Laying down the groundwork

I’d done all I could to prepare the ground in advance – we’d had a holiday to Champagny, a cutesy village that links into the extensive La Plagne area, the previous summer and he’d enjoyed being in the mountains. He loves food, especially French cheese and wine, we’d booked into the comfortable and spacious Les Alpages de Champagny apartments, and there was a group of us going on his inaugural holiday so he’d have company other than me (with my thinly veiled eagerness for him to be a natural). Plus there had been the preliminary lessons at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead and to further seal the deal I’d booked for us to travel to the Alps by train, a far more relaxing and enjoyable way to start the holiday than on a cramped and stressful budget flight. I hoped that if we just focused on all the positives, the actual skiing would be a minor by-product. 

Photo credit: C. Tatin

Cold feet

Jon was booked in for a week of group lessons with the local ESF, and it was with some trepidation on both our parts that Jon set off for his first lesson on real snow. Memories of learning as a child with the ESF ran through my head, of how the teachers didn’t seem to like to speak English and I was always picked up by the scruff of my neck when I fell over – but that was 20-plus years ago, Jon was a grown up and his ESF instructor spoke fluent English, so I was probably worrying unnecessarily.

After an eventful morning for Jon (see the final instalment of his blog for more) we skied together for a couple of runs on the nursery slopes. I’d forgotten how utterly exhausting learning to ski can be, so my patience was tested when after only a couple of runs Jon wanted to stop. With hindsight, we should have probably stopped even earlier as it was in my long-term interest to not push him too much too soon. 

Climbing the learning curve

While there were some worrying moments during the week – Jon’s flat refusal to take a drag lift, my lack of understanding of beginners’ fears – there were many times when we were actually skiing together, and by the end of the week he was cruising Champagny’s lovely long blue runs without stopping, and had even skied over to La Plagne and back. I’d have the morning to ski with the others while Jon had lessons, then we’d meet for a quick lunch and a gentle ski in the afternoon. I probably shouldn’t have taken him on a chairlift before his instructor had, but thankfully another friend was with us to share the burden of responsibility.

The piste to happiness?

The week progressed and just when I thought I could relax in the knowledge that we were set for future holidays after a successful day, the following day would throw up a new obstacle or stepping stone for Jon, and only lots of French cheese and wine would make everything better again.

While all my careful groundwork certainly wasn’t in vain, the success of the week ultimately came down to the solid and consistent instruction Jon received and the support and encouragement from our friends. It may be a few seasons yet before we’re riding fresh powder together but even before we’d got off the train on the way home Jon had brought up talk of a return trip next season and I couldn’t have been happier. 

Details, details

Rebecca and friends travelled to Champagny en Vanoise with Lagrange Holidays. A seven-night stay in a 10-person apartment starts from £302 per person including return train travel from London to Moutiers. For more information on travelling to the Alps by train check out this video or visit www.snowcarbon .co.uk.