A Day in the Life of L'Oreade

7.00 am - I wake up to the quiet stillness in a warm chalet, opening the curtains to reveal a caked landscape, the familiar sound of the snowploughs grinding up the road, shovelling swathes of white powder from it’s jaws. A sound I learn to associate with great days of riding.

Lights on, coffee brewing, aroma’s rich, a good feed and a quick social awaits us before setting off into the mountains. Where else can you have a proper bacon butty in such a place?

Decision to tackle the local spots today, and ride fresh tracks undisturbed for the duration, outside the front door of the chale. All round result!

9:00 am. Adrenaline rising we set off, the gang awaiting some sweet turns and endless glides through trees, descents down gullies, drops into the unknown. Laughs a plenty.

Onto the mellow button tow for an easy warm up across to the chair lift, no one in sight, oh yes! Powder’s deep, buddies flanking either side, the formation carving turns effortlessly like a pack of wolves let loose . . . waves of snow parting and spraying out from cranked turns.

We arrive at the lift smiling ear to ear, as the sun begins to creep over the icy summits. What a day this is going to be. Excitement brewing as we choose the multitude of lines down this amazing mountain, all just waiting to be signed by my board and its lusting to rip deep trenches in the fluffy powder. What days, to be with friends enjoying the fruits of mother nature.

Minutes turn to hours, with a quick stop for coffee and a bite to eat, basking in the sun, the next adventure awaits.

Home, buzzed, wind swept, stoked, for a brew, feet up chillin’. Good smells arising, good tunes.

Buddies popping over for a catch up and planning the evening, on the balcony, got the sauce sizzling.

Dinner served, wine a plenty, off to the pub to wind down the day