Cervinia, Italy

Brother James, cousin Nigel and myself went to Cervinia, Italy 19/01/2003 - 26/01/2003 for snowboarding holiday. Cervinia is located right on the Italian / Swiss border and you can ski down into Zermatt, Switzerland.

This is the fourth year of snowboarding for my brother and me, but the first time for Nigel. The first day we flew to Turin and got on the coach for 2 hour transfer to resort. We arrived mid afternoon, and immediately explored the resort. We were staying in the Hotel Breuil, where Basil Fawlty was head waiter (well he reminded me of him anyway!) At 6pm we collected our boards / boots from the hire shop.

The first day of boarding, we decided to go up to Plan Maison and go on the Blue no. 5 run, to give Nigel a chance. Unfortunately, James went ahead and missed the turn and ended up on Red no. 3!! Ooops (See Piste Map below)

Piste Map

As the Red runs were easy, we ended up mainly on the reds for the rest of the week. Tuesday it was snowing heavily and visibility was very poor. We tried runs 6bis and 7. No. 7 is a long run (about 3km) all the way from top to bottom, on a good day it's a lovely run.

Wednesday was much clearer, so we thought we'd do run 7 again and see what it actually looked like!! Unfortunately due to technical problem with my board (ie. it was shagged!) I ended up walking the entire 3km run!! Grrrr! After changing the board, I was back up and running again. The remainder of the week was spent going down various runs including right from the top of Lift P on the Swiss border and down run 6, except James though (is he afraid of heights @ 3332m?!)

Question: Why DO skiers always try to take out snowboarders?
Question: Why DO skiers always stop all across a run on a flat section, getting in the way, when boarders need to get up speed to make it over the flat?

Apres Ski

The Apres Ski in Cervinia was fairly quiet. Monday night at 5:30pm was Welcome meeting in the Copa Pan Bar, where we had free drinks. Later on Monday was bar crawl night organised by the reps. Most of the week was spent in the Copa Pan Bar where they had music, TV and a blond bar maid who kept relighting our fire! (sorry I meant candle!). Oh, and what was James' favourite song they kept playing / singing? Oh yes, DJ Oetzi's Will You be my Girl! Oooh Aaah!

The highlight of the week was probably the Skidoos on Friday night. There were two to a Skidoo, but as there were 7 in our group, I had one to myself!!

Skidoo

We started off going up the old tobogganing run before heading off between the trees. Of course, James and Nigel had to crash theirs in the soft snow! (James was driving). At the top was a 'Race Track' where we could go round three at a time. Then it was back down again. My arms were really aching by the end!!

Pictures courtesy of Nigel Sibley

Click on pictures for full size versions

Cervinia

Cervinia Icerink

Paul with board no. 2!

Nigel

Paul and James

James wake up!

James