can see the video recording of the race and live timing analysis etc etc... pretty clever stuff! Anyway the practice race today was a flèche and im pleased to say for the first time Olivia got the gold time by 0.02s! Doesnt matter she got the time. Such a proud dad again as that is incredible! Basically getting the gold time puts you there or thereabouts for the Eurotest standard - at the age of 10. Blimey!

At lunchtime I did the usual but also had to head to get off piste packs from the office for the seasonnaires this afternoon.

Talking of which it was an afternoon of talking about technique but mainly practising with transceivers and doing searches whether 1 or 2 transceivers. We also did a lot of blasting around the hill too.

After work I dropped the gear back and collected Ben and since im shattered I will be in bed very soon.

Tomorrow might have a lot of snow coming in - hmmm we shall see about that! haha

TTFN

Weather was not sure what to do with itself today!

A snowHead

@Steve Angus, wow, amazing Olivia! You must now be looking at a future elite racer. Is that an exciting thought to be having, or daunting, or scary, or what? Or maybe you, and she, are just taking each day as it comes, though it sounds as if she's working really hard, whatever her own goals are. Or maybe it's all just loads of pure fun for her at the moment. I can't really imagine what it feels like to be a 10 year old who skis like a rocket!

A snowHead

KSH Thank you. I dont know whether 'looking at a future elite racer' is the correct phrase but you never know! Is it exciting thought - yes, daunting - probably yes as well (it is a LONG journey like most things like this are!). Yes taking it each day as it comes - keeping it fun and pressure off big time! Of course! She enjoys the challenge and I think she enjoys trying to beat everyone else and likes being on the podium. But when the competition gets tougher will she still enjoy the challenge of getting better to try and overtake everyone else - hmmm who knows! But she skis well at the moment thats for sure! The vague structure of ski racing is that as her race points get lower (which is better) as she herself gets better and better she will compete against other girls with similar points where the competition is tougher and so on and so forth... so whilst she is doing well in these Haute Tarantaise races there are a lot of other regions out there with excellent little racers and I just want to see how she might react when she doesnt get on the podium or top 5 or whatever which is quite likely. You can look at other kids FFS points as well as ESF Palmaires to get an idea of how good the competition is and on paper there is stiff competition out there.... so watch this space as she gets better thats for sure!

Fresh snow

There was fresh snow falling in abundance out the sky but it was pretty wet and yucky certainly down here at resort level. Pretty much first thing I got a message through from my lady to say she was under the weather, didnt like the look of the conditions out there and her knee was sore so she was not planning on coming skiing today - morning off.

I was able to do some extra jobs but also get the flat ready as the builders were back in today to do some the long snagging list that needs doing. Eeek! Anyway I got the flat ready for them arriving and got a few other jobs done.

Little by little the weather was improving out there and there was glimmers of sunlight.

I headed up the mountain at lunchtime to do some practice transceiver searches and then recorded the weekly snow report. So that was the morning sorted.

For the afternoon we had a TDC (for those of us booked off) training session which basically means we all head out for a ski and chat together and in particular this meant today in the off piste realm. Sometimes we share routes with each other, sometimes chat about risk management and everything in-between. Today it was risk management and then we worked out some new routes in the Super Spatule which was nice as dont really get out into the Super very often - the snow was real nice out there - well certainly up high and especially since the weather had improved a lot. We also did some transceiver practice searches!

Blimey no sooner was I off the mountain than we had some friends around for cup of tea. Parents of a good friend of Clares so they enjoyed seeing our new pad and it was nice catching up with them.

Its all go as no sooner had they left than I was off into town to collect Olivia from Gym club. Blimey all go... im now shattered and ready for bed.

In local news the Signal lift has a bit of a problem... the cable winching the basher up and down the piste next to the lift snapped the other night sending the poor driver for a ride and taking a pylon or two out.... whoops! Everyone (and the machine in due course I hope) was OK but the pylons need repairing and fixing so it will take a few weeks for that to happen - doh!

Anyway not much else to say today really. Tomorrow the weather should be better I hope.

TTFN

P.S. Hit a rock this afternoon off piste and buggered my skis up big time! Doh!

Getting to Super

Mont Blanc rising up from a sea of clouds this afternoon

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Lovely weather, lovely snow

I woke early this am as needed to send some important emails and it was quite tricky as young Ben was already up - doh - of all the days he decides to get up early!

