Ski lessons Les Gets

Toys

2011-10-13T06:03:00.001-07:00

Head have delivered all our toys for the season and I am sitting here gloating over them until the boys come and pick them up. Skis for Nathan, a snowboard for Ed, boots & skis for Joe & me.
These are the first new alpine boots I have bought since leaving Andorra in 2001 so it was with some trepidation I tried them on. The trouble with ski boots is that you can’t really tell if they are a good fit until you get on the slopes but first impressions were good at least. What’s a good fit? Depends really…..
Now I’m not teaching or doing performance exams any more, for me a good fit would be the same interpretation as a lot of our clients. I want something that is comfortable enough to wear all day, snug enough to enhance precision but not so tight circulation is compromised. The plastic outer shell should flex evenly and not collapse suddenly if pressure is applied to the cuff. Too stiff, however, and you will not be able to flex and extend the ankle joint effectively.
Why is it so hard to assess these things when you first try on a new pair of boots? Ski boots will bed down with wear, so that something that seems a nice and comfortable in the shop can quickly become a sloppy fit. This can seriously compromise your technique. I daresay this is a compromise a lot of recreational skiers would consider worthwhile if it means they are going to be able to ski all day in comfort but if boots are too sloppy it could result in rubbing which creates painful sores or more permanent bone spurs. So generally you should expect the boots to be uncomfortably tight to begin with and then start to relax after a few days’ wear.
Air temperature can radically effect the stiffness and therefore the flex of a boot. Most plastics are softer in warmer temperatures (ie in a nice cosy, heated shop) and get harder as the temperature drops, so your feet suddenly feel like they’ve been set in concrete when you hit the slopes! Happily manufacturers are onto this and have made lots of progress over the past few years in producing and delivering consistent and user friendly plastics but meanwhile it is still a consideration.
And then there is the whole issue of alignment. I am really really lucky and on the two occasions I have been to alignment specialists they have deemed any adjustments to be so slight as to be insignificant. A good alignment specialist is worth their weight in gold so if you are investing in a new pair of boots take the time to visit one. Solutions4Feet are mentioned on our Useful Links page, Keith in Morzine is our favourite local guy and now Alain Baxter is opening his shop in Scotland. These guys have a wealth of knowledge and experience to put at your disposal and could potentially save an awful lot of frustration and wasted effort not just in your skiing but in other sports too, not to mention injury prevention.
Not long ago I went to a friend’s place for dinner where a couple of the guys would have happily spent all night discussing the merits of power straps and whether to fasten bootclips from the top down or vice-versa. I also know a female colleague who would not contemplate starting a new season without a brand spanking new pair of boots every year. Kit has never held the same fascination for me (which is possibly one of the reasons I never made my full-cert) but even I know the powerful contribution a well selected, good fitting pair of boots can make to anyone’s ski experience.

Weekends & Short Breaks

2011-09-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

Alpine Learning Curves have always taken pride in the fact we treat our clients as individuals and in offering flexible programmes whenever and wherever we can.

In recognition of the fact that the standard ski week is now beyond many people’s budget with the economy as it is, we are offering clients the following options in an attempt to make weekend breaks and/or low season holidays a viable option:

For low season (4^th- 23^rd Dec then 7^th Jan – 4^th Feb) we are offering 5x2hr group lessons for 210 Euros per person (15 Euros less than normal price).

To set up a 5x2hr course we need a minimum of 3 compatible clients.

Weekend & Wednesday Workshops!

Every Wednesday & Saturday afternoon Alpine Learning Curves are setting up Workshops for Skiers, Boarders & Telemarkers who can't slot into group lessons based on ski-weeks but don't really want to go to the expense of private lessons either.

Workshops run with a maximum of 8 people but WE ONLY NEED TWO COMPATIBLE CLIENTS to set one up!

Ski with a top qualified British Instructor for as little as 40 Euros!

3 hour Workshops will have on snow video feedback included free!

Want more than one lesson?

We only need two compatible clients to set up a group for up to 3x2hrs

Even if you are arriving mid-week!

Checkout our web-site for more details!

Funniest Caption Competition?

2011-09-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

Delilah seems to have picked up some bad habits while we're over here in Blighty. I thought the idea of the dentasticks was to chew them not smoke 'em!

Never mind she'll be back to being a powder hound in a couple of months - check out the video of

Lyla Powder Lesson in the snow on our gallery!

new business cards

2011-09-20T04:11:00.000-07:00

we've received our new ALC cards and want do see them doing strange and wonderful things!! here are 2 ideas that came from face book, where will they turn up next???

clearing glass after a mishap, from Johnny Black from Pompey and to shim a Telecaster's neck from Dom Kench from Seville, cheers chaps!!

New season, new uniform, new website

2011-09-02T05:39:00.000-07:00

As autumn approaches ALC are preparing for the oncoming winter season. We are very proud to announce the launch of our new website, designed and optimised by Custard Media-check out our new look http://www.alpinelearningcurves.co.uk/
All the photos have been supplied by our team, we think they look pretty good for a bunch of amatuers but with a place like Les Gets, Morzine and Avoriaz you'd find it hard to go wrong, don't take our word for it take a look and let us know what you think.
The boys are featured in last years uniform and Salomon are going to supply us again and we're going to keep it easy to find us by hopefully staying in RED, so watch this space.

Telemark/Snowboard/Ski

Summer in Ullswater

2011-06-07T03:25:00.000-07:00

So here we are back in the UK and a few summery days have finally caught us and we managed to get out on the lake for some Kayaking!

As you probably know it's very pretty up here and not sure but think Lyla the dog enjoyed it too until she went overboard! Paddled to Pooley Bridge for a couple of beers and lunch then back home to the Swiss Chalet.

Looking forward to summer really beginning and getting out again. Maybe down to the other end of the lake at Glenridding.

Another season ends

2011-05-26T02:50:00.000-07:00

Well another one bites the dust but what an end to the season, great BASI L3 Telemark course in Hintertux Austria and all 3 levels running again to boot. We even had some powder to ski on the last day.

Congrats to the successful candidates and commiserations to those that didn't achieve it this time. The weather was pretty good too with only a couple of days misty and cloudy and windy. Bumps got bigger as the week went on and the legs managed to stay with the porgramme and the park was good fun too.

Arrived back to Les Gets to a closed resort and got ready for the next challenge, moving to Ullswater Cumbria in the lake district for the summer, long drive to only just catch the tunnel after having to get the dog's papers seen to, very easy once on though and very quick. A few day's in London staying at my Mum's then another long drive North!! well here now in "sunny" Ullswater nice place to stay, very scenic and would you believe it living in a Swiss chalet on a Farm complex!!

So looking forward to next season in the Alps and maybe some indoor skiing in the UK!! let's hope next season has some better snow conditions, I'll settle for what we got in Tux!!

It's Official.....

2011-04-07T03:07:00.000-07:00

Les Gets have now officially confirmed that they will be closing this Sunday, 10th April.
WE will not be closed however, we are moving ops up to Avoriaz and we are meeting clients at the top of the Ardent bubble in Lindaret.
Any clients staying in Les Gets should check with the tourist board, who are organising buses to take clients to and from Ardent.
The crews up in Les Gets did an amazing job keeping us open this season, so a big thank you to them!

At Last!!

2011-02-24T02:51:00.000-08:00

As anyone who has been checking out the webcams will already know, the snow has been pretty sparse this year in our neck of the woods!!
So we are very relieved and happy to report that at the start of the week we had fresh snow, delivered bang on time for the half term holiday and we're getting a top up as I write. Still not neck deep powder but I'll take it thank you very much!!
A big thank you here to the folk who have been working so hard to keep our pistes open - they have been excellently maintained all this time. We have been able to ski all the way down into Les Gets all season whereas I can remember much better snow seasons when this was not possible.
So don't believe all the gloom and doom in the press, we're still worth checking out even if it's just for a cheeky weekend!!

Telemark at Interski

2011-01-29T08:29:00.000-08:00

Interski 2011 St Anton Austria

Ok, I have done this before, Japan 1995 Nozawa Onsen but it was 16 years ago! Also I was on alpine kit. This time around I’m on Telemark skis and I’m reminded of a quip I made all those years ago to a friend that the next time I would be on Teles.

