Xmas 2006, La Plagne France - SKIFEST!

Hey guys and Gals, Happy New Year!

2007 is upon us and hasn’t that crept up fast! Lots have happened in 2006 and let’s hope that the adventures continue and are even more fun in 2007.

It has been about 6 weeks since we were in Edinburgh freezing our asses off. Well all the preparations were completed, we had shopped up for our skiing gear. Check our Nat trying on her ski pants! They have this awesome store in the UK outdoor adventure! They have everything you could imagine and a bit more.

23 December 2006

We headed down to Victoria Coach Station, for our bus ride to France. Weren’t to sure which way to go, but Chicken Man showed us the way! We ran into a couple of guys in Fancy dress going on the same tour.

Got to the station and it was madness. 350 people on our tour were heading off on heaps of different busses. After ½ hour delay it was on the road. We spent about 20 hours on the bus getting there. Stopping off for breakfast, Cam got a couple of great pictures of the frosty early morning . It was only about 6 hours from here.

We made it! A village called La Plagne. Where the Green Arrow is. This is not far from Mont Blanc, being on the border of France and Switzerland and not far from Italy also.

A long journey to be sure but worth the effort! So after unpacking and a spot of dinner, Brooke, Rachel and I headed out to the nearest snow to have a slide on the snow. Had to get our snow fix quick! So it was off to the bar in our accommodation (not really sure what to call it!) for opening party drinks.

24 December 2006

We all got suited up in our ski gear for our first lesson. This fella was making sure that they won’t fall off our feet! So we went out and tried out the gear, with no experience! It wasn’t as scary as expected. We had a spot of lunch (all meals were provided which was sweet!) and then headed out for our first lesson with Sebastian, our instructor. Learnt some basics, including how to fall! Nat took a nasty tumble and landed on her back. Well that was it for Nat’s lessons she hung up her skis and watched us for the rest of the week L Many tumbles by the class later, it was time to retire our skis for a night of Xmas festivities, it’s Christmas Eve!

We were all handed Xmas hats upon arrival, a banquet awaited. A three course buffet meal with heaps of good stuff was on offer. We thought it was only 1 course so we pigged out on the cold meats and stuff. They even provided heaps of wine so we got stuck into this also. By the time the second course came out, we were too full to eat any more, so off to the party.

They had a pretty good cover band on in the party area near the bar. All the fanatics were into it and having a good time. Nat was pretty stuffed by midnight, so it was off to bed. Time to burn up the dance floor with Cams’ hot moves! That’s right they have a disco there also. Cam must have had a good time because he didn’t get home until 5:30am!

25 December 2006 (Christmas Day)

With sore heads we were all up and about for breakfast. It was a pretty quiet morning. But lunch was served, a mellow Christmas lunch. It really didn’t feel like a real Christmas lunch like we were used too, really missing our family and friends at this time. Time to digest the m

eal, it was off to our next lesson. We were on the courtesy shuttle bus up to La Plagne centre. This is about 10 minutes away from where we were staying (Plagne 1800). Even on Xmas they still have free busses every half hour (a bit too efficient!) We hit the real green slopes for 3 hours of learning how to steer and stop. Our first real taste of skiing, and Cam likes it! It was very funny seeing our group skiing everywhere in their Santa suits. Check out Santa Cam!

Time to retire the skis for another day. Needless to say Xmas night was pretty quiet, with everyone resting after the previous’ nights festivities.

26 December 2006

Feeling much fresher, Nat and I decided to have a look around the town centre, pick up a couple of souvenirs etc. They really have some great stuff available in the shops and not too badly priced for a ski village. We had the best hot chocolate around in the village served in a tea pot/cup combo. Check it out! Went up the gondola for a great view of the alps. Of course had to take heaps of pictures! And there was the compulsory snow angels up the top, which were heaps
of fun.

