The ES staff night out. Messy. Very messy. And it looked a bit like this (no in depth analysis or explanations – I don’t think I’m feeling capable):

I’m not being critical (but)

I know weather forecasting is tricky, but this is, apparently, the weather that’s coming (and already been), and it still doesn’t bare a lot of resemblance to either what was promised and what we’ve got…

I’m not being critical (but)

I know weather forecasting is tricky, but this is, apparently, the weather that’s coming (and already been), and it still doesn’t bare a lot of resemblance to either what was promised and what we’ve got…

Changeable weather

I’m not making excuses, and I don’t want your sympathy, but there are reasons that sometimes our weather predictions are a little off. The information we’re given isn’t always accurate, to be honest.

Take today for example; all week the powers that be have changed their minds constantly, and snowfall predictions have been bandied around left right and centre. I mean, what are we supposed to beleive:

And the thing is, there isn’t any snow falling at all this morning…

Welcome to winter.

Ok, it’s not that cold, but we are getting snow on and off, and with alarming regularity. Yesterday it closed in, snowing heavily in town.

And, although the snow wasn’t settling in resort, it’s all over the trees a little higher this morning.

It seems like every other night the view from Chateaux du Sandy et Guy has been coloured in white all the way to Médières, and sometimes to the valley floor. Not complaining though, although Sandy’s legs will need fake tan if we don’t get some proper spring weather…

On a different note, S Dog went to the Pub’s beach party last night, so we should get some disturbing pics from that (I choked and went home to hide).

And a certain website is forecasting snow, so instead of telling you now, I’m monitoring the fluctuations in their predictions, and on Friday we’ll compare what’s been suggested all week with the reality.

That’s not because you’ll be interested, it’s because I’m a bit of an anorak.

More snow. Again.

That’s right, just when we’re dusting down our flip flops and bracing ourselves for Sandy unveiling his milk-bottle-like legs, it snows again.

I know there’s been snow in the UK, and that we haven’t got the monopoly on late wintery weather, but it’s been crazy – we should all be sunbathing by now.

Naturally the weather boffins/buffoons are saying more’s on the way, but these are the same people who said today would be a bit cloudy. Beautiful blue skies and sunshine this morning, so not a great record on prediction…

Still, it’s another great view from Chateaux du Sandy et Guy this morning…

Victory

Yesterday saw the return of the Carlsberg High 5, so lots of people in free white helmets and green race bibs were hammering about about resort ‘training’ (many of whom might not quite have been of the standard that their swagger suggested).

That said, there were some great riders and skiers on display, including world cup legends in the pro catagory.

Now, we always have a few instructors who enter, and largely give a good account of themselves. However, this year, the Ackner family took it upon themselves to take it to the next level. OK, just Em, really.

And impressively young Emily came first in the women’s snowboarding – an overwhelmed bystander, Mr Oli Pinnochio Dannat, said “She was amazing – way better than all the other girl riders and most of the blokes”. High praise indeed, for someone who’s world view largely consists of him at the top, and everyone else’s achievements some distance beneath him…

And this is what Champion Ackner Jnr looked like:

Yellow Mike returns

Yes, Kato’s stunt double is back in town and played a very appreciative T-Bar last night, where it was ABSOLUTELY RAMMED.

Naturally, it was an amazing night, and it looked a little something like this:

Just because it’s April 1st doesn’t mean I’m lying.

April Fools Day it may be, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s snowed – as predicted by the weather boffins.

I can’t make my mind up whether or not they just got the forecast right as some kind of hilarious prank, and by tomorrow they’ll be getting it miles off again, but I can be certain that it snowed all yesterday, although, due to the mild temperatures, it didn’t settle on anything other than the snow already on the ground.

It’s not loads, but it’s snow and it all counts…

It’s also started settling on the trees over night at exactly resort height, making the view from the windows of ‘Palais de Guy et Sandy’ look rather pretty. Which is nice.

The other big news in resort is that the droopy muzzer is back. Calm yourselves.

Just because it’s April 1st doesn’t mean I’m lying.

April Fools Day it may be, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s snowed – as predicted by the weather boffins.

I can’t make my mind up whether or not they just got the forecast right as some kind of hilarious prank, and by tomorrow they’ll be getting it miles off again, but I can be certain that it snowed all yesterday, although, due to the mild temperatures, it didn’t settle on anything other than the snow already on the ground.

It’s not loads, but it’s snow and it all counts…

It’s also started settling on the trees over night at exactly resort height, making the view from the windows of ‘Palais de Guy et Sandy’ look rather pretty. Which is nice.

The other big news in resort is that the droopy muzzer is back. Calm yourselves.

The fund-raising in pictures…

Due to technical difficulties (read ‘laziness and ineptitude’) we’ve not been able to get the pictures from the ES Adaptive fund-raising up here, but now you can enjoy them in all their glory.

Thanks to Rob H-S for the pics…

Oh. and by the way – snow-forecast are predicting snow for tomorrow, so, on the evidence of past predictions (and not being too cynical) I for one will be putting on suncream…

Snow, sun, warm, cold: a bit of everything

Easter has turned out to be a bit of a changeable affair – one minute you’re freezing in a white-out and regretting getting out of bed that day, the next you’re baking, turning crimson and wishing you’d put on suncream.

