Hand Shoes

Merry Christmas from Méribel, where we currently have brilliant snow conditions thanks to a weather front that lingered around from before Christmas Eve to Christmas Day night. It dropped plenty of fine, light powder so when the sun eventually shone today on Boxing Day it was a real treat. I hope you've all had a great Christmas, and I suspect for quite a few of you in the UK it's been a white one. This year my name wasn't on the list to take part in the torchlight descent on Christmas Eve, but I decided to watch with Canon instead.


I've had a busy week yet again. With this job I get to meet an amazing range of people. I helped a beginners group earlier in the week, which included a group of medics from Bournemouth. On their first day it was interesting to see how their frustration soon turned to relief and then complete joy within the space of a lesson. On Thursday I was drafted in to help a couple of Courchevel instructors who were looking after a 'large group of Muslims' (as they referred to themselves) from Surrey and London. They were fantastic fun to be with. Over lunch the conversation was enlightening, they spoke with passion about their families and described their religion and culture to me. I really enjoyed my time with them and hope to see some of them again in the future to have more fun.


Our friend Phil has been staying in Méribel this week. I've been able to free ski with him briefly on alpine skis. But mid-week he asked if he could have a lesson with me; he wanted to be introduced to Telemark skiing. It was interesting to see how his body language changed from being a relaxed and accomplished alpine skier, to being a complete beginner on the slopes this time on telemark skis. He continued telemarking after the lesson, and then promptly hired the telemark kit on Christmas Day as well. I think he's hooked.


Harriet and I went over to La Plagne on Christmas Day to visit her sister and family. My nephew Harvey has been having snowboarding lessons all week, and was very keen to show off his new skills to us. So after opening our presents, we booted up, and headed out into the snowy weather.


Without sounding like a proud Uncle, I have to say he looked excellent. For a nine year old he had great skills and was very responsible on snow by being aware what was going on around him. He had been learning the lift and piste names, plus he always looked out for other people nearby. Here's Harvey standing proud with his board with Harriet and her sister Sophy.



And finally this morning, Boxing Day, I had a lesson with some of my Dutch neighbours. I love spending time with Dutch people, they are friendly, their accent makes me smile and occasionally their choice of words are hilarious. It was the first sunny day in ages, with fantastic fresh snow, but very cold. So on the first lift up I was talking to Stefan about Christmas presents. He said he was given a new pair of 'hand shoes', as he admired his fancy-looking gloves. I was confused at first and then burst out with laughter. Apparently the direct translation from Dutch to English for gloves is 'hand shoes', brilliant.


Later in the session whilst we were skiing in the powder, one of them asked why their skis felt 'boobly'? I wasn't familiar with that description with skiing technique, but I think they meant wobbly. We had a great session skiing in the fresh snow, a couple of tumbles in the powder and a lost ski for about ten minutes, finishing off reviewing some videoing over a warming hot chocolate.

I've another busy week coming up, with I'm sure just as many tales to tell next weekend. Have a great festive period.

Martin

P.S. I've just re-read this post and thought I could play the summary game, ie reduce it into 15 words. Merry medics beginners and Muslims shake hand shoes with Telemarker and marvel at Dutch booblies !?!

Etre Timbre

On Wednesday Méribel hosted the second round of the World Cup Bumps competition. Did any of you see the bumps last winter at the Olympics on television? It is a sport made for TV; one that stops you in your tracks.


Fundamentally the course is a steep piste turned into a long strip of large man-made bumps, which 99.9% of people would avoid like the plague on skis, with two huge kickers where the competitors launch off to perform stunning jumps. It's judged on the speed that the skiers rattle down, the technical performance, and the quality of the two jumps. Because of the flat light we had on the day, the photos don't show how huge these bumps and jumps were.


On TV it looks insane. In reality, I don't have the imagination to be able to put it across to you in words. However this may help....Sometimes during my French language lessons I come across idioms that make me smile. Here's one, 'Etre timbre'. Which means 'to be stamped', or 'to be nuts'. So are these athletes nuts?


