RETURN TO THE DIRTTRIBE MOUNTAIN BIKING HOME PAGE // RETURN TO THE MUTRIBE MULTI-ACTIVITY HOME PAGE // RETURN TO THE TOURPARTY SKIING HOME PAGE // RETURN TO THE TOURPARTY SNOWBOARDING HOME PAGE // RETURN TO THE TRIBOOST TRIATHLON HOME PAGE

[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 APRIL 2008
WINTER CAMP / HOLIDAY REPORT - LES DEUX ALPES, FRANCE (EUROPE)

REPORT ON THE TOURPARTY SNOWSPORTS CAMPS APRIL 2008

The tremendous success of the earlier Winter Tourparty Camps held in Laax, Switzerland over the half-term weeks in February and at the BRITS in March meant that there was a lot of expectation the Tourparty Snowsports Camp in Les Deux Alpes, France in April. However we were not to be disappointed with another fantastic group of people of all ages from around Europe and North America and further away arriving for what proved to be another great week in this snow-guaranteed resort we love to return to year on year.

Fortunately the majority of our Coaching team from the BRITS 08 Camp the week before were able to transfer over to Les Deux Alpes and provide the same top quality coaching as well as serve as tremendous hosts for all our guests. Our thanks therefore to all the team (Rick, Glen, Mark and Chris), and all those who booked with us, for making it so good. Also to the staff in La Belle Etoile hotel, lead by our favourite hotel manager in the world, Enrica!

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 April 2008, Les Deux Alpes, France - Tourparty Loving L2A.

The following is a brief report about the Les Deux Alpes Camp 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 - 5 TO 12 APRIL 2008 - LES DEUX ALPES, FRANCE

After an awesome week in Laax for the BRITS 08 the coaching staff and some "two week campers" set off early on Saturday 5 April 2008 to drive through Switzerland to France to pick up the participants for the Les Deux Alpes Camp who were arriving at Lyon airport. Despite continued problems at Terminal 5 back in the UK and the challenges of squeezing people and baggage on to transport everyone arrived in Les Deux Alpes in good spirits and ready to get up on the hill riding. The atmosphere was buzzing as everyone got to know each other and settled into La Belle Etoile hotel.

After an early night on Saturday we all came down for breakfast early to make the first lifts.

Excitement and anticipation grew quickly as we gathered skis, gloves, packed lunches, goggles, helmets, backpacks and lift passes... trying not to forget anything... and made the short walk from La Diable lift to ride the little red bubbles up to perfect bluebird conditions!

We began as we often do in Les Deux Alpes by dropping off the bags at the Slide Freestyle Park's hut and going for a cruise around the hill to help everyone find their legs and bearings before heading back to the hut for some lunch and an afternoon session in the park.

While most people were taking it pretty easy Chelsea and young Mike decided the first day was a good time to throw down! Chelsea, fresh from success at the BRITS 08 the week before, started doing massive 180’s up the step-up and Mike (a returner from our Summer Camp in 2007) quickly learnt 540’s... landing one on his first try, showing huge potential, style and steeze.

That evening we recalled the events of the day at the review meeting followed by a big buffet dinner in La Belle Etoile's restaurant and an evening relaxing and swapping stories!

On Monday we were lucky again with the weather so after breakfast we headed straight up for a blast around the mountain. It was great to see Simon, who had been on one of our earlier camps in Laax in February 08, doing really well and impressing Glen and Chris, showing great improvement already and looking like a more dynamic all-round skier.

The snowboarders were doing well too under Mark's experienced coaching and it was great to watch the video analysis footage of Joe and Clovis linking turns and looking much more confident than the first day. Sam was also giving Mark a run for his money on the boardercross course!

Tuesday started off with everyone in high spirits and eager to get up the mountain so after a good feed we dropped our lunches off at the park hut and hit the slopes. For the skiers it was "other Mark" (who had only had 7 days experience in total) whose technique and ability really started to shine through and he looked like a proper skier, conquering reds, blacks and actually skiing them!

Bonnie, another veteran of the BRITS 08 Laax week, hadn’t been on skis for two years (having snowboarded on the Laax Camp the week before) looked very confident and dynamic, Kim showed her skill by leading the way on the small jumps in the fun park and Simon was charging around like a seasoned pro.

The boarders got busy session'ing the park and it was great to see John sticking back 180’s and attempting frontside 360’s. Meantime Sam stuck some lovely nose press’s on the double bar and Charlotte and Mike kept hitting the rail until they stuck it, showing an impressive mental approach and determination.

Later that evening after a review and dinner everyone headed down to the Les Deux Alpes ice skating rink to go cut it up on the ice!

The ice skating was loads of fun and all the kids instantly started trying tricks and trying to ride backwards while the older participants and coaching staff did their best to show what they could do and succeeded in at least staying upright... most of the time...

Of course towards the end of the evening it was time for the traditional group skating and linked arm rotations etc... not quite "Dancing on Ice" as the line of campers charged round the rink and swung each other off at high speed, but great fun nevertheless!

Unfortunately the weather really closed in on Wednesday and we had a complete white-out so after a morning fighting the conditions on the mountain and lunch everyone decided that it was time to head down and rest their tired limbs and chill out with some DVD’s and a welcome jacuzzi and sauna in the hotel.

We woke up to bad-looking weather again on Thursday but after an afternoon of rest the previous day everyone was ready to go up the hill and give it a go so we all got wrapped-up and headed for the top. When we got up there the wind was incredible, blowing us back up the hill! So we eventually decided that it was too dangerous to carry on and so we headed down to... where else... Smokey Joe’s for nachos and a few games of pool.

On the way back to the hotel we went into the arcade for a few games and then headed back for a chill again with a few more DVD’s and more jacuzzi and sauna! That evening after dinner we all went over to the bowling alley which is always loads of fun because everyone loves to get involved. Coaches Chris and Glen proved to be rubbish (obviously due to old war time injuries) but Cammie and Jack were on top form and showed us how its done... having just spent a lot of time on the mountain over the last 4 days showing us how its done! However their dress sense was not up to their skiing and bowling as the large coats/duvets they bought demonstrate!

The last day came around all too fast and we were all praying for good weather... unfortunately yet again the weather was pretty brutal and definitely not characteristic of April - normally (as you would expect) April in Les Deux Alpes delivers a week of bluebird days with some snow thrown in... this year there was a lot more snow thrown-in than we ever anticipated!

We headed up La Diable anyway hoping we could get above it but when we got up the mountain we were greeted by really strong winds and heavy snowfall making it very difficult to ride as the visibility was terrible and the slopes had a layer of powder that we couldn’t see.

Even with these conditions we carried on for a couple of runs as it was the last day. Everyone did really well under the guidance and supervision of the coaching team, especially as many had never ridden in such bad conditions before. But after a couple of long runs everyone was beginning to feel the cold and were getting wet and tired so we headed to a mountain lodge for hot chocolates which were very welcome and gave everyone the chance to warm-up. Once dry and warm again the group decided to head down and start packing ready for Saturday departures.

7pm that evening saw our final meeting with everyone presented with their Tourparty Camp t-shirts, coaching reports and awards... after much cheering and backslapping we headed in for our final meal together. After we had all eaten and packed we headed into town to a street rail that Cammie and Jack had built and Glen nailed a sick acid drop off some railings. It was a great way to end the week. Finally we all decided to call it a night and get rested ready for a day of traveling on Saturday.

Our thanks to everyone who took part for making it a really great week, hope to see you all again...

So until next time... KEEP RIDING!

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