Couple of weeks ago I went Skiing in France, seven days of spectacular conditions, been doing an Alpine trip on and off for about eight years. You can cover vast distances in a day in relatively thin air, it’s 3k metres altitude and yet, you come home with more energy than when you left.
I learned to ski here in Scotland, did a lot as a teenager and continued with my wife until we had kids, I had my own equipment when I was young but I’ve always hired on these more recent Alpine trips. This time I decided I’d buy a my own stuff again, partly to make sure I don’t make excuses to avoid continuing with the skiing, now I’ve spent the money I’ll have to do it till I drop just to get my money’s worth 😂
Well, now you seen the Alps, here’s Scotland today. Still good fun but I’d forgotten how short the runs are. There are three thing you need for a good days skiing in Scotland, good access , good snow and good visibility….if you get one of those, you’re probably not getting the other two!😂
Heard you were away skiing ... Alps look great ... not been skiing in decades, but remember the joys of the Lecht .. start the run in decent snow but run out of the bottom on ice with an inch of meltwater on top ... definitely didn't want to end up on your arse in that! 😆
They have a glow in the dark underside but my feet were cold, so despite being Atomic, I don’t think they’re radioactive. These are referred to by dudes as “Bent Chatlers” an all mountain design by a Californian skier and artist for off piste powder, high speed carving and as I’ve found out, slush, ice, mud and heather.😁 They’re also designed to look cool, everyone is cool in the alps, in Scotland they just cold!
Has to be said you look cool as in your ski kit, do you ordinarily present with such sartorial elegance ie is this level of apparel attained for work etc or is this care reserved for Aviemore and the Alps only as part of the "passport".
Those lovely avante garde skis remind me a little (in an inverse way) of one our son Joes numerous surfboards one of which is handmade for him by a fellow surfing buddy also a surf board builder. It's longitudinal contrasting colours of Balsa wood.
It's a longboard built for "those" days at Fistral 5 minutes from St Eval where he and his South African wife live.
It is a thing of natural beauty light and quick and when he does bend it his pal nails it back together again as he just loves that it's used and not stuck on a bloody wall somewhere gathering dust.
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta 1999 Indigo Blue +8 2009 4/4 Sport Green prev 1993 Con Green +8 prev
A great activity although now only able to relive in my mind fast sweeping turns. We were persuaded by friends who had annual skiing trips to France. My wife and I took lessons at the local artificial ski slope in early January 1983 and joined a party of friends a couple of weeks later in Meribel for 10 days. Powder had just fallen and we dispensed with the bunny slopes in the first few days. Such fabulous conditions allowed the bug to bite for both of us leading to many further holidays sometimes twice in a year for myself. Although mostly in France we skied in Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland, Italy and Scotland by then having our own equipment. Later still in Canada and during my sailing era in early 2002 we formed a small group to visit Bulgarai via plane and bus from our winter layup in Antalya, Turkey.
Richard
2018 Roadster 3.7 1966 Land Rover S2a 88 2024 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 1945 Guzzi Airone
Well, now you seen the Alps, here’s Scotland today. Still good fun but I’d forgotten how short the runs are. There are three thing you need for a good days skiing in Scotland, good access , good snow and good visibility….if you get one of those, you’re probably not getting the other two!😂
Would agree with that Ewan. I recall staying with skiing chums in Glasgow who took us to Glenshee. Some great gun barrels to ski with a kick turn at the top to repeat. Then a thin mist appeared causing a white out. Found myself dropping into one with the compression on my knees increasing way beyond expected as I hit the unseen bottom - a really weird experience which lasted longer than I would have wished. Doubtless I wouldn't have attempted if I could have seen what I was letting myself in for
Richard
2018 Roadster 3.7 1966 Land Rover S2a 88 2024 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 1945 Guzzi Airone
Ski Sunday was from Slovenia, Kranjska-gora three weeks back. I do that steep hill each year. Slopes generally are limited in all Slovenia resorts but Italian and Austrian resorts are very close. Still you don’t want the endless mountain when you get ‘old’. It’s, small hill ski, coffee, another run, loo, snaps or bombardino, loo, another run perhaps but lunch is beckoning, Didn’t ski last season due to new knee but back on the hill in a couple of weeks . Not many runs left in me sadly. MM PS First ski holiday was in early 70s in Saas-Fee, learnt in jeans, froze to death, got locked out of the hotel somewhat drunk and we spent the night in the outside boiler room ! Once went on a genuinely very cheap ski hol in Zell am See but put up in Schloss Prielau by the lake, cooks, unlimited drinks, ski guide etc now, The Porsche Hotel. Fond memories of the mammories our ski guide displayed to all in the towns disco . Breakfast the next morning was a bit embarrassing for her.