This is skiing at the elite level, or beyond as some people would say. Most people can't even relate to such performances. All skiers though, at any level, will come across four issues; Technical, Physical, Tactical and Psychological. Let's quickly talk about beginner skiers. They will quickly build their technical skills, ie learn how to be balanced on the skis using the snowplough position to help them control their speed. Physically, the snowplough can be very tiring. Tactically they will realise that they have to choose a route down the piste that keeps them safe, ie turning to control their speed and avoiding any steep sections. And pyschologically they will experience many emotions, like the beauty of the mountains quickly being replaced by complete fear of a steep nursery slope.


So now let's go back to our rubber-legged friends in the minefield of bumps and jumps pulling several back flips when pinging off the ramps. Technically they are very skillful with fast movements, with a huge range of movement to be able to absorb each impact. Physically, they are super fit with strong core strength, explosive leg power, and at the same time being very supple. Tactically, they vary their speed carefully before launching off the jumps, and they will adjust their line in the bumps. Psychologically, well, I'll let you decide what goes on there !?!


It was an amazing spectacle to be able to experience, and great for Méribel to up its profile even further. Moving on, I've had a busy week teaching Lisa, and back with Rick. Lisa and I had different weather and snow conditions during our sessions. Sometimes flat light, sometimes stunning blue skies. We also made the most of checking out hot chocolate establishments as well. All for research purposes of course, it was nothing to do with it being super cold at minus daft degrees.



Rick and I were skiing together again, this time both on normal Alpine skis and then Telemark skis as shown here in the photos. Since these photos were taken we've had a decent dump of snow. In fact the apartment has just shaken because of some huge avalanche blasting going on outside. Perfect timing for the start of the Festive holiday period.


I don't have any of my own work yet for this week coming up, so fingers crossed the school will be able to find me some willing clients, how exciting. Some friends are also arriving in resort. Plus, Harriet my wife flies out on Wednesday for two and a bit weeks. It's going to be a brilliant week ahead I reckon.

Martin

P.S. Going back to our rubber-legged friends, here is a chap at the top of the course having a psychological moment before the off. Is he pre-visualising his run, or trying to keep his breakfast down? I didn't hang around to find out.

What a Privilege

During my day off yesterday I was pondering. For years I've been frustrated by my inability to capture the beauty and sense of scale of the high mountains with a camera. I suspect that many people on a skiing holiday have felt this same emotion. How many times have we taken a photo in this incredible location, but sometimes felt flat after reviewing the image.



With the shortest day of the year beckoning for accessible and available sunset colours, and a busy working period soon to take hold, I had to try once more to capture a decent shot. So I loaded up my pack with Canon, tripod and other gear and sprinted towards the last lift up at 16.20 hrs. By now most skiers and snowboarders are on their way back to resort for a well earned apres-ski drink, or bath.



The weather was stunning at the top of Saulire between Méribel and Courchevel. With clear skies and a sea of cloud below in the valleys, the view across to the mighty peak of Mont Blanc was electric. What a privilege in life to experience such beauty. However, there was a slight problem.



At the end of every day, the pisteurs have to sweep everybody off the mountain, from top to bottom. It's their way of knowing that the mountain is safe and clear before night-time. A pisteur skied down towards me whilst I was exposing away. He stopped next to me and Canon on tripod, nodded and said hello whilst looking at the view. I replied and asked for just a few more minutes. He then radioed to several of his colleagues, talking about an instructor still on the mountain, with a camera, and the tranquility. What is it about these pisteurs, they are just so laid-back and relaxed?


I felt under pressure though, because I didn't want to miss the moment with Canon of the alpenglow over Mont Blanc, but in doing this I was delaying the end of a working day for this dude. So I packed up Canon, strapped tripod back onto my pack, and clicked back into my skis. Just as I started to ski off, Monsieur Le Pisteur stopped me and said with another nod and smile "Quel un privilege" ("what a privilege/honour"). He then skied off in the direction of the deep Courchevel valley down under the layer of cloud. How cool was that?



I still haven't captured 'the shot', but what an experience yet again. Hmm, is it time I stopped banging on about photography and the mountains and got back to my day job of ski instructing?


