Day Off 12: Pow-wow in a Tipi!

This has got to be one of more random days off.

With the aim of making videos for the website, we decided we'd had to visit as many resorts as we could. Having checked off Espace Killy we set our sights on Courchevel. 

Me, Ash, Steve, Simon, Michelle and Maria

Courchevel is the most eastern resort of the Three Valleys, the biggest connected ski area in the world (and the setting for The Quest of the Mountain Burger). It is also renowned for its excellent lift system which is virtually queue free.

Luckily for us it wasn't that busy at all. We set off nice and early and met up with Ash, Maria, Michelle and Simon in Meribel. Once we sorted out our passes for the day, we made our way over to Courchevel.

Now I know I've said this loads of times but the conditions were perfect. Clear blue sky with plenty of fresh snow still to be had. With a mixed group of abilities everyone still stuck together and had a brilliant day.

As we made our way down to Courchevel 1650 we came across the 'Indiens' run. As fun as the run is, the real surprise is at the bottom. Once you've finished you are greeted by and Indian village!

Outside the Tardis

Inside the wigwam (which was, to my surprise, a lot bigger inside than it was outside!) we were required to dress up as authentic hippie-native Americans too. We were given carefully selected head dresses to wear and authentic musical instruments to play.

How!

We were also asked if we'd like to have our faces painted which we all agreed on. Once we had been painted in traditional colours, we were then offered the staple drink of the gypsie-hippie-native Americans - Vin Chaud! I did spy some marshmallows on the go too but we didn't get offered any of those...

Getting our groove on!

Not wanting to overstay our welcome, we took off our authentic clothing and made our way down to Courcheval 1650.  But not before making sure that Steve and Simon were OK outside. 

Steve having the best time

After a lot more snowboarding and chasing the powder, we grabbed some lunch down in Courcheval 1650 with Holly, Ben and Jack. Once we finished the paninis (mine was chinese) we parted ways to seize the rest of the day!

Simon, Jack, Holly, Michelle and Ben

Overall, another fantastic day. Not working in a resort, I'd forgotten how much fun cruising around with a group of mates is like on your day off! Bring on another one please!

Day Off 10 & 11: Filming in Espace Killy!

The plan for these days off was to have a play around the Espace Killy whilst making a sample film of the area for the company website.

The Espace Killy is a ski area in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie in the French Alps, named after the skier Jean-Claude Killy. It covers the resorts of Val d'Isère and Tignes!

In Espace Killy there are 300 km of pistes:

22 green runs, 61 blues, 46 reds and 25 blacks, plus 44 km of cross country skiing

2 terrain parks

2 glaciers

90 ski lifts

After a 45min drive from Bourg, Steven "Spielberg" Carter and I headed up to check out the runs. After a cruise about and a few chair lifts later, we spotted some good looking powder and started the filming.

Cheeky freshies selfie

After a couple more powder runs we arranged to meet up with Ash, Lee, Niall and a few of the other staff from the Tarentaise area to get in some group filming in uniform. 

As the guys are based in Espace Killy for the season, they have a really good knowledge of the mountain which meant we weren't stopping to question runs or worrying about getting stuck anywhere.

Steve having the best time!

With the benefit of the guys' local knowledge, this meant plenty of time for some fast skiing and boarding over all different sorts of terrain. It also gave us the opportunity to get in some good filming in different type of scenery too. 

Now as much as I love typing about the mountains, I'm sure you'd much rather see the sample video we put together. 

(We did end the day with a kebab too but that didn't make the cut) Enjoy!