Basically as Telemark Director for BASI, I’m part of the delegation but after watching the warm up demos and skiing on the main slope the feelings are getting to me that Telemark should be represented on the hill, so I chat with Andi Mccann the team coach, telling him that I would love to be involved in the mixed demo going on with the snowboarders and the sit-skiers, which number 3 and 2 respectively and get to shadow the sit-skier Ben Sneesby in the opening ceremony in fornt of a fairly big crowd along with Mark Petty the boarder.

Then manage to get into demo 1 on our main night, Thursday involving every discipline. Whilst practicing this one the Boarders then invite me to join them in demo 3 where because they only have 3, I will give them symmetry of 4.

Then the closing ceremony rears it’s head. 1 run with the whole team so we re-do demo 3 and then news of another free run is announced!! I ask the other Telemark nations if they think it would be a good idea if we instead of skiing with our nation we make a new Telemark Nation?? Answer, all up for it, so we wait til the end of the evening and ski down in 1 long snake, Norwegians, Americans, Fins, Swiss, Hungarians, Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies, Germans, Bulgarians, sorry if I missed anyone. WHAT A BLAST!!

Another highlight was the workshops, going to others delivering and then on the Friday deliver my own. This was very well received and got a lot of great feedback!

So now back in the real world and trying to put the finishing touches to our new Telemark manual, lots of new ideas and different slants on old ideas too and looking forward to hopefully going to the next one in Argentina 2015 and not waiting another 16 years!!!

Eggs

2011-01-07T06:33:00.000-08:00

Hurrah! The Red Eggs are working! Long Live the Red Eggs!
Yes, the new Gondola servicing the Chavannes in Les Gets was put into service for the first time yesterday and very nice it is too.

Men At Work

2011-01-05T01:07:00.000-08:00

Men at Work

Well it’s now January and there is still no sign of the new Chavannes Gondola in Les Gets coming into service.

So far there appears to have been minimal confusion but until things get back to normal we thought it worth pointing out the alternatives:

• Absolute beginners or clients who are not yet confident on green runs should NOT use the Chavannes Express. This takes skiers higher than the gondola and once you have disembarked you will need to be able to negotiate green/easy blue runs at the very least.

• The Chavannes Express is however a very viable alternative for anyone who can ski easy runs and will give quicker access to The Ranfolly Bowl or Morzine.

• The Route de Chavannes is a road which finishes literally at the same point as the Chavannes Gondola. There is parking at the top but be aware it is limited and fills up quickly. Useful though if you are just doing a pick up/ drop off or arrive for the day’s slide nice and early!

• The Navette is a free bus service which will take clients to the top of the Route de Chavannes and is probably by far the most sensible alternative for Absolute Beginners and/or low end intermediates.

Let’s hope things get back to normal very soon but in the meantime we hope this helps!

Open for Business

2010-12-13T04:24:00.000-08:00

Well Avoriaz opened in earnest this weekend, it was pretty busy up there as you can imagine, but the snow was excellent for the start of the season and heading away from the madding crowds was not too difficult!

Unfortunately since our fabulous snowfall it has been raining, so Morzine & Les Gets are unlikely to open early. Les Gets is officially scheduled to open the weekend of 18th Dec. The rain was not all bad news however, there is a great solid base and when we get our next snowfall on top the conditions should be really good.

We're all watching fervently for that next fall (especially when everyone else is getting so much!) and it's predicted to happen at the end of the week - just not sure how much at the moment! We'll get back to you on that.......

New Snow, New Season

2010-11-28T03:04:00.000-08:00

Good news! Our first serious snowfall this winter and the rumours are that Mt Chery will be open for the weekend next weekend (4th Dec)!! Meanwhile we're all breaking out the skins and getting some tracks in while we can!
Avoriaz should be opening next weekend too - now this is the way to start a season!!

Annecy lunch and Zermatt day trip

2010-11-15T05:57:00.000-08:00

Great day in Annecy and day trip to Zermatt

Autumn is definitely a favourite time of year, winter just around the corner, mushrooms before it gets too cold, trees look amazing and just over an hour away a nice lunch stop in Annecy. The old town of Annecy is very picturesque and has a good market too as well as some nice shops and littered with restaurants but lots of greenery and water to walk off the calories.

Lac Annecy

Also because winter so close the odd snow fall makes a day out to the high spot of Zermatt just over 2 hours away a great idea. A project I’m in the middle of at the moment is writing the Telemark manual and I need photos to go along with it, so off to Zermatt to hook up with ex racers, Emma Carrick-Anderson and Amanda Pirie who are also there to make some shots for the Alpine version! Henry is there to take the pics and after a little bit of faffing about, it’s very busy the news of good snow gets about and although yesterday the weather was foul, today is almost perfect. Toward the end of the day the wind picks up and tomorrow the weather looks like it will go back to being pants but we manage to get lots, over 1000 in the bag, so hopefully some good ones we can use. The first tele turns are always hard on the body but keeping up with girls and the fact I’m wearing new boots and my feet are in bits make the end of the day a wlcome time to get them off my feet, one thing, why is it that just before you take them off they feel the best they have all day???? Legs are feeling it, all that running hasn’t stopped the aches and pains but what would it have been like if I hadn’t done any???

Matterhorn from telecabin

Autumn in the mountains

2010-11-07T04:48:00.000-08:00

a few friends came to visit over the Halloween weekend, trees looked amazing!! Mt Blanc was unfortunatley for them, out of site but the day before they arrived it was stunning. lots of walking, drinking and laughing and a nice evening bonfire BBQ, sausages and pork and beef steaks, what more can you ask?? early snow and start to the season!! off to Zermatt next weekend for some Telemarking, having some Pics taken for the new BASI manual which i'm in the process of writing!!

cheers guys see you in the snow!?!?

ALC Chillfactore Workshops

2010-10-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

Anyone interested in the Chillfactore Workshops that Angus is running, please note that you need to contact HIM direct to book. Do not call the Chillfactore. His contact details are:
Tel: 07900 935 880
Email: angus@bodyworx-osteopathy.co.uk
Give him a call now!

Wonderland

2010-10-22T05:12:00.000-07:00

Looking around me today I can’t help reflect what a pity it is that we do not receive more visitors to our part of the world at this time of year.

The display of the autumn trees is nothing short of stunning, a riot of colours and textures, set off to perfection by the newly arrived dusting of snow which dazzles on the high tops of the surrounding peaks. The air may be chilly but the sun still has enough strength to warm the bones if you stay out of the shade and it is the perfect excuse to light our beautiful log fire. And is there anything more evocative than the smell of wood smoke at the onset of winter?

The ski slopes will not be open for a while yet but there are still plenty of incredibly scenic walks to be enjoyed and for the cyclists, golfers and horseriders it is business as usual - just stick on another layer of clothing! Perhaps this is the time of year to make the most of the valleys rather than the heights but it’s all good.

This is the ideal time for nature watching. As Joe and I peep out of the bathroom window while brushing our teeth, we are often treated to the sight of deer grazing in the woods behind our house and a variety of birds are passing through on their migratory routes.

It’s important to make the most of days like these as increasingly the weather will become less kind. Before the mountains are truly covered in snow we must expect grim days of lashing rain (the snow levels gradually dropping) which will make most of the outdoor tracks into untraversable quagmires.

We are looking forward to a minibus load of visitors from the UK at the end of this month and we can’t wait to share the secrets of our little paradise with them. I’ve booked a restaurant for the pig festival in Morzine that weekend and we might organise a Hallowe’en bonfire instead of the traditional Guy Fawkes but otherwise, like us, I know they are keen for a bracing dog walk followed by a bottle of good French wine shared beside the fire! It doesn’t get better than this!

ALC workshop Chillfactore November

2010-10-18T04:28:00.000-07:00

Our aim is to get you prepared for the forthcoming ski season. This includes highlighting areas of weakness in your technique that may inhibit your performance on the slopes. Poor technique an be related to the biomechanics of your body and how the musculoskeletal system copes with the demands that skiing puts on it. With the aid of video analysis we will show you where you can progress and enjoy your skiing even more.

Why take an intensive workshop course? It's on "real" snow in a controlled environment, therefore you can focus on learning.

