à bientôt snowy mountains......

We spent the last 2 days skiing at Super Besse. Thursday was a shocker, we hired new ski's/boots, and I ended up with shorter ski's. The snow was also very different, hard packed with icy patches and in other area's very 'choppy'. With all of these factors combined I was hopeless and glad that I wore my armoured mountain bike shorts (falling  lots!).

old school go pro!

Super Besse is a step up for a débutant such as myself, the runs steeper and longer, basically more intimidating, but by the end of Thursday I was doing okay.

Tres soleil

Kev showing how its done on the flat ;-)

Friday was beau temps, tres soleil and we made the most of our last days skiing. The sun did bring out the masses, but who cares. At one point we sellotaped a phone type camera to my head for a few runs, but the results were mixed (poor!). Sue joined us at the end for a team croque monsieur.

Oh yeah, shredding the blues!

Off we go.....

A great week, and I can now ski! Merci beaucoup Woodwards, now I just have to pack the car and drive home.....

Super Besse

Au revoir chats....

Am I in Scotland?!

Blizzard conditions reminded me of Scottish winter climbing today. In fact if you look at the short video, it may remind you of Fort William, or maybe more like Aviemore! The second day on the slopes saw me consolidating my parallel technique. I pushed myself on a red run, which was scary initially (painful fall), but by the third time didn't seem quite so terrifying!

Dora (the explorer), dusting of snow, testing the Pow and apres ski...

The weather today was wilder, windy and it snowed most of the day, the fresh Pow (surely I can now use this annoying term!?) was great, but took a bit of getting used to. I still prefer zooming down the blues to getting scared on reds.

I highly recommend château Woodward for a stay, I'm being well fed, but it is hard adhering to their strict vegetarian diet, which has included parma ham and gnocchi, coq au vin and a tasty chorizo chick pea dish. Who needs meat.......?!

Powder Hounds hit the slopes....

I decided to take a road trip and visit the Woodwards in France this week. It was a reasonably long drive, but I was happy to finally try out my car bed. The car bed worked well, in fact too well and I overslept!

Wild weather greeted me when I arrived at their château, high up on Frances Massif Centrale plateau. Their house sits at 1200m, bleak and wild outside, but toasty and welcoming in. 

Jaffa, chilling in the château, while the storm builds outside

Waking up to fresh snow, I think todays skiing will be good...

Today we hit the slopes at Le Lioran, I great place for my first proper ski! I've had some indoor lessons, but never been on 'proper' pistes. What an amazing day, sure we were only on greens and blues, but it was great shredding the runs! Atmospheric weather added to the day (as well as the chips), and when we finally went to the top of the mountain we found ourselves in a blizzard. 

Kev, wild man of Le Lioran

Wait for me.....

I can see why people ski, I definitely have the bug, and I'm already stoked and excited about working on my parallel technique tomorrow (as I sit with my feet up and a glass of Mazet....).

Just about to shred a tough blue!!

My favourite run on day 1 (before the forest section)

Dry the kit, ready for day 2