Skiing
Now there's a Man's pastime. Impossible to explain how and why that is, in full, anyway, so we'll switch
(to) sub-jects.
And because of that, quite some text follows here.
To kick off, then, a Dutch and English report of this year's pastimes.
Next, last year's short few days off to the French Alps.
Third up is the story on last seasons first-week pastimes.
Then on with the rest of the text blob.
e.g., On the importance of being well-trained in general so that control during skiing is
maximized instead of being limited by a divergence of mind and matter (i.e. your fat legs going everywhere but parallel).
Or a rant about the simpleness of those who go snowboarding, how much steeper the learning curve is for that
and how it reflects well on those doing it by being focused on having less control through having one's feet
fixed in position together. (Ever wondered why boarding is done by those of lesser mental capability and stamina,
including kids, striving for simpleness and subduement instead of (control over one's own) liberty?)
And how this is forced upon boarders, too, by the inability to remain standing, which shows that wasting
energy for getting up will tire to the point of not wanting to rise at all, mentally included. No need to go
into the implications of kneeling constantly. Or the need for noise through jumps or scratching...
Or on how people should be brought to a world where skiing could be a full-time passtime, with a switch to summer sports on the Mediterranian but
certainly without the need to work, and on the logistics of getting all supplies furnished by robots rightly scheduled up
the mountains.
But of course that would be too much.
At least I can elucidate a little here on the subject of where to go, then.
- Go for the mileage. Exploring new pistes is better than doing the same ones all over
again.
- Stick to the pistes. Or you're
- Stupid, with a dead wish, not able to feel inner pleasure for lack of ability
to view (define) oneself without reference to the crowded surrounding.
- An empty barrel, having to show off ones marks in fresh snow for no other reason
than to be recognised as someone who needs outsider approval of any pathetic pityful
performance.
- Go to Switzerland. Just to enjoy that funny Schwietzerdeutsch. And to enjoy the class. And to
experience that one pays, but gets rewarded for every single Pfennig of it. Not for one Pfennig more,
but most certainly not for a Pfennig less than paid.
- Go to France. Re: the previous bullet. Après-ski isn't that bad, far more stylish than
the average lower-class drunk would want to find in Austria. And Re: Mileage.
- Go to America. The snow is indeed better there, the atmosphere always relaxed. But be sure to go at least two weeks, three is even better.
Don't forget that the altitude is often 2900m. and up to 3900m. which will cause possibly severe altitude sickness. So be prepared to
take some time off for recovery from jet lag and altitude change. But from there on, everything is *great*.
- Don't go to Austria. Worst of the Germanic, shrewdly focused on Italian quality
at a premium. If one lets politics be involved, is up to yourself.
Places where we have practiced these principles:
Crans-Montana, Arc 1800, Zell am Ziller, Serfaus, Leysin, Davos, Crans-Montana (2x),
St. Christina, La Plagne, Valmorel, Val d'Isère, Alpe d'Huez (2wk., 1wk.), Valmorel (2x),
Crans-Montana (3x), Deux Alpes (2x), Arc 2000, Breckenridge (3wk., incl. Vail).
As said above, Arc 2000 and La Plagne will be in the repeat mode coming year.
So indeed, some must-have-beens are still missing there. No worries, they'll come.
Now then, for a report on Pe d'uez and Deuza (in Dutch).