Lets start with how you ended up in Verbier?
I came to Verbier for the BASI Level 3 technical exam while I was still a senior school teacher. I stayed down in the La Ruinette apartments in Le Chable and had a super successful few weeks. I realised then that the area was somewhere I wanted to be in the future. I now live down there year round, just around the corner from where I used to stay, and I love it! In winter, I can ski from my apartment to the gondola up to work – why would you leave?
What are you skiing on at the moment?
Rossignol Hero Elite Long Turn TI and Faction 3.0s.
What is your top teaching tip?
Be brave and confident – as I often say to clients ‘skiing is skiing’ – it doesn’t really matter where you do it. In other words, once we think you’re ready, you are! Go for that red, black, intinerary or couloir! Confidence is key.
What is the best thing you’ve ever done?
Wow, what a question! Probably diving with Whale Sharks in Thailand – but there are quite a few best moments!
What is your favourite slope in the 4 Valleys?
Combatzeline red, lapping the Novelli chair! I have helped clients make huge changes on this run, and it was central in my training to full-cert. Slightly away from busier areas and with a perfect turn-around time (and long chair home to rest afterwards), this run is perfect!
Favourite restaurant?
Easy – Cabane Mont-Fort for the chicken and chips in a basket!
Where do you go for drinks?
The Loft – the coolest bar staff in town, and decent music too.
If people visiting Verbier need to see or do only one thing while they are here, what would it be according to you?
Go on a ski tour! There is so much amazing touring in the area, but if I had to pick one, it would be a two-dayer up Mont Rogneux, for the terrain, and views back to Verbier. Day 1 to Cabane Brunet for a delicious meal and bottle of wine, Day 2 to the summit and to ski fresh snow all the way back down to Lourtier – incredible!
Thank you Ben for all the great answers, have a great season!
As we continue our tour of the Performance Team, this week Martin tells it like it is from the rather charming terrace at the Pub Mont Fort.
The snow’s coming down in town and the forecast is for it to keep going all day. Which nearly makes up for the act we were due a load more on Friday but there’s high pressure moving north over the Med which has scuppered things. (Now, that’s a pretty geeky answer but we know you only deal in the cold hard facts).
Still, it’s pretty relentless snow this morning so cross something for us…
Meanwhile it’s been baltic in resort the last few days, but it’s also been blue skies and looking stunning. This stunning in fact:
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Snow update…
Here are a couple of snaps in town this morning but we’ve also just been told they’ve got over a foot of fresh down by Lake Geneva (cheers Rob – and everyone else have a read of his splendid blog).
Today saw the realisation of an epic challenge – two modes of transport competing to see who can exhaust themselves first.|
Yes, the Lake Geneva Challenge. A group of cyclists aimed to do a circuit of Lake Geneva and a lone rower was planning on rowing the entire length of the thing.
It was all for charity, of course, and their ridiculous efforts raised over £4000. (Although you can still join in and make a donation….).
And here’s how it happened (there are some links to pictures here but thanks to the magic of technology all the pics are collected at the bottom of this blog):
- So the Lake Geneva challenge is on… Neil rowing the length of the lake, Gareth biking round it. Here’s the story: http://bit.ly/bSt9G6 #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge He’s off. Conditions are perfect, water’s like a sheet of glass. Spirits are high. I’m off to MacDonalds. N #
- To find out exactly how daft the whole #LakeGenevaChallenge is you can read James’ interesting article: http://www.planetski.eu/news/1951 #
- @planetski forecasting La Niña next winter http://bit.ly/d3Pget so I don’t think it’s too early to whisper about the 100 year storm again… #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Bikers have started “Depart Villeneuve: Jonas, Pedro, Ian & me – the Verbier Peleton” from Gareth. Only 175km to go… #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Gareth starts the mammoth trip round the lake… http://twitpic.com/2geq4j #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Three of the four cyclists ready to go. And shamelessly plugging sponsors… http://twitpic.com/2geqkb #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Stage 1 to Meillerie complete. Very windy and choppy on the water, but the big man’s powering on to Evian… N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge However, Gareth has passed Neil, and already made it to Evian. But he’s got 175km to go, Neil’s ‘only’ doing 75… #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Pedro, Jonas, Ian & Gareth just sped past on their bikes looking pretty red-faced – there’s a pretty stiff headwind. N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge News from the rowing finish line in Geneva: Toby’s there and it’s chucking it down – Neil’s rowing into a storm… G #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge The bikes are in Thonon les Bains with a puncture. 