So you thought bumps skiiing was dead? Last week a couple fo thousand people proved otherwise and TDC was there to participate and record some of the action:
The Boss des Bosses is a 21 year old grudge match between Val d’Isere (we have the best bumps skiers in europe), and Chamonix (no, we do).
The first event was just between these two resorts but then other resorts have wanted a piece of the action too. This year’s line up was Val d’Isere, Chamonix, Meribel, Zermatt, Verbier and Courchevel. This video is of the Val team in their play off for third place against Verbier.
Teams are made up of 2 telemarkers, 2 snowboarders, 2 female skiers, and seven male skiers. Head to head.
Well done to team Chamonix, who took home the trophy.
Go to the TDC facebook page to see this with music added
Really nice to have Neil and Shane come and stay for a few days. Managed to get a few shots of them skiing that look good and i promised to show them to the world. The off piste pics are a long way away from the piste and took us a few days to walk in to but on arrival they both still had the energy to stick some lines down.
On friday night, as the lifties were thinking of shutting up shop, 8 tdc coaches were frantically packing supplies into back packs, ready for the inaugural tdc night tour. The snow had been falling all afternoon and visibility wasn’t great but what did that matter on a night tour, surely that’s the idea! It proved to be a pretty strenuous journey to the Refuge des Fours, a two hour skin that culminated in a steep bumpy gully high above the Cugnai Valley, but once we had the stove fired up and pumping out heat we were all glad to have put in the effort. A delicious 3 course meal washed down with lashings of red wine was then topped off with a few glasses of whiskey. The laughter continued into the small hours as the snow and wind continued to drive against the hut outside. Although heads were a little fuzzy in the morning we had enjoyed a brilliant night, very different from your average Friday evening. The ski home was almost as much of a slog as on
the way up! Poor visibility and heavy wind blown snow made for a long arduous trudge out of the valley. Any hopes of cutting our efforts short by taking the Manchet Express chairlift were dashed as we rounded the corner to see it closed! Lets get the weather right next time team…looking forward to it already.
In association with the development centre, Tignes and Val d’Isere
Gap Ski is a new 10 week ski instructor training programme based in Tignes, part of the Espace Killy, one of the greatest ski areas in the world. Whether you are looking for an international qualification for a career in the ski industry or simply a way to maximise your skiing potential whilst doing a season, the Gap Ski programme is the most comprehensive and effective ski training programme out there.
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Gap Ski offers the most effective and best value for money gap programme possible. The course is designed to train students up to and through their BASI level 2. The course includes all BASI fees including level 1 and 2, the child protection module, first aid course and all the required shadowing hours. Basically, everything is included, no hidden costs, no extra charges, it’s all in there.
Gap Ski training is provided in association with the development centre who boast six BASI examiners within their ranks. All training is with BASI examiners and fully qualified ISTD’s. Check out below to see why this gap course is a cut above the rest….
10 week all inclusive course taking you right through to and including BASI level 2
BASI level 1, 2, first aid course and child protection fees all included
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Collection and drop off from Geneva airport
Fully catered HOTEL accommodation. 3 meals a day including hot mountain restaurant lunch 7 days a week.
Train 5 days a week, enjoy your accommodation, lift pass and food 7 days a week
Work opportunities in Italy on successful completion of BASI level 2.
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These are just some of the benefits of Gap Ski, others include freeride, park and avalanche awareness sessions. There are also opportunities to learn ski tuning and maintenance, lesson planning, group management and so much more. These are all included in the stated price – there are no hidden fees
Gap Ski, in association with the development centre, invites you to take advantage of the best training in the Alps. Simply take your skiing to a new level or kick start your career in snowsports.
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For more information contact Ben Harris at [email protected] or on
+33 (0)6 14 28 54 26
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+44(0) 7967 330 187
Sometimes you get good conditions and have to make the most of them.This is the recipe to follow:
First you have to have the good snow; then you have to have the good visibility to see it;then you have to be skiing with poeple who are prepared for a challenge and just love it. Mix together with some local knowledge of where to go and when to go there and then see what happens!
It was another beautiful day in the Espace Killy today and although we haven’t had loads of snow so far this season the piste conditions are fantastic, there’s barely a rock in sight!
This morning I took the group over to Val d’Isere but unfortunately my favourite La Daille area was closed due to preparations for the World Cup and a fallen cable which was crossing La Verte piste. We spent the morning consolidating yesterday’s technical focusses which were getting balanced over the outside ski early in the turn and improving rotary movements.
SCGB with tdc coach Ben Langridge
As the video footage shows the guys made some great changes notably their turn shape and economy of movements.
After a great lunch in La Datcha, we headed up into the Solaise bowl to work on the inside ski which in the most part wasn’t quite matching the outside ski. The general feedback was really positive with the guys feeling more stable, more smooth, and more efficient, so I took the group down the Matisse piste which I knew would be quite icy and narrow. This was a good test to see if the inside ski focus helped their impulse of rotation and their ability to put the ski flat and be patient through the arc. I was really pleased with the outcome as the team skied comfortably over the varied snow adapting with each turn to the different snow underfoot. We finished the day with another video run before heading back to the hotel bar to review it over a Vin Chaud.
Sunday 27th December 2009, beautiful blue skies as you can see and some tremendous snow. Although old timers in Ste Foy, Jenny and Louise had never made the trip over the back of the top lift and down to the summer village of Le Monal. Along with Dad Andrew and tdc’s Paul, the team had a memorable ski across the undulating upper slopes and then down through the woods to the village. The walk back always builds a good appetite and once back at the chalet we feasted on Christmas left overs. There were some weary legs in the afternoon but not so for the tireless Mr Wright senior and the well rested Phillipa, who joined me for a few runs on the new lift…still lots of soft snow up there. I am not sure the frozen rain forecast for tomorrow is going to be quite so nice, but maybe memorable for other reasons though.