It was back down the hill for some lunch before Cam headed out for lesson 3. This time we really had it happening, but the girls have some work to do on the ski lift exit! This was our first time on the proper ski lifts which can be a bit tricky to get off if you are not careful. Zavia, Rachel and I headed off after the lesson to hit our first “blue” ski run. These are the level above a beginner slope and that’s where the fun really starts. The “Ramy” run was a bit tricky in parts but heaps of fun! And we all made it back in tact. That night we had a quiz night, and although we didn't do too well, it was still was a heaps of fun. And Nat even guessed a correct answer, The number of stops on the London Underground. It was 287 stops for your reference!

27 December 2006

Today was Cam’s first day out skiing on his own. Took on some crazy runs, and was shit scared in some parts! Although I took heaps of tumbles made it through in tact. Check out this picture of the run that I finished off! How steep is it? Got some great pictures of some of the random skiers showing me how to do it. What an awesome morning.

We met up with the girls in town and decided to get a decent meal, as all the fish and stuff we were being served was wearing a little thin. So it was pizza for lunch. Whilst waiting for our meal Zavia and Rachael decided it was time for a snowball fight. Check out the pictures! After a fair wait (about an hour), our meals finally came out and was worth waiting for. They were really nice. Being so cold, they only took a little bit before they started to get cold so we really had to scoff them down.

Time to head back to base for the next ski lesson. Back on the ski lifts up to the town centre (damn I wish I had brought my skis). We got onto this wicked natural half pipe and really started to get my turns happening (the hardest part of skiing) We went to new ski areas, and eventually lost my group, so did my own thing for the rest of the afternoon.

After the pint of beer at lunch, even though I went to the toilet before had really need to go again (damn you cold weather!). I made it to the bus stop and after talking to some of the fellow Fanatics crew, they convinced me that there was a pretty easy run down to the camp, and would be heaps quicker than waiting for the bus. Famous last words! A very tricky steep slope with rocks and stuff to negotiate. After a few falls I finally made it, only a couple of minutes before the bus. And was running to the loo!

Tonight was a big party in the resort, with a band and stuff. The girls decided to really hit the liquor before we headed out. Even had a room inspection as there had been some trouble in other rooms and they were banning alcohol in the rooms (yeah right, what do they think this is school camp?) Girls managed to stash there bubblybetween their legs during the inspection and they didn’t touch Cams’ scotch on the shelf! Sounds like some interesting rules.

The band’s first set was ok and the crowd was really starting to warm up. By the second set it was all on and a mosh pit was happening! Cam was really rocking out to this, as were most other guys on the tour.

Things were getting a little crazy and one of the moshers ended up falling onto the stage and taking out the guitarist and his microphone! Very funny indeed.

They finished the set with Rage Against the Machines’ “Killing in the Name Of” The crowd went berserk and it was jumping-a-plenty. Off to the disco afterwards for some more booty shaking. Damn the DJ here was shit! He played the same tracks every night, and by the end of his set was playing a kind of reggae dance that nobody liked, but we still boogied to it!

28 December 2006

Sore heads a plenty the next day, including Brooke (she didn’t make it home to her bed!) A late breakfast for most and a quiet morning. But Nat & I decided that we really needed to get out. So we headed up to Glacier De La Chiape. After stopping in town and picking up some supplies for lunch (including beer that needed cooling in the snow! ) This is 3000m up and about 1 hour by gondola rides. It was absolutely stunning scenery on the way up. A truly unforgettable experience suspended by a wire; peace and quiet gliding up and down mountains.

Once up there, there is an ice cave carved into the glacier. They have carved in animals into the ice with lights and stuff. They have done a really great job. We wonder if this is having any impact on the environment, but still didn’t stop us. Cam was going camera mad up here. Have a look at some of the pictures! Once we left there, we had our lunch including the frosty beer at 3000m. It was really special, another memory that we will never forget.

By the time that we made it back it was late afternoon so that was pretty much the day wiped out but certainly worth the effort, and Cam’s body was thankful for the day off!

