Day 4 - Race Day

The sun is already breaking through. Breakfast was great, lots of good conversations being had. Boot room time now.

"where are my boots?"

In the penultimate day of our ski time, Snow Patrol gathered to fill up on the wonderful breakfast treats. Absolute pros now on the booting up and in no time at all we were heading up the gondola. Arrived with plenty of time for a while group photo!

The whole of Snow Patrol were together for the start of the day as it was time for us to race. 

After having a smooth practice run students and staff eagerly gathered at the top of the race route. Three, two, one and off they go............some fantastic racing skills on show and a clear indicator of how much progress each and every student has made. 

However; the ultimate race was between our father and son, who would claim the title of champion between Mr Hinks and Bode Hinks (do you want the real result or the one we told Bode)?

Mr Hinks 29.52

Bode Hinks 28.17

We have our winner, just like his namesake Bode is the champ of the races. A few of the videos will be posted at the end but we will edit a larger copy to try have everyone's races shown!

Once all the race fun was done the instructors took all groups over to Paradiso area to continue working on all of the skills they have been doing so well!

The whole Snow Patrol family then enjoyed a lunch up at the paradiso. Content and full, group three and four were treated to a run down to the bottom of the gondola with our dude Mr Hinks. Lots of happy faces upon their return.

This afternoon, all groups went over Sunny Valley and groups one and two did their very first chair lift of the holiday, woo hoo! Only one pole dropped- think that has to be a record. A successful retrieval mission by Mr Hinks and Miss Lippiatt led to the pole being reunited with its rightful owner. Foggy conditions made the route quite challenging but the two groups successfully skied the beautiful red route down from the chair to the gondola. 

Group one and two getting to the highest point of Santa Caterina Resort. Low cloud is rolling off the tops.

Group 4 posing in front of the atmospheric backdrop.

Meanwhile our groups three and four had further fun over the (not so) Sunny Valley and have returned home tired but happy with all they have done.

This evening has been presentation evening. The instructors gathered at Abete Blu to award their groups with their ability cards and then go through the race rankings. A huge well done to all but a special shout out to the leaders of each group!

Here are some pictures of our winners of tonight's awards. We will post an official list on our return to the UK.

Our winners of the race in each of the groups:

Group 1: 1st Reanne; 2nd Reena, 3rd Aisha

Group 2: 1st Sanskriti, 2nd Chaniya, 3rd Eleanor

Group 3: 1st Carla, 2nd Hannah, 3rd Alys

Group 4: 1st Bode, 2nd River, 3rd Chloe(s)

After dinner it was time to pack and chill as we prepare for our final day on the slopes tomorrow. Sad it will be our last day but cannot wait for the fancy dress tomorrow.

Some videos of the racing today! More to follow!

N.B. We found a bunch of glamourous gals at the top of Santa Caterina and have named them 'Hink's Angels'

Day 3 - Corduroy heaven

Snow patrol were treated to yet another blue sky start as we all met for our 7:30 breakfast. Getting even more efficient on the boot up as we were all at the top of gondola one for 8:50am.

Reanne and Aadya sporting their hats from yesterday!

Group one stayed on the gondola side and did all the blue routes up there, building confidence doing turns at speed following the curvature of the mountain.

Group two were taken straight to the gondola button and had a great morning learning and practising parallel turns! Go group two!

Group three had a technique focus morning as the gondola up to Sunny Valley wasn't in action first thing. They headed over to the button lift near Pardiso (our lunch spot) and practised their parallel turns and slide control. All have made steady progress.

Group four started their day yet again with the black run and then headed to Sunny valley for some speedy skiing. 

Lunch for group one and two was pasta with cheese and tomato sauce, a lot of happy faces from this yummy meal. 

Lunch at the top was a sunny affair and after our lunch the pupils were found to be, once again, enjoying the playground. 

After lunch group one then skied over to the Paradiso side to build confidence on new routes. Well done group one we are so proud of your progress!

Group two also skied over to the Paradiso area and adventured on the slopes over on this side. Absolutely brilliant progress in just three days! 

Group three headed up the top chair lift, singing a multitude of top hits from Taylor Swift to Bruno Mars, to take in the panoramic views of Sunny Valley. The challenge of powder was conquered and all students finished the day full of chats about what they had done that day. 

