| |
|
| |
|
17 January 2008
It was snowing as we arrived in Zermatt which made the entire village look like a picture from a post card.
After meeting everyone, our Peak Leaders guide showed us around the village.
We didn't have long to wait before the training began.
Both ski and snowboard instructors were very experienced and had a lot of feed back with regards to everyones riding style.
The snowboard instructor started by having us ride fakie (backwards). This left a few of us battered and bruised.By the third day everyone was exhausted from all the training and technical corrections.
Although the training is tough, we always end our evenings with a good meal at the Klein Matterhorn and share our experiences for the day.
Sam Wu
|
|
| |
Dinner at Klein Matterhorn
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
17 – 20 January 2008
Thursday morning dawned bright and clear, and the link over to Italy was finally open, so Brendan’s ski class took full advantage of this by checking out the off-piste on the Cervinia side of the mountains. After multiple tumbles and some quite impressive moves from mogul-master Mark, most of the group were getting the hang of the deep snow, although we have plenty to practice before the BASI assessment!
That evening the whole team were treated to a ski-tuning demonstrations with Andreas from Dorsaz Sport, who explained in great detail about the different types of grinding, wax and edging needed for different skis and boards.
On Friday, after carefully checking our edges were all sharpened from tip to tail, the ski group spent most of the day carving up the slopes around Sunnegga and Gornergrat.
Sadly it isn’t all fast and hard skiing, and in the afternoon we were subjected to the first test of our snow-ploughing ability as well. Most people found it quite a struggle to remember how to do it, but with arms sticking out and thighs burning we were soon looking like a very smart little ski class.
|
| |
The prospect of no lessons on Saturday morning and the chance of a much needed lie in inspired Flat 21 to organise a dinner party for everyone on Friday evening. Fondue seemed like the easiest option when trying to cook for 20 people in the world’s smallest kitchen, so after begging and borrowing tables from everyone else’s flats, the cheese eating and partying commenced. The home nation was on top form, with Kaspar being particularly good at playing ‘bunnies’.
Saturday and Sunday were lesson-free days, and most people took advantage of this by sleeping in, then cruising the slopes in the afternoon sunshine. Carnival came to Zermatt on Saturday evening, so the Papperle pub was full of crazy Swiss dressed in slightly wierd costumes. It didn’t seem to put anyone off hitting the dancefloor though. Rumour has it that there was a dancing Robocop (made almost entirely from tin foil) mixing it up with the locals until the small hours... |
|
| |
|
|
On Sunday the whole group got together for a day of tobogganing and lunch in the Iglu Dorf. Kaspar had somehow managed to arrange another fondue session in the dining room of the Iglu hotel, which is completely carved out of snow and possibly the coldest dining destination this side of Siberia. We may be in danger of becoming addicted to cheese out here. The sledging was great fun and although Emma and Hamish can claim victory in the toboggan racing, I think the prize for best wipe out is shared between Sam, Niall, Oli and James Ramsey for looking more like snowmen than humans at the end of it all.
Erica Goldsmith |
|
|
|
|
 |
21 Jan 2008
Start of the second week already. Monday was really sunny, and we
spent the day practicing our carving. On Tuesday, the weather
deteriorated, so the snowboarders decided to have an early coffee
break, which then turned into a playstation break, then lunch.
We
finally left about two hours later and decided to build a hip jump
and a kicker. The highlight of this was Kaspar trying to do a front
flip off the kicker and landing on his head in the deep snow. That
night, a few of the boarders/skiers went to the papperla pub (our
local) for the "Cocktail Barman Competition". Wednesday was spent
doing some proper snowboarding, and we went off piste for a run
through the forest, where I tried to jump over a small tree and ended
up face first in the powder! disaster.
P.S. the skiers went skiing or
something along those lines. Brendan abused them some more.
Niall Kirkaldy
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 Jan 2008
The weather has been on our side this week, Sun every day. This allows the skiers to work on carving & short turns. Lots of drills & criticism. Some of which make us look like complete pillocks, (i.e.
tying ski poles around your waist). Not the most stylish way to ski I must say. The skiing is hard but everyone’s skiing seems to be drastically improving. Lorna now holds the award for the biggest wipeout of the season so far after being attacked by Martin. From sources the boarders seem to be having a more laid back instruction. From what I’ve heard all they’ve done is build jumps, fall & mess around on snowskates.
Friday night saw most people head down to the North Wall Bar for a pizza & then for a large night out. Starting at the Schneewitchen / Papperla Pub with some moving on to the Broken Nightclub. A good night all round.
