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TOURPARTY SKIING & SNOWBOARDING SUMMER CAMPS & HOLIDAYS MARCH 2008
WINTER CAMP / HOLIDAY REPORT - LES DEUX ALPES, FRANCE (EUROPE)
REPORT ON THE TOURPARTY SNOWSPORTS CAMPS MARCH 2008
Although we had another, larger Tourparty Snowsports Camp running at the BRITS in Laax Switzerland from 29 March to 5 April 2008 we were pleased to be able to offer a smaller, specialist Camp for a group of irish skiers keen to improve their freestyle technique and to enjoy a week on snow in Les Deux Alpes, France.
One of our team Craig "Humo" Hume, an experienced mountaineer and skier, was pleased to have the job of hosting the group, albeit he was a little nervous of their reputation for partying which seemed to exceed even his own! (And it turned out Craig had good reason to worry because this group really were up for living life to the full day and night!) See Craig's enthusiastic report about the excellent week he had in their company below.
Our thanks to Craig for all his hard work over the week, also to Enrica, the hotel manager at La Belle Etoile and her team, and to the group themselves for their enthusiasm, energy and sense of fun - we never thought Craig could meet his match, you proved us wrong!
Also Craig has provided photos of the week and these are now available in the Galleries. To see all the photos just click on the link below, then click on the thumbnails for a larger version of each picture:
The following is a brief report about the March 08 Tourparty Camp in Les Deux Alpes by Coach Craig Hume, 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 - 29 MARCH TO 5 APRIL 2008 - LES DEUX ALPES, FRANCE
Saturday 29th of March 2008 saw the arrival of a small, dedicated group of friends in the usual Tourparty/Snotribe Camp location of Les Deux Alpes, France. This Camp was something of a first for Tourparty, much smaller than normal with Rob, Dave, Senan, Siobhan and Mark all being in their mid to late twenties and my only group of the week. However all were super keen to get stuck into their skiing and we headed off up the hill within an hour of their arrival... and what an afternoon it was! We had the usual April bluebird skies, bright sunshine and fantastic snow, which has been a common theme across the alps this season.
We used the afternoon session to get skiing, blow off the travel cobwebs and for me to get to know everyone... it soon became apparent that this was going to be an awesome week, both up on the hill and down in resort during the evenings, with the huge array of pubs, clubs, carnage and dancing to be found in L2A for those who look!
You see, these five riders were from the Emerald Isle and were just as keen to explore the wilder side of the nightlife as much as the park and powder on the hill! I have to also mention the matching one piece suits of a shimmering gold/copper type fabric that Rob and Mark were sporting all week, truly legendary, with the whole town appreciating these super styley riders!
After a magic first afternoon we were soon back having a quick pint of cold refreshment in town... I seem to remember my first instruction from Rob for his ambitions for the week being "take us to breaking point" ... so, it would have been rude not too!
The 4 guys and Siophan were all relative newcomers to freeride and freestyle skiing, not that this had stopped them from trying their hand in the freestyle snow parks of Europe before, and it soon became very clear that this group were determined to push themselves, with little fear! I could see straight away that they just needed to be watched and given some coaching on developing basic tricks, starting small and building up.
Our first full day was beautiful again but the wind was very strong on the hill. We spent the morning riding around to warm up and exploring the mountain, giving me a chance to see how everyone skied and the chance to consider how to help everyone improve their skiing and style as well as their freestyle tricks and freeriding.
Soon we were trying some nice 180's, concentrating on technique... and with a few pointers the team were starting to look for natural jibs on piste and starting to really enjoy their new lease of freestyle life!
Unfortunately, the strong winds closed the top of the mountain, so we moved down the hill a bit with the masses... however, this didn't stop these guys practicing what they'd learnt. They all improved so quickly.
The week progressed, with a "down day" for weather when it dumped for 24 hours but if the forecast was to be believed we knew it would be pushed out by a cold front and replaced with cloudless skies once again.... leaving behind some great pow to be ridden in the hidden parts of the mountain... or so I hoped!
We were not disappointed... it was time to get out and find some of the steep and deep good stuff... and we soon did on the main face of the glacier. Some good face shots and fast powder turns had everyone smiling (and thighs burning!!).... we had a fantastic morning which also provided an opportunity to consider some potential avalanche hazards and risk areas following the previous heavy snow / high wind weather combination...
Having cruised the pow all morning we headed for the Slide Freestyle park again after lunch and started working on hitting kickers and the step-up proved super popular again.
This group were so competitive with each other that as soon as one pioneer tried something the others would have no choice but to follow and this was the case when Senan landed the first 180 up the step-up... this soon led to a race to out-do each other, which was perfect for me as I could point out the mistakes and help everyone progress... and pick up the pieces occasionally ;-)
It was brilliant, and the days were long as we often returned to town for 1600... suitably worn out! The Hotel Belle Etoile jacuzzi and sauna proved as popular as ever!
From here on in it was all about practising switch skiing, with everyone now landing 180's and skiing switch with so much style, it was fantastic to see... morning warm ups would often be jib sessions around the mountain followed by afternoons in the park, hitting the Big Air kicker... again, it only took one of the group to step up to the plate and make the first hit.. then the others would surely follow as a right of passage!
This time it was Rob, who was loving mixing it with the Belgian Pro-riders (who were in Les Deux Alpes competing that week in a national comp) during their practice sessions... soon the sight of a shimmering one-piece flying overhead and returning to earth on the sweetspot of the landing was a regular occurrence!
Of Course all of this progress wasn't going to happen without several very big stacks, and I think a special shout has to go to Siobhan, who seemed determined to show us just how indestructible she was! Her best happened when she was celebrating landing her first sweet big kicker so much that she caught her edge whilst macking it at the bottom of the landing and duly ate snow... not that this would stop her getting straight back up there and doing it again!
By the end of the week the group as a whole had improved so much. Their skiing was much more stylish and their techniques were dialled... Mark landing a very nice 360 up the step-up once again moved the bar up a notch for the others! So, with all this competitiveness I thought it only fair to hold our very own Tourparty Slopestyle Competition!
Unfortunately, Rob had to withdraw from this on the last day due to injuring his wrist earlier in the morning going massive on the step-up... fair play and he was very unlucky.
So the comp was on. First up was Senan, who managed a little mute grab, followed by a very nice floaty 180... unfortunately his revert scrubbed off too much speed for a 3rd hit. Siophan got her 3 hits out of the course with consistent grabs, but the winner had to be Mark, with a sweet little 360 on his first hit, with two different grabs off the last two hits!
So Mark gets the bragging rights... although a VERY special mention must go to Dave, for going huge attempting his 180's off kickers, unfortunately managing to get to 90 then consistantly falling onto his face but he was never put off and kept on trying.... they were very stylish, so I think he would have pushed Mark all the way had he been able to land one on his feet... he gets the effort prize though!
All in all, the week was exceptional. All skiiers improved 150%, both in general skiing and in learning their freestyle tricks and refining techniques with a bit of guidance. All this whilst maintaining a heavy social schedule during the evening - and I have to admit, they were probably the best group I've ever had to work with in the mountains, so thanks guys... I hope to see you all in the mountains again soon!
So until next time... KEEP RIDING!
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