My Mate ‘Slippers’

Last Thursday and Friday I had my first ski of this winter over in Tignes. My mate and fellow ski instructor Slippers Jackson stayed with me in Méribel overnight, prior to us driving across on both days. We were also joined by another instructor Bryan Hogg on the Friday.

It was brilliant being back on skis again, if not a little wobbly at first. We had stunning weather on both days, plus the snow was pretty good as well. It didn’t take long for the banter to start between Slippers and me, after all we have known each other for many many winters.

I first met Slippers about fourteen summers ago when we were both mountain bike guides over in the Portes du Soleil. We would say the odd polite hello to each other, but that was about it mainly because we were working for two different companies. That soon changed the next winter during a ski instructing training course and assessment, we recognised each other again and instantly hit it off and became very strong friends.

I don’t often talk about the process of becoming a fully qualified ski instructor, because it could easily be interpreted as being big-headed, but it is extremely difficult to pass the very strict exams. Slippers and I for many autumns and winters helped and supported each other along this emotional path. We have shared some incredible experiences, some very rewarding, but also some rather unpleasant down right failures and rejections mostly to do with the European Speed Test. The Euro Speed Test is a stringent Giant Slalom race that both of us really struggled with and had to travel around France and other Alpine nations in order to attempt. I even had two full ski seasons down in New Zealand solely to race train, to help me achieve my goals, no work, no income, just an investment in self improvement!?!

On Friday we both watched with admiration a French second tier team train their Giant Slalom  athletes. And to be honest, even though Slippers and I eventually reached our goals of passing the Euro Speed Test, these chaps were something else. But without banging on about stuff the average holidaymaker wouldn’t understand, let me move on. Both Slippers and I absolutely love the sport of skiing and the high mountains, we both love teaching, and we both adore passing on our passion to anyone who is willing to spend time with us during the winters.

But, there is a difference between Slippers and I. Boy oh boy has he been through the wars to get to this stage of his career, and I’m not talking about gaining the Full French Equivalence of qualification that not even most of the local aspirants get to. Since I’ve known Slippers he finally gained a much needed hip replacement, no mean feat. He told me on Thursday that his other hip is on the way out as well. He also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis!?!

He is one of the most positive chaps I’ve ever spent time with, especially in the mountains. So when I received a phone call last winter to help cover for him and teach as a replacement because he was unable to work for a few days due to a ‘fall’, I did my best to help out. On a chairlift last week I asked him more about this event and he eventually opened up and said that he had fractured his pelvis in two places. But he got back on skis within a week and continued teaching. How very humbling…. The next time I feel a little stiff and tired during the winter I think I shall just shut up and get on with it!

Blimey, that got a little heavy. But listen, one of the awesome things about being a ski instructor other than living in the high mountains each winter, is sharing the passion of the sport. I get to meet some amazing characters, and briefly share experiences of everyday lives that I wouldn’t normally come across. Bring on the next instalments.

Martin     

Morph’s Girlfriend

You know how we all slip into a routine in life, setting the alarm at the same time each morning then heading out to do the commute, at near as damn it the same time. Maybe the weekly shop is a routine as well, possibly the same running route for fitness, or even planning your week around your childs regular after school activities. So when a routine is broken, life seems a very different place doesn’t it?

My routine was completely changed this week, plus a change of culture was thrown into the mix. Half way down through France I stopped overnight in the wine country of Burgundy, this time Nuits St Georges. When I woke up and went for a walk around town, my senses were immediately sent into overdrive. There was an occasional strong whiff of baking pains au chocolat, the odd whiff of fresh bread as people walked past me with baguettes under their arms, and of course the odd whiff of a camel cigarette as beret wearing men wafted past.

The change of routine was like a breath of fresh air, even the local supermarket roadside advert painted on the side of a house made me smile. How very French.

