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[OTHER SPORTS? CLICK ON THE LINK FOR DETAILS OF OTHER SPORTS AND ACTIVE HOLIDAYS & CAMPS ON THE TOURPARTY HOME PAGE: SPORTS HOLIDAYS, CAMPS & TOURS.]

TOURPARTY SKIING & SNOWBOARDING SUMMER CAMPS & HOLIDAYS FEBRUARY HALF-TERM 2008
WINTER CAMP / HOLIDAY REPORT - LAAX, SWITZERLAND (EUROPE)

REPORT ON THE TOURPARTY FEBRUARY SNOWSPORTS CAMPS 2008

Our first Winter Snowboarding and Skiing Camps/Holidays to be held in Laax, Switzerland over two week in February, during the traditional February half-term period, were a huge success, we had a great group of people of all ages from around Europe and North America and further away participating in two awesome weeks of skiing and snowboarding in a great resort with loads of fantastic riding.

Our thanks to all the Coaches (Rick, Glen, Mark, Andy, Chris, Eddie Slavemonkey) and all those who booked with us for making it so good. Also to the staff in the hotel and Christian and the team helping with airport transfers etc.

We would also like to thank our sponsors for all their support - LINE Skis, Burton, Red and Anon.

Now you can read all about it and see the photos to find out what you missed!

Firstly, at the end of all our Camps and holidays we ask everyone for their comments and feedback and assessment of how the holiday has gone, the quality of the coaching, the resort and activities etc. This feedback will be online here soon.

Also there are some great photos (by Camp Director and professional photographer Rick Hutchings) of the week now available in the Galleries. To see all the photos just click on the links below, then click on the thumbnails for a larger version of each picture:

• Click on the link to view the Skiing and Snowboarding Camp Feb 2008, Laax, Switzerland - Action Photo Gallery.


• Click on the link to view the Skiing and Snowboarding Camp Feb 2008, Laax, Switzerland - Coaching Photo Gallery.


• Click on the link to view the Winter Skiing and Snowboarding Camp Feb 2008, Laax, Switzerland - General Photo Gallery.


• Click on the link to view the Winter Skiing and Snowboarding Camp Feb 2008, Laax, Switzerland - People Photo Gallery.

The following is a brief report about the Laax Camps by our junior Coach Chris McGuire to give you an idea what went on, but much better you book and come out yourselves to experience it and to have an unforgettable holiday!

For full details of 2009 dates and locations please see the homepage for skiing or snowboarding and click through to "Booking Step 2" where you will find dates and information on our holidays and camps in Laax, Switzerland (January to March 2009) and Les Deux Alpes, France (April 2009).

Don't miss out on a place, book now!

TOURPARTY SKI & SNOWBOARD HOLIDAY - 10-17 FEBRUARY 2008 - LAAX, SWITZERLAND

Everyone arrived in Zurich Airport on time and all of those who had the transfer with Rick and me were lucky enough to be entertained by the sights and sounds of Mr Phil Collins live on dvd for TWO FULL HOURS in the transfer coach! (Not to mention the beautiful scenery all around Switzerland!)

The camp as always got off to a good start with all the guests instantly making friends over the dinner table at the Hotel Casa Selva's pizzeria. After that first night's meeting there was a definite sense of anticipation in the air as everyone was so excited to get up on the slopes.

The first morning everyone was up bright and early for breakfast at 7.30am and once all had eaten and got their skis/ snowboards etc ready, we handed out the lift passes and packed lunches and headed up the hill. The first day is always good as everyone is always excited to see the resort and what it has to offer and there was no way that Laax was not going to impress, it is such a great resort for anyone who loves skiing and snowboarding!

As usual we had a full range of experience amongst all the guests, from virtual beginners to advanced and experienced freestyle and freeride skiers and snowboarders and so the Coaches Glen, Andy, Mark, Eddie Slavemonkey, Rick and spent time riding with everyone to ensure we could put people in the right groups for the week ahead.

