Alp d'Huez. A pivotal day.
Day 4. Miracles can happen!!
We got up just after 8am, our later night out meant the boys slept a little longer which was fine. Today was going to be an interesting day. Joyce was already up, she had had a rather restless night for one reason or another. After breakfast it was time for me and Callum to head out for a few morning runs, nothing too serious or strenuous as I am well aware he needs to save his energy for his lesson later on. Morning lessons would be better and we will most likely do that in the future although the PM ones have worked out well, its just too easy to burn the boys out too early.
So, we said goodbye to Joyce and Logan. It was really roasting hot. Part of the problem is the ski locker room must operate at about 35'C so by there time we have our boots on we are cooked before we are even out the door. We had minimum of clothes on, Callum has shed his tights under his salopettes and I shed the salopettes and just skied in walking trousers. Under our jackets was just a base layer. We headed up on some lifts and skied down some longer runs. This is the first time I have skied proper runs with Callum by ourselves and he did great. He was really excited on the way down and wanted me to stop so he could show me the little jump park that he had skied down yesterday, there was a queue and that was fine, I shall for the time being leave it up to Natallie to take him there. The snow was soft today and the turns were easy, we just concentrated on trying to keep the ski's parallel between turns and I was trying to get him to slide the uphill ski around at the end of the turn, this is going to take time. After an hour or so headed back to the chalet, I need to be back before lunchtime.
Yesterdays little mission to the ski hire shop was to collect a set of boots and ski's for Joyce, she had finally plucked up the courage and today, at 12.30 was booked in for her first ever ski lesson, about which she was fairly worried. But we were back and I made a quick lunch for her, you cannot ski on and empty stomach and at about 12 we all headed down to the locker room to get Mum suited and booted. I didn't want her humphing the ski's up to the lift, walking in horrendous ski boots for the first ever time and maybe causing herself a serious injury before she even got a ski on a foot. So we walked up to the lift with her and all wished her well. Myself Callum and Logan headed back to the apartment and had a fairly substantial lunch, Joyce didn't want us there but would never know that we were gonna be there, so a bigger lunch than normal would see the boys through to the end of the day.
We got all our kit sorted and I managed to find a way to carry my own ski's and both sets of the boys ski's quite easily. They can carry their own but there are a few steep flights of steps too go up that are not so easy for little boys who need to keep their energy for their lessons. Soon we were on the Alpe Express heading up and trying to find Mum without her finding us. This we did and we kicked some comfy seats in the soft snow from where we could see how things were progressing. Joyce was in disguise however, her pink jacket had been shed as it was so warm and she was skiing in a base layer but that was not enough to prevent detection. We had been singing "is Mummy skiing or is she on her bum" on the way up in the lift but she was skiing, not fast but she was definitely sliding down the slope with ski's on her feet. She did really well and we all went over for a a chat with Yves and Mum when she was done. He was really pleased with what she had achieved and tomorrow Joyce will need a lift pass (mine😳) for her second lesson, he is taking her further afield.
15 minutes later and it was time for Callum and Logan to be dispatched to their groups and off they went. After a little bit of coercion I managed to get Joyce back on the slopes and we managed a good few successful runs down. It was brilliant, Callum was away exploring the bigger area in his group, Myself and Joyce were on the beginner Poma and at 1 point were passed by Logan who was on the next bigger and faster Poma, this was a special moment. Team Easson all skiing at the same time. We also notice that Logan after one of the runs down was directed to a proper chair lift, for the first time he was heading away from the baby slopes and onto something bigger and better.
This was definitely a day to celebrate with a couple of beers and we went for afternoon refreshments in the sun. Joyce was well warned about the dangers of walking in ski boots on slippery tiled floors and damp wooden surfaces, there's as much chance of an injury heading to the loo's or just getting to your seat sometimes as there is in the actual skiing, modified walking is required. It was so satisfying chatting over a beer now that Joyce actually looked like a skier, once the boots are on you could be the best or worst skier in the world, without those boots you are definitely neither. It was a joy, the weather was great and the beer tasted brilliant we had new things to talk about together. Initial fears had been allayed, these are not gone but the first steps are often the hardest to take but I do think Joyce was quietly happy with what she had achieved. Judgment is currently on hold but another lesson tomorrow with Yves will hopefully help move things in correct direction.
After drinks we headed back up for one last run down the soggy ski slope and then waited on the boys arriving back, Logan was again first home happy as ever with his days skiing, and Callum followed in his group 10 minutes later, his first words were "Dad, can we get back on that lift and go again" 😳😳. He soon realised he was more tired and hot and sweaty than he initially thought and decided against it. To me it seemed a better idea to head back to the sunny terrace bar and all have a celebratory drink so that is what we did. We chinked glasses and congratulated each other before eventually heading back home via the Alpe Express, learning how to cope with 4 sets of ski's rather than just 3.
Today was a belter, a proper "big smile on the face day in the mountains" type of day. The weather was glorious, in fact if there was one thing wrong today it was simply too warm.