Many skiers have been skiing for over 10yrs and feel they can't improve anymore: you can always improve and as you get older your mobility changes therefore your technique must change

Technique and Injury? Poor technique means you are more likely to get injured and this related significantly to how you stand on the skis

Is there a link between what I am doing in the gym and what happens on the slopes? Yes, this will all be explained and demonstrated during the day

The venue:

Chillfactore is approximately 1hr drive away from Thornton Hall. It is just off j10 of the M60 next to the Trafford Centre. Chillfactore has various shops,bars/cafes and other attractions to keep partners and families occupied as well as the Trafford Centre opposite.

Ski and boot rental along with lift pass is included. (It is worth bringing your own boots)

You will need your normal ski clothing, (average temp -1 degrees)

For more information www.chillfactore.com

Again,please confirm if attending as soon as you can, thank you

Regards

AngusWood

BASI Level 4/ISTD

BASI AGM and Trainers Conference

2010-10-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

Trainers Conference, Hemel Hemstead 2010

Back to the UK for the BASI AGM which was very sucessful although still not getting a fantastic turnout of our now over 6000 membership!! As soon as this was over the next day a training day for the Board of directors. A very long day in which we were instructed on our legal and ethical duties as board members, I think a very important day for me and the best part was the role playing session when the person in charge quite by mistake got all our personalities bang on!!! also Andy Salter's talk on the 7 peaks on 7 continents/crocodiles!!

So to the 1st day of the Conference, when a lot of the training body get together to run through any areas for development or any new aspects that will affect what we deliver through the training progammes. This year the main topic among others was the NEW MANUAL, which was presented to the trainers as not being totally new but all the good stuff that was in there has been revamped to make the manual more user friendly. From my point of view the new manual is a great step forward and makes my job of writing the New Telemark Manual a lot easier! Developments in the central theme have fallen right into line and made the task of making the different disciplines fit alongside each other work for trainers and candidates alike.

Other events during the week and a highlight for me was the learning difficulties session where we were able to try out in a sit ski, which was great fun and i thnk I could easily get hooked! Also in this session were some easy tricks of the trade on how do help differently abled students. Also there was a role play part that was very instuctional but extremely funny, sorry Jonesy! Rachel the trainer was playing the role of a very stroppy 13 year old that once won over would be quite forward with inappropiate behavour, seeing her cuddle and tweak Mark’s bottom and get him singing along to the “cheeeky girls” had the whole group in stitches.

All in all a very sucessful TC and looking forward to the next one.

THE DOG’S BI-FOCALS

2010-09-22T03:35:00.001-07:00

The ski resort of Soldeu El Tarter nestles at 1800m in the Pyrenees but Joe & I feel like we are crashing back down to Earth from much dizzier heights as we return home.

During the 1980’s this humble package holiday destination was a passionate and inspiring place for ski teachers to be. This was where we first learned to ski and eventually, to teach. Our friends were more than just charismatic instructors; they were romantics, adventurers, raconteurs….and musicians.

We had our very own rock band, “The Dogs Bollocks”. Back in the day most ski weeks would finish up with everyone, ski school and clients alike, piling into the Aspen Bar to listen to the resident band belt out a few Rock Classics. The “Dogs” had a varied line up over the years, with varied success but last weekend a few old fossils witnessed the reunion of the original and best lineup:

Front Man & Vocals: Robin Baker

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: Joe (Jose Cerveza) Beer

Bass Guitar: Carole (Haddock) Eyre

Lead Guitar and Rock God: Rhodri (the Welshman) Judd

Drummer: Unfortunately a comprehensive worldwide search failed to unearth Rick the Taxi, so Jose was the only stand in – more of him later!

As we waited down at the Roc Hotel for them all to take the stage the air was electric with anticipation – would Robin and Joe remember all the words or be forced to blow the illusion by jamming on a pair of bifocals to read them half way through? Would Jose finish his shift as Chef at the Himalaya before we all felt the call of ovaltine and bed? Could Rhodri still stand up after a whole bottle of tequila?

We needn’t have worried, the band reckon it was a shaky start but that was completely lost on (or forgiven by) their fans who were too busy clicking away with the cameras and yelling their own versions of the words to be put off by a few dodgy guitar chords. Anyway we never loved them for being perfect, we loved them for being OURS.

This night they were as near perfect as they had ever been. They went from strength to strength as Rhodri’s fingers began to dance out dazzling chords and Jose threw in a couple of magical drum solos of his own. Robin & Joe belted out the old tunes like their lives depended on it and Carol took it all in her stride.

My personal highlight was Roadhouse Blues but I’m sure others would argue for Parisienne Walkways and who couldn’t get up and dance to Johnny B Goode!! It was all brilliant, not least because everyone was there for this and ovaltine be dammed, no one wanted to go home.

So we didn’t! After the Dog’s official set the current local musicians followed them onstage – Jude, Nicky Pas, Danny and Jose still on drums and we loved them because they were obviously in the moment just as much as we were – even more so as in the final stages of the night (or should I say the first stages of the following morning) all the musicians jammed together on stage. It was clear the early part of events had been for us, the audience, but now it was all about them and they were sucking every bit of marrow out of it!!

I have to make a special mention of Jose here. You have to be in love with life when you can come straight from your day-job to play and jam madly all night long, then regretfully leave at 6am the following morning in time to start a 7am shift on your day job again! What a guy! What a drummer! Couldn’t tell you about his cooking though (?)

So that was our weekend and if anyone out there started reading this blog in the expectation it was something about skiing or ski teaching, well it is and here’s why:

When you book an instructor don’t just ask him about his qualifications. Ask him who he learned to ski with (Joe says: Llorenz Giol the Spanish freestylist & Champ; photographer; Thomas the bouncing Czech ‘you have two skis –use them!’); where he likes to ski (Joe says: Run of the Gnomes, Land of the Giants, Cerveza Gully with a Parham Split) and maybe something random like what music he likes or what he eats. And when he answers, if you think you could fall a little bit in love with him, then you should book him again. But be careful, only fall a little bit in love, because unlike a puppy, an instructor is for fun, not for life.

PS Llorenz Giol (59) was still in the bar at 7am – Rock On!

lots of pix on Facebook and our website!!

Autumn Newsletter

2010-09-13T02:50:00.000-07:00

NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2010/11

Dear All
We hope you have all enjoyed the summer months and now, like us, you are keenly anticipating the Winter Season and the fun it promises!

We have been busy on a number of developments to Alpine Learning Curves which we are now pleased to advise:

• New Staff – Ed Brown will be joining Joe & Nathan as a full time member of our staff. Ed’s CV is on our website. In brief, like the others he holds BASI’s highest qualification and can teach alpine skiing, telemarking & snowboarding. Welcome aboard Ed!

• New Uniforms – This year the boys will be wearing new uniforms courtesy of Salomon. As soon as the season starts we’ll get photos up on the website so you know how to spot them but we’ve stuck with the same colour scheme - red jackets and black pants. Very chic boys!

• New Website - Hopefully we’ve made it more user-friendly with (among other things) the new Enquiries Page and direct links to our Blog & Facebook Pages. However it’s still simple to navigate for less computer savvy clients! Still no online booking form – we like to keep things personal! Visit us on www.alpinelearningcurves.co.uk

One thing we HAVEN’T changed this year is OUR PRICE STRUCTURE. Last year we brought our rates DOWN in response to the poor Euro/Sterling Exchange rate and the poor economic climate and now we’ve frozen our prices for 2010/11 season.

Hopefully you’ll agree all the changes are for the better and we can’t wait to hear from you to help arrange you’re on snow time in Les Gets, Morzine &/or Avoriaz. We still run a small team and Half Term bookings are already escalating, so don’t delay, get in touch as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!!

We’re ready & waiting to hear from you!!

Yours sincerely
Joe & Barbara Beer
http://www.alpinelearningcurves.co.uk/
Email: jbeer@alpinelearningcurves.co.uk
Telephone: 0033 (0)450 55 89 21
Babs’ Mobile: 0033 (0)6 77 04 01 45
Joe’s Mobile: 0033 (0)6 78 83 23 20

Home Sweet Home

2010-09-02T05:57:00.000-07:00

After a very enjoyable four months in the UK we're now back in Les Gets in time to catch the last quiz night at the Bush (whew) and still in time to get some sunshine!!
Anyone needing to contact us please note WE CAN NO LONGER BE REACHED ON THE UK MOBILE!!

