ISIA Training & Teaching

As the busy half term period winds down and for most exams loom, it’s time to catch up with the ISIA training progress, and see how things are planning out for the rest of the season and how the last few weeks have gone. For me, the half term weeks were a fantastic time. Lots of teaching and some really fun people to ski with meant they positively flew by and though by the end my legs were demanding a rest it was a hugely satisfying and rewarding experience. It certainly confirmed for me that being out here was absolutely the right decision, and that I’m enjoying teaching more every time I get out on the slopes. I’m not sure what could be better than waking up, pulling back the shutters, being greeted with the first rays of early morning sunshine, a snow covered peak, and thinking, “yes, that’s my office for the day”. Just perfect!

Outside of teaching everyone’s been training hard, wasting none of the off hours and putting in those last few turns before the BASI exams in a week’s time. That’s not to say we haven’t been training hard off snow too. We cheered on the lads in the six nations, supped a few choice drinks in the Farinet (whilst trying & failing to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry) and engaged in sunset drinks at 1936 after a chilled social Saturday afternoon a week back. Boast of the week was Simon claiming he could boot ski the whole way down from Ruinette (which we almost pulled him on)… followed closely by Archie’s shout of “180!” followed moments later by both his ski tips impaled in the snow and his body very far from an upright position. Classic.

For me, though I don’t have BASI exams coming up (having passed my CSIA ones in Andorra before half term), I’m going to be skiing hard and making the most of the next few weeks of training. Once everyone’s on course I’m somewhat tempted to join  the dark side and see what it’s like to scoot around the mountain (read, “fall over a lot on Les Essert”) on a board. If anyone fancies giving me a few tips about how to stay upright that’d be wonderful!

All in all it’s been a great few weeks with no doubt more to come!

As usual here’s a few images of the weeks gone by. First one of the icicles up at the top of Mont Fort.

Next, some of the group (and friends), relaxing at 1936.

And finally a panorama of Verbier taken on the ski down from Attelas. We really do live in an amazing place!