We got up just after 8am, our later night out meant the boys slept a little longer which was fine. Today was going to be an interesting day. Joyce was already up, she had had a rather restless night for one reason or another. After breakfast it was time for me and Callum to head out for a few morning runs, nothing too serious or strenuous as I am well aware he needs to save his energy for his lesson later on. Morning lessons would be better and we will most likely do that in the future although the PM ones have worked out well, its just too easy to burn the boys out too early.
So, we said goodbye to Joyce and Logan. It was really roasting hot. Part of the problem is the ski locker room must operate at about 35'C so by there time we have our boots on we are cooked before we are even out the door. We had minimum of clothes on, Callum has shed his tights under his salopettes and I shed the salopettes and just skied in walking trousers. Under our jackets was just a base layer. We headed up on some lifts and skied down some longer runs. This is the first time I have skied proper runs with Callum by ourselves and he did great. He was really excited on the way down and wanted me to stop so he could show me the little jump park that he had skied down yesterday, there was a queue and that was fine, I shall for the time being leave it up to Natallie to take him there. The snow was soft today and the turns were easy, we just concentrated on trying to keep the ski's parallel between turns and I was trying to get him to slide the uphill ski around at the end of the turn, this is going to take time. After an hour or so headed back to the chalet, I need to be back before lunchtime.
Yesterdays little mission to the ski hire shop was to collect a set of boots and ski's for Joyce, she had finally plucked up the courage and today, at 12.30 was booked in for her first ever ski lesson, about which she was fairly worried. But we were back and I made a quick lunch for her, you cannot ski on and empty stomach and at about 12 we all headed down to the locker room to get Mum suited and booted. I didn't want her humphing the ski's up to the lift, walking in horrendous ski boots for the first ever time and maybe causing herself a serious injury before she even got a ski on a foot. So we walked up to the lift with her and all wished her well. Myself Callum and Logan headed back to the apartment and had a fairly substantial lunch, Joyce didn't want us there but would never know that we were gonna be there, so a bigger lunch than normal would see the boys through to the end of the day. 
We got all our kit sorted and I managed to find a way to carry my own ski's and both sets of the boys ski's quite easily. They can carry their own but there are a few steep flights of steps too go up that are not so easy for little boys who need to keep their energy for their lessons. Soon we were on the Alpe Express heading up and trying to find Mum without her finding us. This we did and we kicked some comfy seats in the soft snow from where we could see how things were progressing. Joyce was in disguise however, her pink jacket had been shed as it was so warm and she was skiing in a base layer but that was not enough to prevent detection. We had been singing "is Mummy skiing or is she on her bum" on the way up in the lift but she was skiing, not fast but she was definitely sliding down the slope with ski's on her feet. She did really well and we all went over for a a chat with Yves and Mum when she was done. He was really pleased with what she had achieved and tomorrow Joyce will need a lift pass (mine😳) for her second lesson, he is taking her further afield.
15 minutes later and it was time for Callum and Logan to be dispatched to their groups and off they went. After a little bit of coercion I managed to get Joyce back on the slopes and we managed a good few successful runs down. It was brilliant, Callum was away exploring the bigger area in his group, Myself and Joyce were on the beginner Poma and at 1 point were passed by Logan who was on the next bigger and faster Poma, this was a special moment. Team Easson all skiing at the same time. We also notice that Logan after one of the runs down was directed to a proper chair lift, for the first time he was heading away from the baby slopes and onto something bigger and better. 
This was definitely a day to celebrate with a couple of beers and we went for afternoon refreshments in the sun. Joyce was well warned about the dangers of walking in ski boots on slippery tiled floors and damp wooden surfaces, there's as much chance of an injury heading to the loo's or just getting to your seat sometimes as there is in the actual skiing, modified walking is required. It was so satisfying chatting over a beer now that Joyce actually looked like a skier, once the boots are on you could be the best or worst skier in the world, without those boots you are definitely neither. It was a joy, the weather was great and the beer tasted brilliant we had new things to talk about together. Initial fears had been allayed, these are not gone but the first steps are often the hardest to take but I do think Joyce was quietly happy with what she had achieved. Judgment is currently on hold but another lesson tomorrow with Yves will hopefully help move things in correct direction. 
After drinks we headed back up for one last run down the soggy ski slope and then waited on the boys arriving back, Logan was again first home happy as ever with his days skiing, and Callum followed in his group 10 minutes later, his first words were "Dad, can we get back on that lift and go again" 😳😳. He soon realised he was more tired and hot and sweaty than he initially thought and decided against it. To me it seemed a better idea to head back to the sunny terrace bar and all have a celebratory drink so that is what we did. We chinked glasses and congratulated each other before eventually heading back home via the Alpe Express, learning how to cope with 4 sets of ski's rather than just 3.
I quickly headed up to the Spar shop for a few more supplies and then back for dinner, drinks, a short film for the boys and then time for their beds.....there has not been a peep from our 2 exhausted little boys!!
A big day indeed 👍🏼⛷⛷⛷⛷👨👩👦👦 A good way to learn to get the skis together is teach him a big stoppie!! Build up a wee bit speed skis together then swing bum fast pointing skis together uphill to a sliding fast stop then stand up straight skis still together move across the slope at an angle using all the slope to keep skis together straight back ! Kids love a big stoppie at speed 😊 wish I was there it was cold sair sleet last night up here well done Joyce a new era has begun
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