Ski Trip February 2015

During the first week of February the club visited the picturesque resort of Canezei in the Dolomites for a week of skiing where 10 members including Rob, Rich, Izzy, Lucy, James, Pete, Louise, Peter, Julian and Anne assembled looking for some on and off piste action!

The majority of the club stayed in the Traviata chalet where they were fully catered and well looked after by their host John. Unfortunately Lucy and James (who were in the chalet next door) only got the joy of meeting John on the final day, and he provided much entertainment but didn’t like us using his Marmite on their day off! Somehow the Weather gods were kind and the week commenced with a beautiful 4 days of sunshine and brilliant snow which resulted in keen beans Rob and Peter on the first lifts everyday. Sunday saw the team head to Alba and over the mountain to Potza, where James and Lucy did their first black run (with style and grace).

On the second day the majority of the group headed anticlockwise around the Sella Ronda ( a circular ski route around the Sella Massif linking the towns of Araba, Val Gardina, Corvara and Canezei). After a long day skiing Après Ski was enjoyed in the Paradiski Bar where dancing to Gangnam style and the new dance move coined ‘The Fenton’ was born after copious beers! (Rumor has it a video of this exists along with other incriminating footage of some members)

The rest of the week saw an average of 30km skied including the Marmolada glacier down from 3343m and the Saslong black world cup route. The 12km ‘Long run’ run past icefalls was enjoyed as well as practicing ski jumps over an old Volvo and taking advantage of any off piste when opportunities allowed. Julian and Anne enjoyed an excursion to the Hidden Valley where they experienced being towed by horses on skis.

Towards the end of the week the weather deteriorated with 20cm of snow falling, so longer lunches of fine Italian coffee and hot chocolate were enjoyed in the mountain huts.

All in all another excellent trip with everyone returning unscathed (although if anyone releases that video who knows!)