Les Arcs Diary - March Week 4

Saturday 29th March

I take the morning off after waking up late and aching from all yesterday's falling trying trying tricks. Troy is moving to his own apartment today, and I join him for lunch with Vallandry local Celine at the Rilax. We are soon joined by Dave, Tracker and Tommy Lee and a relaxing lengthy lunch in the sun ensues. It is the hottest day of the trip, so when Dave and I go boarding I take my new freestyle board out. We do a few runs down Renard which is slushy for the first time. The board throws me higher in the aire off jumps and I'm hoping to pull off a 540 before I leave.We watch the football in the Blanc before retiring for a meal in and early night.

Sunday 30th March

Having been up until the early hours editing video footage, I am up quite late. Even later than I realise as the clocks have gone forward. Several people told us yesterday that this meant an extra hour's sleep. It didn 't make sense, but I wanted to believe them! Dave has left before me but as soon as I get on the lift I get a text from Niles saying he is heading up with Baz in 15 Mins. We meet up at the top of Derby, with Dave and they have ex-seasonnaire Tim with them. The other three are on skis so we spend a couple of hours charging around Arcs 1800 and 2000, before lunching in the sun at 1950. Then back to Vallandry where Dave and get in a few runs on - you've guessed it - Renard.. A couple of beers in the Blanc and then home for a quiet night in - again.

Monday 31st March

It has armed up at last and today is one for for playing in the slush. I take the Kink out and am really happy with it. Dave and I spend a lot of time on Renard practiscing our jumps. In the evening we head up to the Squirrel for the quiz, but there are no other contestants. So we sit at the bar with Fi, Andi's friend, Will, Andi and Danni and do the quiz anway. Each point moves us on a place on the shot board, and we drink the shot we have landed on at the end of each round. We have to endure rounds of fish and chilli vodka, and by the end - after a marathon of music intro rounds - we are all well oiled.

Tuesday 1st April

Dave and I are suffering the effects of last nights' session and the day - a blue sky one with some fresh snow - is written off. It's a quiet night, though we do venture to the Blanc to watch the Man Utd v Roma game.

Wednesday 2nd April

Today is one of the highlights of the Vallandry social calender - the Squirrel Race. It's a charity event with teams in fancy dress chasing the squirrel (Will in his squirrel suit) around the mountain and raising money as they go - mainly by selling alcohol on the slopes. Dave and I haven't entered, but we meet up with some of the teams and have some tequilla, sparkling wine, nachos and guacamole courtesy of some familiar looking bandits at the top of the Transarc. It snows heavilly all afternoon, which doesn't help the fundraisers but improves the riding. At the end of the day everyone heads to the Squirrel Bar for more drinks, food and some quality live music.After the band Tracker and I head back to the Blanc to watch the Arsenal v Liverpool champions league QF. He gets behind the bar after, bettered and still in fancy dress, and plays his favourite cheesy and bar clearing music, prompting some drunken dancing from him, Tommy Lee, Alison, JB, Anna, Kim and myself. Fortunately there are only three proper customers in the bar. Highlight of the evening comes when he tells everyone it's time to go home, and Daz pipes up "Tracker, it's only twenty past eleven - you don't close for two hours yet!".

Thursday 3rd April

The snow that fell yesterday has freshened the pitses but there isn't enough to make the off piste very good, though Dave and I try a few runs. We make a rare excursion into Arcs 2000 and have another run through the boarder cross, before returning to Vallandry to mess about on Renard. I am on cooking duty - spaghetti carbonara again - for the last time. Tomorrow we have a table at the Vache and so far have Tracker, Niall and Oli joining us.

Friday 4th April

The snow that fell yesterday has freshened the pitses but there isn't enough to make the off piste very good, though Dave and I try a few runs. We make The final day brings clear blue skies and a hot day. The afternoon is spent playing around on Renrard with a couple of off Deby trees runs thrown in for a change. I do a few runs with Bryn, Izzy and Clio before lunch, a couple with Tim and Danni after and then a whole bunch on my own, as Dave has gone off to meet a friend in 1600. I have a good day, pulling off most of my jumps and my knee stands up to the battering. In the evening Dave and Ijoin Oli, Niall and their friends Richard and Alex in the Vache for a very chilled meal. Then it's a stop off at the Squirrel for a couple and to say goodbye.

Saturday 5th April

Time to go. Dave is driving back and sets off after we breakfast in the Blanc, while I while away the hours waiting for my coach. A quick check of the forecast reveals rain is coming in the wek. It looks like we timed our trip pretty well.