Anyway it was the usual getting ready this morning before I headed to town. There was a lot of people queuing before the off and I think it must be a combination of last day syndrome, not great (but not bad) weather yesterday, and those powder hunters anyway.

My client arrived and we decided to head Bellevarde way but in my mind I did NOT want to teach technical today. When you teach everyone assumes that it is all about technique (which of course it is) but sometimes its actually about letting people use the technique and releasing their mind and build trust in what they can already do. Its all about something I call the 'cycle of positivity' as well as the myriad of interpretations of what 'control' is.... what is controlled to one person might not be to another.

Anyway I got out some tools to work on this such as distraction techniques likes singing, dancing on the skis etc as she skied. Also shadowing me rather than following so she had to look ahead and not internalise what her skis were doing (or not).

It was actually a fun session and we got so into it she forgot to ask for a loo and coffee break! Ultimately we finished a few minutes early and then along with her husband and her instructor (a colleague) we headed for lunch together at the Gourmandine which was lovely actually!

This afternoon I have had some down time but did need to head to town to do the first viewing for someone looking to potentially buy our place. So that was an experience as he himself was an estate agent in New York. Anyway we shall see.

The weather was glorious all day but when the sun got going it was pretty warm... however that will be about the end of the run and it should be a pretty choppy week weather wise coming up!

For those on the road then tomorrow will be semi busy so as usual leave early or arrive late and vice-a-versa.

Im not feeling totally amazing this evening - im shattered and have just had a very very long hot soak in the bath.... im also addicted to the Traitors on BBC so am watching that as I type.

Tomorrow I start a 'on / off' booking with some full days and some half days - its an interesting week bookings wise but there is a little space here and there.

So there we are. TV then bed.

TTFN

Forgot to say yesterday I think, that I hit a huge huge rock off piste - those skis will be in the bin at season end as they start to fall apart - what a bummer!

Waiting for the school bus this morning there was a GLORIOUS sunrise!

You need to Login to know who's really who.

That is an incredible sunrise. Despite the fact that you live there year round, it's nice to see that you are still taken aback by the beauty of it. It would be easy to take it for granted.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Owlette - thank you. Yes you need to pinch yourself sometimes you really do!

Ice, ice baby!

I had a better sleep last night but when you get going when everyone needs to be in ski boots its 0-100 in one go! Anyway it was all go and I left the house with Ben and Olivia as they had Club today.... Olivia was doing Super G training on the Borsat piste and then Slalom this afternoon meanwhile Ben was to do some gates on the Leggataz but his highlight it turned out was finding some jumps with his mates at Club - what a great time he has he really does!

Anyway the sun was shining and it was quite sociable at the meet point as I bumped into several friends and associates. So nice to say a few hellos. Anyway I met up with a colleague as we were starting the first of a multi day booking together and the clients were staying up the Refuge! Really sweet teen sisters arrived and we had one each. We got going and after a stutter at the start we enjoyed lovely quiet Saturday pistes and perfect snow under blue skies. Happy days! Bearing in mind they had never been to Val before it was case of ramping the challenge up little by little to see what they were capable of. Personally it was initially greens then blues for me and we covered a large proportion of the top of Solaise area before heading on the up and over to the fornet!

There was a punchy breeze blowing which made it feel quite chilly actually out there but not so bad that things were shutting down thankfully. We found glorious conditions up at the glacier actually but retreated to the Signal for hot choc mid morning.

Lunch was back with their mum at the Refuge and we had a really lovely lunch - amazing actually and it was nice chatting to them all!

After lunch the weather had been moving in slowly and there was thick cloud with the punchy breeze at altitude... together it felt a lot colder than it was in the morning!

Now here's the thing ice is no ones friend really. If I had a pound for every time I have been asked to how ski ice then id be a really rich person. The other thing is since no one likes ice then there is a quite simple way to largely stop it forming and that is to make rounded turns.... i.e. better s shaped turns not wiggly like worm shaped turns that 99% of people make.... yes the typical skier on the mountain - perhaps 95% of them make turns where they push the skis around / away from them and insist on staying so much in the fall line that their only alternative is to skid the skis around the turn. It is this that creates ice on the mountain unfortunately! So its skiers that make ice by the way they chose to ski.

