Week one

So here we are on the eve of the busiest day of the season.

What's happened so far you ask? 

Well!

It's rained, it's snowed, we have been for a ski over some rocks and snowboarded fresh powder, 23 people have stayed with us for the first week of the season and for the most part have had a great time both on and off the slopes!

Oh and it was Christmas, so some awesome presents have been received and lots of chocolate has been eaten :D

It's hard to think back in November when we were sat around a table in Bournemouth listening to the salomon rep, explaining what each of the parts on a set of bindings do and how they interact, that we would settle into organising rental equipment so quickly. A few questions about a persons measurements and a short chat about their skiing, the next thing you know you have them stood in a pair of ski boots with a set of skis in one hand, a set of poles in the other and a smile on their face as they think about the week ahead.

Arrivals were spread from mid morning all the way into the evening with some people arriving through dinner and some even once people had taken to their beds. Another new thing to consider as last year we had simply needed to be around to say hi whilst Andy, Sylvie or Joe welcomed people to Morzine explaining where the bus stops were and how to get to and from the slopes the following day. . . Well that was all on us this year, fortunately most things from last year were well remembered and local knowledge did not need to be much more than pointing out which bus to get on and jabbing a finger towards the green and blue slopes on a piste map for the more nervous guests.

With everyone fed, watered and out the door for their first days we have had some time to get out as well and whilst there hasn't been a huge number of pistes open for use, there has still been plenty of great slope time, with people confined to fewer runs it's been easy to cram in plenty of good mogul skiing over lunch times when everyone is in the restaurants.

Then it snowed!

After a week of sunny days and then a day of warm rain we were about ready to write the week off for the snowboards, but the winds picked up and down came the snow for a fantastic powder day yesterday. 

Well that is the story so far, some skiing and some snowboarding, lots of time spent with guests discussing the area and hopefully giving them the best holiday they could have.

Next week we are going to visit Tignes on our day off to see family who are holidaying out there, but first it's change over and another 23 arrive tomorrow.

Catch you next week

Ant

Season 2, EP1

Hey all,

Last Sunday we got up super early and left home at 4am. Drove all day long and arrived in Morzine at 6.30pm just in time for a Bar Nathional pizza with Andy, Sylvie and Joe. On Monday all the other staff arrived and we met them in the evening. Everyone is really nice and all having a good laugh. 

During the week we have been trying various menus before the guests arrive and also preparing the Chalets. This year we are running a Chalet Hotel together. Our first guests arrive on the 21st and it's all go from there for the rest of the season. 

Today was our first time out on the mountain. So good to be back on the skis. The weather was brilliant and pistes were great. Only a select few pistes are open in Avoriaz but with the forecasted snow for next week just before Morzine and Les Gets open it should all be perfect and set for a white Christmas! Here's a quick low res video of us with Sam, Lorraine and Will going through Avoriaz. 

Also a friend asked Me (Ant) to make a snow angel for her Dad, I've never done one before but here is my picture! RIP Mike

This is just to say we are here and having a great time. Will post again soon when everything gets going. 

Ant and Bex 

Season 2, Here we go again?!

Hey Everyone!!

So plans are coming together for our return to Morzine for the coming 2013-2014 winter season. Over the past month or so we have had contracts through the post, seen the location of our new little apartment and organised to meet with Andy and Sylvie for a long awaited catch up to go through the plans for the winter.

These bits all happened and so we are now waiting for next week when we have a ski fitting seminar in Bournemouth so that we will be able to fit out our guests with ski hire equipment on site in the hotel!

Our new accommodation will be just over the bridge from the super morzine lift! Which is great for access to the town and also to the skiing. This winter we'll be running a new Chalet Hotel together for Host Savoie. We saw it at the end of last season and it looks great and a new exciting chalet for everyone located just 10 minute walk from Morzine town centre on the roads to Les Prodain.