After a fantastic first morning of shredding around the mountain, allowing everyone their ridding legs back, we headed to the "No Name" cafe which is situated at the top of the brilliant Laax Freestyle Park, offering a perfect viewing spot while you sit and eat lunch. That afternoon we split up a little more and some went and rode the Park while the rest carried on carving up the slopes.

The week continued in the same way and as the days people did start to get a little tired with all the incredible skiing and snowboarding on offer! However the riding did not flag and the high quality continued with people improving so much daily.

It was great to ride around and see just how well everyone was doing. For example Lera was improving with both heel and toe edge turns and popping much better off jumps while Katie was shredding on the rails popping in and out super good and throwing down really nice 180s!

Outside of the Freestyle Park too there was lots of progression with Glen's group (Aaliyah, Yasmeen, Hamsa and Sumayyah) doing perfect parallel turns and skiing faster than Glen himself! Chris's group were also impressing everyone, Kingston and Michael both improved their technique and managed even to slide the boxes and try grabs and 180s off jumps. Sally was doing well also, throwing 180s both ways and sliding the boxes like a Pro!

Mark's Snowboard group to were sliding around with style, Lera was improving technique, Luke was doing big 5s in the pipe and Sophie was doing the flat down box with so much steeze she made it look to easy. Also Fern was doing good sliding around on most of the slopes after only one weeks riding! Eddie and Andy's group were doing really well too, improving on Pipe and Switch riding and also popping off everything on the hill.

Off the slopes there was great banter with everyone getting on extremely well... it all added up to an unforgettable week culminating in a presentations session with free souvenir Tourparty Camp t-shirts for everyone. Our thanks to all those who came out - see you next time!

TOURPARTY SKI & SNOWBOARD HOLIDAY - 17-24 FEBRUARY 2008 - LAAX, SWITZERLAND

As quickly as the first week finished the second began!

We set off to Zurich with Christian (our driver) and of course Phil Collins accompanying us and a number of tired (but happy!) guests returning home - they were all asleep as soon as we left the hotel car park for the airport!

When we arrived at Zurich airport everyone said their goodbyes and Rick and I got ready to welcome the new guests arriving for their week's skiing and snowboarding.

Everyone arrived ok and in true Tourparty style everyone began to get on instantly, so we hopped back in the coach and began the two hour Phil Collins sing along back upto Laax, with high anticipation for the week ahead and fully hyped and recharged Coaches ready to treat everyone to an awesome week.

The next morning everyone was up bright and early and ready to ride so we all ate breakfast quickly and hit the hill. Some guests who were staying for two weeks already knew the drill but for the others the resort was new so we started again by showing everyone around and helping people get back their riding legs.

After a couple of hours on the hill and lunch at the "No Name" everyone was already improving. Chloe and Ryan (completely new to skiing) were blowing away their Ski instructor and even on their first day were improving at an intimidating rate! Respect to Simon as well, also pretty new to skiing but he caught up with Glen's group in no time and started doing jumps and boxes in the Park incredibly quickly!

The Snowboarders too were throwing down and Milton Keynes (UK) locals Carrie and Paige were soon showing their coach Mark a thing or two about rail tech! The rest of the snowboard group were also riding really impressively with Will showing loads of determination to overcome some of the pretty scary boxes and Tom and James going huge over the kickers, allowing Rick to take some pictures to impress the ladies!

After three days in ski school Chloe and Ryan started skiing with me and were ready to join the others in the Park, quickly progressing to hitting boxes and kickers! Wow! Also towards the end of the week Abduraheem and Imran impressed everyone too by showing us all how its done when it comes to 180s!

Sadly the week was over all too quickly but after an incredible 6 days of riding and plenty of fun off the slopes too with ice skating etc, it was time for the final presentations and free t-shirts...

So until next time... KEEP RIDING!

Tourparty Coaching Staff "Shooting Gallery" style! (Rick, Glen, Andy, Chris, Mark and Nigel)

Who are Tourparty? How do you contact Tourparty? Click on the link to find out all about Tourparty.

Tourparty Skiing & Snowboarding Camps and Hoidays in Laax, Switzerland, February 2008