Favourite Time Of The Winter

Hi everyone, and welcome back to the latest post this winter, from your favourite blogging Méribel ski instructor. It's been a couple of weeks since my last article, and although January is traditionally a quiet month during a ski season, it feels as though it has flown by already. Only recently has the Festive period finished, then before you know it the Feb school holidays are on their way! So what's been going on here with the weather, snow conditions, and in Martin's world?

As usual, all photos in this post were taken by me in the last few days. We've had several days of very snowy weather just after my previous post, with the snow/rain limit well below resort level. This has been great news, because the natural snow depths were able to slowly recover and build back up again. Plus, we've had some pretty cold temperatures. Quite often in January, freezing weather dominates, and that's been the case the last couple of weeks. These sub zero temps have mostly been paired up with sunny weather. So although you don't necessarily feel the warmth of the sun, you really do notice it when in the shade or where cloud cover dominates.

I'm often asked during the winter all sorts of questions. For instance, which is my favourite of the 3 valleys, what is my favourite type of skiing, or mountain restaurant, or even my favourite piste (click here for some of my Méribel suggestions). Another question is what time of the winter do I prefer? And my instant response to this particular is January. Why?

The mountain is normally quiet during this month. The piste conditions often get a lovely refresh after the busy Festive period. The temperatures are normally chilly enough to not affect the quality of the snow, which can happen when the sun becomes stronger later in the season. I love January. Granted, hot chocolate stops and lunch will often be indoors in the warmth. But that's alright with me.

Since my last post, I've had quite a mixture of teaching, with some of my regular clients and also plenty of new work given to me by the ski school. To give you an idea of how cosmopolitan this work has been recently, here are some examples of people that I've met; French Israelis, a Scottish businessman now based in Australia with his partner, a guy from Devon now based in London, South African journalists, a nurse from Ontario in Canada, a Saudi Arabian couple, a bunch of friends from Northamptonshire (including someone called Nurse Whiplash, I didn't ask!), and a couple from Portsmouth. Oh, and today I skied with a Dad and his three grown up daughters from Connecticut on the east coast of the United States.

Talk about an interesting mix of people? Not only in terms of cultures, politics, skiing backgrounds and family situations. But also skiing abilities. This is also another thing I love about ski teaching, meeting different people, and skiing with very different standards. And yet, as human beings wherever we come from, this sport is so addictive and also challenging at the same time.

There's no doubting however, that when people first see the ski area that both Méribel and the 3 Valleys offer, they are blown away by the size and number of pistes available. Oh, and the views. Oh, and the ski lift infrastructure. Oh, and the mountain restaurants...... the lists goes on. And yet, regular visitors already know this, and that's why they keep coming back.

Yikes, am starting to sound like a Tourist Office employee, trying to sell the resort. I don't need to do this. Instead I just turn up each morning in my ski instructor uniform, with a genuine smile on my face, ready to welcome any regular clients or brand new ones, in anticipation of heading off for a great time skiing.

Right then, the winter really is heading off into full throttle now. In just seven days time the World Alpine Ski Championships, co-hosted by Méribel and Courchevel, will begin. Yes, Méribel was one of many host resorts during the 1992 Winter Olympics. But this is way bigger than '92. This is huge. It will look spectacular on the telly, and it's coming soon....... Not sure how else to describe this event. Of course I'll try and grab some pics when I can whilst working. As ever, don't forget to...... Live With Passion. Martin.