|
|
CRYPT SCHOOL SPORTS
|
Soccer |
Cricket |
Skiing
NOTICES
Please return all dry slope skiing forms to Mr Day or Simon Griffiths ASAP!
Presentation evening for parents is now on Tuesday 13th December - SkiWest will be there with hire clothing.
Bardonecchia 2005:
Junior Trip
After an evening departure from school, a late crossing from Dover to Calais and a long night haul down through France we stopped for breakfast near Grenoble, we got our first glimpse of snow-clad mountains, which seemed to ease the fatigue and aching muscles of the long journey. Spirits lifted. We did not need to be surgically separated from the coach seats to alight for breakfast.
After arriving, an early night was had by all. Next day, groups met their instructors and set off tentatively. The ‘Flying Squad’, ably led by Mr. Day and supported by a large back-up unit, headed for the higher slopes.
The melting snow and the closure of some of the runs did not prevent us from skiing, but we were getting a little apprehensive about later in the week.
On our penultimate day, High Days (our tour operator) paid for us to travel through the Frejus Tunnel (at an expense of €170) for a day’s skiing in France. The snow was much better, the lifts were quick and a good day’s skiing was enjoyed by all. The black run proved a challenge for beginner and flying squad groups alike. There were some impressive tumbles but no serious injuries.
Weeks earlier, these beginners had been snow-ploughing down a dry slope in Matson. To see them tackling difficult runs, fall, pick themselves up and go again makes all the time and effort to organise a trip worthwhile.
Our final day’s skiing saw boys take their grading tests for which they received awards. Besides the official awards there were, as ever, the nominations for ‘Dork of the Day’. Award winners wore their fluorescent orange bibs with pride!
As staff we were impressed with the way the boys - many of them on snow for the first time - coped with conditions that were not easy. Well done boys!
Evening activities included a karaoke night, which we later dedicated to Vincent Van Gough: he hadn’t got much of an ear for music either! The pizza evening was a great success, as was the ten pin bowling.
High Days staff in the resort could not do enough to ensure we had an enjoyable and successful holiday in difficult circumstances. Our coach drivers were excellent and the hotel staff efficient and friendly.
Thanks again to Mr. Day for all his efforts to make the trip a success.
Mr. John Mirfin
Bardonecchia (Sestriere/Sauze d'Oulx) 2005:
Senior Trip
As with the junior trip, the senior pupils stayed in Bardonecchia. However, due to the poor conditions in and closure of the resort they skied in Sestriere and Sauze d'Oulx (as had been planned).
The senior trip left during the early evening of Saturday 27th March. After a long coach journey we arrived in resort at about 4pm on Sunday, with enough time to unpack and get fitted out for skis and boots before dinner. An early bed-time was in order so that the troops would be raring to hit the slopes on Monday morning.
With Bardonecchia closed and Sauze d'Oulx still a little short of the white stuff, we headed out to Sestriere for the day. The order of play had been Sauze at the beginning of the week and Sestriere at the end, but conditions dictated otherwise. With almost 100% snow-cannon cover on the major runs, Sestriere was business as usual - only a lot busier as skiers from across the Milky Way (ski area) descended on the resort. After a slight crisis finding the instructors for the week we hit the slopes.
We spent the first four days at Sestriere, waking early in the morning for a fifty minute drive to the slopes. After two days of blissful sunshine (though it was lovely, it wasn't doing much for the snow conditions which were becoming quite slushy!) we had two days of white-out. At times visibility was down to virtually nil, with groups skiing in formation so as not to lose one another.
With the freshly deposited snow, we headed up to Sauze d'Oulx for the last two days of skiing. Lovely conditions greeted us, and with most people in Sestriere, quiet slopes made for excellent skiing. So quiet were the slopes in-fact, that time was made for two downhill races (much easier than uphill races!). The Academy joined the Flying Squad for the ski v board events, with the skiers coming out on top on both occasions.
Of course, a ski trip would not be a ski trip without après-ski, and après-ski would not be complete without karaoke! As ever, this was a popular event, though lacked the atmosphere of last year's trip (with myself, Simon Griffiths, having to make up for the disappointment by singing an Italian song! - with this in mind, junior skiers, now is the time to reconsider your booking!). Along with the karaoke, après-ski activities included a bowling night, a failed attempt to watch the England football match, a pizza night and a disco on the last night.
Prior to our departure, our esteemed leader Mr. Day conducted the annual awards ceremony, included such awards as: 'Karaoke King', 'Nutter of the Slopes' and 'Out of Control'. There was then a short moment for the students to thank the staff and chocolates and wine were pulled out of bags like rabbits out of hats. Everyone then made their way upstairs for dinner before departing for an overnight trip back to Blighty.
Simon Griffiths