Today was a day for sun cream.
After yesterdays enormous snow fall, the cloud lifted and the sun shone. Harrison was feeling a little under the weather today but soldiered on with the slopes beckoning.
After our usual fill from the breakfast buffet we left for ski school. The scenery today definitely didn’t disappoint. You could see for miles and the air tasted crisp and fresh. It was one of those days that you dream of when you ski, not cold, not too hot but brilliant sunshine and visibility.
With H having a slow start we decided to stay with ski school. There were about 9 students with Enzo the instructor that we followed off up the mountain. The pistes were perfectly prepared which made for easy skiing as the group snaked along the runs.
Amy and I followed at the back taking the opportunity to use the head cam and watch how the boys technique had improved. Callan is really competent now. He’s beginning to parallel turn but can handle any speed and any slope. Harrison really impressed me. He’s doing almost perfect parallel turns that did earn him a well done from Enzo.
There was also a first for Amy. Without her knowledge Enzo led the train down a black slope. It was only when the boys followed the group in front that she realised she was committed. That being said, she managed with ease, only stopping to marvel at the great start by the boys, then Callan tumbling to the bottom from half way.
It was in true Callan fashion, an extended fall, triple roll and backed by a sound track of laughing. As he shot down the slope on his backside he decided this was great fun and should last far longer than needed.
After I skied down and picked up various items of strewn ski gear he put them back on still giggling and full of his indignant slide.
At the end of the lesson, Harrison had begun to feel better and we sat in the powder snow, eating our lunch and basking in the sun. The boys also took the opportunity to create some more snow men.
In the afternoon we headed off as a family back up to the top of the mountain. The sun was still bright and the snow was beginning to hint at slush, but at the top, conditions were still great.
It was at the top of the first lift that Callan opted to go immediately into snow plough and trip him and Amy over. There was some raised voices, a few tears and an embarrassing moment where the lift had to be stopped to untangle the carnage.
Amy got out her phone and we set up for another mountain top panoramic photo. Really hoping it comes out well as this one could make it on the wall at home.
As fatigue was setting in for all of us, we began our decent back towards the ski school and hotel. The boys were taking it in turns to lead the family and other than a few sharp radio shouts did a really good job of navigating us safely down.
There was one slight misjudgment on one of the flattest sections where Amy tried to help Callan along by pushing him from behind. The misjudgment meant Amy approached at too great a speed and the resulting impact left them both sprawling on the floor (at least this one was her fault!!).
Confidence was growing and both boys were now taking the opportunity to do little jumps and short off piste runs. After being warned about the change in technique required for powder skiing, Harrison promptly ignored me and headed at high speed for the deep stuff.
It was a proper face plant. The powder put the brakes on fast and he went straight over the front like an ill judged bicycle accident. After a full front somersault he ended up with skis buried and face down in the snow. The good news is, although it looked spectacularly painful, powder snow is really soft so the worst he got was a cold shot down the back of his ski coat.
Back at the hotel now and looking forward to this evening. We’ve booked for a mountain restaurant meal being transported there and back by skidoo. I am starving so roll on 730pm.
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