So having had that little rant the next part of the dilemma is to try and teach people to deal with it. Ive discussed this several times before so wont talk about it again but ive never seen such a 'light switch' moment with someone as so young as today. The mindset of loosing control on ice makes people freeze up, fight the ice, stop the ice doing what it always will do and all that makes you more off balance and less likely to be in control. But as I say a youngster having that freeze is very rare to see like this so I had to pick terrain VERY carefully thats for sure. To be honest with only a couple of hours after lunch we only had limited options where we could ski this afternoon anyway but we did some work on it before calling it a day!

I think I need another early night tonight but this evening has been all about trying to get two very tired kids into bed and write this.

So will call it a day now. Tomorrow im off but might have a ski with Ben. In the evening I am delivering a quick avalanche talk as the doctors conference starts but otherwise not a lot else happening tomorrow.

TTFN

You'll need to Register first of course.

What about boarders causing ice?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Jehu - I use 'skiers' mainly in a catch all term of mountain users - apologies! Within Val the place is pretty ski rather than snowboarder orientated as well. But I dont think boarders necessarily (unless they literally side slip the whole way!) scrape more snow off than skiers. In fact sometimes (its not great but thats another story) boarders who are ubber confident in the fall line barely push the board out of the fall line at all. Either way I often hear the blame being laid at the feet of boarders but I dont think its totally justified but I think the 'race' to make turns more and more in the fall line - ie not rotating out of the fall line is taking away the skill of so called 'finishing the turn off' as well as the ability to 'stand on the outside ski' and therefore users more and more skid and scrape thus contributing to the ice 'problem'. There is a reason by instructors teach a round line to students - it is more skilful and more useful for more people and increases performance... wiggle little deviations out of the fall line are not only not very skillful but blunt skills thus scraping is more prevalent and therefore more ice forms (as well as moguls when the snow is soft).

After all it is free

Rather special

I guess for the Winter months I would call it a lie in as it didnt actually get out of bed until 0730 and that was after I got a nice morning cuddle from the kids in bed - ah bliss! Although I felt a little washed out I thought I was going to be a bit of a write off today but I got better thankfully.

I had a disaster at breakfast time though (the day was starting to go downhill fast) as I had just cooked my poached eggs when one slipped out into the washing up water - doh. Next egg (I 'poach' them in the microwave) exploded in the microwave but finally the last egg came out right!

So Clare was out teaching and Olivia headed to club - they were going to do GS training but with the 15cm of fresh snow we had they changed to free skiing about - pretty cool - basically ski powder with your mates!

Anyway finally with the sun coming out Ben and I headed up the mountain and it was to be the first time this season that I have been able to ski with him - special times. We headed up the La Daille gondola and then Tommeuses and stayed in that area including the park and Marmottes for a couple of hours skiing a mixture of powder as well as finding natural jumps, the terrain park itself and everything in-between. It was very special fun times with my boy.

We headed to Marmottes for lunch and the kids devoured their burger or nuggets and chips lunch (Olivia had finished skiing so came up to join us) and then we had a lap in the park / powder run and finally the Face down to finish! The kids were so amazing in the powder and it was really special to be able to join them in the powder and seeing them doing so well. Cant wait to one day being able to go on a ski holiday with my own kids - seriously. The Face however was perhaps in the worst condition I have seen it in a long time - a mix of huge huge moguls and in-between massive swathes of blue ice.... I mean it was not an issue for any of us to ski it at all it really wasnt but it was not much fun.

At home we watched the recorded ski racing from Kitzbuhel as well as put a movie on for the kids.

This evening I have been up at the leisure centre as it has been the opening evening for the Doctors Update Conference... basically circa 600 doctors come together for a conference lasting the week with lectures a couple of times a day and skiing in-between. Its a professional development course. Anyway I was there to talk briefly about avalanche danger and the upcoming weather for the coming week to them all. Despite a few laptop problems we got set up and to boot even took a couple of bookings for this week.

So that rounds another day of and tomorrow it is back to work - have a one off lesson in the morning and then the teen girl I had yesterday in the afternoon.

TTFN

I snapped this photo on the Tommeuse... if NOTHING else tells you of the danger out there (his mate had just set this small slide off) then this is it... whilst he can probably proceed just fine any other big faces would be very dangerous.

There goes my boy putting in some lovely turns!

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