A couple of weekends ago we went to the Ski and Snowboard show at Earls Court. A fantastic day out with lots of things to see and do. Many companies had there shops set up, so lots of tempting kit to buy. We took part in a wine tasting session. Very interesting and the guy taking it certainly new his stuff. We learnt all about what to look for in the wine, what is best to accompany it and a background of the vineyards. 

We also have some new shiny kit which we can't wait to use on the slopes. Of co ruse we'll always have our Go Pro camera attached to our helmets, skis, boards, chest, poles or in the snow so we'll be able to share lots of cool pictures with you. 

Just a note to say that from the 8th December we'll be back out there, the blog in full use again and lots of fun to be had! 

Bye for now

Ant and Bex xx

Video

Hi All

So I thought I'd just share this video with you all. I wanted to try and put all our Go Pro videos into one video. I have never done this before and I wasn't very good at it! So I have made this instead which shows some videos and picture through our winter season 2012-13. Pease take a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p8IfR1Z7t4

We are returning to Morzine this winter so hopefully next year we'll be able to share a lot more videos and fun times whilst we are out there.

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Bex
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Closing Week

Hi everyone

So we are coming to the end of our adventure! Can’t believe how quickly 5 months can go! We so lucky to have done all the amazing things in that time. The weather has been up and down here. We had days and days of solid rain and then this week it’s been clear blue skies and temperatures of up to 34 degrees! However today the rain has returned!

Ant’s last guests left 2 weeks ago and mine last weekend. We have closed down the chalets ready to hand back to the owners for the summer. Doesn't seem that long ago we were getting them ready for the first guests with Christmas decorations! All 7 of us from the Host Savoie team went out for some celebratory drinks after the last meals were cooked and guests had left.

The slopes close this Sunday, with various closing party’s happening in Avoriaz. We were fortunate to go on the new Prodain Express Cable Car which was meant to be ready at the start of the season but ended up for the last week! It’s very impressive and quick! Only taking 4 minutes to get you up to Avoriaz from Prodain and you can get straight onto a Cable Car without having to wait. Where you arrive in Avoriaz is great and they have dug into the mountain so all the walls are still the rocks! Here’s us on it.

On Sunday night Sylvie cooked for us all in Chalet Chery, we had meatballs and home made potatoes, it was great. Monday night was Andy’s turn to cook and he did his famous Fondu. A lot of cheese but very tasty. Tuesday evening we had a trip down to Thonon with the guys and girls from Rolling Road who are the transfer company we use. We went bowling first and then for an Indian. Huge fun and lots of competition! Sylvie came out on top for Host Savoie followed by Ant just 1 point behind! The sports battle between myself and Andy was increased to 5-0 to me!! (Just by 1 point as well!) Indian was delicious and made a great change from bread, cheese and ham which is what you have a lot of in the mountains!

Friday we went to some Thermal Spa’s in Switzerland. They were very relaxing, some great outdoor warm spas and then also a freezing natural river from water straight out of the mountains. Apparently it’s great in the summer! Also with Saunas and steam rooms and an 8 degree ice pool to jump into straight after! 

Friday night the weather went from really warm 34 degrees during the day to snow! Woke up on Saturday morning with a foot of fresh snow on our balcony and even more at the top of the mountains.

 Last night was the last day on the slopes where we joined in the parties at Chez Flo and Les Trappures. Unfortunately it was very foggy all day but here is some pictures of us there the day before when the bands were rehearsing.

Last night was the last time we were all together as Joe left early this morning and Katie fly’s home later today. Sylvie picked us all up and we went to St Jean D’aulps for a Bar National Pizza. Sarah leaves tomorrow and then it’s just Ant and I left. We decided to stay on an extra week to have a little holiday so return on Monday 29^th. Looking forward to seeing you all then!

This is just some photos over the last couple of weeks! 

We finally got Andy on a snowboard!

Bex xxx

Update!! Photos are in!

Bass challenge and good company

Hi Everyone
So this week has been slightly different in the Alps. As in January we had 10 days of solid snow fall and freezing weather, we are now going through 10 days of solid rain as it is so warm! The slopes are still very white and when it stops will be great to ski on as high up it will be powder but town is looking very spring like and we don’t have to dig the car out anymore!
Last Wednesday we had the annual Bass Challenge Ski Race. Host Savoie put in two teams, one pink and one orange. The orange team consisted of Andy, Joe and Sylvie and the pink team was Ant, Katie and me! There was a break in the weather for the afternoon and we ended up just skiing in our t-shirts!

The orange team performed very well and came out in second place. There was a lot of competition within ourselves especially Joe against Ant and Andy against me. Ant and I tried to race backwards as well, turns out it’s quite tricky doing slalom backwards. The Bass ski instructors gave us all a great afternoon.

On Tuesday after snowboarding this was going past the front door! Ant decided to go sledging...on his board!

Last week was very quiet work wise for us all. We skied hard but also got to relax well, it was like being on holiday for us! Friday was a brilliant day weather wise and we had Man Day + Becky! Andy, Joe, Ant and I skied over to Champoussin to Chez Gabby for some goulash soup. It was amazing, served in a bread roll and we just about finished the lot!

Saturday night we drove around to our friends apartment in Abondance which is a little down on the far French side of the Portes du Soleil. There was many of us for pre dinner drinks and had a good catch up with all.
One of the doorstep ski guys who fit our guests with rental skis is a DJ in town. Tuesday night we went out to a bar that he was playing in. Had a great laugh, saw some others out and about, played some air hockey and pool.
By coincidence a friend’s daughter from back home had chosen to get married in a hotel yesterday which was at the top of Nyon, where we live! It was great to see people from back home and despite the weather they had great fun. The bride and her Dad skied down the run into the hotel dressed in their wedding dress and morning suit which was great to watch, then quickly changed their ski boots for elegant wedding shoes and enjoyed the day.

Speak soon Bex xx

Aaaand Breathe

Hey guys!

So we have pretty much had sun and spring skiing for the past 2 weeks, right up until yesterday when the snow arrived again and we have had two perfect powder days!

Today we spent on the skis after a massive day on the boards yesterday, the powder and the skies were just awesome!

It is a quiet week for us with 2 of the 3 catered chalets empty, this actually feels like a ski holiday; we get up when we fancy breakfast, go out for a ski, grab some lunch and just cruise back home to get changed and think about dinner / apres.

Over the past two days we have been trying all sorts of things in the stash on both the boards and skis that at the beginning of the season I would have looked at and just thought no way! Regardless, everything aches now and we have a race tomorrow... preparing to get destroyed by 8 year olds who live out here.

That's it for now, we have just been skiing and working, no extra special trips to mention but we will write again as soon as we do!

Cya!

Bex and Ant


Oh and i take pictures sometimes and put them up here (Ant's Flickr)
Ant.

Friends, family and fairly good weather!

Hi all,

So this has been an awesome week!! The weather has been amazing, clear blue skies all week. Saturday night Ants mum Vicky arrived. Sunday my Mum, Dad, brother Tom, cousin Matt, Grandma, Grandad and friends Emma and Ben arrived at 5pm. By 5.05 the boys were on the beers! They all helped me out (even though on holiday!) so could ski with them and it was just great to see them and spend time with them all. Ant was really busy with 16 people, but we got to ski with Vicky and catch up with her too. We tried to arrange lunch times where everyone could get to so we could hear all about the mornings antics.

On  Monday we met at the Music Box restaurant where G and G could get the Super Morzine lift up.
It was a good first day stop, people had found their feet again in the morning and were ready for the rest of the week

Tuesday we went over Morzine and Les Gets side of the mountain. Managed to see Jo who I used to work with which was brilliant. Had a good catch up and little ski with her. For lunch we met at the Clubhouse restaurant which is on Les Gets golf course in the summer. All in all there ended up 15 of us!

 

So Wednesday was Dad’s birthday and what a day that was! Again waking up to clear blue skies and Matt had a great idea that instead of coffee we should surprise Dad with champagne in the snow. So Ant skied over with 3 bottles and glasses and we buried it in the snow, arranged to meet everyone at this point and got dad there without him realising. It worked out well and Dad was very pleased.

 

From there we skied all of one run to the Ice Bar for a pre lunch drink and then on to Pomme de Pan for lunch. We took over the upstairs restaurant and celebrated well.

Thursday there was a coffee pot on at Ant’s and my apartment. Sadly Friday morning G and G went home. For the rest of us it was back to Avoriaz, everyone went to Switzerland and back whilst we went shopping and then we met for some burgers at Chez Flo. The weather still shinning made it very relaxing. Tom, Matt, Dad and I went off for some moguls and off pieste whilst Ant and Vicky had a final ski together. Saturday Vicky left Chalet Chery and went home so we got up and said our goodbyes.

 

A final day skiing with the family was a lot of miles and a lot of fun. Including the Swiss Wall, Linga and back to Linderets twice and a finial beer at the Ice Bar.

Everyone left us at 7 Sunday morning and by 7.10 we were asleep again on the sofa! Everyone had worn us out. So we’ve had a relaxing day today. Drove to Les Gets and pottered around there. Went into a second hand shop to see if there was any snowboards that suited us, unfortunately not! But the lady was really really nice and said were welcome back anytime!

Here is some more pictures taken throughout the week. All in all it was a perfect week and we loved seeing all our family and friends. Thanks for a great week everyone!

Bex xx

 

 

Pre family visits!

Hi everyone!

So at the start of the week there was amazing weather! The sun was out  Sunday - Wednesday without a cloud in the sky! After last week’s snow it made the conditions perfect. Also the sunsets have been awesome, this is the view from my window at work in the evening overlooking the Plenny slopes! Currently tonight its starting to snow again, which is good to have a top up after the half term crowds.

 

Obviously its half term this week but so far the lifts haven’t been as bad as we were expecting. We went to Saint Jean D’Aulps on Monday were it was empty and perfect piests. Joe came out with us and we did some quick skiing! Little worn out in the evening.

We went to the snow park in Avoriaz were Ant took his camera too and got some amazing photos. The guys doing the jumps were very impressive with all their back flips and spins! One day we’ll learn those without falling! Here’s some pictures that ant took! (I'm the 3rd picture!)

 

The Ice bar in Linderets has been built. There is so much snow that they have managed to build a igloo as well this year, this is us in it with John and Esme after a couple of drinks at the Ice Bar! (We don't know the kid with the pick axe!)

 

Yesterday we went swimming with Katie and Sarah. Really enjoying getting into the fitness and adapting to the altitude, we even managed to do 100 lengths each!

This weekend all our families and friends arrive! We’re very excited and know that we’ll have a lot to report in our next post. For now this is all and we’ll be in touch again!

Bex

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SSSSNNNNOOOOWWWW!!!!

So not many photos this week guys as the snow has been coming so thick and fast that there was no real light to get any good pictures in, the only time we did take the gopro out we managed to snap this one up!

As you can see the snow is fantastic, and its still snowing down here in resort (1000 meters).

We managed to get out the first morning after a huge dump of powder and made fresh tracks down one side of the mountain where we live, it was over waist deep and untouched by anyone. Such good snowboard conditions that Becky even said that it was better than it would have been on her skis!

We were on the Nyon cable car last week chatting to some other English guys when one of them said "I don't think much of this guys bird!" With that a guy came on with skis and on his arm was an huge Eagle! We were both quite stunned at the surprise of what kind of bird he was talking about! We found out from them that they were taking pictures for a magazine and also doing a show of skiing around with the Eagle. Not something you see everyday on the slopes.

