Grand Couloir Hardest ski run in Europe?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ม.ค. 2022
- This ski slope is called the Grand Couloir often referred to as the hardest inbound ski run in Europe.
This is my first time skiing the run so I was a little unsure of where to go. The run is in the Courchevel area of the three valleys. I didn't have the correct skis on for these conditions really I should have off-piste skis hence the leaning back to help stop my skis from sinking.
The GoPro is mounted on my head and I am using the 2d speed measurement if my head is moving but my body is not it's still going to register some speed.
Let me know if you think there is a harder run in the alpes. - กีฬา
Well done 💪🔥🔥
Such a great resort really looking forward to visiting again!
Un domaine skiable exceptionnel, j'ai vraiment hate de revenir a l'occasion !
Noice
@@Alexskiing you should also try Couloir Emile Allais next time you go there (starts from the same cab but on the other side of it and is considered off-slope), it's shorter and if I remember correctly it has no moguls but it's slightly steeper (been a while, used to go there when I was 12 to 15, 35 years ago :P). I tended to prefer it because less tiring but steeper and deeper snow (much less skied) :).
Depends on how you define hard. It’s definitely looks physically very challenging, particularly in the condition that it’s in. But it’s pretty wide with an even fall line, and the snow conditions are consistent, which are all things that (for me at least) up the difficulty level.
Yeah, for a novice even a blue slope will seem hard
Hi Merek I agree with everything you said. Lots of people think it's the hardest I am off to do the swizz wall next week so it will be interesting to compare!
@@Alexskiing I look forward to watching that video!
Never mind the fact that all of Europe considers this one of the most challenging in-bounds ski runs with 350m of descent and 1000m length with a max gradient of 85% at the top, Merek here, says it is wide open with a good fall-line and he would't consider it fits the definition of hard. Funny! Nice video, you did good up there with the wrong skis on, 1st time on the run. Damn, just getting to the couloir looks like an ass pucker and I have read expert skier accounts of getting butterflies looking into it at the top. Sure, competent skiers can do it, but it will get your attention, for sure.
@@Alexskiing have you ever tried patchavanette in the porte du soleil
For me, the feeling is like night and day: it always looks and feels ten times more steep and challenging when you are actually skiing down the mountain, rather than when watching the recording. GOOD JOB! You made it look easy. Hope one day I could do something this challenging.
Unfortunately, GoPro's and all other action cameras, tend to flatten the view quite a lot!
Look how fast he is going, when it's steep you go way faster because every turn slides you down 20ft+. His little baby turns were small so not that steep.
Thanks for the encouragement everything you said is spot on. Hope you get to the mountains this year!
@@ryan39584 Look at the pieces of snow/ice that start moving and continue falling. You can tell it's quite steep from that.
So true, and plus he's wearing the wrong pair of skis lol
I love how many options there are for going down... Its not just a straight forward run that takes you from point A to point B
To be honest, this doesn’t seem that hard. Just scary at the top of the mountain.
You are right. it's not hard, but the top section is a bit narrow and can be icy :)
@@ClaesN1973 interesting, I wonder how the ice compared to the US east coast. I'll definitely add this to the list of places I'm going whenever I can ski in Europe.
Looks like a standard off piste black diamond run in Colorado.
@@Guy-hd5lx your best bet is to stay in Val Thorens and ski over to courchavel. Most the stuff in courchavel is easy
Yeah, this is only a blue on the East Coast US
i’ve been on this run so many time and i love it so much! it’s challenging, yes, and you can’t get very fast but it makes skiing and snowboarding just that much more rewarding and not to say extremely exiting and makes you think more about what to do and what next! i strongly strongly recommend courchevelle and val thorens ( le 3 vallées ) (méribel is good too however keep in mind it’s very slushy especially during the summer seasons) in the lower area in france for absolutely everyone, beginner to expert of all styles!!
You guys are mistaking hardest run with hardest terrain. In terms of marked runs this is probably up there, but yeah if you go off trail you’ll definitely get into some crazier stuff.
Doing this on a set of Redster x9’s is a chad move. Well done!
That was awesome I live in France and I'm always impressed by those skilled riders when I go to the Alps. Had a great time watching your vids, I appreciated the infos like the altitude and speed too!
