After the walk to the top of Rocher de Bellevarde, at high altitude what looks like an easy walk is always made tougher when the air is thinner and less oxygen. There was another group with another guide just about to go off one edge, and our guide said that is where we are going, I looked at the guy's face about to what seemed like drop off the edge from where I was standing and he looked terrified, so our guide said enjoy the views for a while we will get our breath back and wait for this group to go. So Mark and I looked down from the start gates of the downhill races and they were steep so no wonder these top skiers in the world get up to speeds of 120 to 140 kph.
It was our turn; our guide went first and at the top the drop in is only a maximum of 2 meters wide with rocks either side, the first 20 or 30 meters is extremely steep. I do enjoy steep skiing, I would class myself as good but not extreme like you see on the videos, but I am pushing myself more and more to find steeper off piste to ski and this was it!
It is called Couloir de la Table and it takes you down one very steep run that I did not even know existed. Mark then over the edge and it was my turn and for one split second I was scared and I love that feeling, the heart pumping, the hot feeling surging all over the body and for one moment the thought cam into my head 'don't fall from the top there are rocks either side and something nasty could happen'. Probably the worst thought to go through my head at that time, but isn't that why we look for the adrenaline rush? So what did I do? well one thing for sure is I could not refuse to go down, I would never live that down, and failure is not an option in my mind, so I slid my skis over the edge and found myself on what I can only describe as the steepest run (if you can call it a run) I have ever been on, I think even steeper than the top of 'The Wall' in Avoriaz and a lot narrower. A bit further down and it opened up and the deep fresh powder was worth every moment. Adrenaline and the unknown is a funny thing, if I could have I would have got straight back to the top and done it all again.
This ride was not over yet, more in the next post.
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Skiing Holiday day 4
There was one day that I want to share with you regarding one of the best experiences I have ever had in all the seasons and different countries I have skied in.
We had our off piste guide taking us to some fantastic areas at Val d'Isere in France all week so far and I just could not have dreamt this afternoon was going to be the skiing experience that memories are made of. If I never skied again (and I definitely hope that is not the case) the one experience, if I had to pick one that would stand out from all the skiing experiences would probably be this afternoon.
We had just finished yet again another lovely lunch and went outside ready to ski the afternoon, I felt a bit tired after a few days hard skiing and unfortunately not the best nights sleep, I was probably too excited like a little boy at Christmas. But with the fresh mountain air I soon felt good to go again, only two of us made it out after lunch, my best mate and I, we have been skiing together for a very long time now. The others that were in our group either met up with other people or felt too tired to ski this afternoon. It turned out that only being two of us was our gain and their loss as the guide was waiting to see if he got only two or three skiers to take us down some very steep and exhilarating off piste. I write exilarating because quite frankly if we did not do as he told us and follow him closely then it could have been very dangerous.
In the cable car on the way up he asked us both 'are you chicken?' to which we both replied of course not we love the steep stuff. Now let me explain when our guide said something like 'this next bit is quite steep' it is a little dangerous here' what he meant was 'this bit is almost vertical' and 'this bit is extremely dangerous and only idiots or guides with the correct off piste equipment ever come near here'.
So when we made it to the top of the cable car, we put our skis on and he quickly told us to take them off and looked up to our right and said we are walking up there, take it easy as it will take us about 30 minutes to walk. We were heading to the top of the mountain called Rocher de Bellevarde at 2827m, this is the point where the World Championship Men's Downhill skied from and they head down the Face, which incidentally is one the best black runs I have ever skied (ski it in the morning though as it gets torn up and the top layer of snow gets taken off leaving some icy patches by late afternoon).
We did not ski down the men's downhill, you are not allowed to as it takes you right through the top of the cable exit where lost of people are after coming out of the cable. I will cover off what we skied in my next blog.
We had our off piste guide taking us to some fantastic areas at Val d'Isere in France all week so far and I just could not have dreamt this afternoon was going to be the skiing experience that memories are made of. If I never skied again (and I definitely hope that is not the case) the one experience, if I had to pick one that would stand out from all the skiing experiences would probably be this afternoon.
