Yes, it’s time to tell you that sad, sad story of our annual bowling competition with Powder Extreme.

But before we get all melodramatic and depressed, we should remember that the “Powder Extreme Trophy of Bowling” (a trophy that makes the Calcutta Cup look like a tin pot) has been in the Performance trophy cabinet for two years.

A fixture.

And before that it only ended up with Powder Extreme after a questionable last minute shift in the rules that Felix suggested when were, perhaps, slightly vulnerable / inebriated.

Still, our rich history of winning by accident and without taking it too seriously was turned on it’s head as Powder Extreme rocked up in fancy dress and stole our tactical masterstroke of drinking more than the opposition. A tactic which has always served us well.

And despite taking them to the cleaners in the first set they promptly destroyed us in the second set, and then edged us by seven or ten points (depending on show was counting) in the decider.

But we will give them their moment in the limelight, because next season that trophy is coming home…

Special mentions go to Hanna for turning from debutant into strike-rolling-expert, Jo-in-the-office for outplaying most of us despite having a broken knee, and to Olly for, well, being a bowling machine.

We have rather neglected you while the February half-term chaos was underway, but in fairness it wasn’t that crazy this year.

OK, it wasn’t quiet – but the impact of the structure of the international holidays (spread out for everyone except the British it seemed), plus the way Verbier is starting to allow easier access to different parts of the ski area (roll on the Savoleyres lift replacement), meant that the queues we saw at New Year weren’t really repeated – although there were certainly long waits at times…

Anyway, the holidays are over and Verbier is turning a little spring-like a little too early. This week has seen temperatures go right up and after the cold weather, snow and clouds that have been around for what seems like forever, it’s great to get some sunshine. Although the locals are deeply suspicious that this is a good month too soon to start thinking about spring skiing.

So here’s what it looks like right now up the mountain. Yes, these photos were sent down moments ago to Performance HQ by Sophie while she’s up teaching the girls. Now you can’t say that this isn’t a blog that keeps you bang up to date…

 

Yes, after our last appearance on Verbier WebTV, this time it was Olly Green’s turn to become a TV presenter, using the word “nice” with great enthusiasm and helping out on Verbier’s very own TV report.

Some might argue the kids in his lesson stole the show but we thought you were very good Olly, and if farming and ski instructing ever leave you searching for a new challenge, a career at the BBC beckons…

 

 

We have brought you a few blogs from the hallowed ground of the ice-rink before, and that’s because we think the ice karting is amazing. Admittedly sometimes it all gets terribly competitive and occasionally there is a bit of espionage with karts mysteriously losing power (Kev, we can keep that between us) but it’s a great way to spend a few hours and pretend you’re good at driving…

This time an elite team took on all-comers – Ben, Tony and Laura represented Performance with Laura getting behind the wheel of the newly designed Performance kart – sporting new livery after the Kermit green paint job started looking dated. So now we have one that has flames down the side. Whether it goes any faster as a result is a moot point, but it looks pretty.

So if you fancy something a bit different when you’re in Verbier then get in touch with Karting Extreme Verbier and ask Kev about getting the kart with the flames up the side (and perhaps have a quiet chat about fixing the race – everything’s negotiable).

Yes, it’s snowed – but sadly when our crack team of photographers got going it was decidedly cloudy. The sort of cloudy that makes you want to make an excuse, say flat light makes you feel dizzy and then go to the pub.

However, if you’re interested in how much snow we had in the last storm (and we know you are) we think about 20cm, although there’s been quite a bit of wind up there and it’s been blowing around a bit. So there are some pretty impressive wind lips around the place.