Wednesday morning

Another sunny morning on the piste. I skied with the beginners and nobody succeeded in wiping me out (although one or two made a pretty good effort!). We managed to descend the blue twice in the lesson with time to spare, having managed it only once (and having run out of time) yesterday, and the skiers remarked how much easier it seemed today. Progress indeed!

The beginners (plus Hannah who paid us a brief visit)

Years ago, people used to ski in interesting hats, which was always fun, but the recent very sensible move to wearing helmets had stopped that. Now, however, it is possible to buy novelty helmet covers, as modelled here by Harrison and Harley:

The chicken and the elephant go skiing

I am hoping to have some more photos from people to post later.

Beginners' progress

Our beginners have made really good progress over the first three days. We started by getting the hang of things on a very gentle slope just adjacent to the hotel on the first morning:

During the afternoon, we went up a chairlift and tried a different piste just at the top. On the Monday morning, we took a quick hop on the bus to the neighbouring village of Chantemerle and used the beginners' piste there which had the great advantage of "un tapis magique" (magic carpet), which is a conveyor belt to return the skiers to the top of the slope to try again. By the end of the second afternoon, the beginners were developing some nice controlled turns.

Le tapis magique

This morning, the instructors felt brave enough to take us all up to the top of a "blue" run and ski down it. The green runs aren't open yet, so this was going to be quite a challenge. I'm delighted to report that all our beginners successfully made it down the run with very few meltdowns. Aphra may now be in line for a special "taking down Mr Court" award as she managed to knock me completely off my feet (and skis) at one point. Needless to say, Aphra came off worse but fortunately was only winded!

Here are a few of our heroes about to ski off a snow mound:

Aphra

Freya

James

Monday skiing

More good skiing today and all have returned intact.  Here are a couple of photos by Louis Rawlinson from this morning.  I may have more later.

First day on the pistes

We were all very relieved and pleased to find that the snow cannons had been hard at work and there were good pistes to ski on in Serre Chevalier today. The more advanced skiers went up a couple of lifts and found some nice pistes at the top and the beginners were taken to an area adjacent to the hotel this morning and were able to cope with a chairlift this afternoon. All are going to Chantemerle by bus (about 15 minutes) tomorrow to try the pistes over there.

Higher intermediates (Photo: Louis Rawlinson)

Photo: Lily Simon 

Photo: Lily Simon

Photo: Mr Edlin

Photo: Mr Edlin

Photo: Mr Edlin

Off-piste on the glacier

The advanced group enjoyed a session off-piste on the glacier at Pic Blanc, which is the highest point at 3300m.

Prize giving on the piste

The beginners after their final session. More amazing was the news that they'd skied two black pistes in their first week. A wonderful achievement, well done!

The Intermediate group made so much progress this week, most of them only had one week's experience. Great work!

The Advanced group. Having skied with them during the week, I found it tough work on the legs to keep up. They were fantastic and very talented skiers.

Our ESF instructors, thank you all so much for an unforgettable week. They were so kind to all the pupils and made us all feel relaxed.

Frederic (Beginners), Philippe (Advanced), Bouli (Intermediates)

Group photo  -  what a lovely way to finish off a brilliant week. 

Wish you were here?

I have some shots from yesterday yet to post, but I thought I'd just show you what it's like on the piste at the moment.

Not bad ...

Progress from the beginners

The first photo is one that Mr Edlin took earlier in the week when the beginners were still practising on the very gentle beginners' piste:

By this morning, I had to chase them all over the mountain. The second photo shows us stepping sideways up the steep approach to a bubble lift. From the top, the beginners decided that they would like to try to ski a red, which they all accomplished. Mrs Liley joined us and was most impressed, deciding that Ashleigh was Queen of the red run.

This afternoon, Mr Edlin skied with them and took this photo at the top of a red run:

"Onesie Wednesday" and a birthday

This year's onesies weren't perhaps quite as spectacular as last year's panda, zebra and dinosaur, but Tom's giant Christmas jumper and Robert's raccoon are nonetheless pretty good.  Birthday boy Harry is sporting the reindeer helmet cover that the staff bought for him.

More photos from Tuesday

Here are some more of Mr Edlin's photos from Tuesday:

Adam, ready to go ...

Harrison and George relaxing on the balcony in the sunshine

A particularly nice panoramic shot captured up at the top by Mr Edlin

The girls admire the scenery

I know he also took a nice shot of the beginners' group, which I don't seem to have, so I'll post it later if I can get hold of it.

Skiing above the clouds

There was a good deal of cloud filling the valleys on Tuesday and most of our skiers escaped up above it.  Here are some photos:

Tuesday's intermediate group (it varies!)

Mr Edlin and Georgina

Looking dashing in my new sunglasses ...
(I was about to hurtle down a run too flat even to be classified as a green)

Monday: intermediate and advanced skiers

Mr Edlin spent Monday skiing in the sunshine with the intermediate and advanced groups:

Henry has a few issues getting the boot on the right foot ...

The intermediates at dizzying heights, 2700m

Panoramic shot in the bubble

Girls on top

The advanced group after a rollercoaster black

Mrs Liley's photos from day 1

After the first day

An excellent first day's skiing on Sunday, and I have some more photos from Mr Edlin and Mrs Liley that I hope to post later.