Having had a few weeks to relax and reflect following our second season as Alpine Ethos we wanted to share some of what made winter 2010-11 one to remember.
The season began in promising style with snow galore from November into December and the opening of the lifts was eagerly anticipated by all. Our first day back on the slopes didn’t disappoint with foot deep powder to play in. Surely this boded well for a snow-filled season?
Our premiere neige guests revelled in the best early conditions for many years and we thoroughly enjoyed showing them around some of our favourite parts of the 3 valleys. At new year we hosted guests who’d come all the way from the middle of the Australian summer to hit the slopes with their English friends but they didn’t let the change in temperature deter them and enjoyed lots of sunny skiing.
The sun continued to shine, only interrupted by a couple of days of snowfall in mid-January which meant beautiful conditions for the early to mid-season during which we were visited by the Bristol snowboard crew, the OAPs (well, a group of 20-somethings in fancy dress) and some of the Lake District mountain rescue team amongst others.
By mid-February we started to worry that our half-term guests would struggle in the hard-pack conditions but the dancing paid off and the snow-gods delivered the night before their arrival meaning great fun was had by all during one of the busiest weeks on the slopes.
Tempted by the new technology in snowboard design we were excited to hear the first news of winter sales. Orders were made and our new snowboards (Heather: a K2 VaVaVoom and Andy: a Rossignol One) arrived and were taken out to play. The new flexible nature and rockered camber of Heather’s board meant more on-piste tricks & jumps whilst the magnatraction on Andy’s board made a real difference in the hard-pack conditions.
March was a busy month In which we played our part in the first Alpine Ethos marriage proposal, identifying a fantastic proposal location (top of the Olympic chairlift on a clear sunny day in case you wondered) and chilled and transported the requested champagne to a picnic area a few hundred metres below. In such beautiful surroundings who could decline a man on his knees in the snow? Congratulations to Rachel & Andy, we wish them all the best. Can we interest you in an Alpine honeymoon?!
We also hosted our second Snowboard Camp in conjunction with Cab9 snowboard school. Eleven guys and girls took part this year and with excellent coaching from Jono & Lee were competently riding, buttering, jibbing, riding switch, hitting boxes and kickers in style by the end of the week.
Later on in the month Heather took part in the Meribel She-Ride Freesession, an event arranged by local snowboard schools and sponsoring bars and shops. The event was designed to encourage girls into the park and despite the low cloud and rain early in the day it did just that. The girls were hitting the kickers, rails and boxes in the Meribel Moonpark in quick succession competing for the prizes the shops had offered. Everyone improved and enjoyed the day immensely making new friends and promising themselves more regular park-time in the future.
Whilst the weather warmed up in April, we tip our helmets to the Three Valleys piste teams who did an amazing job of ensuring as many runs as possible were open right through until the end of the season.
As I’m sure you can tell, we really enjoyed season 2010-11 and whilst our attentions have turned to the summer and mountain biking, we are also already thinking ahead, planning for and taking bookings for next season. We hope to see you then if not before!