Oh Well......

2010-08-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hopes were high last week after the rescue centre recieved a call from someone who sounded like a suitable new owner for Baxter. Not just suitable, perfect!!!
He turned up on Saturday morning to look Baxter over (and vice versa) and the two of us took pooch for a walk to see how they got on. Baxter's over exuberance clearly didn't phase this very likelable chap and my spirits soared as he told me how he'd taken on his previous two mutts, both large rescue dogs, and he barely had to pause for breath when Baxter started a particularly energetic tug of war game with the lead. This is one of his (but not our) favourite games which he evidently learned from the moron who dumped him - must have been great fun until Baxter started winning on a regular basis.......
I really thought we'd found the man for the job but although our new friend happily confirmed a liking for Baxter's temperament, he expressed concern that he looked too much like a fighting dog (he is a mastiff cross) and he'd have to check with his wife who was (understandably) not a fan.
It's now Wednesday and we've not heard back, so I guess we're back to square one. I would have so loved to see our mascot re-homed before we departed for France but I guess life isn't always like that is it!? I haven't completely given up hope, one staffie was at the kennels a whole year before they found The One. Now she apparently gets walked three times a day and sits and watches 'Deal or No Deal' on the couch with her new owner every day. Doggie heaven I bet :-)

What's long and hard on a ski instructor??

2010-08-02T04:41:00.000-07:00

SUMMER!!!

Nathan says,
"for me, life's all about balance, as someone who's activley searched out the cold climate for many a winter I feel it's important to get some good tropical conditions when it finishes. So that's why along with the obligitory family trip to visit the in-laws over in Japan, I've chosen to spend the rest of the summer in the well known sun-seekers destination of Sheffield, sipping away on delicate pints of Boddingtons or a nice Shiraz on special occasions!"

Joe says, "no snow, too hot, wasps, flies, lack of sleep due to heat!! But less of the whinging look at that sunset! you can spend more time outside, leave windows and doors open, long walks with the dog in the countryside, BBQ's and most important of all....drink beer. Having a BBQ this weekend with lots of friends round, Venison, Sausages, Burgers and Beer and Wine...Hang on have I got a drink problem???"

Ed says, (pic right)

"what gets a ski instructor through the summer?

Drink!!! on an Indoboard!
Drink!!! on a slack line!
Drink!!!on a skateboard (until you get pulled by the Police) ! Drink!!! on a surf board.
All the above available with alcohol

Meet Baxter, Our New Mascot!

2010-07-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to announce yet another member of the ALC Team, Baxter is our new mascot!
Joe & I are currently on an extended visit to the UK and whilst here I've been attempting to make myself useful at Wallace Kennels, the local dog rescue shelter.
For the meagre sum of £26 a year we've been able to adopt the dog of our choice, give him a name and I can go and walk him whenever I want. Meanwhile the lovely ladies at Wallace Kennels will give him every care within their means until they are able to successfuly re-home him.
Through no fault of his own Baxter is proving a bit of a challenge in this respect. Although gorgous, handsome and very friendly he is virtually untrained and proving a bit erm, robust for the average household. But from his behaviour at the kennels all he needs are committed owners willing to give him his fair share of exercise and some lessons at doggy school.
We think Baxter is fab but for all the best reasons we fervently hope he moves on soon and our sponsorship will continue with another likely candidate.
Wallace Kennels are a registered charity accepting most of the strays in this area of Essex. If you are interested in adopting a dog, donating, or best of all giving Baxter or one of his mates a home contact them:
info@friendsofwallacekennels.co.uk
check out their website for more information: http://www.friendsofwallacekennels.co.uk/

Joe is 50.......

2010-07-13T02:32:00.000-07:00

...and he's happy as a pig in ****!
Many thanks for the all texts and messages on facebook, it's going to be a quiet one with a few beers down the pub with the family - well that's the plan :-)

ALC goes to the Moto GP Silverstone

2010-06-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's who you know not what you know! 2 seasons ago I met a client his wife and child for lessons in Avoriaz, it turned out that he is in charge of the Suzuki Rizzla Moto GP team and he, Paul Denning, invited me to come to the event in Mugello. His quote "the best and most beautiful track on the tour". Never got to go but this summer as we have returned to UK for a few months I thought I'd try and contact him and see if cheekily I could get to see this fast exciting sport in the flesh. The Air Asia British Grand Prix 2010 at Silverstone.

He issued Babs and I all area passes and spent a good few minutes trying to locate where to hook up with him all the while hoping he would remember me. While waiting to meet and asking his team if they knew where I could find him, he passed on a scooter, Mark Webber was standing right beside me but I never even noticed until too late. There's so much to do there but also my favourite thing People Watching!
I thought that the passes would get us backstage so to speak but was amazed to be standing watching the Moto2 with members of the team in the garage watching various techies, tweaking the main and number 2 bikes of the main riders Loris and Alvaro. the noise was unbelievable but nothing prepared me for when during the race they opened the gates allowing the unmuffled sound of the Moto2 race to flood in, then they started bike 2 up for some test and the noise level rose even more!!! After the M2 race a walk round and a flypast of a military jet, you've guessed it the noise level goes up again!
After a lovely 3 course meal, the main event, we watch the start on one of the TV's in the hospitality, then go out to watch for real. This is when you get a real idea of the speed these guys go at and how brave/mad they are. The power is outrageous too, the crowds are massive although probably affected by the absence due to a broken leg by the legend Valentino Rossi. Weather isn't too good but no rain either, a little cold for Suzuki I'm told as they were having trouble with grip and were hoping for very hot conditions.

Many thanks to Paul and the team, I had a ball, lots of lovelies to look at as well.
For more Pictures check website http://www.alpinelearningcurves.co.uk/

Hemel get together for Interski 2011

2010-06-15T02:38:00.000-07:00

one of the highlights of Joe's teaching career has to be representing BASI and Great Britain at the Interski congress in Japan 1995. Curiously this was the first time he ever skied at an indoor snow slope, (Tokyo had the worlds first)and now here we are at Hemel Hemstead snow centre with the new team for the next event next year!!

so what is Interski? it's a big convention held every 4 years attended by the teaching associations of just about every skiing nation in the world, this time we expect 39!! Over the weeklong event each delegation which consists of a team of top skiers boarders and telemarkers, have the chance to perform synchronised demonstrations, deliver lectures on their methods and philosophies and attend the forums and listen to other nations. it's an incredibly prestigious event within the industry and a chance for every nation to strut their stuff both on and off snow and network with fellow devotees. Joe will be there this time to represent BASI and GB for Telemark!!

Over the years Interski has been just one of the avenues the Brits have exploited to take our teaching association from the fringes of the industry to becoming one of the most highly respected teaching systems in the world.

So on the weekend at Hemel we had a get together (not all of the team were able to attend) a chance to ski, chat and have a meal at the hotel, whilst there Joe took a few shots and watched the alpine guys start to perfect their demo's, lots of head scratching at the top of the slope, took him straight back to Japan and got him very excited about going to St Anton, not long now....Jan 15th 2011.

Alain Baxter skis with ALC in Les Gets

2010-06-03T02:51:00.000-07:00

So after a breif conversation on a Tbar in Hintertux with the Highlander I contacted most of the chalet owners and operators in Les Gets to let them know that they had the opportunity to ski with Alain for the day.

Lots of organising for the day and hoping that the weather was going to be good. In the end we had 10 folk turn up for the day and the weather was a beauty, clear skies and great snow. We decided to stay up on Mt Chery as its got everything you could need, mostly reds and blacks and generally empty, also the Grande Ourse restaurant has great video facilities, a pre requisite of the day.

Totally inspiring skiing with a guy who's only just out of the world cup circuit, not just a great skier, unbelievably fit but genuinely a nice bloke, I already knew this and hoped the others would find this out over the day. I believe they all did from the feedback I received, so thanks to all and lets hope we can do something similar next season!!

On a personal note Alain is the only person we know of who has slept with our Cocker Spaniel, Lyla and she says he's welcome back anytime!!!!

what BASI trainers get up to at the TC

2010-06-03T02:06:00.000-07:00

Trainers conference Hintertux 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGgQviDZn_g Joe in action and others at TC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu3klujv3VQ Joe singing and playing on sound track

Austria, long way to travel to, but well worth it cos when you arrive at the top rate hotels, snow is awesome too! 10 hours in a bus playing silly games the whole way.

