TDC Tignes Instruction Week December 2018

Reporter: John Wilkinson

The first 2 days were difficult due to poor visibility and heavy snow. This gave us a welcome more gradual increase in ski activity as the links to Val were closed, and we took the opportunity to sample the fleshpots of Tignes. Even the TDC coaches had difficulty driving over to Tignes for our initial briefing as the roads were so treacherous. Considerately they agreed to delay our instruction by a day to allow the weather to clear, and to extend the remaining sessions to make up for the missed time.

From the Tuesday the weather cleared and every day was brilliant skiing, a good base though not quite enough snow depth for care- free off piste skiing. Initially the avalanche risk was high but this moderated over the week. The Rochdale group led by Rich used the early week refreshing hazy techniques including a memorable session on the Face improving technique on steep terrain… However we then spent the remainder of the week skiing untracked powder across the Tignes Val d’Isere area, including a tour of the Col de Charvet from the Grand Pre lift, ending at the Manchet restaurant for hot chocolate and a motorised tow back to Val. We all gained much from Rich’s instruction and advice and the pictures show how lucky we were with weather and snow conditions.

The hotel itself was well regarded, but there were many complaints about the food, and it became a standing joke about warming ice — cold main course plates. By contrast things did improve and by the end of the week the plates were sometimes extremely hot! It was disappointing that the road conditions for both arrival and departure forced the coach to park quite a distance from the hotel, but the staff were very helpful and cheerful as usual.

TDC remain an excellent ski centre, combining instruction and guiding with great success. Long may the Instruction Week continue!