Splatting

Everyday this week I’ve been driving across to Courchevel 1850. Since taking this booking I was really looking forward to this week for many reasons, one being the pretty drive around the mountainside. It’s a stunning route that enables you to see across to the other side of a deep valley. Well, you would normally, but of course it’s continued to snow which meant I couldn’t see a thing. In fact there were a few times when I nearly didn’t make my destination because of the snowy road conditions. Thankfully yesterday morning was different; it threatened to clear up (when I took the above shot en route) before clouding in again.

I’ve spent all week with Helen, Charles, Gilly the Giraffe (Ella) and Billy Bonkers (Max). The weather was a challenge a few times, but we all made the most of what was available to us. On our last afternoon together we finally saw the sun break through, in a manner of speaking.

Being with them all day every day meant we had complete flexibility in terms of who was going to ski with who. This gave me the chance to adapt my teaching methods depending who I skied with at any given time.

Some examples of technique methods included squashing bugs, balancing on wobble boards, scraping with the big toe edge, zero position, steering wheels and many more.

Tactical and psychological methods included deep breathing, ignoring the red piste markers, one turn at a time, and looking forward to hot chocolate stops. One thing I soon learned was that the boy Billy Bonkers enjoyed his skiing more and more especially when the powder got deeper and deeper, and his first French black piste got steeper and steeper.

I completely lost count how many ‘splats’ he had, so did he, strangely enough!?! It’s funny how each individual enjoys this sport in so many different ways. So well done Team even though I felt sorry for you with the weather, I was chuffed that the weather cleared up for you briefly in the end. One new thing I learnt with the team though, and that is I will never eat a Steak Tartare again……. let’s just put it this way, my weight loss has continued.

Talking of Splatting, I had a short free ski with a mate last Saturday, funnily enough in the powder. He has featured on this blog a couple of winters ago, so some of my regular readers may recognise him.

He is one of the most relaxed guys in the valley both in temperament and fluidity on skis. His final ski instructor exams were put on hold, maybe indefinitely, due to a nasty break of his leg whilst training a few winters ago. Just over a year ago he had his ‘metal work’ taken out of his leg to help improve his quality of life. So with that in mind he is taking it easy on skis, just in case.

But as soon as Canon appeared on the scene he (who shall remain nameless) changed the way he skied! We call this a superman splat, ie a double ski ejection with a forward flip.

It was funny as anything, but he didn’t move for a while after the dramatic fall. To say I had a sudden panic about him and his injuries again would be an understatement. It took him a while to collect himself, and then shouted out in a muffled fashion “Did you get it?”

So what’s next in store? Starting tomorrow I’ve got a very busy schedule ahead of me with eleven straight days of work in a row. Harriet my wife flies out tomorrow as well for the full festive period. So whatever you are doing over the next week or so and wherever you will be, have a fantastic Christmas and I hope Santa brings you lots of lovely things. Stay healthy.

Martin

P.S. Come on Jez, oh rubbish I’ve just mentioned his name, stop messing about.