Saturday was a free day so most people went up the glacier to have a ski/ride & prepare for next weeks Examinations.
|
|
| |
|
On Sunday myself & Dudley had organised a curling tournament at the local outdoor Ice Rink for the SNSC award. After an hour’s coaching with Sep, 4 teams were made & a tournament began. After many slips & mis-slid stones the winners were Emma P, Rowena, Lorna, Jane & Jibber. They won 4 bottles of the finest Prosecco. (Budget Migros.)
That night we were introduced to our BASI Instructors for the next week, Pete & Simon.
Good luck next week to everyone.
Mark Crozier |
| |
|
|
|
30 January 2008
The week started with both groups not quite knowing what was to be expected of us in the coming days of the BASI level 1 course. The first day was quite an information overload with the snowboarders BASI trainer Simon going through all the terms and phrases we would need to know and understand for the coming week of training and assessment. Once out on the slopes we started by going through exercises to find the correct ridding posture which involved trying to ride in some of the most uncomfortable and awkward incorrect positions available so as to understand how a learner can struggle with some of the basic movements in snowboarding.
After lunch a spot of snowboard ballroom dancing commenced as we partnered up with one regular rider and one goofy face to face holding hands and ridding down the mountain trying not to kill each other in the process [all I can say is that Brucie would have been proud].
After the first day I think that both the snowboarders and skiers are beginning to realize that there is a lot of hard work to come. |
| |
|
|
Tuesday began with the snowboard group on the nursery slope going through the process of how to introduce a complete novice into the wonderful world of being a snowboarder. This involved starting with the very basics of explaining how the snowboard and bindings work to how to put the board on and move around with one foot strapped and finished with the basic straight running drill.
The morning continued along the same vane with all the riders having to perfect the ability to demonstrate the various stages leading up to basic and standard turns, which sounds easy as falling off a log but after years of taking it for granted that you can ride, performing basic maneuvers well enough to be able to teach them proved quite a lot harder than anyone expected. |
| |
|
|
|
After lunch it was time for the first of many videoing sessions so that when we got down off the hill Simon could pull all or hard work apart and tell us the many things we need to work on.
Wednesday started off on a high note with some much needed fresh snow in the air. The snowboard group got things underway with some carving practice which was greatly appreciated after yesterdays slog through the basics as it was nice to be moving at some kind of speed again. The momentum continued into the afternoon session with short radius turns on the steeper slopes. It was at the end of the day that the bombshell was dropped that tomorrow we would all have to prepare a 15 minute lesson for the group and deliver it on the slopes tomorrow.
Dudley Oinn |
| |
|
|
| |
4 February 2008
Thursday: The most stressful day of the BASI 1 course- Lesson day!! We each had to give a 15-minute lesson on the central theme. I thought having to do sown plough all day was bad enough but it got worse as it was the coldest day on the course so far!
Friday: Judgement Day- We had a bad start to our last day on the BASI 1 course. We all arrived on time BUT Emma’s skies had been stolen!! It was colder than the day before so Pete tried to make us Ski as much as possible. We were doing some hard core carving down a steep part of the red run. All I saw was this massive ball of snow rolling down the piste’s next to me- Lorna managed to top the record for the best fall of the season this time managed to be taken of the mountain in a blood wagon!
The two most important things to Lorna at this time were 1) Get me some M&M
2) I will have failed because of this wont I? (She didn’t) We went up to the restaurant to warm up, and then went back onto the mountain to do some central theme. Me, Jane and Emma had a three- way lunch as different people were called up to find out their result. Most people went straight off the mountain because it was so cold. That night we went for a celebratory dinner at Nelly’s, and as usual ended up in the moved onto the Schne for a big night of
partying! |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday: Our free day of skiing no practising of central theme! We had a film night with pizzas ordered in from the North Wall and some people ended up at the rave night at the Schne.
Sunday: Another day of skiing as we wont be doing much next week- Most of the lifts were closed because of the wind so the pistes were so busy and their were massive queue for all the lifts. We went down into town for lunch and the boys spent the afternoon making a small snow park in the garden outside the flats!
Also most of the group had a trip to the Heliport of Air Zermatt where they got to know about all the Choppers and gear used in Mountain rescuing
Rowena MacRitchie
|
|
|
|
|
8 February 2008
Monday: Start of a new week, slight relief as BASI level 1 was over!
We started the week with our 1st day of ski school shadowing. We arrived nice and early ready for a long day, we were assigned to our groups and headed up the mountain, the higher we got the worse the weather was. We managed to complete one run with our groups of tiny children when we had to retire to the restaurant for an early lunch as you could not see a foot in front of you. We then spent the next few hours entertaining the children with colouring books and games.
Some of the more advanced classes managed to squeeze a few more runs in, but we were allowed to head out to play in the snow building igloos and making snow angles which kept us entertained if not the children.
