'I choose life'... a phrase that featured often in our Seasonaire lingo. Example: friend skis up to a vertical couloir or cliff drop, and turns around to ask, 'are you coming with?' You consider this question for a second, whilst casting your eyes over the obstacle in question, where survival might be at stake... Simple answer, 'no, I thinking I'm choosing life today!'
Frequently, we did not choose life and instead endeavoured to tackle these crazy sections of the mountain. After weighing up the pro's and con's, you have convinced each other that it is safe to continue and you will be fine. From this, comes the final instalment and part 3, documenting my Ski season.
Hopefully, some slightly more exciting off piste skiing, referred to now, by many, as 'slackcountry' (easy-to-reach backcountry, for us amateurs). Many of the areas captured, required a short hike/climb to access the section. We also started braving the Snowpark, when the powder was gone, and became very bruised, in the process. I spent 2 days in Meribel, where I experienced some different skiing and, the unbelievably fun apres, for which Meribel is renowned.
Les Arcs, and the Paradiski ski area, has been simply brilliant. The powder and off piste is incredible and varied. Being a purpose built resort, ensures quality skiing, fantastic snow and breathtaking views. I am keen to explore more of La Plagne, particularly, The North Face (off the Bellecotte Glacier, in La Plagne) which beckoned us, all season, and we did not quite get to ski it. Being purpose built resorts, Les Arcs and La Plagne, lack the charm of more traditional alpine ski villages, such as Obergurgl, Austria or Morzine, France. Many of the hotels and buildings are quite unattractive to look at and have not been built in a tastefully. The nightlife and apres is very fun here, however, if that is the focus of your holiday, I would recommend The Three Valleys, Tignes, Val D'isere or St Anton, as more suitable holiday options.
Best moment: sunrise! We hired touring skis and left at 4am, in complete darkness, to start our hike up the mountain. We walked a very long way and climbed approximately 600m in altitude, in time to take a pew on the Nature Reserve ridge and admire the sun rising behind the mountains.
I tried to improve the quality of my filming, by staying closer to the subjects and by being more creative with the way I shot. I had about 10 hours of footage to cut to 3.5 minutes which was a massive undertaking and took MANY hours. In the future, I believe selecting less footage with higher quality/effects and captured with a new piece of equipment (drone or gimbal), will improve the quality of my videos.
Over and out LA xx