We the Telemark triners managed to get into the same group so that we can "Telemarkise" the mainly alpine "stuff" that was delivered;

This year the topics are, Biomechanics/where the level are, teach and tech/Delivery. The training body are always tweaking and trying to improve the BASI product and this is so the rank and file and "normal people" can see what goes on. Outside experts are brought in to deliver to the training body.

Dave Murrie, a man with more letters after his name than I can remember, helped us with biomechanics and we the tele side got him to dispel a lot of myths and believed truths! we hope we ended up with biomechanical fact.

John Gardener, a former trainer from years ago, who now trains in the sales area delivered a very upbeat, if too American for me, series of workshops on how to deliver on and off snow.

Roy Henderson, a trainer and mountain guide and great chimp impersonator had us tied together in threes, skiing down the slopes as in a safety situation on a glacier and also rope/crevasse rescue, great fun and informative.

The highlight for me was skiing with Alain Baxter and Dougie Clelland, this was called "Make yourself more awesome" impossible I hear you say. We got some valuable feedback on our technique even though DC has never Tele'd and Alain has only done a bit!! this also lead to a conversation with Alain on coming to Les Gets and do a session with us ALC, see next blog.

These yearly events could be seen to be a bit of a jolly but i believe they are invaluable for development, personal and professional and I think we got a lot done this time and every year they get better and better!! shame we didn't get to deliver to the rest of the TB like last year when we got most of the other trainers to try Tele, maybe next year????

Lots of time spent clarifying the standards along with time spent at the bar with the amazing Illie, discussing and laughing!!

Next Season

2010-06-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

So the new website is up and running with our new prices on for 2010/2011. The website isn't the only new thing for this year, there are a few ideas in the pipeline so we'll keep you all posted as things progress but in the meantime please note:

If you want to call us from the UK this summer our UK Mobile number is 07772955219

Hope to hear from you soon!

Jo Hallewell....

2010-04-09T00:22:00.000-07:00

..... has just emailed to say she raised over a thousand pounds for Sport Relief doing her Skiathon of the PDS! Awesome Jo, a good day's work!

It Is Winter!

2010-04-01T02:29:00.000-07:00

No Kidding! Last week it was classic spring skiing, brown patches on the lower slopes & panda eyes all round.
Woke up this morning and the daffs and crocuses which had optimistically poked their head up are now covered in a fresh blanket of the white stuff! And it's good snow too, so let's hope it hangs around for the last two busy weeks of the season........

Sport Relief

2010-03-15T05:15:00.000-07:00

JOE HALLEWELL (Mother of Tall George)
& team - other girly skiers of a certain age pushing their limits!

are rising to the challenge for SPORT RELIEF

by skiing a Skiathon - 40 lifts or more in just over 8 hours. No time for lunch, just comfort stops!

PLEASE sponsor us!
- and humour a middle aged woman!

The money you give will help people living incredibly touch lives both at home in the UK and across the world's poorest countries.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

See the ALC homepage for a link to our sponsorship details.

Half Term

2010-02-09T06:17:00.000-08:00

Wow! Already February and half term just around the corner!
Our feet don't seem to have touched the ground since it started snowing. It seems despite everything that's going on with the economy the Brits have their priorities right and as well as knowing how to work hard they've been out here playing hard too!!
The excellent snow conditions are just what we needed to lift everyone's spirits so we hope all the clients taking a cheeky weekend or a well earned family break have gone home tired but rejuvenated!

Alain Baxter came out last week, a truly inspirational skier and all round nice bloke! Watch this space for more on that.

And I'm off ski touring tomorrow, as nice as it is to see so many loyal clients, the busy Feb slopes mean it's definitely the right time to hit the back country!

ALC News

2009-11-27T06:01:00.000-08:00

Here's something special happening this season with ALC in Les Gets and the Portes du Soleil:

We have great news that we can give our clients the opportunity to ski with a top class ex World Cup & British Team member, Alain Baxter.

For those of you who don't know who Alain is, he is our most successful slalom skier in the past few years and only recently retired from competition at the end of last season at the British Champs in Meribel. He also in the last few years has taken part in TV's 'Superstars', winning both the individual and the team titles. Since then he has been involved in BASI working toward the ISTD Level 4 award and has also made the 2011 Interski Congress Team, an event that occurs every 4 years. This time in St Anton, Austria.

Our time with Alain will be brief and occur in early February, so if you fancy the opportunity to ski with Alain in the PDS area then get in touch. Spaces are limited so the people in the session get to spend the whole day skiing in a small group and have lunch in the mountains with Britain's most inspirational skier!

Autumn Roundup

2009-11-15T04:23:00.000-08:00

First off went to the BASI AGM in October, where a good turnout of members showed but not a great percentage of the 5000 we have. I got to deliver some on-snow sessions for the members interested in Telemark and also for Snowheads in the evening after the meeting. I really enjoyede the skiing there as I haven't been to Hemel since the 90's when it was a dry slope, so sliding on real snow was a bonus. Got to see loads of old and new faces in and out of BASI and was fortunate enough to get voted onto the Board of Directors as Telemark Director. I think this will be a great challenge for me in the next few years and have lots of plans to take Telemark into a new era! So watch this space!

Also in Les Gets the snow is already falling, albeit just flurries but it definitely feels like winter is around the corner. Who knows, if more of the white stuff falls then maybe the resort will open early!?

Then in early November travelled to Austria on a bus full of mates (playing stupid games all the way for 8 hours: if you had to choose between having antlers or a bushy tail which would you have?) to Hintertux for the Trainers' Conference. Great snow, good fun and with the help of the other Trainers got the plan going of how to move Telemark into a new era. Trying to give Telemark a separate identity to Alpine and the usual misinterpretation that it's 'just alpining with a lunge' that someone (who should know better) was heard to say recently!

Had a great night in the bar at the bottom of the gondola in Hintertux, where the lunatic DJ musician Helmut plays, fantastic bar with a brilliant atmosphere that always makes me think, why are bars in France not like this? that same night another of the Trainers, Pat and me got the guitars out and had a sing-along in the hotel, not quite in Helmut's league but with a little help from some of the others kept it going into the early hours.

So for now back to normality, waiting for the snow and being entertained by our Cocker Spaniel Lyla, who's a real star. Especially in the snow - she's a nutter! Putting the finishing touches on the house, putting snow tyres on the car and chopping wood for the fire. Roll on winter, see you in the PDS!

AUTUMN NEWS

2009-10-05T03:50:00.000-07:00

Skiing – Telemarking - Snowboarding

ALPINE LEARNING CURVES are pleased to advise that we have the following Alpine Courses up & running for the 09/10 Winter season:

27^th-31^st December 09 – Going for Gold Junior Course:

2 hours per day starting at 11.30am

A course for children focused on obtaining their Gold Snowlife Award – must already have attained the Bronze or Silver Snowlife Award

Price 225 Euros each.

14^th-18^th February 2010 – Junior Course:

2 hours per day starting at 9.15am

A course for children who can ski easy red runs in a developing parallel style

Price 225 Euros each.

15^th/17^th/19^th February 2010 – Adult Course:

2 hours per day starting at 9.15 am

A course for adults who can snowplough turn on nursery slopes and green runs

Price 135 Euros each

15^th/16^th/17^th February 2010:

2 hours per day starting at 11.30am

Absolute Beginner Course + for adults who have tried skiing but not yet progressed beyond holding a snowplough in a straight line on the nursery area.

And

Absolute Beginner Course + for children who have tried skiing but not yet progressed beyond ragged snowplough turn on the nursery area. (minimum age 6yrs)

Price 135 Euros each

15^th/17^th/19^th February 2010:

2 hours per day starting at 2pm

A course for adults who can ski blue runs in a developing parallel style.

Price 135 Euros each

15^th & 17^th February 2010:

2 hours per day starting 2pm

A course for adults who can ski red runs in a parallel style

Price 90 Euros each

All of these course currently have availability but will run with a maximum of 6 clients. Mature 12 year olds may be deemed adults. All the above mentioned courses meet in Les Gets.

Remember if you do not see what you are looking for here, we only require 2 compatible clients to set up a group! And for Telemarkers & Snowboarders too!

