Initions Christmas skiing trip - Avoriaz - France - 2008

our transfer from Geneva to Avoriaz courtesy of Skiidygonzales

Austin looking menacing

the interior panorama

first night beers. at 1800m there's a bit of a nip in the air so we decide to sit outside

Kathy modelling my gloves, big enough to be sleeping bags!

Jim finds he biggest bottle of wine in Avoriaz

still impressed 5 minutes later

Tom, who claims he can eat anything gets talked into having a raclette. we convince him he has to eat all the cheese and after a couple of hours work, it's half gone. very impressive but now just the thought of cheese is enough to make him turn yellow.

one of the many spectacular desserts

Jeff caught in the act of throwing a snowball at the cameraman despite my neutral impartiality

the impact zone on Kathy's back (no one is spared). most nights degenerate into a snowball fight.

the view from the balcony, very still and beautiful at night

right where shall we go first

our hotel on top of a very impressive cliff

heading off pieste, above the clouds, fantastic.

Jim surfing between the snow boulders

Campbell has a close encounter with an icy piste.

fine dining

Tom showing off his dental work

too much beer can be good for your face pulling

Campbell, me and Chris (well our shadows) and Avoriaz in the distance)

yes he got head all over his nose

too much beer can be good for your face pulling (why is jeff in all these)

the obligatory group photo holding our balls.

inition showing off their technique

Lees Platoon stylie, strick pose. the competition pressure was begining to tell

Kathy bowls another strike

andy attempts to buy some team spirit (nothing compaired to our strawberry vodka, redbull droppers)

let this be a lesson, don't ski with soft fruit in your pockets

at the end of a treck to the far fight of hte pieste map, we arrive nackered at a tiny cafe miles from Avoriaz. 2 vallies and 3 mountail ranges crossed.

the closest we get to the jumps is watching from the saftey of the chair lift. their mad!

the hot stone rock, plenty of potential to give ourselves food poisioning

???

thank god Campbell bought some poker chips

the Avoriaz crack, downfall of many an unweary skier.

on monday night it started to snow! yipe

it showes most of tuesday topping up the runs nicely. me and Jim try a run or two but with near zero visability and whiteout conditions we try a new black run. thats enough to scare us back to the hotel.

snow, beer, sun, what more do you need

many hot chocolates with extra cream topping were consumed, esential fuel.

our hotel cluster on top of a very impressive cliff

me

after a fall on monday by saturday it gets so painfull Julie drags me to the medical centre, 4 x-rays, an ultrasound and £200 later and I'm told I've 4 broken ribs, the doctor was impresses i'd lasted 5 days. (aparently thats the break top left)