Hi Hanska thanks for the comment! Really pleased you liked the videos.
I remember going down this slope when I was 14... There were lots of moguls and it was super icy, which made it horrible. The start of it, on top of the mountain didn't scare me at all but once I got to the steep part I started regretting my life choices. I'm afraid of heights this is the only time I can recall being scared because of the steepness of a ski slope. I hate that it looks so flat on the video, even though it really isn't.
Anyways, great video!
Where is it ?
This is the kind of slope that I’d just go straight down lol. It’s probably a miracle I haven’t had a life threatening injury yet but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I think I did this about the same age. It wasn't technically challenging if my memory serves me but physically my legs were on fire.
Where is it?
courchevel (le 3 vallées) i did it when i was 9 lol
Looks like it would be great on a powder day…
I bet it would be!
How do you even know where to go? I’d be so lost bc wouldn’t see the marks in the snow and stuff.
@@juliaalvarez537 Haha I wasn't 100 % sure that's why I am looking around a little bit. The black marker poles tell you were to go but it wasn't that clear to be honest!
Skiing this run on a powder day is one of the best experiences I've ever had
did they finally reopen it?
Nope it was closed Unfortnalty
Love a content creator that takes time to answer to comments. Subscribed brother, keep it up!
Looks bloody epic! It's been a fair while since i skied this and it doesnt even look familiar anymore 😂😂
Sorry but im an american and seeing someone say bloody is funny as shit for me to say that in an english accent
Did that in fairly fresh snow way back when. The track along the ridge at the top was one skier wide and you basically had to ride it to the end as the rut wouldn't allow you to turn. That was the scariest bit of it. Couldn't see much of the way down as it whited out. Never thought about it again until now, thanks for sharing.
Last time I did this run it had snowed 40cm over night, spent most the morning moving across that ridge for some fresh stuff. Shame the main lift from courchevel isn't running this year 😔
That sounds like an amazing day! Yep definitely it was a bit of a pain to get back around to go down the other side. 👍
It definitely looks like you scooted right on past some much more difficult runs.
There’s some much better and less skied couloir’s is you traverse further along the ridge
bro these people need to go to like any where good in Canada, big white shits on that hill
There is the petit couloir right under the lift. That’s narrower and steeper.
couloir Emile Allais is right before grand couloir on the right and even more difficult. A lot narrower
you joking right?@@evanlloyd2870
The entrance looks terrifying in real life. I looked at it about 25 years ago from the top and watched lots of people going along the knife edge at the top.
That’s really good skiing! Especially with the icy choppy terrain, what a workout, legs gotta be burning 🔥.
Thanks F P I appreciate the comment. I hope you got to get out to the mountains this year. Definitely a leg burner lol 👍
Looks good - steep but short. Good work on the rescue half way through - for a moment I thought you were gonna stack! Beautiful scenery and could tell you were working those legs !! 🎉
Wow!!! I love these videos. The real experience.
Hi Dean, thanks for the comments!
Looks pretty easy, but it is always way harder when you’re the actual skiing it. Nice job.
Great run, thanks for the experience
That was great! Thanks for posting this, I miss the snow 😥 that was fun 🤩
Glad you enjoyed it!
Out of all your videos I've watched, that seems to be the real tough one.
The fact you were the only one on it says it all too.
Well done!
As someone who has skied the east and midwest that squeaky snow sounded very familiar. It was always a treat to get out west once a year where the snow was a little softer.
Nice run Alex, thanks for great video :)
The steepest we’ve done is the Swiss Wall from Morzine into Switzerland. Day 1 was whiteout + moguls but day 2 was sunny day with fresh pow. I zoomed all the way down & it was amazing
Hey, I was in Courchevel as well last week and I just took some random skilifts. Then I was on top of that mountain and did the same run. It was really hard and scary. And you did really great. I was lucky that the circumstances where ok. I’m 13 btw and I went with snowboard…
Lmfao kid you were just in a life threatening situation 😂🤟
good job then :D
Nice, I’m 13 and I could barely even get on blue lol
@@3.0l8pro8 it's experience, not age, that matters. I know a seven year old that could smi this like nothing based off the slopes I've seen her do.
Where is this run? Courchevel?
Well done. That looked tough especially considering how chopped up and heavy the snow evidently was. How long are your skis out of interest?