And so it continues – the snow is brilliant, especially up high, and we had yet another fall last night so the snow that was melted on the trees has been replaced, making everything look laaaaarvely.

And when the clouds clear it’s decidedly above average.

Apart from that, we’re all still feeling pretty chuffed that the school raised 26,000 CHF for disabled skiing last week, and we’ve also all been sitting around in the t-bar debating whether or not snow-forecast.com are over-predicting snowfalls on purpose just to mess with our heads, or if they just get it wrong a lot.

It’s winter again.

Yup, after a worrying trend towards flip-flops, sunshine and Sandy in shorts, the weather in Verbier has swung back towards winter, and it snowed solidly for over 24 hours, resulting in quite a lt of snow on the hill.

But even better than the snow, is the amount of money raised for disabled skiing equipment after our fund-raising week – people contributed a staggering 26,000 CHF. So thanks to everyone who got involved, helped out and donated, it was an unbeleivable success and we’ll get some pictures of the various evenings up here asap.

Meanwhile, here’s what loads of snow looks like…

It’s winter again.

Yup, after a worrying trend towards flip-flops, sunshine and Sandy in shorts, the weather in Verbier has swung back towards winter, and it snowed solidly for over 24 hours, resulting in quite a lt of snow on the hill.

But even better than the snow, is the amount of money raised for disabled skiing equipment after our fund-raising week – people contributed a staggering 26,000 CHF. So thanks to everyone who got involved, helped out and donated, it was an unbeleivable success and we’ll get some pictures of the various evenings up here asap.

Meanwhile, here’s what loads of snow looks like…

For Clare: stuff that isn’t just about the weather.

OK, maybe last season the blog was more about the shenanigans that the general populous of the resort were up to, and a brief word on how the weather was going.

Well, I like to think that – in a John Ketttly stylie – we’ve kept you well abreast of snow and stuff this season, but perhaps neglected the news about Kato’s dance moves, and Gussy’s team-building with some of the ladies in resort.

So, heres some less-weather-driven stuff:

The big news in resort is that so far the charity week to raise money for equipment disabled skiers is going brilliantly.

We had a fairly enormous night on Tuesday in Coco (who kindly donated all proceeds on the door to the cause), and we gave away loads of kit and prizes in the raffle.

Last night The Lodge broomball team robbed the mighty ES squad of a place in the final on penalties, and then went on to win. All the teams paid to play, and the money went into the big pot for Disability Snowsport UK.

And tonight it’s the big auction at T-Bar (music from 5pm, auction at 6pm), with loads of brilliant lots up for grabs, plus we’re auctioning off slaves.

So could even pay to spend time with Gussy. If you like that kind of thing.

We’ll pop up some pics tomorrow, and for the weather junkies out there, check out this…

It rather looks like we’re about to get dumped on.

For Clare: stuff that isn’t just about the weather.

OK, maybe last season the blog was more about the shenanigans that the general populous of the resort were up to, and a brief word on how the weather was going.

Well, I like to think that – in a John Ketttly stylie – we’ve kept you well abreast of snow and stuff this season, but perhaps neglected the news about Kato’s dance moves, and Gussy’s team-building with some of the ladies in resort.

So, heres some less-weather-driven stuff:

The big news in resort is that so far the charity week to raise money for equipment disabled skiers is going brilliantly.

We had a fairly enormous night on Tuesday in Coco (who kindly donated all proceeds on the door to the cause), and we gave away loads of kit and prizes in the raffle.

Last night The Lodge broomball team robbed the mighty ES squad of a place in the final on penalties, and then went on to win. All the teams paid to play, and the money went into the big pot for Disability Snowsport UK.

And tonight it’s the big auction at T-Bar (music from 5pm, auction at 6pm), with loads of brilliant lots up for grabs, plus we’re auctioning off slaves.

So could even pay to spend time with Gussy. If you like that kind of thing.

We’ll pop up some pics tomorrow, and for the weather junkies out there, check out this…

It rather looks like we’re about to get dumped on.

It’s snowing

Yup, we had snow last night (and some rain then snow in resort) and now we’re getting pretty impressive flurries of snow in town, plus its been snowing on and off all day up the hill. Nice.

And they’re promising more is on the way. That said, they do say things like that an awful lot and then change their minds.

Still, sitting outside The Pub and drinking Guinness in the snow isn’t a bad thing.

It’s snowing

Yup, we had snow last night (and some rain then snow in resort) and now we’re getting pretty impressive flurries of snow in town, plus its been snowing on and off all day up the hill. Nice.

And they’re promising more is on the way. That said, they do say things like that an awful lot and then change their minds.

Still, sitting outside The Pub and drinking Guinness in the snow isn’t a bad thing.

Sunshine. Nice.

A great day up there today – sunny, blue skies, great snow (ok, it got a wee bit slushy in places once the sun got on it) and on the whole a rather pleasant way to pass the day.

And, according to the boffins, it should snow at the weekend…

So, once again, cross everything, and think snowy thoughts.

(PS get well soon Jase)

Mmmmmm, sunshine

Yup, the clouds gone, the rain’s a distant memory, and the sun’s going to be out all day.

Could be worse…