The Storm Of The Season

Life as a Private Ski Instructor in Meribel can be a busy one, and I've realised I hadn't blogged about the big storm we experienced just over a week ago, so apologies about that. This particular storm had been forecast quite some time away before it came, with all sorts of big depths promised by various learned types and computer models. And because the Alps as a whole had had a poor first half of the winter, everyone was getting very excited about what was forecast. Another factor that seemed to guarantee that it was to snow was that Michael was due to have a weeks work over in St.Martin de Belleville. "What has that got to with the weather forecast?" I hear you ask.

Michael claims that whenever he has clients in a different valley which means he needs to drive, ie Courchevel or St.Martin, it will always snow. Sure enough it snowed, and it snowed, and it snowed with Michael having some challenging driving conditions heading to and from St.Martin. So how much did it snow? It depends on where on the mountain you measure from, but the general consensus was it was between 80cms to one metre.

Some of the snow fell with high winds, which is not unusual. But basically all of the rocks on-piste have now been easily covered, and the mountain is a very different place than about ten days ago. My 'Rock Hopping' skis have been stored away again for another time, and it is a joy to be skiing around on gorgeous snow.

When the weather finally cleared after four days and nights of snowfall, we were treated to magnificent scenes on the mountain, something we hadn't experienced properly for some time. It seemed that everybody was in awe of the views and recording it with their smartphones, compact cameras, and my case my mate Canon Senior.

Michael had a fun week over in St.Martin in the end with his clients. I have taught a number of different people since the storm, including a thatcher from Devon, a tea room waiter also from Devon, an accountant based in Gibralter. I helped out a Corporate group who are based in London, and a different small group who also work within the City. And finally I apparently had a hot chocolate on a table very close to somebody called Sinitta. I was informed by Paul about this, in the Bel Air restaurant in Courchevel. Got to be honest with you I was none the wiser, but that wont't surprise those of you who know me. Anyway, back to normal things, here is Michelle shouting out "Smelly Ski Socks" at me on the Altiport piste this week.

The French School holidays have just started this weekend, which will be the quietest week of their four. Then the main UK half term holidays start next weekend. So who knows what fun we are all in for soon. I'll be back with the Joneses, trying to keep up with them of course. Plus, Michael and I will be visited by our better halves as well, happy days all round.

If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in a similar one from earlier this winter, click here for the link. Feel free to share away on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ by using the social media icons. Or leave a comment below, it's dead simple to do. In the meantime, Live With Passion everybody. Martin.