Tonight was our 80’s bowling night party. That’s right they have a bowling alley up here with 4 lanes and a huge bar. There are about 20 bars in the La Plagne region, so a pretty night is assured. A nice touch was being ferried with the bus, and then the gondola up to the bowling alley. Pretty special!

The theme for the night was the 80’s and the fashion tragedies that went with it. Most people did make a good effort and there were some real rippers. Check out the girls with one of our tour leaders “Spider” A great night, this was our rematch from Stuttgart where Nat pipped Cam in the last frame to take the title. The only problem being Cam cannot use his natural left hand, because of a ski injury to his left thumb. I was left to use my right hand. Needless to say that the results spoke for themselves! I think about 10 gutter balls, but at lest got 1 strike and a couple of spares.

Nat was flogging me for a while by nearly 30 points, but managed to peg it back to a 3 point deficit before it all went pear-shaped and I stuffed the last 2 frames to give Nat the game! Damn, she remains the champion! Cam tries many times to get Nat to use her left hand, but she wouldn’t be in it… I will have to get my revenge again soon at an alley in London or something.

Plenty of drinking carried out by all, although we were a little more reserved on this night. Later on there was a “Pash for Cash”. Pretty much anything went, and there were some pretty saucy entries! Some girls in a 3-way pash with their boobs out won the final (that was gonna be hard to beat!)

We had enough by then, it was after 1am. Where did all the time go? The coach collected us and was on our way home for a good nights rest.

29 December 2006

We woke up to yet another beautiful morning. Damn where is that fresh snow? Oh well, at least it made it easier to take photos. So Cam was off again hitting the slopes to take some more pictures. The picture here you may be able to see Mont Blanc in the distance (the high one!) It is over 4000m and always looks so grand! (picture) It was really a great morning, finally getting some tight turns in and finding the powder (although the snow was getting a bit thin and was pretty icy in places). My confidence was sky high, damn I love the adrenaline rush!

After a few hours of carving up the slopes, back to the resort for some lunch and rest. Well earned rest! Our group decided to go our for the final lesson with the group as this was our last full day here :-(

Headed off with the group, but Zavia, Rachael, Corey, Lindsay and I decided that they were going way too slow, so we headed off in search of great piste (slopes). We had the best afternoon skiing. There were some big tumbles taken, but no injuries by anyone. Some of the areas really hectic where a few different slopes would intersect and there would be people flying everywhere of all sorts of different skill levels, so really had to be on your toes. One of the slopes, Cam really had some speed up, (maybe too much?) and looking to this big hill of snow to slow down. Slow down alright, face first into the snow! It was so funny! I wish all tumbles could be this soft and friendly… I also wished I had a camera on me as there was some really special skiing moments to see and capture.

We headed back pretty late in the day, and even skied back, this time a different slightly easier way. Still took a couple of tumbles, but back in tack. Tonight would be our final farewell to UCPA, Plagne 1800; our home for the last week.

After another average meal, (we were sure that they had been throwing all left over fresh food into a big container, cooking it up and hoped for the best). It was a great night had by all, which turned into another late one down at the dodgy disco. Cam getting in at 3:30am was about the earliest (Nat was already keeping the bed warm!), with the other girls getting in near sunrise. A great night had by all.

29 December 2006

It was time to head home after a huge week. Cam was going to go out skiing, but decided to give it a miss. Nat told me after that she had a bad dream that I had a nasty accident this day. Maybe a sign? So our last breakfast and lunch. Managed to fit in a quick tobogan before we had to leave.

We spent the next 2 hours sitting around waiting for the bus to depart for our 20 hour journey home. Which was rather boring, but a great sunset to be seen on the way, this photo was taken on the bus. This would be the first and last sunset that we saw whilst away. So we arrived into London on the 31st of December for a quiet New Years Eve.

That's about all folks. Overall a great week had by all and look forward to our next skiing adventure. Check out all the pictures at our Photobucket site: http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n1/cambodian073/
France/Skifest%20-%20La%20Plagne%20Xmas%202006/?start=all

Take care guys and gals,

Cam & Nat