Ski day 1

Dudes and Splats Hat

This is a tradition that dates back to 2001 when we introduced the the Splats hat. The most outrageous fall, mishap or calamity gets voted for by team members and then the most loudest cheer gets it. The beginning of our journey provided us with no hats being awarded however, by the end of this epic journey, the dude hat certainly went to Miss Lippiatt for her adventure supporting one our students having to return home. We needed Miss Lippiatt back with us in Italy, and with no hope of rejoining us on the coach she took following transport all in in one day:

Left school on our coach

Changed coaches at Warwick services and coached to Dover

Took a car journey from Dover to Birmingham airport

Once at Turin airport she took a taxi in Turin train station 

Turin station; caught a train to Milano

Then a train from Milano to Monza

Then a bus from Monza to Milano

Then a train to Tirano

and finally, joined the QMHS Snow Patrol for the final leg to Santa Caterina.............

We feel like she is our very own Anika Rice!!

A well-deserved 'Dude' hat wearing on only Day 1.

Hoping for bluebird

Everyone was up 'bright' and early for a 7:30am breakfast  Then it was time for us to head down to the garage, get booted, and head off to the gondola for 8.45am. Awesome team. Everyone is now with their instructors.

Chico and Francesco are with our beginners. They are doing great.

Our two beginner groups are sliding really well. Videos on tonight's update 😁

10.25am: 1st lesson nearly done. Everyone is doing amazingly well. 

Very stylish...

This is a possible 'Splat' nomination Shiloh?!

Where's Marco when you need him?

First gondola ride of the year for Groups 3 and 4. 

Lunchtime

All four groups have had a brilliant but tiring morning after the journey. The beginners are eating at the bottom of the slopes at Hotel Confinale and then chilling in the lovely sunshine.

Some of our girls soaking up the sunshine after untying their boots for the first time.

The other two groups are enjoying the views at the mid station. Lunch at the Paradiso.

Beginners will shortly be taking their first gondola to have lessons at the plateau by the mid station.

Afternoon

Aleesa and Jiya showing some love for the slopes.

Mrs Connell and Mr Hinks giving us 'The Moose' on their first trip up the button lifts.

Our beginners are quickly progressing up the mountain and enjoying the beautiful views from further up the mountainside. 

Ruby and Sanskriti having a rest after successfully navigating the nursery slope.

Some happy campers after a fantastic first day of skiing for all of us. After us all hoping, we did successfully get our Bluebird conditions.

Tonight's Activities

We have done a QMHS first and have been Curling this evening. We also had a short retail therapy session to get over our sore feet but came across a wonderful local tradition; a snow road cross-country race run by the local children as part of their Carnival Week. We all clapped along with the locals as they sped through the streets of Bormio. 

Mr Hinks finding his new hobby of sweeping the floor, lucky Mrs Hinks!

One of our winning teams tonight!

An action shot from Bode!

Carnival Week in Bormio

Cross country street racing was another first for QM Snow Patrol.

Videos of the Day:

One of many for Shiloh:

Interviews from Mrs Connell regarding their splats in Day 1:

Splat Day 1:

Our first Splat of the trip went to Shiloh for making her instructors work extra hard to get her back on her skis, in particular during the afternoon session....

Dude (Official) Day 1:

Following on from Miss Lippatt's amazing Dude, we have awarded Madam Lovell with the dude hat for her compassion in helping our intermediate skiers back on to the slopes after nearly a year.