Four go SkiBeat in the Alps

From the left - Masked Marauder, La Bomba Kay, Blue Mike and the Stansfield Flyer.... spent a week in the French Alps with forays over to Italy for lunch. Within hours of hitting the slopes Jude had been swept off her feet - by a gnarly boarder. We dusted her down, and him up, with Jude then hiring head gear. Once the "egg" "sur la tete" went down she did a great job on reading the piste map!

Meanwhile La Bomba - so named due to her love of reaching the bottom of the slope (or was it the coffee shop?) way head of us, took to the ski shops in search of comfy boots - only to get several offers to be swept off her feet. Disappointingly none were worth vetting.

I made a swift exit from a chair lift (Mike uttered a calm "ohhhhh martine" as I slid past his left leg) to a 6 ft drop into soft snow - pick your landing is my advice. All knowledge of French was erased as the lifty pulled me up with a telling off. I now know I cannot do a one armed pull up. I later bought a ski mask to avoid being recognised on his lift again! A couple of days later i was asked by a french ski instructor look after 2 children on a lift - clearly not heard of my track record!

Ski guide and team coach Blue Mike (outfit not language) did a sterling job with handy hints & technique tips - plant zi pole, benz the nees! and was even seen having a few "rests" on the snow himself.... as if.....

The big brother chalet was hosted by West Cumbrian folk - we are all on diets due to an excess of cake. We learnt all about farming mushy peas, Nordic walking, life in the Marines, Doncaster, how much land their respective homes had from our fellow house mates. Jude's talent for impersonations came in as we replayed scenes from the big brother house! A fellow chaletier's the thank you speech included a line on "we are family"....mmm.

Highlight of the week was the Italian casbah - soaking up the sun drinking molten hot chocolate listening to North American Indian chants ...how good could a Thursday get. Closely followed by the fantastic french/italian scenery and incredibly quiet pistes. La Roisere is a small resort still under construction with the added advantage of high level skiing and easy access to neigbouring Italy with the chance to mix up your languages and speak "Frenitalian".

Jude got top prize for the smallest baggage ... but then you can when you borrow stuff off other folk!

Most importantly we all returned home without the need to request a special seat on the plane (generally the reserve of those in leg splits, wheelchairs etc.)

Here are some more pics. Sign up for next year .. you can always practice down the Chillfactore plus go shopping at the Trafford Centre!

Check behind for the snowboarders Jude!

The oh so graceful Mike!

La Bomba revs up!

She got down but can she get up!