Mountains and snow are cold - and other interesting facts...

After a couple of weeks of some really nice weather, winter has finally landed. The first week of the course was duly seen out with some drinking shenanigans in Zermatt, with nothing than a quick bottling in the club to report. Luckily, being one of the old gits in the group, I had already left when all this went on. However, Saturday was definitely a hangover day - and the guilt was even offset by the weather being so bad that the whole lift system was shut for the day! Bargain.

Sunday was therefore earmarked for skiing, to practise and have a bit of a blast on the slopes. And then Winter arrived. The temperature up top was about -30 degrees C, with a windchill on top of that. So the day was punctuated by cups of hot chocolate and breaks in the restaurant - call me a wimp, but when the feeling goes from your teeth, it is definitely time for a break... The picture below was taken on Sunday, and the smile on my face is frozen on. What you can't see is my hand with icicles taking the photo! Oh and check out the start of a classic goggle mark!

The last two days haven't been much warmer, so the layers have been piled on and the toes have been rubbed at every opportunity. But the course is now coming towards crunch time with only three days left to convince our trainer that I am worthy of getting my BASI level 2 qualification. So far feedback has been ok and we had our written exam today. Having had a list of "potential" topics from our trainer the previous day, we were fairly well prepared! So fingers crossed (and anything you can cross) and here's hoping I can actually go to Verbier as a qualified instructor. Otherwise, I will be serving beers to any of you who come to visit us in my shiny bar job... ;o)

Only one week until this blog's title will actually be true - Vicki arrives on Tuesday 2nd December, and I am travelling over the valley on Saturday to set up our home for the next 5 months. Roll on the ski season!

Let it snow. let it snow, let it snow...

As nice as all those blue skies were, the snow was starting to get a little worn. So we have just had a beautiful dump today - which did mean giving our lessons in white-out conditions - which is set to continue tomorrow. However, Sunday is due for bright skies again. Darn the luck...

There is definitely something rather magical about sitting watching falling snow. Ideally it should be done with a hot chocolate, in front of a roaring fire and in the arms of a loved one. If Vicki was here, it would be the perfect scene. But enough of the "woe is me" narrative, I have now completed my first week of the course. It has gone fairly well, and my scores at the mid-point are encouraging, if not quite there yet. But with another week of training after the weekend to go, I am quietly confident of doing ok. And let's face it, if I were to fail, the backlash from Vicki is enough to ficus anyone's mind!!

Not alot to say when all I do everyday is ski, but it's nice to hear the jealousy emanating from all corners of the world! Visitors will of course be most welcome in Verbier, as long as they buy us some food and drinks when they are there. In return, we will attempt to set them up with chalet girls / boys as appropriate or simply show them the best slopes / bars / saunas (delete as appropriate).

So until next time, think of me with a big grin on my face up to my knees in snow!

Cheers all!

The Matterhorn at sundown...

This is the view I have had for the last week and a bit. Tough gig I know...

We were due for some fresh snow to make up for the sunny days over the weekend, and the Zermatt gods duly obliged. So another powder day today... Ah well, if you're going to do this skiing lark, you might as well enjoy it.

Training is well underway now having spent most of the day doing the early phases of beginner skiing - snowploughs etc. And doing runs on one ski was interesting, especially going up on a t-bar! Not all that exciting but the few free runs we had definitely made up for it.

More to follow in the coming weeks. Enjoy the rain! ;o)

Alone in Zermatt...

Well, it's been a week already since I left rainy London to come to Zermatt in Switzerland for three weeks. The aim being that I will then have the required qualification to take up the job waiting for me in Verbier. So far, things have been nigh on perfect. Blue skies, powder, great snow, no crowds... just heavenly really.

The hard work starts tomorrow though with two weeks of BASI training. The trainers are notorious for not letting small things slip through, so my skiing will need to be spot on! But my first week of performance training has already helped iron out some flaws I never knew I had!

The weather forecast is good, with some snow due sometime this week to replenish the fresh tracks we put down last Wednesday. So far it still feels very much like a holiday, albeit a strange one without Vicki. A tough two weeks before we can meet up in Verbier but it's all worth it for a whole season of ski and snow. Oh and some work too!

There will be some photos to come once I a) take some and b) figure out how to upload them!

Hope everyone in the UK and elsewhere is good and we really look forward to showing you the sights and sounds of Verbier once we get our head around it.

Take care, I'm off to look at the weather and get ready for more skiing!