Les Arcs Diary - March

Saturday 12th March

This morning I am helping out Pete with change-over duties as Michelle is off work. I am sent to clean one of the Dutch chalets across the piste. It’s a big chalet and they have made a lot of mess, but I’m done and back at the Mont Blanc hotel by midday. No payment, but Liam treats me to a sausage and bacon sarni when I get back so I’m happy. I wasn’t planning to board today anyway, I haven’t had a day off for two weeks and my body is crying out for a rest.

Sunday 13th March

I was supposed to be taking Welsh Andy on an off-piste adventure today, but the conditions rule it out. It is a week since it snowed and the hot spring sunshine has turned off-piste solid. Martin and Tim arrive in the afternoon whilst I am in the bar watching Wales thrash Scotland in the rugby. Martin is still very ill and spends the entire evening in bed.

Monday 14th March

The recent hot spell has quickly eroded the snow base, and the pistes are getting very icy and bare in places. My morning’s riding is very frustrating as my board isn’t gripping at all. After losing my edge and falling several times I stop at the Blanc to give my board a wax and edge. Meanwhile Tim is driving Martin to Geneva. He’s still very sick and decided to stay in a hotel overnight and get the first possible plane in the morning. It’s a quiet night in the Mont Blanc bar and I am on my way to bed when Jodie and some of her Ski Espirit colleagues come by, on their way to Arcs 1800 to celebrate a birthday. I haven’t had a night in 1800 all season so decide to join them. It is snowing heavily and if it keeps going for a few hours we are finally going to have some good snow. It proves to be a good night out getting to know Jodie’s mates, rounded off with a trip to the kebab shop on the way home. It is still snowing as we make our way back, the signs are good for tomorrow.

Tuesday 15th March

The Subzero gang are out early to make the most of the fresh snow. I’m a little slow out of the blocks due to my late night, and spend much of the morning riding around trying to track down the others. I end up in the park, which is virtually empty and in great condition with the fresh snow making for softer landings than usual. With nobody around I do a lot of runs through it, going for big straight airs off the red jumps and 180s off the green jumps. I seem to have finally conquered my fear of getting hurt in the park! The afternoon is even better as a big group of us head back to the kicker on the Grieve. Most people are going for straight airs, whilst Mike tries 180s and Chris tries to kill himself. I have only one ambition, to pull a backside 360 off the step up kicker. I nail it on the third attempt, and with some style too, confirmed by Tim who sees it from the piste below. I am stoked!! I never, ever thought I would pull off a trick like this let alone the first time I tried it. It took weeks of practice to perfect my 180s! When the others head off I wait for Tim to join me - sat in the sun, taking in the view and enjoying the moment. We get a few runs in before stopping by the Mont Blanc for some celebratory drinks.

Wednesday 16th March

Thursday 17th March

Tim and

Friday 18th March

My last