Yes I admit it, I didn't get time to write up about the Deep in Lesley trip, other than a couple of random posts we made while we were there and heavily under the influence of Alain. Now that I've got a bit of spare time while in Adelaide, here we have it. As always, you can get all the photos on My Flickr Site.
[Almost Not] