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Habs Senior School Ski Trip 2010 - Alpe D’Huez

2011 Ski trip letter now available - Click here!

2010 marked Mr. Simm and Mr. Thackrey’s baptism of fire as they took charge of the Ski Trip for the first time. They were ably supported by Mr. Dathan, Mr. Hardman, Mr. Keenleyside and Mr. Marx. The result was magical.

The adventure began on Sunday 14th of February at 03:30 am in the school coach park. Even amongst the heavily bagged eyes and grumbling bed-heads, smiles of anticipation were universal amongst the 56  boys from year 9-12 who were about to experience a week they will never forget.

With the exception of a hair-raising two and a half hour transfer, which included 21 hairpin mountain bends, our arrival at the hotel and the swift equipment hire saw us settled in to bed early on the first night. Whether through dreams or excited sleepless nights, everyone’s mind was focused on the slopes that night.

The first day’s skiing gave rise to glorious skies and flawless pistes. It was the first time of many that Mr. Simm would suggest that the group “remember to put on plenty of sun cream”. It was a case of the pot calling the kettle ‘red’ as Mr. Simm emerged at breakfast halfway through the trip with a more than healthy glow about him. Many aching bodies could be seen enjoying the pool and table football on the ‘Games Night’, most notably a year 12 individual who had taken it upon himself to demonstrate the art of human piste bashing the whole way down a red run.

Day two commenced with the remnants of the good weather. The ski lesson groups were finalised and the instructors were introduced to their groups of able men. This proved to be bizarre for some instructors because Sachin Hoyle (L6J2), Ben Dathan (L6J2), Gideon Caplin (L6J2) and Robert Marx (L6M2 ) decided to dress up as ‘A Red Man’, James Bond, Santa Claus and ‘V’ of ‘V for Vendetta’ respectively. Everybody had a good laugh. The evening activities were abandoned due to extraneous circumstances, otherwise known as the Champions League.

The elements closed in on the mornings of days three and four, although the afternoons still provided stunning conditions and magnificent photo opportunities. As the students found their feet on the snow, rumours of great feats and greater embarrassments started to spread. These were confirmed on both evenings when Duncan Grindall (L6S1) was awarded a tour t-shirt for successfully landing a 360 spin on skis and Max Sinclair (11R2) received a mention for breaking a drag lift and for incensing a local slalom coach!

The penultimate day was conquered by the weather. The poor visibility and heavy snow led to the only ‘lie-in’ of the trip as a group of L6th and two teachers chose not to brave the mountain. The excuse for this lay somewhere between the adverse weather and the eventful night beforehand. After lessons, which consisted of skiing or snowboarding at a snails pace for fear of getting lost, the group retired en mass. In true HABS style, Mr. Marx called to order a maths workshop that afternoon.

The final day was approached tentatively as nobody wanted to mar an injury free week by finishing with a bang on a hazy day. Luckily, despite the unthinkable number of falls by the so called “expert” ski group on the resort’s famous and fearsome ‘Le Tunnel’ run, the group came in off the slopes after an enjoyable but saddening last days skiing unharmed. Dinner consisted of a rich mushroom and cream sauce on toast to start, succulent roast pork or nut roast for main course and delicate mille-feuille to finish. After dinner, it was time for the much awaited prize giving.

Mr. Simm addressed the group for the final time, awarding the following boys for their behaviour and achievements on the trip.

Best novice skier: Josh Morris 11S1
Best novice snowboarder: Jonathan Munger 10S1

Most improved skier: Ben Dathan L6J2
Most improved snowboarder:  Andrew Popov 10J2

Men of the tour: James Colenutt 11M1 and Anto Meyer L6H1

Best snowboarder: Guthrie Hill 10J2

Ski King (Best skier): Dominic Edwards L6M2

The lower sixth followed with an impromptu prize giving of their own. Mr. Keenleyside was awarded some racing wax for being “speedster of the trip”. Mr. Marx was given an alarm clock for having fallen asleep on a gondola and supposedly riding it round three times before waking up. Mr. Hardman was presented with a whistle for being “most likely to get lost”. Mr. Dathan was given strepsils for “longest speech maker”. Mr. Thackrey received a shot glass and a miniature bottle of the local spirit for reasons unknown. Mr. Simm was gifted some factor 50+ sun cream for reasons made evident by the trip photos. Finally Mr. Thackrey and Mr. Simm were heralded with champagne and applause all round for organising a truly epic trip.

The trip finished as it had begun with breakfast at 05:45 am on Sunday February 21st. The group departed much as it had arrived; tired, grumpy but uninjured. However our twinkling eyes and enthusiastic smiles were replaced with heavy hearts and, in places, even a lump or two in our throats. Alpe D’Huez will never forget HABS, we will never forget Alpe D’Huez.

Anthony Meyer L6H1

2011 Ski trip letter now available - Click here!