Tuesday: Start of the first aid course which meant day off from skiing which caused much disappointment, however we were going to spend the day rolling around in the snow resuscitating each other which gave high enjoyment. We started learning how to put people into the recovery position, then we moved onto the exciting stuff trying to resuscitate Annie the doll which Sam took a great liking to. Later this day a few people decided to head of to the toga party a Nelly’s, so it was all go to get to the laundry room to choose the most suitable sheets to create the best togas, Jake excelled at this creating the best toga outfit I have ever seen. Many drinks later the boys thought it would be a good idea to snowboard (in there homemade snow park which is in the garden) still wearing nothing else but the finest roman togas!
|
Wednesday: 2nd day of the first aid course, we all headed up the mountain to put some of our practice into more real life situations.
We were giving lots of different situations to deal with to see how we would react. We had head injuries, broken legs, punctured lungs, heart attack and the best of all an avalanche where Erica, Liam and Hamish buried themselves in the snow and the rest of us were giving the task of getting them out luckily they are all safe and sound now,
so all in all a exciting day!
Niall Kirkaldy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 February 2008
2nd half of Week 4 – how time flies!! Thursday was the start of our 2-day Avalanche Awareness Program. On the first day, we learnt how to use the Barry Vox, an avalanche transceiver and the importance of making certain safety checks prior to going off-piste (e.g., checking up-to-date avalanche risk levels on www.slf.ch and weather forecasts..etc).
Equipped with probes and shovels, we also managed to dig 2 meter deep trenches; and with the demonstration of Machine Liam's well- trained marine skills, the task was achieved in lightning speed. In one of the trenches, we also identified the various levels of snow and it was fascinating to learn how the differences in crystallisation of the snow can affect the risk levels of an avalanche happening.
2nd day of the Program involved more off-piste training and it was fun to be skiing/snow boarding with the whole group and there were indeed some remarkable “stacks”. Highlight of the day, was the “man-hunt” exercise with Cheena, the avalanche dog. To relive the event: Mark was buried in a snow cave, and most importantly, in the company of a few slices of sausage . Cheena was approximately 70 meters away from Mark and was set the task of locating Mark or to be more precise, “sniffing” Mark out :) Within minutes, Mark was located and the sausage was all gone. The speed at which the task was performed was very impressive and we all learnt an extra-valuable lesson that day - “When going off piste – bring a couple of sausages along”!!
After another information/action packed week, the weekend kicked-off with the well practised Happy Hour at the Schnee and an exiting Ice Hockeymatch at the Ice Rink.
Jane Kwok
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 February 2008 Already at week 5 and how the goggle tans are growing... Monday began with an early start for the skiers (7.40am), who would be receiving the revered red ski school jackets for their "shadowing." Some got more than they bargained for when they found out they would actually be leading their own groups around the mountain. Jane, Jibber, Emma and Lorna possibly got the worst end of the deal having to "teach" in the Snowli park with children aged 3 to 6. Caring for crying toddlers and wiping bums! Jibber even got to dress up as Snowli the Rabbit and entertain the small children - he clearly loved every minute of it!
|
|
Monday morning for the snowboarders was a more leisurely start at 9.30 to start 3 days of snowboard school shadowing. The weather was glorious from Monday to Wednesday; sun and blue skies every day. It was really interesting watching the progression at all levels, some students who had never touched a snowboard before were on the pistes in 3 days (obviously only with the expert tuition of the peak leaders boarders). Since there was instructors off sick, Ramsay got to share in the glory of the skiers and wear a red ski school jacket for an afternoon and lead a group around the mountain.
Unfortunately there were quite a number of injuries among snowboarding students. (4 broken/sprained wrists, an injured back and an injured leg that required a helicopter rescue) Definitely shows that it is worth wearing appropriate protective clothing.
Wednesday night a few people went to the Schnee for the happy hour and to celebrate James Nathan's
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
After a big night in the Schnee on Wednesday, going out on Thursday morning was not a particularly high priority for a few people.
The snowboarding we did, however, was not too bad and pretty different to what we were used to. Instead of practising the BASI central theme, we were doing nose and tail turns and spent the afternoon in the park, which was a nice change!
On Friday it was pretty much the same (apart from everyone feeling a bit fresher!), the skiers continued to shadow whilst the snowboarders practiced 180s and rails in the park again.
Saturday started with a much needed lie-in, and the slopes were pretty much empty due to it being changeover day.
This made a nice change from the
previous week, where the slopes were packed because it was the English half term. The skiers were back to training with Brendon, which must have been a relief for the people stuck in the snow village all week looking after the kids.
We spent Sunday in the park and pipe which everyone really enjoyed, apart from having to hike up the pipe after every run!