But what really made me chuckle though was seeing this tiny statue holding an umbrella in the middle of the cobbled street. I’m going to call her Morphette, surely she is Morph’s girlfriend, a Tony Hart creation. In the UK I doubt very much that Morphette would be allowed to display herself ‘dressed’ like this. But here in France I’m sure there was a big fanfare during Morphette’s unveiling with giggling kids, proud looking Mums and happy looking chaps in attendance!

Tomorrow I’m catching up with my mate Slippers Jackson for our first ski of the winter season. We will be leaving Méribel first thing in the morning and driving across to Tignes to get our first few wobbles of the season out of the way. However, I hope we can sneak in a quick pain au chocolat before our first lift. Looks like a new routine is about to take hold again.

Martin

P.S. So how is Méribel at the moment? Stunning as ever, granted there’s very little natural snow cover right now. However, I went for a run this afternoon up and around the Altiport area and was very surprised by seeing pretty big mounds of man made snow. lined up down the piste.      

Freezin’ Planet

 

Some of you who know me will be aware how pathetic I am in conversations about TV programmes. It’s not because I’m rude, it’s just that, well, how do I say it…. I don’t watch TV. Phew, that didn’t feel so bad making it public.

Some of my regular clients are stunned when they mention household names and popular programmes, and I haven’t got a clue about what and who they are talking about. According to many clients apparently I’m supposed to look like Heston Bloomingtal, or someone named similar to that. For ages I had no idea if that was a compliment until I Googled him; still not sure!?! As for X Dancing, Come Factor, Big Bother and The Apprenticeship ……. completely lost.

So why am I banging on about TV programmes, let me explain. My wife Harriet reckoned last night that I was looking a little pooped due to a hefty workload recently. She suggested I relaxed in front of the TV, after nearly choking on my glass of wine, I succumbed.

She kindly switched on the TV for me, and found a channel called BBC1. OMG, what an amazing experience? In front of me was a visual feast of stunning, beautiful scenery with exotic wildlife. This wasn’t any old landscape I’m talking about, it was the Arctic, or was it the Antarctic, not sure. Note to self, must concentrate more instead of just focusing on the photography.

Speaking of which, after being reminded about snowy landscapes last night, here are a few of my favourite photographs from last winter.

They are in no particular order of preference.

Just fun times recorded, in the gorgeous surroundings of Méribel.

 

So I’m now officially very excited about this winter. I’ll be leaving Leamington Spa this weekend, and arriving in Méribel on Monday for yet another winter season of fun and adventures. What is it that makes us winter sport lovers so childlike with excitement? It’s tough trying to describe it to non-skiers isn’t it? But us skiers only need to nod to each other, don’t we?

Martin

P.S. That TV programme I mentioned earlier, don’t know if it’s well known or not, I think it’s called ‘Freezin Planet’. Check it out and spread the word, I reckon it could be very popular.  ‘A la semaine prochaine’.

Hard Drive Depths

 

Just a short post this time due to an endless but important ‘List of things to do’! It’s mad to think that in less than two weeks I’ll be back home in the French Alps again. I’ve hardly had time to ponder on such thoughts, but this morning it hit home whilst searching out these photos.

 

Deep in the depths of my now bulging photography files within the hard drive I’ve been able to find some shots that haven’t been published before. And what a treat losing my thoughts reflecting on last season, and of course day dreaming about the next one which is just around the corner.

The ski shows have been and gone, the days are definitely getting shorter, ski themed articles are free flowing in the weekend newspapers and even a TV programme last night was called ‘Will it Snow?’. I’ve just attended my three year refresher for Outdoor Emergency First Aid at the Tamworth Snowdome, which felt weird wearing salopettes again. Plus I’ve been taking loads of enquiries for this winter as well.

But for some reason it still feels as though the winter is further away than it is. Maybe that’s because it hasn’t turned that chilly yet, but also because my summer work continues at full pelt. In eleven days time I’ll be leaving Leamington Spa, but will try to squeeze in another post beforehand.

Martin

P.S. Hope your fitness is going well?