HI Jiros00 Thanks for the comment my skis are 175.
Horrible snow conditions, can feel the burn in my thighs just watching :D 🔥
I've got the skis you wearing - those are power-consuming beasts, demanding speed! Doing the run with these in the backseat is a thigh-killer! Well done!
Haha I love them great skis but would have loved the powder ones on that day. Thanks for the comment!
Then dont sit in the backseat :) Thats definitely not required in those conditions. It hinders you to have proper form for the turns. Keep a nice central position over the skis. You have much better control.
The gopro does not do this run justice. Every ski video I'm like looks easy. Then I get there and am like weellllll f that. Great video my man!
Haha this is so true I hate the GoPro effect
Never considered it a hard slope when I did it like 10y ago while being a kid so kinda surprised it's referred to as one of the hardest :p . The only thing that makes it stand out from other blacks is the ledge you have to ski on at the start which is terrifying when there isn't as much snow (like around April) as there is now. In the end the difficulty of a slope just comes down to how the moguls are, how narrow/steep it is and when it's icy or not, here there are no moguls, wide slope and the snow is hard but you see and hear that the snow is perfect.
One that does have the narrowness and steepness is the top part of Les Coqs in La Plagne just after you turn into the trees, but a lot of people miss the initial way onto the top part (since it's just a single track into the trees and it looks more natural to ski down towards the black next to it) and only go onto it a bit lower where you can get on it from the other black next to it called the Palsembleu where it's already a bit wider and less steep. But again, conditions are day and night, done it with fresh snow and no moguls, nothing to it, but with big icy moguls and trees on both sides, it makes you question life choices and murmur a prayer or two before you take the first turn xD
I know the one in la plange yeah bloody gnarley, I found it tight and not very forgiving. Went into this well over 25 years ago.
Hey belgiaht thanks for the comment. I am skiing in La Plagne next week so I will let you know how I get on!
Haha, enjoy, I just got back a week ago :) Was pretty ideal with 6 sunny days right after a snowdump during the weekend but some lower slopes were already about to close cause it's way too hot for this time of the year.
Had to open my jacket and undo my gloves on top of the glacier at 3000m, seemed like April during January.. :p
Congratulations Alex! Your skiing has rocketed. No more flat skis. You look so much safer now. Traveling in nice linked turns. Obvious body dynamics. Narrow stance facilitates balance transfer. Next try increasing your tipping and flexing to the next level. Add some complimentary upper body skills (counter balance and counteracting will help greatly now). Its been fun to watch your videos and see your skiing progress.
When there are cliffs so close is dangerous. Congrats!!!!
The snow conditions are what really make a run hard, the same run can be very enjoyable to unskiable, even on the same day!
Looked and sounded gnarly. Makes my run down the green slopes this morning look pretty tame. Bit nicer up here in Cham, I thought you were coming up?
Hopefully soon wish I had a plan for what I am doing from one day to the next! Getting there though. Hope the weather is as nice there as it is here!
Great footage! Nice run
Well, it was the hardest I have ever skied (only once). I got more moguls at the time and I took long time to do it hehe. That 100 meter by 3 meter wide entrance really made my heart speed up :) .
You did great job, woop woop.
Haha thanks for the comment I can imagine to gets even harder with big moguls. Hope you got out skiing this year!
Awesome !! Notice how there were no skiers on the steepest section on top with him, then all of a sudden they appeared at the base. Wonder what degree that upper part was?
Grand couloir is down as a black run but it's never groomed so it's a bit of a grey area, it rejoins the main red run Saulire further down that's why the other skiers appeared just off the side. That's why the last bit was pisted.
Looks about 45 degree at parts specially when he looked back up.
Id love to do it.
More like 70-80 degrees.
Google search says 35 then reduces to 30 degrees. Steep for sure, but not insane.
Cool Run Alex, Glad you finally found some conditions that weren't complete Hard-Pack or Ice. That run would have been brutal otherwise. Quick favor for next video, when you get close to the bottom of a steep run, please stop and look back up the hill...it gives us a much better perspective of the pitch...Thanks for the posts!
looks so fun! good job
Great video, Alex, thanks. Cool slope and looks like really the hardest! 💪🎿 But frankly, I don't like such slopes.
