After a pretty slow start the clients’ fear dissipates and work picks up as the resort becomes more and more busy. Lots of our regulars return for more punishment, sorry tuition, so a BIG THANK YOU to them for choosing us again, you know who you are! January proves to be my favourite month as not very busy but great snow and the chance to get some unpaid turns in on another favourite area Mt Chery. Last season was a great season for Telemarking, my un-secret passion and this season isn’t far behind it as I get to Tele my little legs off with some new and old clients, even a whole day off-piste on Mt Chery up to my waist in powder! Also a real treat, a team day off-piste tour up Pointe D’Angolon to ski the back bowl down to the Vallee de la Manche.

February, snow still awesome and half term ‘madness’ arrives. This always seems to be something that has a fear factor that is never really realised, as lots of lovely repeat clients and Babs’ brilliant organisation makes things go really smoothly. Cold as, lots of -16, -20 type days, so heartfelt thanks to technology and boot heaters keeping my toes warm and allowing me to get through these freezing days without too much discomfort.

Some old friends and my brother come out to visit in March so pretty  busy après ski and socially along with my other duty as ‘Joe the Strummer’ on Wednesdays. Great that they get to see the area at its best and I get to ski with them too. This month also sees me able to run a BASI Telemark L1 course in my backyard, in my other guise as a BASI trainer. It is really fantastic to do this as I get to Telemark all across the area including Mt Chery and Avoriaz. All these guys are second discipliners and all pass, so congrats to them all.

April normally heralds the END of the season, which can be a bit depressing, but not this season it just seems to keep going. After a warm spell more snow falls and my last day here in the PDS I’m skiing powder with a new client recommended by one of our regulars. So the season is coming to a close here in Les Gets but I’m not finished, I’m off to Hintertux in Austria for a week’s skiing on a L4 training course. After an eight hour drive to get there it’s snowing like you wouldn’t believe and although the visibility isn’t great the snow cannot be faulted. The second day is probably the best of the season, pristine, virginal powder for warm-up runs followed by and awesome day improving short and long turns on and off-piste. The rest of the week isn’t as good as the Tuesday as the visibility fades again but I’ll forgo sight to ski this quality of snow. Get to meet some nice folk on this course and plan to stay in touch with them, top week.

So what can I say about 2011-12? One of the best seasons in recent memory, great snow, great clients, mostly great weather, if only 2012-13 can be similar… or better.

If you are of the opinion that a hard day’s skiing followed by an apres ski session catching the rays on the terrace is your kind of holiday then book a flight now!

Anyone who thinks working in a ski resort every season is non stop holiday fun think again, squeezing in a couple of runs with mates between 6hrs a day teaching is not always easy and we still have not seen the inside of the Igloo (Les Get’s only late night venue) in 10 seasons!

But last Sunday Joe had a much needed day off and we went up free skiing with a couple of our guests, enjoying good winter conditions on Chamossier still. Completely on spec we were joined in the afternoon by a couple of old work mates from Andorra who were on holiday in Flaine and decided to take a day in Les Gets. Just time to squeeze a couple of runs in with them before we headed off for an amazing lunch in Chez Nannon – usually a Christmas Day treat but Joe’s brother is a foodie and we knew he would appreciate it despite missing the rest of the skiing day (precious when you are only here for the weekend).

A fab day but it still wasn’t over, down to watch the rugby in the Bush which was a great atmosphere with both French & English cheering their teams on in the pub. Andy, Dave & Callum joined us there for a pint before heading back to Flaine and being Scottish very sportingly cheered both teams when they scored!!

So yes, working in a ski resort can be just like any other job but then you have days like these and you realise why you are here………

Jamie, Pete, Jonnie Black, Martine, Kelly, Jason, Andy, Davie & Callum, thanks very much for your company this week it’s been excellent fun!!

It was a fabulous day off for Joe, who took the opportunity to leave his ski boots off and came for a walk over to Mt Caly with Delilah, Roxy and me. A simple but delicious lunch of omlette and fries washed down with a cold beer was just what the doctor ordered!

