Sixth Form Ski Trip, Les Menuires 2011

On Saturday the 10th of December, with memories of end-of-term exams, Christmas carols and House Dinners fresh; an enthusiastic group of Sixth Form students set off for the French Alps and the resort of Les Menuires in search of snow. With all transfers on time and a very knowledgeable team of staff in resort the group arrived, checked in, ate and were fitted hire before retiring knowing that six days of skiing and boarding in the Three Valley region awaited.

Having worried about the early season conditions it quickly became clear that lack of snow was never going to be an issue, more an excess of it. Our first two days offered the best visibility and under the ever expert instruction of ESF the group naturally split into three allowing all abilities to be catered for. The location of Le Skilt hotel could not have been better, twenty metres from the main lifts, on the doorstep of the undercover town shops and an all-inclusive menu which was fully enjoyed by boys at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

On the morning of the 13th the heavy snow began and continued for the next four days - a total of 120cm, which is almost unheard of, and made skiing challenging. Comic highlights were wipe-outs from Charlie Gent (L6b) and Ed Dance (L6f), a snow igloo fashioned on the hotel balcony by Simon Fraser (L6e), some air-bag assisted flips from Peter Trebelev (U6f) and Alexander Warren (U6m) and some token efforts from Mr Scott and me. The evening après-ski was spent enjoying the buzz of the hotel restaurant and sports bar, DVD nights, bowling in Val Thoren and a widely enjoyed trip to the indoor spa, swimming pool and sauna experience offered in the leisure centre just two minutes walk from the hotel.

The six days passed off with no illnesses or injuries - overall a great way to start the Christmas holidays and round off the Michaelmas term; I am already excited about the 2012 trip. My greatest thanks to Mr Patterson, Mr Woods and Mr Scott for giving up their holidays to make this trip a success.

Mr Simon Lilley
Sixth Form Ski Trip Organiser

Posted: Tuesday, January 3, 2012