Hey Happy skier, Happy new year! I see you have managed to the mountains this year as well!
That looked like the most icy, bumpy horrible run ever. Only a skier would enjoy this...😉
hahah
Man if you think that's icy you've never been skiing in US east coast 😁
How was that icy?
@@ProLeopardx1 lol That was not icy at all at my poiont of view,but looked very interesting though. For the most icy part of ski you can only slip it over , no way of speed control. An icy bump could be helpful.
Ya boarders need not apply. No ice just hard pack very cold.
That looked very challenging especially at the top 😳
Wow, congrats! I hope i'll have the technique and the balls to face this run in 2024 season! 🙂
No doubt that was hard for someone of your skill and fitness level given the conditions.
But that can't be the hardest actual run . .
Totally agree seems pretty easy
Everything looks easier through a GoPro lens, as it distorts the steepness.
It is not the hardest run. It may or not be the hardest black run but there are masses of more difficult ‘itineraires’ and of course off piste routes.
The system for marking pistes and what is on or off piste is very different in US and Europe.
Nice flex.
@@VideoAmericanStyle still just a normal double in colorado maybe even a single
That had me holding my breath. I started a few years ago learning to ski at 55. I just enjoyed getting onto blues at VT last month after a few lessons. Seing this just made me realised I should have started skiing at 5.5 not 55 :-)
You've still got time!
My instructor at Ackers in Birmingham, Midlands Ski Club only started skiing 8 years ago and is about 46. Deb Armstrong here on TH-cam is a good coach. Good technique is really important to confident skiing. Im 55.
I didn't start snowboarding till I was about 54 and 4 years later I can do black runs and a bit of freestyle stuff - it is never too late provided you stay fit and healthy.
This is making me nervous just watching! I have a significant fear of heights so I will stick to easier runs. Thank you for sharing places I will never go with the world.
Haha love this comment
Heck yeah! Great run..
Looks like a lot of fun - especially that last smooth and fast part. Nice video :)
What did you use to measure, calibrate, and superimpose the speed and other stats?
I've seen much harder than that ! The only issue with that run was the snow was very chopped up and hard .
Nice skiing , impressive run
I probably would have side slipped that whole thing lmao 🤣 I could never do this. Good job!
It's always so hard to see gradient on camera. Only thing telling me how steep it acrually is is how much you have to control speed. That would be a mad run on fresh powder!
You should watch the video and keep an eye on your skis. You are not on your downhill ski for much of the run, probably from being in the back seat on the skis. You also make your left leg work more than your right. It would be great to see another run now that you have skied it and know where you are headed.
Thanks for the tips!
@@Alexskiing thanks for the video, it is now on my list of 2022 places to ski.
that was nuts mate
I did this run in 1985. I still tell the story, because there are 3 Couloirs. I did it with two others on our first day in Courchevel. I thought the grand couloir would be easier since it would be wider. Ha ha! I seem to remember that the cable car lift up to Les Trois Couloirs was then the record holder with 169 people. It was INCREDIBLY steep and very narrow. Much narrower than your video portrays. With moguls, it was extremely difficult. The most difficult piste I’ve ever skied. I’ve skied since 1969. When I was 3. I have instructed.
Haha thanks for your comment Christopher it great to hear other people experiences of skiing holidays. I will defiantly not forget this run in a hurry!
I’ve been down it, it would be a bit much for me to say I skied it though tbh 😂
It hadn’t snowed in a while when we hit it and the moguls were the size of cars down the narrowest but of the chute!
Looks lovely and really shows how steep it is when you look back up the hill
Hi Ryan, runs this steal definitely change so much due to the conditions. Fair play for getting down it in one piece that's the main thing 🤣
@@Alexskiing as you head across the ridge there’s a run to the left, I think it was called the GoPro couloir last time I was there but has changed name now. I’ve never seen a single person go down it. It runs sort of parallel to the chair that comes up from the meribel direction. It looked a bit bare at the top as you skied past but it’s something I’ve always wanted to have a go at
@@ShalomBrother the grand couloir is way funnier to do, better snow most of the times and wider.
The Gopro one is steeper at the top and quite narrow, it gets icy faster than grand couloir due to its exposition.
But it's perfectly doable (did it a few times) if you control your speed correctly.
