On the Slopes

 During the holidays 42 Harrodian Sixth Form students hit the slopes on a week-long ski trip to Val d'Isère enjoying some of the best snow conditions seen in years.

The group was accompanied by eight members of staff and led by Head of Sport Ben Proudfoot (also a qualified ski instructor) and attended by Mr Hooke, the trip's biggest fan. "I love the Val d'Isère trip," he says. "It gives me the opportunity to share my passion for the mountains and skiing with Sixth Formers, most of whom I've got to know well."

During the day, the focus was on skiing and making the most of the excellent conditions. Everyone was required to be out of bed early in order to breakfast by 08.00am and be on the slopes by 09.00am, and with six hours of tuition and practice every day (that's 36 hours of tuition across the week) there was very little room for slacking. The resort, known for its challenging and varied terrain, provided an ideal setting for skiers of all levels and both students and staff were organised into groups based on their skiing abilities, ensuring personalised attention from highly qualified instructors and allowing each student to progress at their own pace.

Whether beginners finding their footing on the snow, intermediates refining their skills, or advanced skiers seeking new challenges, everyone made remarkable strides in their skiing abilities. The instructors encouraged the students to push their limits and encouraged a spirit of adventure and growth on the slopes.

The group was accommodated in four chalets and were mixed together - Lower and Upper Sixth formers in each - to foster a real sense of camaraderie. After the physical demands of the day, everyone was very well looked after on return to their chalets where they enjoyed communal eating, with delicious afternoon teas and plenty of time to chat, hang out and share stories in a friendly and comfortable environment. 

"I really enjoyed learning to ski and although it was physically exhausting, I am glad that I persisted and didn't give up," says Lower Sixth beginner skier Abigail. "By the time I left, I could make good parallel turns and feel confident to try red runs next!"

Meanwhile intermediate skier Matt (L6th) remarks on the quality of ski tuition. "We moved around groups quite a bit as our level of skiing was constantly being assessed. The ski instructors were great, giving us their full attention and we came away every day with useful tips on how to improve."

Philippos (L6th) enjoyed getting to know Upper Sixth students in his ski group. As an advanced skier with lots of experience, he was impressed with the quality of equipment provided and the variety of skiing on offer. "Everyday was challenging and the instructors really pushed us, we skied a huge amount of the resort both on the slopes and off piste. It was pretty physically demanding for all of us, regardless of ski ability."  

Progress doesn’t happen by accident of course. Head of Sport, Ben Proudfoot, plans every detail of the trip to ensure its educational value is maximised. "If you’re going to progress at skiing you have to take its physical and psychological challenges seriously,’ he explains. "To do that you need to be organised, to eat good food, stay hydrated and get enough rest. The programme is about encouraging good organisational skills and building the self-reliance and confidence you need to progress."

One thing is clear: the trip to Val d'Isère was a perfect mix of adventure, learning and camaraderie and an incredible experience enjoyed by all those who went on it.

 

PLEASE NOTE: more pictures and videos can be accessed via Google Classroom. All pupils who went on the trip have been sent an email link to join this classroom.