Meribel 2009, Uploaded by M+MD.
The weather was great on our first day. We got our gear in the ski shop. Its much easier to get up on the slopes than last year in Morzine. Our lessons don't start until 11.30 so we headed up the Rhodos cabin to a lovely wide Green slope.
With some trepidation I put on my skis. Will my legs work? Can I remember how not to fall down. Will I be brave enough to look down the mountain?
The memory of that wonderful last day of skiing last year keeps me going. - Skis on. I gingerly push forward with my poles. - It all seems ok! I am moving forward, in control. - In fairness it's a gentle slope down to a flat area before the slope begins in earnest! - But it's all working and the turning movement is coming back to me. - Look down the mountain! - Don't be frightened of the increasing speed, pressure on the downhill ski. The kids are off and waiting for us but we've got the hang of it!
Its a lovely wide run and soon enough we have all made it to the bottom. Not even a hint of falling! Its just like riding a bike - once you learn you can't forget. Well maybe that's taking it a little too far.
Up the Altiport Chairlift, Uploaded by M+MD.
We took the lift back up to the top and went down and around again. Then it was time to take the cabin down again to meet up for the lesson.
We were with a new ski school this year - Magic. They are only in the 3 valleys and they have much smaller classes than ESF. Our instructor was Adrian. Lisa Katy and Senan are in the slightly more advanced class. We set off back up to the same slope we had just practiced on - so that helped the confidence. The class are a nice bunch and we're all at pretty much the same level. Adrian slowly took us through the basics. Soon we were travelling at reasonable speed and with confidence down the runs.
We headed down for lunch and met the others. They too had a successful class apart from Senan losing his class just at the end when he fell off a drag lift - easily done. But he found his way back ok.
Mags and I had a second lesson in the afternoon - a great way to get up to speed at the start of the week. Lunch was a bit of a nightmare. We went to the Castors Restaurant by the Magic Ski meeting point. It was bedlam. We finally managed to order - but we had to leave to join our class before it arrived.
Meeting at the Chaudanne, Uploaded by M+MD.
We went up the Saulire bubble to the first stop. We skied down a fairly gentle Blue run getting instruction on skiing parallel between turns. Time flew and at 5 pm we were tired but back in tune. We met up with the kids and the Salibas in the ski shop and called Highlife for a shuttle home.
Back in the chalet there was tea and Quiche ready for us. We then spent some time in the hot tub and 10 minutes in the sauna followed by the application of Deep Heat and Ibulieve and various magic ointments and potions! A little relaxation and catch up on our days and it was 7.30 and time for dinner. 3 hours and 4 bottles of wine later we were ready for bed. Myself and Chris tried our hand at the Highlife song book - maybe that's what cleared the room so fast!
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