If the snow is not too bad (if there is some semblance of transformed pow still), you can actually charge at the top since it opens up quite a bit down the way, quite a thrill but you can't fail.
@@Alexskiing oh and hey, you certainly had a better week than mine since last weekend at Isabelle's friend :)
@@LeDore38 I couldn't agree more the first few turns are really tricky on the Gopro one then it opens up. I did make a video of that which I will post soon it's a great run to the bottom of Meribel!
wow i came here from another video of yours about st anton and this is actually on my most favorite mountains! niiiice
wow ! that was awesome, was a bit concerned when you went to 53 mph that you may hit someone but that part of the ride was fast as well as smooth. Cool!
53mph past those other skiers isnt cool, it's stupid. Stay off the piste and out of the way
What annoys me the most are crowded skiing slopes....even though this one looks very steep, the fact that you don't have to avoid other skiers makes it easier
I have never skiied there, and am aware that camera angles make slopes look easier... But I am shocked that this is counted as one of Europes "Most difficult inbounds runs".
I would relate this run to a non-complicated single black diamond off piste run at Kicking Horse (B.C. Canada).
regardless, glad you had fun and got your heart pumping, thats what counts!
This would be the bunny slope in America
@@xp8969 Sure, cos everything is more hardcore in 'America'..🙄
@@adammacer relative to this terrain it is, I'm not saying that there aren't harder trails in Europe but the guy lied his face off labeling the video as "the hardest ski run in Europe"
I think you should have turned left sooner after the narrow ridge at the top to get to the actual top of the couloir, but well done you made it to the bottom in one piece! It's a tough run and now I'm older I'll just keep it as a tick on the list.
Well done kid. Takes me back.
Thanks for the comment!
Heard some snowboarder was doing it faster that very same day 🤔
Haha do you know Pip as well?
@@Alexskiing pip? What's his surname? Can't be the one I know, surely.
@@keithgrainger8797 Coe everyone knows pip right?
@@Alexskiing small world. He's usually in chamonix .
You did well! I have not skied outside of the USA and that does look quite steep, but the conditions of the terrain were not bad and it did not seem that it would be hard. Strenuous, yes, but not technically extreme difficulty. With some powder maybe even not too bad except for the incline. Ice and moguls could really up the difficulty but still there are not cliffs, rocks or trees to deal with and no moguls that are of any size to mention. I would guess there must be harder inbound runs.
Thanks for the comment. Inbound runs are classed different in Europe in Europe you inbound runs would be classed as off-piste and there are defiantly harder off-piste runs with the conditions you mention. This would translate to a double dimond black in the USA.
Your Missing Out.
@@misterclean7570 watching videos like this...I know. My friends and I have a yearly ski trip to Colorado. We have decided to boycott Vail next year due to their employee treatment and forty five minute lines. Our trip starts tomorrow for this year. We will be discussing a trip outside the country. See if it makes any kind of financial sense.
@@udailey Well have fun, Been only to breckenridge, and parts of southern california. A skiing Trip Outside of the US doesnt have to be pricey, but it definitly can! Anways, have a great Trip!
Honestly, I never skied this run ... I think to have a good ski level, but not sure that I will take pleasure to be on this run ... Great job, but for without me ^^
Great sound effects!
Well, you certainly made it LOOK hard.
Can't imagine that this would be the hardest run, looks like a solid blue
hahahaha then you haven't been there.
@@_pjd mmmm yeah still not impressed, I mean it's a little chunky, but to say it's the hardest is ridiculous
I don’t think I have ever heard you sound scared in a video before. This was pretty nuts, great job 👍
Haha thanks for the comment! I was a little nervous droping in without off piste skis! 👍
You did really good nice job👍
The speedometer is really blowing my mind right now, i snowboard but i never thought that there are times where i could merge into traffic at the speed im goin
More than 45mph, close to others, no wonder so many accidents and death (2 in 4 days).
Accidents on the mountain are tragic there are rules governing how you conduct yourself on the mountain. Having watched the video with instructors and mountain guides there is consensus that there isn't a time stamp that broke the rules below. I understand however its a sensitive topic so I thank you for your comment.