Our comprehensive price list is attached.

We look forward to hearing from you!

last day of another brilliant season

2009-05-04T02:37:00.000-07:00

Another season ends as it normally does for me with a trip to Zermatt for a BASI course and a week of Telemarking.

The 1^st 2 and a half days is low visibility, snow falling like its middle of winter, variable conditions but when it clears on the 3^rd day what a warm up 1^st run, perfect powder! Hang on this is the 29^th April isn’t it??? Gradually over the next 3 days it gets warmer, bluebird skies and on the last day we get to ski over into Cervina in Italy, for some awesome ice cream snow and a brill lunch half way down the Plan Maison at Chalet Etoile!! One of my favourite places to eat.

All the group manage to pass their 2^nd discipline and make a lot of changes to their technical ability thru the week. Apart from lunch the last day is spent on trying to refine the action points in everyone’s action plan, lots of drills and discussion and an awful lot of fun. Thank you guys if you read this, what a way to end the season!! And check out the Matterhorn in the background of the photo, what an awesome back drop to ski about!!

Old Meets New In Verbier

2009-04-20T04:39:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Verbier to train and prepare a few folk for their various levels of Telemarking, we came across a bunch of guys out in old fashioned kit; leather boots, wooden skis, plus fours, long socks, woollen gloves, animal skin backpacks, sheep skin vests and the old long pole but with one modern thing in the pack a flask full of Schnapps! Which they proceeded to share about.

One poor fellow had managed to snap his ski just behind the tip so was having a nightmare! The rest ranged from quite good to fairly average but great to see, meet and have a slide alongside. I’m not sure who was jealous of who but from my side I would’ve loved to swap kit for a few runs. They were definitely having a lot of fun and really enjoyed the fuss people were making of them.

So thanks to the team I was with; Doctor Chris, Tugster, Rowdy, Roddy, Lorne and for a couple of runs an old mucker Benson who was basically spying on us having trained the guys during the fantastic season they had had - as we all have this winter in the alps.

Norway

2009-04-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

So after around 15 years since I first put a pair of Telemark skis on in NZ, I get a call from the UK forces, “Would you like to run a course in Norway the home of Telemark??”, You bet!

The JSMTC (Joint services mountain training centre) based near Lillehammer in a place in the middle of nowhere called Susjoen would like a trainer to go there and run the level 1 course. Sounds like an opportunity too good to pass up on. So I clear my calendar for the week and start in an army fashion with a flight from Geneva at 0635am. That means I have to leave my house at 4am, hang on this military thing sounds not so good! My connecting flight from Amsterdam to Oslo is delayed but I finally arrive in Norway to be met by the students and catch the train to Lillehammer. Then mini-bussed to the base in Susjoen. Bed and board very basic but you only need somewhere to rest your head at night. Although I am soon fed up with the myriad choice of fish, dry and wet!

All the instructors delivering, a mix of military and civilian, make me very welcome and we soon find a few common muckers, skiing is such a small world! And we’re soon bantering away.

The slopes are a good 40 mins away at Hafjell so the comparisons with NZ are similar but the roads are not as rare as on NZ. It’s a bit like going back in time for me, as I have not had to drive much of a distance to the slopes for a long time. Hafjell is very picturesque and if anyone remembers the downhill from Kvitfjell, that’s just up the road. On the side of the facing mountain is the emblem for the Olympics cut into the hillside (see pic of Madness style group). It’s cold but not as cold as I thought it might be as I packed every layer I own and never use them as it was only minus 10ish, tee-shirt weather for the locals. Not a vast area but enough runs to keep us busy for the week!

The candidates are all fun military types from differing backgrounds in the Army: Rifles, TA and Comms and range from Captain to Sergeant. Happily Alex the highest rank doesn’t make everyone salute in the mornings. 2 of the guys have very little experience, so just a word of warning for anyone thinking of doing the Level 1, please get some experience before coming onto the course as it is very hard to pass without any!! One, James from the TA takes to it like a duck to water and impresses the hell out of me by becoming a skilled Telemarker in just 2 days, the other, (sorry Rob )takes a little longer but manages to pull it out of the bag by the end of the week. So don’t under estimate this course. Richie the Comms man has a rare sense of humour and keeps us smiling as well as changing from Tele Geek into Mr smooth by the end of the week.

So all pass, I get to ski in Norway, meet some people who very soon will be in Afghanistan (good luck you guys) and also get to long pole in the home of long poling - all be it by stealing (I am a cockney after all) a piste marking pole to use as no-one here does it. And as I said, skiing is a small world, I bumped into Sally Atkinson who I haven’t seen for 10 years or so and lives there. Her boyfriend owns Woody’s afterski bar at the bottom of the slope’ where he managed to find us a Telemark dvd to watch one night. Nothing else to do at night in the mess, thanks Woody! Also a couple at the bottom of the lift who having heard a British accent got talking and guess what, they have a chalet in Les Gets where I live.

Get out there and ski some out of the way places in this small world.

Jose Beer Telemark trainer, www.alpinelearningcurves.co.uk

March

2009-03-06T03:56:00.000-08:00

Well, February passed in a blur and definitely more than a flurry of snow! I seriously don't remember ever having such good skiing conditions over half term, which is a blessing because the slopes have been as busy as ever.
It does make me wonder how many people take the trouble to find out the highway code that operates on the slopes (yes, there is one!). Not just trying not to ski into the person ahead of you, a few common sense things that folk seem to forget in the exhilaration of being on the mountain:

ALWAYS stop at the side of the slope and in a place where you are visible to oncoming skiers (so not under a convex hump for example).
When you set off again be sure to check uphill first in case you are cutting into someone else's line and they don't have time to adjust.
When you get off the lift move well to one side if you want to stop and fiddle with kit or fish out a lift map.
Stop BEFORE the lift queue not IN (or on) it!

A little bit of courtesy goes a long way!

Anyway, March is shaping up in just as good nick, we had a few days of spring skiing but it's snowing again as I write and for the time being at least, we are back into winter conditions. If you are thinking of a spontaneous visit to the mountains we know there's lots to organise and lessons can seem last in the priority. However a lesson with a good instructor at the start of your stay can make or break the whole holiday (believe me, we earn our crust putting a lot of traumatised people back together again!) so try & avoid disappointment and (as Freddie Laker used to say) book early :-) If all your looking for is a quick refresher at the beginning of the week then check out our Workshops on the website. See you on the slopes!

February

2009-01-29T03:16:00.000-08:00

Well February is just around the corner and we are going into it with fabulous snow conditions. We had a terrible storm at the end of last week- lashing rain and the mountain had to close because of high winds but the snow came good and we are now back to winter sun and squeaky snow!

The MOT workshops are gaining momentum so we are going to continue running them throughout the season, so keep making enquiries. They have been set up to appeal to higher end skiers but if you are an intermediate and like the idea of joining a workshop let us know. We can always set up something less high powered!

Angus is back next week and Nathan will be joining us soon so we are becoming more flexible and user friendly than ever! We have lots of courses set up and running now so give us a call to see where you can fit in!

2009-01-04T23:54:00.000-08:00

THIS YEAR MAKE ONE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION YOU CAN KEEP!
IMPROVE YOUR SKIING!

Take a 2 hour MOT with Joe Beer at Alpine Learning Curves and he will show you how to take your skiing to the next level.

Every Monday this January Joe will be taking a 2 hour workshop for skiers who can already ski red runs and above confidently. He will pick a topic that is relevant to the people in front of him and the prevailing conditions and help brush up your technique or learn new terrain tactics.

Learn to ski bumps
Perfect your parallels
Understand the art of off-piste skiing
Try telemarking

......and so much more!!

Joe is so confident that he can help move your skiing forward that if you don't feel you've learned anything after 2 hours with him that you don't have to pay!

A 2 hour MOT with Joe only costs 60 euros per person (maximum 6 per group). Sixty Euros that will make every penny you have paid for your skiing holiday worthwhile! And in 2 hours you have finally kept a New Year's Resolution!

And We're Off!