Half term week is here for half of France and so there are more and more things going on over the mountains, Lifts and slopes are not to busy but next week they certainly shall be!! We are planning on skiing/boarding more in Mont Chery and Saint Jean d'Aulps as they are a little more remote and quieter. 

Next weekend we have lots of people coming to visit which we are excited for. There is Ant's mum Vicky, my parents, grandparents, brother Tom, cousin Matt, friends Emma and Ben and of course not forgetting Princess Jo! There lost of snow for you all! Hopefully some sunshine too!

This is our new apartment!!! 

Speak to you all soon!

Ant and Bex 

X

Written in the week...Posted a little late!

Hi Everyone,

Can’t believe how quickly this week has gone. Unfortunately Sarah has had to go back to England again for a couple of days, so I have been in Chalet Chery for a couple of days. Only had 5 guys and they also stayed in Chalet Perrier when I was working there 2 years ago, so nice to know I didn’t put them off coming back! Back to Chalet Clovis tomorrow, Ant’s busy this week with 10 and then next week he has 12 ladies who apparently will all fuss over him!

As Clovis was empty for a couple of days we made full use of the table tennis table and carzonet which is a room downstairs which used to be a store room, but the owners have changed it into a very nice living room with internet TV, DVD player, stereo, iPod dock, kitchen and sofas and tables etc, perfect for a great evening. Andy cooked his famous Pizza which was very good! Played some table tennis also, I won’t say who won as the boys might get cross with me!!!!!

Both of us have had occasions this week where we’re very pleased we have helmets! Before I go on...we are both fine! Ant was on his snowboard and going over some logs, whilst turning in between the board caught his heel side and spun him around, causing him to hit head first, on his back down the slope. After a rest and big hot chocolate he was ok fortunately.
There is a tree in the stash which has a branch growing out in an L shape and a kicker just before so you can jump through. After seeing some guys go through the tree I thought I can do that. Turns out I can’t! Didn’t realise the size of the gap between the kicker and tree and I didn’t have enough speed to clear it, so my ski’s hit the branch and came off, I’m now heading head first down the slope also, landing on my shoulders! Ant kindly picked up my debris, after a little rest all was fine again and we carried on with the rest of the obstacles.

On Sunday evening when we went home it was raining, so we didn't have high hopes for the conditions the following day. Both rather still asleep as we left for work at 7am on Monday morning were soon woken when we got to the car and there was 6 inches of fresh snow! The weather turned
into clear blue skies and a perfect day to do some powder snowboarding.

On Tuesday we met up with Andy, Sylvie and Katie so we all had a ski together. Katie did her first off piste powder route with us all and was like a pro first time! There were many laughs down the slope and when you turned you’d see someone sat in snow!


This is the picture from our fondue/raclete night a couple of weeks ago that couldn't get to load and promised we’d show you!

Will write to you all again soon, take care.


Bex x

Thonon, Tartiflette and Birthday cake

Hey everyone!

So I think its been a little while since I actually posted in this blog! Becky had been doing such a good job at it I kinda left her to it.

Regardless I'm back to it today so prepare to quench your thirst for knowledge of the things that we have been doing.

Tuesday was Andy's birthday so we met with him for lunch and a ski in the afternoon before gathering at the top of the Morzine cable car for birthday cake and some bubbly! So here are a few snaps of his cake and his friends (oh and his lime pants that he got for his birthday).

We then made the trip down to Thonon just to get out of Morzine for a day and see some real sized buildings made of anything but wood. Whilst we were there we visited a little cafe who only sold tartiflette or icecream, we cook it once a week but as we were hungry it became lunch that day too!

This is actually a lake, 

apparently they have ferries instead of buses to get people from town to town!

As you can see we are using the GoPro a lot, its just so easy to have in your pocket and capture anything with. 

The snowboarding is coming along better now and we are actually getting pretty quick on them whilst the skiing is fantastic with so much linked ski areas to explore and loads of awesome off piste to go off and adventure in!

That's all for now guys!

see you all soon!