Martin

Being Assertive

Over the last two days I've been teaching Rick who always loves to come back to Méribel and kickstart his skiing as soon as the resort opens. Rick is a high-level recreational skier, one of those skiers that you would look down on from a chairlift and think "Wow, he most be a local who's been skiing for years". Unless you class Cheltenham as local then no, he just loves continuously working on his skiing.


But on his first day back on skis with me, he went through the same process that I did last week, and the process that you all go through on your first day's skiing. He found himself being a little defensive the first couple of runs. During this time we spoke about being balanced over the skis, and effectively steering the skis around the curve of the turn. This all helped, but I could tell this wasn't the Rick I've known for many years.


The Oxford dictionary defines assertive as 'having or showing a confident and forceful personality'. Being assertive is not being aggressive. Being assertive is the opposite to being diffident. This was it, we had to become more assertive. Rick had to be 'a pilot on the skis and not a passenger'. We had to make sure that we were both standing on the sweet spot of the ski, we both had to create a curve shape with our skis as we turned. Let's have a look of this next photo with Rick in the foreground.


He is balanced and looking dynamic in poor visibilty. But notice how the other three skiers behind him look hesitant. Their body language is visibly tight. So is being assertive a ski technique, or is it a state of mind? It's not only good technique that can help a skier, it's mental strength (ie psychological) as well.

I had a couple of interesting emails this week from a TV production company in Los Angeles, California. They are making a series that examines paranormal phenomena and may use a couple of my photos. "Where are you going with this Martin, you are a Ski Instructor in Méribel in the French Alps?"



Regular readers of this blog may remember a post back in April 2009. Underneath the Cote Brune chairlift in the Méribel valley, we experienced two large patterns in the snow that looked like winter versions of crop circles. Last time I mentioned these patterns I got blasted with emails from enthusiasts wanting more details and dimensions of the patterns, so please don't try again, my memory is awful.


I'm busy with work again over the coming days: teaching Neil later this morning in Courchevel, who has one week's skiing behind him; then I'm back with Karin who also loves getting in a cheeky weekend with friends before Christmas. Lisa will arrive soon. Plus Rick has more sessions booked. Also Méribel is about to be invaded by rubber-legged skiers from around the globe. The resort is hosting a World Cup Bump skiing competition on the bottom of the steep Olympic race piste. Do you think that bump skiers need to be assertive? Oh yes.


Martin


Gorgeous views from yesterday on the top of Saulire.

What were we supposed to do?

On the first lift up this morning, the opening day, I had a slight emotional issue. Now the Ski Instructing text book clearly states that the first run on the first day should be taken easy. In other words, allow yourself time to ease back into skiing, find your balance, build your confidence without any pressure - nothing silly, in other words. But sitting next to me on the chairlift was Ed (in blue), who is also a Ski Instructor. We were looking down on amazing scenes: deep, fresh, light powder, and then back at each other smiling. He knew what I was thinking, I knew what he was thinking.


Also on the chairlift with us was Caroline (of http://www.merinet.com/ fame), and three other friends. What were we supposed to do? "Stuff the text book" Ed and I said to each other laughing. We spoke to the others and everyone made up their own mind.


Caroline thrives in this deep stuff, and Simon (wearing the black jacket) gradually built his confidence. The lifts and pistes were lovely and quiet, which made the day even better.


I've got a busy week coming up, I'll be heading over to Tignes a couple more times this week. This may lead to a very exciting development in January, more news on that hopefully later. Plus I'll be starting my own teaching work, during the week. Also, my French lessons will start again. This time I'd better take more notice of text books.


What a brilliant way to start my thirteenth winter season here in Méribel.

Martin

P.S. Nice skiing Simon, I hope you don't have any friends who would feel envious of your day !?!

A Big Little Victory

Apparently moving house is up there in the list of the most stressful things in life. I get to move house twice a year, and it can certainly throw up its challenges. However I don't expect to receive any sympathy from anyone, so I won't even begin to start moaning about what's happened the last week or so. So any 'little victory' is even more appreciated during these times. Monday I gratefully received such a victory.