2008-12-05T01:26:00.001-08:00

Or at least we are under starter's orders!
Les Gets & Avoriaz both had some terrain open last weekend so it would have been rude not to go up and check it out! The actual pistes open were pretty limited so some friends and I decided to skin up Mt Cheri for first tracks (and we weren't the only ones!)
It's been snowing intermittently all week (dumping as I write in fact) so we are looking forward to tomorrow and hoping it all bodes well for Christmas when the clients start to arrive in force. Don't worry chaps, we'll do our best to save you some!!!
Meanwhile Joe & Angus are further afield in Zermatt for a few days but hope to be back for a slide in Les Gets Saturday, before Angus heads back to home and family.
Our winter news letter goes out next week so check it out for details of courses we already have up and running but don't be shy about contacting us if this doesn't suit, we only need two or three soul mates to get something going......

Powder Hounds

2008-10-30T06:35:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share these pictures of fresh snow today. Here today gone tomorrow I daresay but we're getting that winter feeling......

First Snow

2008-10-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

Well Joe's had his first tracks of the season, he's just returned from the BASI Trainers' conference in Hintertux where apparently the snow was fab! A great start to the new season!
And then we had our first snow of the Autumn here in Les Gets just two days ago, it was all gone by mid-afternoon but there was certainly enough to give Delilah a glorious taste of things to come. Despite the hang dog expression in the photo she had a marvelous time gambolling and cavorting in it!
Just talking 'shop' for a mo'-we have several groups set up for over half term, some already full but there are spaces in an Adult Absolute Beginner Course and in a Junior Course for red run skiers - contact us for details! There have been isolated requests for other peak weeks during the season but not enough to get something concrete organised, so get in touch and tell us what you want so we can start dovetailiing it all!

On The Fiddle

2008-08-11T03:38:00.000-07:00

Joe is keeping busy working on the outside of the house which is really starting to come together and dare I say it, look like the finished product!

He's doing lots of gigs all over the Haute Savoie, as many as 4 nights a week in St Gervais, Morzine and of course, Les Gets. If you are visiting any of these resorts look out for the poster because 'On The Fiddle' could be playing in a bar near you!!

Our contacts list should by now have recieved our Summer News Letter which outlines our plans for Alpine Learning Curves this next winter season. If you are not on our contacts list read on:

No doubt you are all engrossed in your summer holidays at this time of year and the last thing on your minds is snow. So this is a reminder we are ready and waiting to take your bookings for next season and to give you first refusal on booking slots to avoid disappointment!

Our Personnel:
Good news! Angus is back with us for the peak weeks this coming season and Joe is looking forward to working alongside him again. By September we will know if a third body is coming on board, but since we can’t confirm it at the moment we’ll keep that one close to our chests for now!
Babs is doing the administration again and although we don’t have a designated office hour you can either call our landline in the evenings or reach her any time of day on her mobile phone. We’d like to encourage clients to make use of this, rather than calling Joe or Angus on the slopes (unless it’s an emergency). Our pet hate is seeing instructors with a mobile welded to the ear instead of focusing on the job in hand – teaching!

Our Product:
Joe is keen to get some group lessons up and running (Adult & Junior) since there is no doubt this is the best way to offer good value for money. In addition to the standard format group courses we are hoping to put together something a bit different: Clinic style sessions (off-piste/bumps/skier’s MOT) so keep us posted if you are coming out even if you have no immediate plans to take lessons as we may be able to team up some like minded people for a sess! If this sounds like something you might be interested in, get in touch and tell us what theme interests you so we can get something started.

Our Prices:
Having kept our prices the same for 3 consecutive seasons we felt we were due a price review. The poor exchange rate and the dreaded ‘credit crunch’ have not escaped our notice, so we have aimed to restructure rather than increase our rates, in a way which we hope you will all consider fair! New Prices are posted on the website.
Probably the most significant alteration is that we no longer offer private lessons for 2 or 3 people at the same rate, however any repeat clients booking before 1st September are welcome to take advantage of the old pricing system if it works out better (in other words 3 people @ 84 euros per hour).

We'll be sending out another Newsletter in the Autumn, meanwhile watch this space and we look forward to hearing from anyone interested in booking with Alpine Learning Curves!

Rain

2008-06-16T05:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Curvers, sorry to say there isn't much news in this neck of the woods, just rain, rain and more rain! Our poor pup is beginning to think she must be an otter!
Joe is having a hard time getting on with the work on the outside of the house but at least he has plenty of time to practice for his other love, music. He and Chris, aka the Chamonix fiddler will continue gigging once a week in the Pic Bar, good news as it's under new management but luckily the new boss knows a class act when he sees one!
The gigs will be every Thursday at the usual time, 6pm. So it's go out early, get drunk early go home early.......

June 08

2008-06-05T04:14:00.000-07:00

Good news! We've just had confirmation from Angus that he is joining us again next season, for half term and probably for March.
We've also posted our revised and restructured prices for next year, the first alteration since ALC started in 2004.
Another move forward we are anticipating is providing group lessons for skiers as well as absolute beginners - we'll get back to you on that one!

Nothing To Do With Skiing But....

2008-05-26T02:24:00.000-07:00

we had to let everyone know about the newest member of the ALC household! Delilah is a 10 week old Cocker Spaniel bitch and definitely the cutest person at this address! We are completely besotted so it's going to be tough showing her who's boss when we are her devoted slaves.
One of the reasons we opted to choose a cocker was a lovely little fellah called Elvis, little in stature but BIG in personality. Sadly we heard Elvis had died only a few days before we took possession of Delilah. Deepest sympathies Sharron, if we get half as much pleasure from Delilah's companionship we will be very very lucky.

End of Season

2008-05-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

Here we are in May and the season is all over bar the shouting. It was short but intense, mainly because Easter fell so early this year (apparently it doesn't fall that early again for another 200 years!) and that is usually when holiday makers' thoughts seem to turn away from the mountains and towards the beach! A shame really as the snow conditions continued to be exceptionally good right up to the end.
Joe concluded the season in Zermatt and I went along for the ride. It meant we missed the big end of season bash in Avoriaz but hey ho, you can't have everything! At that altitude they were still enjoying winter conditions and even in the first week in May there were tracks to be had!
I only stayed for the day so unfortunately I didn't get to ski fresh snow with Joe and his group but we had some great on piste skiing and an excellent lunch on the Italian side before they closed for the season.
One thing that did occur to me was how comparitively easy it is to access the slopes from Les Gets. In Zermatt the skiing is so high that it takes almost an hour of uplift before you start making turns. Imagine getting all the way up there and finding Little Johnny's forgotten his gloves! The great thing about Les Gets/Morzine is that it's perfectly possible to head up for an hour or two if that's all you want and let's face it for a lot of recreational or family skiers that's plenty. Especially when the weather is marginal.
I can't go without making a mention of Angus, our new recruit to Alpine Learning Curves this winter. Angus worked alongside Joe for the peak periods and going by the feedback was a very welcome addition. How much time he spends with us next season is very much down to family commitments but we are hoping to see a lot more of him!

Late Bookings

2008-01-15T08:31:00.000-08:00

I guess everyone like us, is breathing a sigh of relief to see that this season is off to a flying start and all the predictions of gloom & doom regarding global warming and its effects on the ski industry have at the very least, been a bit previous!
The snow really is fab for the time of year and the cover as good as I can remember! Joe had a rare day off today so we went skiing together, freshies of the side of Mt Cheri and down to the bottom of Perrier lift via Mt Cali! Excellent!
One noticable effect from last year is that we seem to be receiving a lot of last minute booking enquiries, no doubt you've all been holding off until you knew what conditions would promise!
Well just a gentle reminder here that if you phone our house during the day we'll be - erm - other wise engaged! Busy turning left & right and all that malarky! The best way to contact us is to email which we pick up several times a day. If it really can't wait or it's inconvenient to call us in the evenings, then you can get us on our mobiles. Best try mine first as for obvious reasons Joe doesn't pick up in the middle of a lesson.
Hope to hear from you soon, come and get some!

SNOW!!

2007-12-10T05:13:00.000-08:00

Just had to share with everyone that it's dumping down!!!! So surf's up and we're looking forward to a powder day tomorrow in Avoriaz!
Joe has just come back from a week in Zermatt where he was delivering a telemark course for BASI - lots of powder there he says, especially on the last day.
On the subject of tele, it's gratifying to see how many Alpine instructors are looking to this for a second string to their teaching bow. Come on all you recreational skiers, it's about time you jumped on the bandwagon and found out what free heeling is all about. Watch out though, it's addictive........

