The Ski Season Finale - a Grand Slalom Race

Well it looks like Summer is here, and the snow is finally melting. After a fabulous snow season we went up to Siviez at Easter for what is probably the last ski this season. As is the tradition (apparently) the ski school where Bella goes organise a Ski race for the families, involving a Grand Slalom part way down a red run. (Greppon Blanc) for those who know the area. As getting to the race involved skiing and a button lift, I valiantly agreed to stay home with Sebby. (Nothing to do with not wanting to enter a competition I had no chance of winning). Malc rather more valiantly went off with Bella and took her on her first button lift, which deserves a prize in itself. She followed our friend Carl down the slalom, and was closely followed by Sue in case she went careering out of control. But she finished the course in something over 2 minutes without missing a turn or losing a ski, unlike the brave little boy who took 6 minutes (no not Malc.).

Bella was in the under 7 competition, and she came 8th (out of 9) which bearing in mind she is only 3.5 is still impressive. She collected her prize (a chocolate bunny) later on from the Easter Bunny. There were over 100 people in the competition, with 8 different categories of ages. Carl, Sue, Cameron and Holly got 2 1st prizes and 2 2nd prizes between them and won the overall family 1st prize and the much covetted concrete chicken. Well that gives us something to aspire to doesn't it. What about Malc? Well he wasn't last in the dad's although the competition was fierce, and he's now all fired up to get in to training for next year.

So where does that leave us. At the end of the first season, Bella has 3 medals - a snowman, a green mouse and a bronze mouse. Sebby is looking forward to next year when maybe he can try at least the plastic skis, and might be able to pick himself up when he falls over rather than rolling around like Michelin Boy. He has been sizing up Malc's new skis in anticipation.

We left the apartment all spic and span ready for the Summer hiking and mountain biking season, and moved the snow gear down to the cave.