The start of the week was so exciting, it was the first day of our first full week at ski school instructor training and we were greeted once again with bluebird conditions. After getting into groups we were introduced to our new instructor and to one another, sharing anecdotes and interesting facts. Our instructors interesting fact was that he was once a contestant on ‘The Weakest Link’ and voted off in the first round. We spent the day experimenting with different stance & balance exercises and then putting them into practice on different terrains and gradients. It was a tiring day but nothing a session in the hot tub couldn’t soothe.
Tuesday surprised us with a new ski instructor who was like our supply teacher for the day. We received an in depth tour of the mountain and slowly began to get our bearings over the 7,000+ acres. The beautiful resort and the sunshine complementing one another making the skiing extra enjoyable. After such a good day skiing we could not bring ourselves to leave the slopes and we went night skiing straight after lessons. We messed around trying backward skiing and 360’s and pardoning the cliche, the time flew and it was soon dark and time to call it a night. The evening revolved around the snowboard raffle in one of the local bars. Sadly none of the NBS team held the winning ticket but the bar did have games out for everyone to get involved with. It is very surprising to see how three hula-hoops can hold the attention of 30 20-somethings, everyone’s competitive streak coming out, no matter how hard they tried to repress it. When the giant jenga came out we all knew things were heating up.
We had our original instructor back on Wednesday and continued to work on the five skills and began to think and talk about our level one exam due at the end of the month. Thursday was crazy! Conditions were beautiful and we skied all over the mountain, putting theory into practice and constantly pushing ourselves and supporting one another. The penultimate run of the day was one we had only ever heard about; The Cliff, being ‘a near vertical drop’ as quoted by GB snowboarder Becky Menday, and it is no exaggeration to say that I was petrified. I looked over the edge and my stomach was in knots and my breath short, but thankfully my fellow students were extremely patient and the instructor an absolute hero, reassuring me of my capability and after a group pep talk we skied down, with it all over within a matter of minutes, everyone still in one piece.
Thursday night was spent recovering from the ordeal with a few casual drinks and a relaxing stint in the hot tub watching the sunset; an appreciated night in. It was the end of the week and fun day Friday. In the morning we revised the weeks lessons and then spent the afternoon racing in the park and trying jumps off the side of the piste. Skiing hard and fast until the weekend officially began at 3.30pm. We welcomed it in with a thank you drink with our instructor and then got ready for the NBS family meal to be held at the ‘Bullwheel’ where the slogan is “good food, good fun, good people”.
The weekend was very social. Everyone at NBS, got together for an afternoon of barbecued food, hot tub sessions and drinks, with the fun continuing Sunday with our group ski, Sunday doubles and beer pong. I cannot believe I have only known these people for two weeks and had this much fun already. Everyone is so easy going and welcoming, all in the same position, looking to have a good time out here in Big White and make everlasting memories. Another very happy and successful week in the life of an NBS ski student.
Hannah