The weather was stunning, rare amongst all the recent snowfalls. I decided that I wanted to make the most of the gorgeous lighting and aim for a sunset session with Canon, high up in the mountains. Problem is, the lifts don't open until Saturday. Not to be put off, I attached 'skins' to the bottom of my touring skis, and loaded up my back pack.


Sherpas are thin on the ground at the moment in Méribel, so everything had to be shoved in. Numerous bits of camera kit, food and water, extra warm clothing, a head torch and my tripod. The bag weighed a ton, but I thought it would be good for fitness.


My target was the ridge bordering Méribel and St.Martin, where the Tougnete 2 and the St.Martin 2 chairlifts meet, also the location of the Panoramic webcam seen on http://www.merinet.com/ . It took two hours of frantic puffing to get up there, but boy oh boy did Mother Nature put on an amazing slide show of colours for me.



Photography and skiing aside, to stand on a peak at dusk looking at the world stretched out beneath you is one of those experiences to connect you to the very roots of your soul. Getting to where you need to be for that epic vista can be somewhat tricky without the lifts running, but what a reward. I love the juxtaposition here of a snow cannon looking down on one of Europe's highest peaks, Mont Blanc.



After the slide show of colours, it was time to re-fuel and then disappear pretty sharpish because it was very cold, with daylight now all but gone. So on with the head torch and off I skied into the darkness for my first ski of the season. Not the prettiest of skiing, but who cared.


Some sights stay with you forever - this is one.


Martin

P.S. Yesterday I met up with ski instructor friends Tim and Bryan over in Tignes and Val d'Isere. The snow conditions were brilliant all the way down to resort. We all had a great day. The lifts here in Méribel open on Saturday: it's currently snowing again, so Saturday should be 'off the charts' !?! Fancy coming out for a cheeky weekend before Christmas, you know you want to?

Base building

It was less than a week ago that I was still in the UK dreaming about the mountains, hoping for cold temperatures, praying for regular snowfalls, visualising snow cannons blasting away and imagining piste bashers thundering by.


Guess what, that's all been happening every day since I arrived. It's a perfect start to this coming ski season - and it's still not December.


That all important 'base' is being formed both naturally and artificially. So whilst many people are shivering in the UK at the moment, I've personally got a massive smile on my face because of these conditions. Some people could say this is selfish, maybe, but the positives are worth it for us skiers in winter.


Even though the lifts don't open here for another week, I'm hoping to put on my skis soon. I'll either skin up the mountain somewhere, as long as the clouds disappear. Or I'll head over to Tignes and Val d'Isere for a cheeky first slide. Time to dust off the ski kit methinks, and make sure my Icebreaker thermals are to hand, it's freezing out here.



Martin

How very French.

My last evening in the UK was spent in Sussex. Harriet and I drove down to catch up with friends who I used to work with decades ago in the IT industry. Both Rog and Dickie were on fine form during our curry, how very English! Then the next morning I was off over (or rather, under) the channel to France, before stopping overnight in Gevrey Chambertin in Bourgogne (Burgundy).


The next morning I decided to have a walk about with Canon to ease myself back into France. Gevrey Chambertin is the home to some very very fine wine. Last winter season I was fortunate enough to taste some amazing examples during a 'wine tasting' session with The Joneses. You really do get the feeling of excellence in this area. The architecture, road signs, vineyards and the politeness of the people all enhance the experience.


Whilst I was trying to find a shop to buy some credit for my French mobile, I bumped into this girl pushing a wheelbarrow. Normally you would expect rubble, or perhaps manure being loaded into a wheelbarrow. Not this one, which was full to the brim with bottles of red wine. It was the village of Gevrey Chambertin darling after all !?!


I continued my search for shops, but they were all closed. Even the local post office was shut, how come? It was Monday, and shops are closed on a Monday in some villages, of course, how silly of me. My topping up of mobile credit would have to wait for another day. How very French.


I arrived in Méribel early yesterday evening. So how does it look? Difficult to tell, because it's been very cloudy, chilly and lightly snowing since I've got here. The forecast: temperatures to continue to drop with a few snow showers coming our way this week. It's looking to be a great start to the winter.


I'll keep you posted as always.


Martin