For the avid blog followers, I thought I would remind you all that Performance provides top quality ski instructing as well as up-to-the-minure weather information. For the last week or so I have found myself skiing on Les Esserts (the beginners slope).

Below are Samuel, Olivia and Eleanor on their second day of skiing. I have to admit, they are doing very well. And thanks to Sanna for lobbing snowballs at during our hard work..! …T

So. I really didn’t have my eye on the ball when Caroline said that she wanted to do the Haute Route ski tour from Verbier to Zermatt.

I have done some ski touring in the past. I have also driven to Zermatt a couple of times and know how far away it is. So really what is the motivation of ‘a walk’ to Zermatt. Some say that is is the challenge, some say it is being off the beaten track, in the elements, away from everyone.

Well, the reality is that it’s just bloody hard work. It’s not walking it is walking uphill with skis, boots, rucksack, stuff in the rucksack etc etc. And just relentless walking..!

But I am committed now. I am doing it, on the 12th April. I am a geek, I am going to find a way of keeping you all updated on the progress. LIVE, somehow.

So today was the 1st day of training. (kind off). Who best to train me other than the faithful canine. Well, expectedly she is fitter, faster and far more apt than me and considering she is 49 in doggie years I am a little embarrassed.

Anyway, Medran – Ruinette in 1h 45m and still alive. Photo’s below of decent. Still not tired. Goddamit..!

…this happens. Snow everywhere this morning and really chucking it down in resort…

Yup, after spending two season banging on about how good he was, and after I spent the same amount of time saying I was going Telemarking but never actually getting up there, Toby and I headed up for a wobble about.

I’m actually gutted to say Mallock ia actually rather talented, but I feel I put up a good attempt considering I’ve only telemarked twice, for about an hour or so each time, eight years ago…

Anyway, it looked like this (and yes the video is exceptionally fuzzy, but take it up with Sony Ericsson…).

Meanwhile it was absolutely boiling up there – possibly not the best conditions for me to hurl myself into the slush on skis that frankly look more than a little bit faulty by alpine skiing standards.

But despite the slush, sweat and sunburn I have to admit why all those slightly hippy telemark obsessed Scandinavians bang on about it so much and forsake a decent heel binding…

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Yup, looks like the carnage caused by the wet slides last week doesn’t look any less scary when you get close. This one started at Ba Combe and only stopped about 100 meters above the beginners slope…