Dudley made it out for the afternoon after battling Tonsillitis for the past few days and was dumped straight in the deep end with Boris videoing us riding the kickers in the park. Next week its back to shadowing and hopefully it will bring some badly needed snow!
Oli Chew
|
| |
|
|
Week 6 February 2008
Monday 18 February
Today started at 9.30 at the Blauherd restaurant for a cup of coffee and a chat with the now familiar Swiss Snowboard school instructors, before going outside to organize who would be shadowing with what group for the next two days. I was particularly pleased to be shadowing Raffi with level 1 as it meant that I would have a chance to rest my legs a bit after our extra training over the weekend, and practice my teaching skills on the nursery slope.
By the end of the day's teaching, (some of!) our level 1's were feeling fairly comfortable with diagonal side slipping and straight running and would be ready to give basic turns a go the next day.
In contrast the skiers were training with Brendon doing the bumps, and my flat mate ended up having to stay the night in the hospital in Visp, as she managed to concuss herself on the flat piste of all places!
Tuesday 19 February
Having learnt my lesson from the previous day of being far too hot, I wore only a t-shirt and sunglasses with my snowboard trousers for teaching rather than full-on layers and goggles, in an effort to multi-task tanning and teaching. I've never been great at multi-tasking though, and I learnt another lesson: you do actually have to re-apply the sun cream throughout the day, so my satisfaction of successfully teaching the basic turn was matched with massive panda eyes!!
After eating in the Klein Matterhorn we swiftly headed off to our local watering hole that is the Schneewittchen to enjoy happy hour, as Wednesday would be our first day off in 10 days!!
Wednesday 20 February
Oh dear, Jim Beam whiskey night in the Schneewittchen has left me with a few souvenirs. A t-shirt, a bar mat (did I really steal that???), and a massive headache! I woke up at about lunchtime and headed into town with Emma and Hamish to have a browse through the shops and do the food shopping from the beloved and good value Migros. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and resting up for training tomorrow.
James Ramsay
|
| |
|
|
Monday 25 February - Monday 3 March
This week started with shadowing, for the snowboarders, it was an early start but noone seemed to mind as rock n roll Sunday was cancelled, so it wasn’t a big one the night b4 anyway. For me this meant shadowing level 1, which I actually enjoy it gives me a chance to rest my legs from the training, and it’s always good to watch the beginners improve.
Tuesday was pretty much the same during the day, however in the night it was an early celebration for oli’s b day, which involved a lot of drinking, oli doing a Viking and then proceeding to chunder, playing human buckaroo with glow in the dark stars, and various other mischief!
On Wednesday we were all recovering from the night b4, for me this meant staying in bed all day and doing not much else, until I realised I had to do a SNSC presentation and write a 2 hour lesson plan, so that was interesting.
Afterwards some off us went to china garden for a Chinese to celebrate oli’s b day, this was good fun, and a welcome change to the Klein Matterhorn restaurant, where we’ve eaten most nights. After this it was back home 4 a quiet night finishing lesson plans for the snowboarders.
Thursday was back to training with paddy for the snowboarders, this involved half of us presenting 20 mins of our lessons, in the morning, and then lots and lots of bumps and possible the most changeling drag lift in the world up on stockhorn. Later that afternoon Oli pick up his mini snowboard that he ordered, and me and Oli headed toward some snow 2 minutes from the flat with some jumps on and proceeded to “train”!
Later that night niall did a Viking but didn’t chunder or even seem that drunk it was quite disappointing, but he is Scottish! The following day was similar, the other half of the snowboarders presented their lessons, then in the afternoon we made the mission that is getting from blauherd to theodulpass (which is in Italy) to watch the red bull big air comp they had on there, unfortunately the big air was cancelled due to 1 of the competitors nailing themself on the kicker and being air lifted out, so instead we watch the giant quarter pipe comp 4 a bit. Friday night was Nelly’s night for some of us - this has become a weekly advent for many of us - it’s just so good and meaty.
Saturday was a day of early lunches and not a lot of riding due to the upper half of the mountains being closed due to high winds and a bit of snowfall. Sunday was similar in the fact that in the afternoon half the lifts where closed again, but really good as well….cos the lifts where shut yesterday due to wind and snow, we were able to get a bit of powder riding in! However after some video analysis we decide to call it an early day as the afternoon was so slushy. For me, oli and niall, this meant a chance to try the mini out on some real slopes, so we headed up to gornergrat, arriving about 5, to empty pistes, it was great fun we really put the mini to the test. Later on we went to supper n found out what was going on next week. Pretty sure the skiers shadowed on Monday and Tuesday, had a day off on wed and then training for the rest of the week similar to the snowboarders.
Jake Chadwick
|
|
|
|
| |
|
  |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
