Winter 2010 program?

Hi all,

Hope you’re all having a good summer, keeping busy and getting a little bit excited about the winter 2010!

After an amazing winter season 2009 filled with fresh snow, fantastic courses and amazing trips it is time once again to come up with a new and improved program for 2010.

As most of you are no doubt aware, the end of the winter brought with it the tragic news of the death of our friend and partner, Keith Mckintosh.

Keith, whom many of you knew well from our courses died doing the sport that he loved to do more than anything else in the world. He lived his life to the full and was an inspiration to us all.

His passing has probably made us all reflect upon the things we do and the values with which we live our lives.

For me, it has made me simply more determined than ever to live for the things that I love, to love them with all my passion and to be true to these feelings in everything that I do (a bit hippyish I know, but bear with me here!)

One of my greatest passions is, of course, Snowboarding, but what I learned this season, after weeks and weeks of perfect riding and amazing snow conditions, it is not just the ‘fine art’ of snowboarding that I love, it is also the ability to share the great experiences that snowboarding gives to me, with you!

When I look back on the season past, my strongest memories are not just of craving deep powder turns in feather light powder, my strongest memories are of the days where these experiences were shared with an enthusiastic group of riders, all getting the buzz, pushing themselves beyond their limits and creating new opportunities and expectations from every run.

On reflection it is my ability to share my knowledge of snowboarding and the experiences that it brings that keeps me inspired and keeps me searching for greater and better things and of course that works both for me and for you!

So in planning this coming winter I have looked hard at what I want to be able to offer, what I want to give and the experiences I want to share. It’s been quite hard trying to fit everything in with out spreading things too thinly and I had to drop a couple of things that I’d like to have done, but I think finally we’re there!

For me 2010 is all about quality over quantity, it is all about the finer details. I want to be able to offer you the best riding experiences possible and so I have cut the program in half to keep it manageable and personal. Today’s world is all about streamlining, sustainability and quality of product and I already know that there can be no finer product.

So here’s how it’s going to work!

We’re going to drop our accommodation package and recommend 2 partners that we’re going to work with, for one think luxury catered chalet through ‘Cold Fusion’ in les Bois. For the other think nice hotel, sociable, comfortable but more cost friendly, Hotel Vert in les Gaillands just out of Cham sud. We will help you with your arrangements but you’ll book direct with which ever you choose. If you’re part of a large group on a budget, there will also be the option of you taking on a self catered apartment.

We’re dropping the lift pass from the package as quite a few of you have season passes and if you’re going to do more than a couple of weeks in Cham through out the season then this is something you should think about getting as you’ll save costs. For our courses you’ll need the Full Cham ski pass with Courmayeur etc. Lift passes can be bought by you in resort or organized through your accommodation package.

The courses! I personally will be running our scheduled program, tech clinics, Off piste clinics, BC courses and trips away. Our regular BC Guides Ralf Tenbrink and Seb Montaz will be joining me for extra un-scheduled courses, custom courses and trips where 2 guides are needed.

This season I feel that we can really offer you the best on the hill experience possible, you get a to have a say in your off the hill package and we all get the best of both worlds.

Spaces will be limited and when a course fills we won’t be putting on another as we have in the past unless it’s a complete custom course, so what you see is what there is.

That’s it that’s all!

Hope you’re feeling as inspired as I am, I’m already looking forwards to getting stuck in and carving some lines, can hardly wait!

Look out for the program on line, but here’s a sneak preview (not finalised) and prices will follow shortly!

All the best,

Neil.



The Winter program 2010.
(Autumn courses not included)

1. 03-09/01 – Tech clinic – 6 places

2.10-12/01 – 3 day Off piste – 3 day/6 places

3.14-23/01 - Gulmarg/India (Voyager exp) - 6 places

4. 24-30/01 - Off piste clinic - 6 places

5. 31-06/02 - BC Intro - 6 places

6. 07-13/02 - Adv BC custom – 3 places

7. 14-20/02 - BC Intro – 6 places

8. 21-27/02 - Tech clinic – 6 places

9. 28-06/03 - Off piste clinic – 6 places

10. 07-13/03 – Tech clinic – 6 places

11. 14-20/03 – 3 day BC Intro – 3 day/6 places

12. 21-27/03 - BC Freeride – 6 places

13. 28-03/04 – 3 day Off Piste - 3 day/6 places

14. 04-12/04 – Kamchatka (Voyager heli) – 6 places

15. 16-24/04 – Lyngen/Norway (Voyager exp) – 6 places

16. 25-01/05 – BC Summits.