02 Mar 2002
WEEK 8
SNOW AND CHALET REPORT
MORE Snow snow snow snow SNOW ...
Last week's 3 day dump has turned into
10 days of solid snow! Over 1.5m up top and close to
a metre of fresh at resort level. Les Arcs is back to
looking like it should - and with so many trees to help
visibility, there's nothing to stop us getting out to
play in it.
Mostly we've been hitting the slopes hard
all week, but Wednesday was a massive night out in Arc
1800, with nearly 30 of us descending on Le Bowling
and L'Apokalypse.
Friday was the start of the Ripcurl Freeride
in Les Arcs (the last stop on the IFSA freeride tour),
with some of the world's best skiers, boarders and telemarkers
competing for the gnarliest line down the front face
of the Aiguille Rouge.
For a laugh, Steph and Tony took part
in the amateurs, and the final will be held tomorrow
(Monday) due to bad weather forcing cancellation over
the weekend. Big bonus was getting to spend Friday afternoon
skiing with some amazing riders and showing them round
the best spots in 'our' resort. Definitely cool to see
so many surprised faces at how much good terrain Les
Arcs has to offer!
Friday night was a massive one to celebrate
John's last night in resort and Toby's birthday.
 
Starting in the chalet with Dave on tequila
duty and Katie plying everyone with mars bar vodka (2
mars bars, one litre of vodka, on a gentle cycle in
the dishwasher - works like a charm), it didn't take
long for everyone to get into the mood. By the time
we got up to the Mont Blanc for their first School Disco
of the season we were all pretty much worse for wear.
John held up well through downing 3 pints,
then stumbled at the evil concotion Tony came up with
to see him off (literally). Rick failed to pace himself
and had to be nursed by Jola. And, Rhod, now out of
hospital and off the antibiotics, celebrated in his
usual style and had to be carried home too.
  
No idea what was going on with everyone
so pissed up, but it will definitely go down as a night
to remember!
Saturday has seen the arrival of the two
new guys in the chalet - Pete and Dan, who have been
put through their paces on their first day on the slopes
and will no doubt be feeling slightly sore tomorrow.
Sorry guys ... Easy to forget how hard the first few
days are before you get your legs back!
Snow news ...
After 10 days of pretty solid dumping,
the snow is officially gorgeous. Although the visibility
hasn't been the best, not having the sun on it has kept
it in pristine condition. Plus now the school holidays
are over, there's no-one around (apart from 60 pro skiers
and boarders!) to track it all out!
The trees around Vallandry and the Rock
Garden (Arc 1600) have done us proud. Waiting a few
days for it to settle before we hit the serious stuff
as the avalanche risk is 4/5 just now. Goes without
saying BE CAREFUL.
Helicopter trip into Italy planned for
Tuesday ... been waiting for this all season - can't
wait! :o)
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