We had just finished yet again another lovely lunch and went outside ready to ski the afternoon, I felt a bit tired after a few days hard skiing and unfortunately not the best nights sleep, I was probably too excited like a little boy at Christmas. But with the fresh mountain air I soon felt good to go again, only two of us made it out after lunch, my best mate and I, we have been skiing together for a very long time now. The others that were in our group either met up with other people or felt too tired to ski this afternoon. It turned out that only being two of us was our gain and their loss as the guide was waiting to see if he got only two or three skiers to take us down some very steep and exhilarating off piste. I write exilarating because quite frankly if we did not do as he told us and follow him closely then it could have been very dangerous.
In the cable car on the way up he asked us both 'are you chicken?' to which we both replied of course not we love the steep stuff. Now let me explain when our guide said something like 'this next bit is quite steep' it is a little dangerous here' what he meant was 'this bit is almost vertical' and 'this bit is extremely dangerous and only idiots or guides with the correct off piste equipment ever come near here'.
So when we made it to the top of the cable car, we put our skis on and he quickly told us to take them off and looked up to our right and said we are walking up there, take it easy as it will take us about 30 minutes to walk. We were heading to the top of the mountain called Rocher de Bellevarde at 2827m, this is the point where the World Championship Men's Downhill skied from and they head down the Face, which incidentally is one the best black runs I have ever skied (ski it in the morning though as it gets torn up and the top layer of snow gets taken off leaving some icy patches by late afternoon).
We did not ski down the men's downhill, you are not allowed to as it takes you right through the top of the cable exit where lost of people are after coming out of the cable. I will cover off what we skied in my next blog.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
X Paralympic Games
The Winter Olympics may have finished but we now have the X Paralympic Games about to start in Vancouver and Whistler to look forward to.
I can't wait, for a fan of any sport especially winter sports I am sure this will be just as exciting to watch. Two days to go and counting.
I can't wait, for a fan of any sport especially winter sports I am sure this will be just as exciting to watch. Two days to go and counting.
Monday, 8 March 2010
Olympics are over for now
Now the Winter Olympics are over, and the X Paralympic Winter Games are about to start , I feel I don't want the winter to finish. Only two weeks of winter sports so far, but if you are like me and you follow the web sites, blogs, and TV coverage then I have been almost addicted and felt sad when the Olympics finished. But what an end with the men's ice hockey between two of the biggest ice hockey nations Canada and USA.
It was almost like a movie could have written the script, Canada go 2-0 up and USA come back with seconds to spare to even the score, then to take it to what we Brits know as golden goal, the first to score in 20 minutes. And the guy that scored, branded in British TV as one of the best Ice Hockey players around at the moment Sydney Crosby, had a very quiet game in fact could have finished the game off for Canada in the last couple of minutes when he broke out one on one against the keeper and failed to score!
Then Crosby comes good with a fantastic goal a couple of minutes into extra time being played. A fairy tale ending and for a neutral in the sport I was pleased Canada won on home turf.
Well done to Canada for a fantastic Olympics, not without its talking points but that for me makes it all the better.
Bring on the X Paralympic Games!
It was almost like a movie could have written the script, Canada go 2-0 up and USA come back with seconds to spare to even the score, then to take it to what we Brits know as golden goal, the first to score in 20 minutes. And the guy that scored, branded in British TV as one of the best Ice Hockey players around at the moment Sydney Crosby, had a very quiet game in fact could have finished the game off for Canada in the last couple of minutes when he broke out one on one against the keeper and failed to score!
Then Crosby comes good with a fantastic goal a couple of minutes into extra time being played. A fairy tale ending and for a neutral in the sport I was pleased Canada won on home turf.
Well done to Canada for a fantastic Olympics, not without its talking points but that for me makes it all the better.
Bring on the X Paralympic Games!
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