Day 1 on the slope- Chamonix Training session 2 (April 8th to 11th)
08/04/2006
First morning in Chamonix. Arrived last night after 1am in the bunk house. I was all prepared for the late arrival. Philip one of the owners had provided me with the security code for the door, I was also instructed to look for a note which would have on it a room number. I had the bus driver Martin help me enter the code, we entered it and turned the leaver to the left, for a moment of panic the door didn't open, when Martin turned it the other way...wallla we were in. However there was nobody in sight apart from a nice skier gentleman. We all diligently began looking for the note with no avail. Then arrived Ben one of the guys working at the place. He to didn't no of the note but found me a bed in a room of 4.
Having lived quite a sheltered life I never knew of the norms of a bunkhouse.
1. Should really bring a sleeping bag no bed sheets if you arrive after hours
2. Inevitably being condemned to a top bunk which you need to find in the dark without waking up the other occupants in the room
Apart from me being ill-equipped the place was lovely and clean. The owners were a fantastic bunch of people who took the time out to chat. Hot showers and full kitchen facilities with the option for signing up for breakfast and evening meal made it a wonderful place to stay. However I did slightly miss the wireless internet and the hot tub which was present during my stay at the McNab Chalet the last time I came. The chalet was booked out this time round.
I don't think I have ever made it for breakfast anywhere, so I was very grateful to be offered a yogurt from one of the skiers who was in the same room as me. The day got better as my instructor Keith had a bit too much Champaign the night before while celebrating his wedding anniversary so he sent me a text at about 10 saying he had just got up and would be at mines for noon. I took the opportunity to take it easy and ask as many people as I could where breakfast is with the hope that someone would volunteer to take me to the closest place as I didn't feel adventurous to head out myself and really couldn't be bothered getting lost and wander around more than likely outside the place I would be looking for. As it happened, a friendly Irish girl offered to walked to the cash machine with me and then to deposit me at a lovely café. I had some breakfast and sent a couple of text messages to Keith to see how he was doing. The weather was lovely with the sun shining down, no sign of snow, a nice cold orange juice and lots of relaxation. I suggested that we should might as well have lunch in the cafe, he agreed and we eventually hit the slope at 2pm!
The first run was quite pathetic kept on falling. The remainder runs we took the poma lift up
I felt I was improving on each run. The last 2 runs I fired the board straight down the slope from the top as this was the only way we could pick up enough speed as the snow conditions were slushy and sticky.
Had a near miss with a skier who must have liked my aftershave or something as he got really close and cut in front of me. My lightening reflexes and Keith shouting at the top of his lungs avoided a clash.
---
Formal apology to easyjet, due to the possibility of being arrested by the snowboarding fashion police, I wasn't able to wear the bright orange easyjet hat today, however I will attempt to build up some confidence over the next couple of days
---
What a coincidence:
1. Sat next to the same guy Alex on the plain I had sat next to when I had gone to Geneva the last time
2. Got the same bus driver Martin for the transfer from Geneva to Chamonix, as I had got last time, it was odds of 1 to 30 as there are 30 different drivers.
First morning in Chamonix. Arrived last night after 1am in the bunk house. I was all prepared for the late arrival. Philip one of the owners had provided me with the security code for the door, I was also instructed to look for a note which would have on it a room number. I had the bus driver Martin help me enter the code, we entered it and turned the leaver to the left, for a moment of panic the door didn't open, when Martin turned it the other way...wallla we were in. However there was nobody in sight apart from a nice skier gentleman. We all diligently began looking for the note with no avail. Then arrived Ben one of the guys working at the place. He to didn't no of the note but found me a bed in a room of 4.
Having lived quite a sheltered life I never knew of the norms of a bunkhouse.
1. Should really bring a sleeping bag no bed sheets if you arrive after hours
2. Inevitably being condemned to a top bunk which you need to find in the dark without waking up the other occupants in the room
Apart from me being ill-equipped the place was lovely and clean. The owners were a fantastic bunch of people who took the time out to chat. Hot showers and full kitchen facilities with the option for signing up for breakfast and evening meal made it a wonderful place to stay. However I did slightly miss the wireless internet and the hot tub which was present during my stay at the McNab Chalet the last time I came. The chalet was booked out this time round.
I don't think I have ever made it for breakfast anywhere, so I was very grateful to be offered a yogurt from one of the skiers who was in the same room as me. The day got better as my instructor Keith had a bit too much Champaign the night before while celebrating his wedding anniversary so he sent me a text at about 10 saying he had just got up and would be at mines for noon. I took the opportunity to take it easy and ask as many people as I could where breakfast is with the hope that someone would volunteer to take me to the closest place as I didn't feel adventurous to head out myself and really couldn't be bothered getting lost and wander around more than likely outside the place I would be looking for. As it happened, a friendly Irish girl offered to walked to the cash machine with me and then to deposit me at a lovely café. I had some breakfast and sent a couple of text messages to Keith to see how he was doing. The weather was lovely with the sun shining down, no sign of snow, a nice cold orange juice and lots of relaxation. I suggested that we should might as well have lunch in the cafe, he agreed and we eventually hit the slope at 2pm!
The first run was quite pathetic kept on falling. The remainder runs we took the poma lift up
I felt I was improving on each run. The last 2 runs I fired the board straight down the slope from the top as this was the only way we could pick up enough speed as the snow conditions were slushy and sticky.
Had a near miss with a skier who must have liked my aftershave or something as he got really close and cut in front of me. My lightening reflexes and Keith shouting at the top of his lungs avoided a clash.
---
Formal apology to easyjet, due to the possibility of being arrested by the snowboarding fashion police, I wasn't able to wear the bright orange easyjet hat today, however I will attempt to build up some confidence over the next couple of days
---
What a coincidence:
1. Sat next to the same guy Alex on the plain I had sat next to when I had gone to Geneva the last time
2. Got the same bus driver Martin for the transfer from Geneva to Chamonix, as I had got last time, it was odds of 1 to 30 as there are 30 different drivers.
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