Just got back from a great week skiing in Val D'Isere (one of the better Ski resorts in the world) and I can honestly say I am lucky to be here. It all started well with a couple of good days off piste skiing but coupled with the usual apres ski late nights, by the 3rd day to say I was feeling tired is putting it mildly. Rather than another day of couloirs and steep off piste I thought it would be a great idea to become a beginner again and try snowboarding - after all how hard could it be? Actually I made a reasonable stab at it (probably due to the similarity with skateboarding from my youth) but it all felt like a bit too much hard work and after catching an edge I was left with a possible fractured rib and my brief foray into boarding was well and truly over! Undeterred and after investing in copious quantities of ibruprofen it was back to the off piste on skis. After two more great days, and a few quite hairy moments, it was on a fairly simple (by comparison) off piste slope that I had my great escape. After a fairly steep turn I lost one of my skis and then proceeded to fall, roll and bounce around 300 feet straight down the slope - one of those occasions when a fall just isn't funny. Fortunately I escaped with only my pride hurt (the fact I was wearing a helmet probably helped) but nevertheless not an experience I want to repeat in a hurry. Can't wait to get back to the mountains :-)
