Scottish Childrens Champs Fort William

Ellie and I headed over to Fort William for the weekend for the Scottish Childrens Alpine Ski-racing Championships.  It was certainly quite a weekend, the Saturday dawned wet and windy and we were up at 6.30 and arrived at Nevis Range at 8.00 only to be told that the wind speed up at the top of hte mountain was too high to run the races.  So what to do on a wet day in Fort William?  How about the Ice Factor indoor climbing arena in Kinlochleven.........no, closed due to a recent fire, how about the Cruachan power station................no closed for routine maintenance, so the kids had homework club in the hotel (although I remain unclear on how much homework was completed) and the parents went shopping in all the mountaineering shops (of which there are quite a few!).  In the afternoon we all went ten pin bowling and great fun was had by all.

Sunday dawned brighter but the temperature had gone up by 10 degrees and left some very soft snow which made conditions very difficult for racing slalom.  Ellie was one of many racers to crash out of the course due to the deep ruts that were building up but despite this we had a good days skiing anyway!

Weekend With Cousin James

Have had a great weekend with cousin James.  Isobel was playing hockey for the second team in a tournament at Countesswells on Saturday morning.  It was absolutely perishing with sleat and rain blown in on a bitterly cold northerly wind.  We all got soaked, both supporters and goalkeeper alike.

Came home and dried out and had lunch and then as the weather was improving we went for a walk and ended up going up Millstone hill which worked up a very nice appetite for the curry at Echt Tandoori.

Sunday Ellie was training up at the Lecht so we took James along and hired him some skis and boots and put him on the beginners slope.  He was somewhat handicapped by his instructor (me) but thanks to some extra hints from the proper Gordon Skiers instructors we had him doing some snowplough turns by the end of the day!  A few photos below.

Skiing at Glenshee

Had a fantastic weekend skiing at Glenshee, the photos say it all, perfect weather, blue sky and very cold as soon as you were out of the sun.  Ellie was racing both days and finished all 4 runs which is an achievement in itself and is definitely getting quicker.

Dawn on Lochnagar

Looking north to the Central Cairngorms from Glenshee

Courchevel 2016

Just back from a fabulous week in Courchevel with the Gordon Skiers.  We had 11 mad ski racers and their accompanying parents.  Started off with plenty of fresh powder.  The Sunday was overcast and snowing so skied the lower mountain both on and off piste (mainly on the piste for me!).  After that the weather gradually improved and the middle part of the week was fab with clear skies.

Tuesday saw an excursion right across the 3 valleys heading over to Meribel and then Les Menuires and up towards Val Thorens before heading back.  Legs were exhausted on the way back.

The kids had a great time training on the Stad Courchevel in the afternoons with a mix of GS and slalom training.

Many thanks go to Gary and Wilma for all their support and guiding over the week.  Great shame that young Ben broke his leg but am sure he will bounce back in no time.

Hockey Weekend

No skiing this weekend, all of Scotland's ski areas were closed apart from the Lecht and the conditions there were dreadful, a mixture of ice and frozen peat!!  Never mind, we had hockey instead.

The weekend started with Ellie playing in goal for Robert Gordons at a tournament for all the local schools.  A very successful mornings work with them winning all three matches and the tournament itself.  They beat St Margarets 2:0, Albyne 3:0 and then Aberdeen Grammr 1:0 so Ellie kept a clean sheet.  It was a bitter morning with a cold wind coming off the North Sea.  Ellie even wore her duvet anorak under her hockey top for the last match!!  Here are a few photos, Ellie in her black goalkeepers kit.

In the afternoon Isobel was playing for Hazelhead her club team against Grammar FP which finished a 1-1 draw, Ellie was playing in defence having decided it was too cold standing around in goal.

Today Isobel was again in action for Hazelhead in a 1:0 win over Aberdeen University,, a good result considering last year the same team beat them 7:0.