Friday Headlines
the weekly newsletter from EHS
Canadian Ski Trip a success
03 May 2019
Just before the Easter holidays, 32 skiers and staff departed for a week’s skiing in Jasper, Canada. In the days leading up to our trip Marmot Basin in the Canadian Rockies had a fresh dumping of over 30cm of snow in 24 hours, so the skiing conditions were looking good.
The first day of the trip was a long day, leaving school at 7.30am for the journey to Heathrow before embarking on as seven hour flight to Calgary and then a subsequent six hour coach journey from Calgary to Jasper, arriving at our hotel at midnight. With 32 very sleepy girls, girls very quickly made their way to their rooms for much needed sleep before their first day of skiing and lessons.
During our time staying at the Lobstick Lodge, we enjoyed excellent breakfasts with a selection of pastries, fruit, cereal and hot breakfasts, including pancakes and maple syrup. Following breakfast each day, the skiers were given a short briefing before returning to rooms to get ready to depart for the slopes. On the first morning, the skiers enjoyed their lessons and the girls enjoyed five hours of ski tuition every day, stopping for lunch in the middle of each day to refuel and swap stories from the morning’s lessons. Groups were split into ski groups based on their skiing experience, with non-skiers beginning on the magic carpet whilst the more advanced groups went off in different directions on various ski lifts. Whilst some groups spent the first few days mastering their snow plough turns, others were developing parallel turns and traversing.
Marmot Basin provided the perfect backdrop for all skiers of all abilities with a range of green, blue, black and double-black graded runs, as well as the much enjoyed tree-runs. The level of progress in skiing throughout the week was phenomenal – the ski instructors were highly impressed by how quickly each group developed and how keen they were to challenge themselves each morning and afternoon.
Throughout the trip, in the evenings there were opportunities for the girls to relax in the hot tub back at the hotel or chill out in their rooms having power-naps before dinner.
We also had the opportunity to visit and walk around the Maligne Canyon learning all about the formation of the canyon and the wildlife around the canyon. We also went on Jasper’s Sky Tram, enjoying spectacular views over the mountains and Jasper. The views provided the perfect backdrop for selfies and group photo shoots. Part way through the week, we also went ice-skating at the activity centre in Jasper, with various races taking place between the girls. The girls also enjoyed shopping trips to Jasper and to Banff. Each evening after dinner, small prizes were awarded to various skiers for their efforts throughout the day and we enjoyed a final presentation and pizza on the final night.
Overall the trip was a huge success and the girls were a pleasure to take to Canada.
Mrs Parsons
Head of P.E.
Ski Trip 2019 a huge success
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