Today the boys are all hard back into it with six and seven hours each of lessons to deliver and it is very obligingly snowing again, ready to welcome all our newly arrived guests! Can’t be too smug, this week is the French half term week which is generally even more hectic on the slopes but with the entire area open and with excellent cover it should ease the congestion for everyone.

More good news, the freezing weather (not totally unwelcome in a ski resort since it obviously helps keep everything in good nic) is on it’s way out and tomorrow the temperature is forecast to be in plus numbers for what seems to be the first time in an eternity! Joe can put away the extra pair of batteries he bought for his boot heaters and I daresay most of the instructors will be relieved to shed a layer or two of clothing!

It’s a great time of year for Joe & I to take advantage of our surroundings and remember why we chose this life-style (it really isn’t about the money, ALC pays the bills but it’s never gonna make us rich!). Last week the boys had an off-piste excursion together and enjoyed a blue-bird day with excellent off-piste winter conditions.

Yesterday Joe & I took time out for a date – ski, followed by an excellent lunch at Altitude Lodge (courtesy of one of Joe’s regular clients, thanks Eric Hughson, when you are back in April we recommend belly of pork or pigeon breast!) washed down with a bottle of St Emilion. Once again conditions are fantastic, winter sun, blues skies and squeaky cold snow underfoot. Admittedly it’s getting a bit scraped off and shiny on the busier or south facing slopes but more snow is forecast for Thursday & Friday which is perfect timing!

Monday I went for a clinic with Mo from TSI, he’s a  competitor here but first and foremost a longstanding ski-buddy of Joe’s (I still reckon they should have opened a school together and called it MoJo Ski!) and one of BASI’s excellent Alpine training body. Since I stopped teaching 5 seasons ago I have not put much into my  skiing and it is beginning to show, so I consider myself very lucky to have so many good teachers around I can turn to for help – spoilt for choice almost! And I’m now really psyched for the next one.

It is a source of frustration for ski teachers that so many recreational skiers reach a reasonable level and just stop taking lessons – Why? Any conscientious instructor will tell you that they still work constantly to maintain their skiing level and improve their teaching knowledge, long after getting that rubber stamp. It is all too easy to get into lazy habits and stop challenging yourself. Like anything in life, you get out of skiing (or boarding) what you put into it – let’s face it, ski holidays are not cheap, so you owe it to yourself to spend that few extra quid to brush up your technique, try something you’ve never done before or boost your confidence and maximise your time here. Come on – surprise yourselves!

Our plans are to go on a little off-piste adventure, up with the lark, first lift up to Chamossiere followed by a 45 minute walk to the pointe D’angolon- which seemed like longer for me as the heaviest of our team- whereas they go ankle deep I go knee or thigh deep on nearly every step, I must lose a few pounds or the new nickname of Homer will stick.

Finally I reach the top not too far behind the boys Ed and Nathan and a beautiful view awaits us.

Then the descent, quite windblown and scoured icy to begin with but then absolutely brilliant soft powder for a good long way on a big wide expanse of a slope that funnels into more tree and bush lined narrower gullies all the way down into the Valley de la Manche, where they’ve cut a few trees down and created a new clearing down onto the track that takes you back to the Nyon cable car.

Up to the 2 crickets for a well earned hot chocolate followed by a couple of runs on piste and our first day off is complete, what a great morning, cheers guys!!!

more pics on our facebook page

We hope you all have enjoyed the festive season and that the prospect of returning to work (with or without a hangover) is not too daunting!!

For us we are now moving into one of my favourite parts of the season. The resort is relatively quiet, the snow is good and we have the opportunity to take a breath and enjoy our surroundings before the hurly burly of February hits us once again.

If you are not one of the many folk who have enjoyed the festivities in the Alps this year a cheeky weekend or mid week break skiing may be just the tonic you need to ward off winter blues! There are so many great deals around at this time of year and Alpine Learning Curves are here to make learning to ski affordable and good value for money:

Check out our Workshops for a one off group lesson to hone your skills or have a taste of something new.

During low season we are offering special reduced rates for half & full day privates, whilst 5x2hrs groups are down from 225 euros to 210 euros per person.

And at any time of the year we will offer discounts on block bookings for private lessons!

Want to know more, then give us a call or just fill out our enquiry form – see you on the slopes soon!!