1 hour 40 minutes of cycling and 45 KM down. Only about 130 to go… #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge The cyclists are about to come back over the border into CH & “il pleut comme une vache qui pisse”. They’re very soggy. #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Lake’s choppy & boat wakes are nearly tipping Neil in, so 15 min rest. Happy to hear bikers are stuck in a rainstorm. N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge …and the Verbier Peleton has reached Geneva “wet through but smiling” according to Gareth… #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Stolen from Jonas’ Facebook update – Neil getting overtaken earlier…. http://twitpic.com/2gg4an #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Jonas has revealed they’ve stopped off for snacks at a petrol station.They don’t do that on the Tour de France do they? #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Wind’s whipped up waves & very difficult rowing. Calmer now. Neil’s passed halfway but he’s fighting the elements… N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Puncture number 2. The Verbier Peleton is just outside Nyon. Spirits are “strong, plus the sun’s come out” says Gareth. #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Neil’s rest to wait for calm water has paid off and the lake is like a sheet of glass again. He’s raring to go… N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Neil is powering past Yvoir (which is beautiful). It’s looking good: sun’s out, no wind. Like jam, he’s on a roll… N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Neil’s about 50km in, with about 25 to go. As our nifty map shows. Enjoy… http://twitpic.com/2ghuhn #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Neil’s been rowing through hell in huge waves but perfect sunny conditions now. In fact, I’m going for a cheeky swim. N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Verbier Peleton has finished in the last few minutes. Cracking effort & pictures to follow… G #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge The boys collapse after their epic 175km trip… G http://twitpic.com/2gi6gb #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Neil is pushing through the pain barrier – hands are shredded, blisters on blisters. But taped up and still going… N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Waiting in Geneva at the Hotel Kempinski for Neil’s triumphant return. Krug’s on ice & cigars are ready. Not long now.N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Neil might still be on the water but the internet is already buzzing with news… G http://www.planetski.eu/news/1966 #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge Have just spotted the big man approaching the finish. SO close. 11.5 hours in that boat – I’ve got a tear in my eye. N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge He’s done it – Neil has climbed his Everest. OK, he finished a while ago but we were so excited we forgot the tweet. N #
- #LakeGenevaChallenge So to conclude: 75km in 12 hours(ish). Legendary. Impressed? Please donate at http://www.justgiving.com/Neil-Aherne #
Firstly I would like to apologise for not keeping you good, loyal folk in-touch with the goings-on in Verbier.
But there really is no point in keeping you up-to-date on nothing. We lead a tranquil, slow-paced life here in the summer. Really – nothing has been going on for the past week.
So it’s good to see town buzzing again now, it’s also good to have a couple of weeks of solid sunshine. Thats much more like it.
As well as the festival we have a weekly market on every Sunday. The usual deal, pretty much cheese, honey and knick knacks.
But this week there were a few familiar faces with stands; Lucy Dunnet from donut designs had a number of her fab painting on show (see below). Also Jo Chandler from Petit Verbier stall lined the street offering face painting and a play area for the kiddies.
Once we made it up to Ruinette we waked over to the area by the Restaurant La Marmotte. We came across what can only be described as a Val de Bagne version of the Bath and West show. A proper agricultural shindig complete with the fizzy white wine (Fandant) and tonnes of melted cheese (Raclette). Just as were heading off the ‘main event’ started; The cow fight.
Now I thought this happened in Sambrancher or Le Chable at the end of the season. A kind of gladitoral going home event for all the ‘etrangers’ of Verbier. From what I gather this is qualifying. Which is hilarious. Not only that, I have recently found out there are different classes and weights. This perticular event was for 2 year old virgins..! I am not kidding.
Don’t get your hopes up, it’s a slow process, if the process actually starts. A number of the ladies were not keen to fight so were disqualified. Once a fight does commence there is no understanding of the rules. Only one thing can be counted on, one will win and one will lose. How they actually manage to determine this is completely beyond me….
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We were on a mission to find a picnic area for some clients at the Lodge, the brief was to find an area near a lake but not normally accessible. Sounds easy you say. Well in actual fact it’s not as easy as it looks. The first problem is that you have to find some way of getting up high. Not all vehicles can make it due to the rugged road and snow residue.
Thanks to the kind people at Ski Armadillo we managed to borrow their Polaris off-road vehicle called Boris. As we climbed up from Ruinette we came across a pile of snow that stopped our progress completely. It wasn’t a complete waste of time as we trundled round to La Chaux where we found the perfect spot:
We weren’t the only ones enjoying the ride. We decided on the cheap way of walking Laika:
