SKIING AT TIGNES, FRANCE

Just 24 hours after returning from the half term holiday and 6 days in Berlin, Mark & the kids headed off on the annual school ski trip. Aisha & William went in 2012 without Mark - they did not allow him to go then. In 2012 at Alpes d'Huez the kids enjoyed near perfect conditions though very cold at -20.  It was their first time skiing and they came home determined to go again in 2013. 

This year the kids agreed Mark could join them. Having last strapped skis on in 1989 he was a little apprehensive at the thought of careering down the French Alps. Despite this he was determined that he was not going to be shown up by his upstart kids. The departure time from school this year was better than previously. This year it was a 4am departure from school rather than 3:30. Nevertheless by the time we got to Gatwick at 5:30 the novelty had worn off somewhat.

While the flight to Geneva was only 1.5 hours we arrived at the ski resort 13 hours after leaving school. Heavy traffic on the motorway into the resort added about 2 hours. Unlike last year's resort, Tignes has hotels literally within a ski's slide from the slopes. 

The view from William & Mark's hotel bedroom was good.

The view from the verandah was even better.

The hotel caters to UK school groups & is staffed by British early 20 somethings who, in most cases, did the best they could. Despite being in France the food was British standard and not really the best of that. Given the kids had 4 hours of ski lessons each day for 6 days straight the quality of the food was not a big issue - with the kids at least. Only two teachers went along but around half a dozen parents also went. 

The skiing was fabulous, as were the views, and most days were clear blue skies. 

The apres ski activities were a little limited but a walk on a frozen lake at night while it snowed was fun. 

Teachers were generously assisted by their students.

 It was all good fun. 

What snowball Dad ?

At night the village took on a Christmas-like atmosphere.

Every night the 'piste bashers' worked until bout 3am. They groomed even the highest slopes.

There were two attempts at 'bum boarding', sitting on  a disk of plastic and sliding down a slope. The more successful faster and safer one was away from the lights and too dark to video. Below is a short section of the slower, brighter but definitely less safe effort.

The highest peak in Australia is Mt Kosciusko at 2,228m, while the highest ski slope is just over 2,000m at Mt Thredbo. The Tignes ski fields start at 2,100m. Mark & the kids were able to take a funicular inside the mountain to ski the Grande Motte run at 3,000m.

6 days skiing was great......

...but at the end we were all tired, curiously tanned, miraculously unhurt and glad to be home.