Ski Trip
I think I need a new LJ icon, nothing really fits with this entry.
So last night we got back from our annual ski week. A great trip and again, probably the best week of my year. It's been said that there are no great wines, only great bottles. The same concept could perhaps be applied to ski resorts. We went to La Plagne this year, which was new to all of us. Everyone said that it's their new favourite destination, but I think there is more to it than that. Yes, it was fantastic for us: a good mixture of pistes for everyone, plus some off-piste and powder for those who wanted it. Loads of areas to see, good food, a nice village, and cheaper than most of the other places we frequent. But I think it was more than that. To start with, the weather was very cooperative with a huge snowfall in the middle plus a couple sunny (if cold) days. We also had the entire 18 person chalet to ourselves, and the group was particularly good this year. There were some new people and no conflict or hesitation between cliques. The chalet was close to a nice village where we could go out for drinks and shopping. It was as good as ski in and ski out as you can get, and easy to get to some good ski areas and back home at the end of the day.
At first, I felt as if I had lost the ski bug. I wasn't terribly excited in the runup, and even though I'd just been to Chamonix a week or so before, I wasn't skiing well on the first day. But that began to change, as we did a major expedition on the second day, from our resort to Les Arcs next door, all the way to the glacier and back. And this time, I was with the fast group and keeping up. The following day there was a huge snow storm. I can't ski in powder and really don't enjoy it. As luck turned out, Monday's lesson was postponed to the powder day, so that's what I asked my instructor to focus on. Four of us went out to the area where I needed to be in the afternoon, and two had to turn back (the beginner and a chaperone), leaving one of my normal ski partners to split the lesson with me. Very hard work. Such is timing but it was so worthwhile. It also helped my piste skiing. From then on, I skied very well, carving more, going faster, keeping in control. Much more fun that way. There's a life lesson in there.
There was a fair bit of drinking and a lot of eating as always. Best steak tartare I've had in years, and that was up a mountain in a lovely restaurant. I still love France. I gained back the pounds I'd just lost, but that was not unexpected. The biking, the gym, and the ski weekend (plus maybe a couple hard early days on the slopes) all helped immeasurably, since I could really feel my fitness helping on the last few days. There's a lesson there as well!
SO, good food and drink, good friends, meaningful exercise, and continuing improvement. A damned good holiday. How ever will I manage to get two weeks in next season? Or the other question I should be asking is how ever will I force myself into using some of what makes this holiday so special to me in other parts of my life?
So last night we got back from our annual ski week. A great trip and again, probably the best week of my year. It's been said that there are no great wines, only great bottles. The same concept could perhaps be applied to ski resorts. We went to La Plagne this year, which was new to all of us. Everyone said that it's their new favourite destination, but I think there is more to it than that. Yes, it was fantastic for us: a good mixture of pistes for everyone, plus some off-piste and powder for those who wanted it. Loads of areas to see, good food, a nice village, and cheaper than most of the other places we frequent. But I think it was more than that. To start with, the weather was very cooperative with a huge snowfall in the middle plus a couple sunny (if cold) days. We also had the entire 18 person chalet to ourselves, and the group was particularly good this year. There were some new people and no conflict or hesitation between cliques. The chalet was close to a nice village where we could go out for drinks and shopping. It was as good as ski in and ski out as you can get, and easy to get to some good ski areas and back home at the end of the day.
At first, I felt as if I had lost the ski bug. I wasn't terribly excited in the runup, and even though I'd just been to Chamonix a week or so before, I wasn't skiing well on the first day. But that began to change, as we did a major expedition on the second day, from our resort to Les Arcs next door, all the way to the glacier and back. And this time, I was with the fast group and keeping up. The following day there was a huge snow storm. I can't ski in powder and really don't enjoy it. As luck turned out, Monday's lesson was postponed to the powder day, so that's what I asked my instructor to focus on. Four of us went out to the area where I needed to be in the afternoon, and two had to turn back (the beginner and a chaperone), leaving one of my normal ski partners to split the lesson with me. Very hard work. Such is timing but it was so worthwhile. It also helped my piste skiing. From then on, I skied very well, carving more, going faster, keeping in control. Much more fun that way. There's a life lesson in there.
There was a fair bit of drinking and a lot of eating as always. Best steak tartare I've had in years, and that was up a mountain in a lovely restaurant. I still love France. I gained back the pounds I'd just lost, but that was not unexpected. The biking, the gym, and the ski weekend (plus maybe a couple hard early days on the slopes) all helped immeasurably, since I could really feel my fitness helping on the last few days. There's a lesson there as well!
SO, good food and drink, good friends, meaningful exercise, and continuing improvement. A damned good holiday. How ever will I manage to get two weeks in next season? Or the other question I should be asking is how ever will I force myself into using some of what makes this holiday so special to me in other parts of my life?