Here comes the sun

In true style, Chamonix summoned one final dump of powder up high at Les Grands Montets on Friday, kindly providing fabulous conditions for the last weekend of the season. Of course all the rides to the top before 11am were reserved within minutes of the meteo report being published, and sure it was chewed to pieces by 10am, but the early bird catches the worm and it was more than worth it!

We have had an incredible season, being graced with celebrities discovering this fabulous valley, being entertained by seasonnaires and tourists alike both in the town and on the piste, enjoying a fancy new lift, not to mention ton after metric ton of great snow, and despite the failing worldwide economy pulled in enough tourism to keep the town bustling and healthy! I have managed to progress a little, fall over a lot, learn about powder, end up headfirst in powder, fall off a chairlift...

The closing party at Les Grands Montets was as crazy, fun-filled and alcohol fuelled as ever… with ski bums from every corner of the valley donning their tutus, bat-suits and questionable kilts, and heading up the mountain armed with copious amounts of alcohol! For those who were brave enough to take place in the ‘water skiing’ I have full respect! It takes a whole different kind of bravery to want to dunk yourself in water that cold, even in the spring! So with countless beers, a few lazy runs and plenty of drunken antics, the inhabitants of the Chamonix Valley celebrated the close of another season in one of the most incredible places on earth.

And now the time has finally come for me to hang up my snowboard, boots and gloves, polish up my mountain bike and dig out my knee pads for the summer. Thankfully Summer in Cham is far from dull and I am now watching excitedly as the stores close and change their stock, the bar staff take a well earned break, the seasonaires pack their bags promising to be back in November and an entirely new and equally exciting season begins.

It is with an element of sadness that I sign off, but with plenty of optimism as summer seems to fly by at the speed of light, and it won’t be too long before we begin celebrating the start of winter again and the 2009/10 season…

Enjoy your summer, and look forward to winter

A Bientot

Laura