Chop and change

Skiing is a funny old game, like a koan with planks, one day I’m all sick of skiing on the slush, but after a couple of hours of what will definately be my last lesson of this season I’ve change my mind – again.

The weather is definately ripe for spring, I’ve been experimenting with different start times and have come to the conclusion getting to the top for 10am is probably the best. A friend described the re-frozen overnight piste as like skiing on corrugated iron, which is true before 10am, but after a hour of sun it’s perfect for a couple of hours.

There is also no consistency to the finish, depending on the amount of shadow and angle of the snow. This is definately great for improving your technique, as you constantly have to be adjusting to the snow. There is also very little (maybe 15 degrees) of lee-way, tilt more than this and you will get punished.

Although I’m passing this intelligence off as my own, it’s all gleaned from Darren Turner at Insightski, with whom I spent a pleasant couple of hours not only improving my technique (even if I say so myself) but actually appreciating what I was gaining by skiing on what I had previously thought of as “crappy” conditions.

I veer towards the lazy so when confronted by a very slushy Cucamelle, which forces you to really work, I was at the point of jacking it in for the season. Having said that I am glad I perservered, yes it is much harder to ski this, your legs burn, but it’s the way to progress.

It’s not like just standing there in Feb or March, this snow demands much more attention, so if you have a yen to make yourself work this is the best time to learn, but the clock is ticking only 12 more days to go. The Briancon sectionof Serre Chevalier has already closed, so there will be a reduction in ski pass price.

Darren is also stopping for the season on Friday – but honestly this is the best money I spend every season, I’ve already booked a three day course for December – that’s how upbeat I am after yesterday’s lesson.