After a few days of r and r in Geneve, I had this bright idea that I’d like to continue to embrace the snow theme and go snowboarding.
I headed South to a resort which I later found out is the highest ski resort in Europe, a place called Val Thorens, in France.
I was informed by my good guide back in Chamonix that it was abnormally warm for this time of year. The level that rain turns to snow was forecast to be rising to 2100m. Which meant if I didn’t want to be snowboarding in the rain, I had to head upwards and Val Thorens, at 2300m, was my best chance of scoring the fresh white fluff.
I took a double decker train from Geneve to Moutiers and then a bus to Val Thorens. I arrive at dusk and am greeted by absolute magic.
I had failed to secure affordable tuition in time so decided I’d try to see how I got on without it and by sticking to the green slopes I shouldn’t be in a y danger. I’m not an idiot or a beginner in 2006 and 2007, I spent two weeks with my classmate from university at her home town in Tirol, Austria.
Christine, at the age of 18 was already a snowboard instructor and encouraged me to try it out. I remember the learning process was brutal and le board is a lot harder than le ski. (That’s what she said) no innuendo, genuinely so I’m told snowboarding is harder to master than skiing.
I hired the board, boots and helmet and set myself up at the top of a green slope. Apart from a few dry slope experiences, no innuendo here either, it had been 15 years since i’d been wet from real snow. Whilst strapping up I kept thinking something doesn’t feel right. Then I remembered that I was gluing my feet to a large skateboard without wheels so I could balance upright whilst slipping down an icy mountain at high speeds, of course this shouldn’t feel right!
The benefits of the green slopes at this resort are that they are free, so like any self respected masochist, at least I don’t have to pay for pain.
I wasn’t exactly off to a flying start, gingerly traversing down the slope like a falling leaf, I couldn’t muster the guts to point my board down hill and pick up speed. Something was blocking my psyche and I gave up for the day very quickly.
Choosing a different run, I managed to keep myself upright the whole time. Win! I just needed about 200 less people around me at all times to slowly pick up confidence. The ‘thing’ blocking my psyche the day before was the memory of the pain when you fall. The problem with learning to snowboard is progress is slow and painful and if you can persevere you are rewarded with only a little less pain a little less often.
Like a white cloaked sadist, that mountain was not letting my backside leave here unsullied.
Then, that same neuro plasticity that told you no, reminds you to flick your back foot out on a toe edge turn to slow down. Game changer, I could now comfortably point my board down hill, knowing I could snake left and right to slow down without having to come to a complete stop each time.
Once I began to ‘flow’ that is to make heel and toe edge turns to control my speed and direction down the mountain, I could take my gaze from the immediate floor infront of me, to my surrounding landscape and the people in the distance I could weave in and out of.
It’s remarkable how, 5 minutes ago I was a humbled novice and now I’m cursing slow moving beginners with French contempt.
Just as as I start to enjoy myself, she brings me to my boney knees. I wasn’t even going fast and extrapolate what the pain would of been like if I was. I lose all my confidence and go into a sulk not even a larger top can snap me out of.
Enough is enough Max, I’ve got the shot, you look like you know what you’re doing and that’s all that matters, it’s new year’s eve now go home via the all the best restaurants.
Happy New Year.
majorloveme 