A skier's dream

Today turned out so much better than I thought it would in many ways. As I left my apartment, skidding down the road, it stopped snowing. I collected my ski kit down at the school, walked towards the lift, and the sun came out. What with the first decent snow fall in a month, then bright sunshine, I had a good feeling about what lay ahead.

At the start of our session this morning, I learnt that Debra had never skied in fresh snow before during previous holidays. With the Altiport green piste only partially groomed, we soon had heaps of fun snowploughing in the virgin snow. In and out of the trees, checking our balance, testing our ski steering and making sure we made the most of these conditions. Smiles everywhere. Debra was buzzing with these new sensations. We can't wait to build further confidence tomorrow morning after the groomers make the pistes smoother tonight.

A couple of minutes before meeting Debra I received a phone call from a good friend of mine, Martin Jeffers. "Mate, are you working this afternoon?". Martin is a fellow ski instructor and also a keen photographer. I replied "No mate, not working but I'm still rough with man flu, little energy". He continued "Me too, had it for two weeks now, so let's go and play for only an hour. Bring your camera, I forgot mine". I replied "You Gumby, OK see you later".

Martin and I go back years, we took many ski instructing exams together, in particular the demanding Euro Mountain Security. This exam comprises of serious off piste skiing and ski touring miles away from civilisation. We trust each other and especially share the same passion for the mountains and skiing.

So off we went after lunch. We popped off here and there, got my trusty Canon camera out and just played. Fantastic fun, my first free skiing since telemarking a couple of weeks ago.

We didn't last long with energy, one hour in fact, but it didn't matter. As soon as I got home this afternoon, it clouded over and has been snowing again since. A skier's dream.

A cup of tea was gulped at home, then I plonked down on the sofa and fell asleep yet again for 45 minutes. Damn that man flu, can't complain though, it allowed me plenty of fun today with Debra this morning, and then Martin this afternoon. Even more snow is forecast for the end of the week, loads in fact. Bring it on. Just in time for Chris and Stuart's arrival.

Martin