Final Meeting

All ready now. Bring on the snow!

Final Meeting

Conditions are looking fabulous with only 3 runs in the whole of the Vallnord not officially open! We are in for a treat. I hope your packing is nearly all done and you are excited for our first Ski tour as a school to the Pyrenees.

We are having our final meeting on Wednesday 11th February in S13 at 12.40. Here you will get the final letters, hoodies, paperwork and final pointers for our trip.

Have a good week.

:-)

Latest Travel News

Departure and Arrival update

We have just received information about our travel itinerary, all of which will be in the final letter prior to departure.

The QM Snow Patrol will meet fresh and ready to go at 10.30 am on Saturday 14th February. Please do not arrive any earlier and please keep the road clear from the black metal gates up to Teddelsley Street. The coach will need a clear run to get into the car park for safe loading.

Our Harry Shaw feeder coach is due to rendezvous with the continental coach at the reading services on the M4 at 13.30. We will have a 45 minute stop for lunch and then we will be on our way; we hope to be at Dover 18.15 for a 19.15 P & O ferry crossing to Calais.

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On our return we are booked onto the DFDS ferry for 13.30 crossing on Saturday 21st February and our current estimates of arrival at school is 21.15.

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Latest video from Pal/Arinsal

Ski Way Code

Ski Way code

F.I.S. Rules for the Conduct of Skiers and Snowboarders

1. Respect for others A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.
   
2. Control of speed and skiing or snowboardingA skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.
   
3. Choice of routeA skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.
   
4. OvertakingA skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.
   
5. Entering, starting and moving upwardsA skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the slopes that he can do so without endangering himself or others.
   
6. Stopping on the pisteUnless absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.
   
7. Climbing and descending on footA skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.
   
8. Respect for signs and markingsA skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.
   
9. AssistanceAt accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.
   
10. IdentificationEvery skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident. 

Snow Patrol Hoodies

WavePrint Hoodies

We are pleased to link up with WavePrint once more to produce our tour hoodie. The hoodies are not only excellent to travel in because of their appearance but they are also warm and of high quality.

Our package is the heavyweight package and with personalisation at the top comes out to £20 per hoodie.

Very smart!

Please check the colours below, we shall meet this week and fill in the forms. Please collect a letter from Mr. Hinks asap, so that we can get the order off by Friday 23rd January 2015.

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Snow Reports and Webcams

To view the resort webcams and get an up to date report click the following link.

CONDITIONS

Déjà vu

All change - Ski 2015

This years QM snow patrol are getting excited, as in just over 4 weeks they will be heading off on a road trip to the Pyrenees. The group is a small one this year just 20 strong. As a result we will be sharing our coach and ski experience with another school. Something we have had great success in doing before. Switzerland 2010 for our 'old' QM patrol readers.

SkiTeam4 have felt that to allow the trip to continue a change of resort was needed. As a result we shall be moving from the Spanish part of the Pyrenees to the Andorran area of Pal and Arinsal.

Our departure day has moved to Saturday 14th February 2015 and we shall still return on the following Saturday 21st February 2015.

The Package

The Residence Daina is part of the exclusive resort Sant Gothard, at the foot of the Arinsal ski station, and it has been specially designed for families and groups who are searching for comfortable and relaxing ski holidays. The hotel and apartments are located 800 metres away from the cable car to Arinsal. Meals are taken in the neighboring 4* hotel of Sant Gotthard.

Residence Daina

Ski Area

Pal and Arinasal will be used for the trip, they are part of the Vallnord area. Students will gain in tuition by undertaking 5 hours every day as opposed to 4 hours.

All aspects of ski hire remain unchanged with students having the use of skis, boots, poles and helmets for the week as required.

Meal Arrangements

The students will still receive a full board package; however, the lunchtime meal will be taken in one of the mountain restaurants via a meal ticket that will be issued each day.

Activities

Bumboarding

Access to pool and sauna in Hotel St. Gotthard****

Shopping/Bowling in Andorra La Vella

Ice Skating in Canillo

Pizza evening

Sledging - Arinsal by Night

Once a week, the mountain is open in the evening for sledging and a torchlit descent. Fantastic for families! The event is called Arinsal by Night, and includes sledging, a snack & a drink, a singer, and a torchlit descent down the mountain by the ski and snowboard instructors of Arinsal.

Current Pictures and video

Arinsal video 07/01/2015

A clip of a ski route from Arinsal to Pal and back again.

Arinsal Sector

 Pal Red Slope

Ski conditions and web cames will follow up to departure and then we aim to have a daily log of the trips progress.

Ski 2016 is currently under consideration.