I. Rules for the Conduct of Skiers and Snowboarders
FIS has since many decades published guidelines to assist in the
promotion of skiing and snowboarding, such as the rules for the conduct of
skiers and snowboarders. These are to be used for guidance only and are
subject to and do not replace the specific rules applicable to any given ski
area, course, park or competition.
The following document is the latest version of those guidelines.
1. Respect for others
A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not
endanger or prejudice others.
2. Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding
A skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed
and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the
prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density
of traffic.
3. Choice of route
A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such
a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.
4. Overtaking
A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above
or below and to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough
space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or
involuntary movement.
5. Entering, starting and moving upwards
A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after
stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the
slopes that he can do so without endangering himself or others.
6. Stopping on the slope
Unless absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping
on the slope in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in
such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move and clear of the slope as
soon as possible.
7. Climbing and descending on foot
A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to
the side of the slope.
8. Respect for signs and markings
A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.
9. Assistance
At accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.
10. Identification
Every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or
not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.
The whole on-piste part he looked in control to me, enough room
nice job man! Keep improving, the run’s pretty nasty
I didn't realize how steep it was until I heard how much you were breathing
Nice video!!
Thanks! It is really steep but that could also be a reflection on my fitness haha
Its not hard, the slope is just in a poor condition.
What an amazing video ! Since I have seen it, no need to try for real😀
Thank you so much 😀
The upper part when I was 17-30 years old but the bottom go for it. Good job skiing guy
That looks like a very challenging ski.
Incredibile bravo 👍👍
Fantastic skiing..
Woow It is very difficult and any mistake is punished harshly. Well done ✌️✌️👏👏😋😋
Thank you so much 😀
Just beautiful
Good run! Looks like a lot of work.
It was!
You are crazy man, on my snowboard I’m afraid even on reds 😂
Good effort for first run!
Thanks!
Looks fun!
Looks fun. I always wanted to do those couloir but both times I went to Courcheval, they were closed.
Try the 'Tunnel' run at Alpe d'Huez and Mt Gelé & Tortin at Verbier if you like steep black runs.
Hey Brain, I have a video on my channel of the tunnel run in Alpe D'huez I am really looking forward to skiing Tortin at Verbier but it's likely to be next year now.
Good effort on those GS style skis
Hi Leroy, Thanks. Yep I could have done with off piste skis really.
This run would get marked “Blue” in North America. Cool video though. Looks like a fun day out there. 😊
Given my fear of heights, that first ledge would be terrifying. The rest seems doable, although the rocks in the snow make it dangerous if you fall, especially in icy conditions. But the snow looked very good.
some people walk to the top of the slope. That's what I do when the snow is too hard pack
Wow, that last third was a white-knuckle ride!
Icy moguls *shiver*. Wouldn’t want to do this one on my snowboard. Looks like a lot of fun on powder though!
Awesome run
It's one of my fav downhills. Specially in the end of the season it has massive moguls,
that part at the end is wild
For many skiers, getting down it is their ambition, and not falling on it is unachievable. All my skiing mates had done this, but none without falling.
For 15 years it was closed every time I went to the start. Then I went Courchevel with my family, teaching them to ski, and on the last day they wanted to try the Snow Ride (it starts where this video ends). I looked up, and the piste was OPEN! I told my wife, I had to go!
The arrête is very exposed but beautiful, and I skied across the little bowl at the end and paused on its rim at the top of the steepest part - just like the skier in the video - and planted a pole down-slope to launch...
only to realise that my left boot strap had broken. Oh pooh!
I had a think, visualised how the turns should feel, and jumped into the first turn. What followed was the most joyous ski of my life - perfect short swings all the way down to that broad piste at the bottom, and riding the moguls down its edge in style and the biggest of grins.
Where the video ends, I had arranged to meet my wife. At the instant we met, my children showed up. My son called "Follow me" and without pause we all headed off down the Snow Ride. He'd followed some guided skiers earlier, and went off-piste through a quarry and into the trees, slaloming then out over a jump to rejoin the piste.
It was the perfect end to our holiday, an ambition fulfilled, with our family skiing back to our chalet together for tea... and with a story of a loose ski boot, no falls and no stopping - just continuous flow - to tell over dinner. I remember every detail, it was skiing as I had always dreamed it could one day be. Perfect. How did THAT happen?
Thanks for bringing this memory back after 25 years. That grin is back on my face.