INTRODUCING ANGUS.....

2007-09-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

Ski season is on it's way again and boy don't we know it! There's already snow in them thar hills (down to 1300m last night) but sadly just enough to make life a tad uncomfortable so far and not enough to have any fun with YET!!!
We're being optimistic about the coming season, despite an admittedly disappointing one last year. We're still not convinced it's all down to Climate Change, weather is a cyclical thing and our view is if you don't have one or two bad ones you're in danger of taking the good ones for granted. It's the anticipation that keeps it all so exciting!!!
Anyway we're optimistic enough to have enrolled the help of a colleague for the peak parts of the season ANGUS WOOD is going to be working alongside Joe for the half term weeks and at Easter.
Although new to Les Gets Angus has been teaching for a fair few years, having gained his BASI 1 and French Equivalence in 2000. He's taught in USA, New Zealand, Andorra & various French resorts including Chamonix.
His philosophy "When skiing the main aim is to have fun yet allow you to potentially achieve your goals, whatever they may be". Works for us!
Outside of skiing Angus is a qualified Osteopath and a Personal Trainer.
We're certainly looking forward to having him on the team!

Reasons To Be Cheerful!

2007-01-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

Well the season is off to a slow start and there’s no denying that we could do with more snow. By all accounts the British Press – predictably enough – are speculating hysterically about global warming etc etc.
I’m not trying to suggest climate change is a figment of the imagination but Joe and I have been in this business long enough to know these things are cyclical and just as last season’s fabulous snow and arctic temperatures did not turn out to herald the dawning of a new ice age (in fact we are still in the throes of the last one apparently) we are taking all the predictions of gloom and doom with a pinch of salt.
In fact, in our experience all our best seasons have kicked off late – so take heart all you snow lovers, it’s not over ‘til the fat lady snowboards!! Meanwhile despite rumours everyone in resort seems to be coping fine.
Anyway, with all this in mind Joe and I could well understand if we had been getting the butt end of some disgruntled clients. On the contrary however, without exception Joe has found them all a pleasure to work with, and going by the feedback the experience has been mutual!
Which leads me to muse on the advantages of taking lessons in marginal conditions. Naturally, I believe taking lessons is a good idea for everyone regardless (I would wouldn’t I!?) but there are a few factors to focus on in present circumstances:

• It helps morale: It’s easy to let bad weather get you down but once you’re up the mountain nine times out of ten conditions will be far better than expected (as I’ve found so far this season) and if you have a lesson booked it means you are committed to go. Even better if it’s a group lesson as it will give you the opportunity to network with others of a similar standard and find out what options are available. Huddling in the café with the other diehards as you warm up for your next foray is all part of the ambience.

• It gives your day structure: Most Brits are used to not having enough hours in the day to achieve everything they need to do, so when they are left with nothing to do it’s surprisingly unsettling (and where kids are concerned the devil definitely makes work for idle hands)! OK, only the diehards would insist on skiing all day everyday despite unforgiving conditions. But once you’ve made the effort to turn out for a lesson you are much more likely to get into it and stay on for those few extra runs. It’s also great for your skiing to experience all kinds of snow!

• Local knowledge: People book tuition for all sorts of reasons, not just technical input and any instructor worth his salt knows that. Choosing appropriate terrain is key to a good lesson, so a good instructor will take you to the slopes you are likely to have most fun on. Of course this applies no matter what the conditions but it becomes much more significant when choice of terrain is limited. Don’t forget that limited terrain can mean congestion on the lifts too, so having priority in lift lines is a major bonus!

• Safety: If you’re nervous anyway crowded slopes and unforgiving snow don’t help your confidence! Statistics prove that there are far fewer accidents among clients skiing in classes than clients skiing without professional guidance.

Happily all of Joe’s clients so far appear to have realised these things without having them spelt out and have been ready & willing to be guided by his suggestions. Flexibility and good communication (what did we ever do without mobile phones!?) enabled the Christmas & New Year holidays, which are peak weeks in our calendar, to go without a single hitch. No injuries, no cancellations and no grumbles! Just the opposite in fact…..
“Just a small note to say thank you Joe for the teaching and coaching in Morzine and Avoriaz.It made a tremendous difference to my trip and my skiing.Regards
Kieran (and Snowflake)”

“Back in the UK after our week in Les Gets and just wanted to say that the lesson Luke and Hope had with Joe was the highlight of their holiday – they loved it.
Thank you
Jane”

“It was great to see you last week……Just to confirm, we are coming over at Easter, albeit we are not arriving until Sunday 8th. Could I, therefore, confirm slots with you…
Nigel”

Thanks to all of the clients who have skied with Alpine Learning Curves thus far, we hope in this sense we’ve started the season as we mean to go on!
Now I’m off to do a snowdance –
See you on the slopes!

No Need To Curtsey!

2006-11-21T03:41:00.000-08:00

Have you reached a point in your skiing life where you need something new?
A new challenge? A new way of getting about the mountain?
If you and your partner are at very different levels with your skiing spending time together on the slopes can be difficult. One of you is inevitably bored out of his/her mind and you seem to spend most of the day arguing! One solution is for the more advanced skier to switch to another discipline, re-discovering the challenge of learning to ski through another avenue whilst the other is suddenly delighted to see you struggling and falling over as much as he/she is! Lots of people go down the snowboarding avenue for this reason but why not switch to Telemark?

Telemarking is the oldest form of skiing. You are attached only by a toe binding, so it challenges your balance in a totally different way from alpine skiing. Because you get no support from the front of the boot or binding it’s a great way of finding your centre. The lunging style of the sport makes it physically demanding, so great for fitness. Remember though, some people call it free heeling or downhill cross-country because you don’t always have to Telemark - you can alpine on the kit too! No need to curtsey!

If you already alpine ski finding your way around the mountain is relatively easy provided you don’t mind falling over a bit. But if you want to develop into a real Telemark skier please get some lessons, So many times I’ve seen people struggling about on their own trying to get it and oh dear! They are leading with the wrong leg!!!

Think of the feelings you get when you’re skiing down your favourite slopes and the way it felt being challenged to get where you are on your normal kit, you get the same buzz out of learning to master bumps, steeps, powder and carving on this new kit. The skis are doing a very similar thing to alpine but the skier is totally different.

I started to Telemarking as a new challenge – also because the kit is lighter it’s good for ski touring. Now however if given the choice I don’t think I can choose between them, they’re just so different and yet the same. The same buzz, the same skills, same skis - just different aches! (Which reminds me to say Tele boots are so much more comfy.)

There are two popular sayings amongst the ski fraternity which sum up the opposing attitudes between the two camps. ‘Free the heel & free the mind’ boast the telemarkers! To which the alpinists retort ‘Fix the heel & fix the problem!’
Why not give it a go and make up your own mind which camp you are in!!!

Welcome to Alpine Learning Curves - your place for Ski Lessons in France in the Les Gets region

2006-09-06T03:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Les Gets in the heart of the Portes du Soleil.
We would like to offer you high quality personally-tailored tailored English speaking ski instruction in the Les Gets, Morzine area in the French Alps.

» Teaching all levels from beginner to expert in Alpine and Telemark skiing, we cater for small groups and individuals.

Together we have over 40 winters of experience in the French Alps, New Zealand and the Pyrenees and are here to help you to get the best out of your ski holiday.

Your first contact will be Babs, please use her administration and teaching skills to help you organise your sessions and
help you get what you need out of them. We will have everything
arranged perfectly before you arrive so that on the snow you can
take an hour, a day, or a week with Joe to maximise your time
in the mountains and become the skier you want to be.

Just some of our ski instruction topics:

» Parallel perfection

» Carving

» Powder

» Edging

» Intermediate plateau

» Speed

» Bumps

» Control

» Pole planting

» Telemarking

» Tricks/Jumps

» Racing

» Sliding

» Turning

We are no more than hours drive from Geneva and within easy access to the Grenoble and Chambery airports.

What better reason can there be for a ski holiday in France than easy access and excellent, English-speaking ski instruction
with a dedicated instructor?

Telephone: (0033) 0450558921

Mobile 1: (0033) 0677040145

Mobile 2: (0033) 0678832320

E-mail: jbeer@alpinelearningcurves.co.uk

Please click here to visit our website