Well, here I am in Bardonecchia, a beautiful ski resort set in the Italian Alps some 60 miles west of Torino (Turin) and whose claim to fame was holding the snowboarding championships of the Olympics in 2006. Ironic, therefore, that I’m here to learn to ski, but hey, we’ll see.
Setting off on Sunday, getting to Bardonecchia was a true planes, trains and automobiles affair (as my colleague, Clive, described it), not to add a coach journey too. Heading up early on the DLR and then the Tube to Victoria station for a coach to Luton Airport, a flight to Torino Airport, and a car from Torino to Bardonecchia. Good for the five companies to benefit from my need to get there.
Landing into Torino Airport was interesting. It was covered by dense fog, so much so that a Formula 1 style safety car, albeit a 4×4 rather than a flashy Mercedes, led us down the taxiway with its flashing lights and a big LED sign saying "FOLLOW ME". (Intriguingly, as we were flying over Torino, most of the city was basking in bright sunshine, including a packed stadium we could see with what I assume was a Serie A match going on.) Can’t say Italians don’t have style. But the fog also proved to be challenging for me once I was on the road.
Unfamiliar with the road signs, let alone being able to see them, I took a few wrong turns, but eventually found myself heading in the right direction. And what a beautiful drive it was, through the tunnels of the autostrade (motorway) that lead straight up to Bardonecchia, with the mountains, castles and churches lining the route along the way.
The location of where we’re staying, Villagio Campo Smith, is set right next to the ski slopes and it is one of the most amazing locations you could live in (well, aside from the plethora of tourists and skiers heading up the slopes). It’s not quite the best place I’ve stayed at: Lauterbrunnen in Switzeland is my all time favourite, where I woke up with a waterfall outside my window – but certainly Bardonecchia isn’t so bad ether.
Not that I’m totally cut off from the world, I have cable TV in my room, although all I have in English are Eurosport and CNN, so for the last 2 days, it’s given me some chances to watch some Australian Open Tennis and Africa Cup Of Nations football matches (including Salomon Kalou’s fantastic goal for the Ivory Coast), and see the business reports as I write this of a global meltdown of stock markets. Sad, but maybe I might have to hold back on some future trips…
But down to what I’m here to do: learn to ski. I’m here alone for 3 days before Kevin and Alison arrive on Wednesday, which gives me the chance to learn some skills before we hit the slopes later in the week.
I’ve now had 4 hours of skiing lessons only and I’ve impressed myself. I was always confident that I could learn pretty quickly (with aikido, dancing and ice skating three things I do quite well that involve balance, and a lack of fear from falling) and on day one, I managed to do all right on the tuition slopes. So well, that today, having only done 2.5 hours of novice lessons, my instructor took me up the mountain onto the real slopes and I managed to ski down well most of the way.
Ok, I need more time to get really good and not fall over all the time, and I am slightly nervous about picking up an injury (my knees ache a little, which from my aikido experience knowledge is not a good sign). But I hope by the end of the week that I would at least to be able to get down the piste I did today without falling over. However, I aim not to be overconfident, yet at least give it a good go. Still I’m feeling pretty satisfied with my achievements over just four hours on the snow.
Well, tomorrow is a day of rest from skiing, and off to Torino for some sightseeing and then to pick up my ski buddies at the airport. In the meantime, wish you were here!
Tagged: Bardonechhia, Italy, Skiing, Torino, Turin