Miss Lippiatt and Group three near the top of Sunny Valley. 

Group four headed back up to Sunny Valley to soak up the sunshine and work on a technique. A number of 'up....downs' later and they swiftly shot passed group number three. Really great to have two groups up together.

Tonight has proven that it can be the simple things in life that bring so much joy as we all enjoyed an evening of sledging. The giggles, laughter and excited screaming could be heard echoing around the mountainside. Plenty of fun and some incredible video footage of our snow patrol having so much fun. The evening was topped off with hot chocolates all around before a steady walk back to the hotel.

The meal tonight was fish and there was endless chatter at the dinner table as pupils caught up with each other about their day's adventures........and not a phone in sight (well, not being used)!

The splat hat for tomorrow goes to Shaalu for going the wrong way from the rest of the pack and ploughing down the mountain and (safely) landing on her bottom.

The dude has been awarded to Mr Hinks for spending time this morning and afternoon working with a couple of our under confident skiers and helping them make amazing progress.

A really great day has been had by one and all.

Videos from the Day:

This is Shaalu's Splat Video - not actually for a fall but for bombing down the hill without turning at all.

Final video of Shiloh styling out the sledging this evening. Enjoy!

 

Into the blue -ski heaven

Happy Birthday No 2

We started Reanne's 16th Birthday celebrations this morning. What a way to enjoy your day; in the beautiful Italian mountains.

Ski day 2

Super efficient, everyone has got to the mid station having had breakfast by 8.50am awesome. Conditions are epic.

Group one and two are at the mid station. First button lift  today at some point. 😁

Group three and four are going to the top station and heading to Sunny Valley. 🚠⛷️

Shiloh styling out the splat hat 

Madame Lovell looking fabulous in the dude hat

Beginners doing their first blue run- go beginners!!!

Group Four about to start their day on the black run up on Sunny Valley

Beginners enjoying a quick rest before the next run

Intermediates enjoying Sunny Valley

Group one and two have had their first button lift experience this morning. All did incredibly well. Catch the videos at the end of this blog..

You're never too old to enjoy the playground! Carla and Jen having a lovely time on the swings 

Everyone has had a nice lunch at our two restaurants. Time to relax and take in a little sunshine before the afternoon sessions.

All change...

Mr Lee got to see how group three were getting on, Miss Lippiatt and Mrs. Connell caught up with group one and two; who are progressing faster than ever. Mr Hinks caught up with Mrs Lovell and group four.

After realising the boots were on the wrong feet Shaalu had a quick changeover on the mountainside assisted by Francesco

The birthday girl Reanne taking a tumble

Groups one, two and three all reunited at the bottom of the button doing the moose!

Group one moosing around on the blue run

Big shout out to Ilse who has joined group three. Never skied to this standard before and in 6 hours is quite amazing. Well done.

Bormio... Full shop

Everyone is about to depart for the town before a mid evening meal. Very continental.

Most of the students visited the crepe shop; waffles, crepes and ice cream galore

Our splat hat for tomorrow is Aadya after falling off the same button lift not once, not twice, not thrice but four times.....defintately splat hat worthy

Sweet sixteen and where better to be than at this beautiful ski resort. Happy 16th Birthday to Reanne

Splat hat goes to Aadya whist our dude is going to the birthday girl herself; nice one Reanne.

A few of the highlight videos from todays skiing:

A short diary entry from Chloe G (Group 4):

We started the day going up the ski lift to sunny valley. Our first black run of the week was upon us and I can safely say we survived (well just about in my case). Said successful run set the tone for the rest of the day and we had a great time. There's nothing more freeing than flying down a mountain.

Maybe this is an isolated experience but singing a little song only elevates it.

Our instructor has focused a lot on technique; specifically bending and straightening the legs to aid parallel turns. One exercise we did to practice this was skiing down hand in hand with one of our peers. Let's just say it didn't end the best - a lost glove and Chloe A left in the splits position (still holding hands may I add).

The day ended with skiing from the very top to the very bottom of the mountain. Hence, a successful day.

-Chloe G

Come back tomorrow for more!