Bonjour de la Suisse: Boarding en Français

Months ago, before the start of the warmest winter Europe has seen in over 100 years, we signed up for a three day ski trip with G's work. The French sales team made all the arrangements and all we had to do was pay our money and show up! But then, as the warm months went on and on, and what little snow that did fall seemed to melt away in a matter of days, things were looking bleak for our late-March trip. But then something extraordinary happened... It got cold, it snowed, and it stuck!

We were thrilled to finally be doing some snow boarding this year (even if it is a bit late to properly start the season!) After all, snow boarding is my favorite part of winter and we are so close to the slopes. So, we were off to France for three blissful days of boarding. We stayed in the little mountain village of Champagny, nestled in the Alps in the Savoy region of France. The village is connected to a series of ski resorts that offers more that 425km of pistes (runs) and 3 glaciers. You could stay here all week and not ski the same run twice!

On our first day (Friday), the weather wasn't exactly cooperating with us, but I wasn't complaining... we had acres of fresh powder and the snow was still falling! By Saturday things were clearing up a little and with a fresh wax and edge I was boarding well and happy as a clam. Sunday was the pinnacle of the trip. It was clear and warmer with tons of fresh powder on the ground - spring skiing at its best! That day we tackled runs with names like "Kamikaze" and "Hara-Kiri", I'm not sure if their names were meant to be funny or to scare off the timid!

We were skiing with a couple folks from the office and a group from the field (the French team). These guys were good, but then again most of them had grown up near the Alps and skiing was in their blood. One guy brought his 14 year old son, who skis competitively, and I barely blinked and he was gone. I have never seen anyone ski so fast in my life!

As for me, I faced an unexpected challenge. Last year I conquered the dreaded T-bar (and won), but the European ski slopes had a couple more surprises in store for me... the astro-turf conveyor belt chairlift and the mid-run tow rope. Both I mastered (after a first-time try debacle) and actually grew to enjoy, especially the tow rope, which felt more like wake boarding than snow boarding.

At night the whole group (about 20 of us) would gather for dinner at a long table in our chalet for a private meal. Most of the conversation was in French, which I could follow along with okay. The only trouble I had was when G was asked to tell the tale of how we met (in French) and he looked to me to talk for him! I must admit I stuck to the short version. ;)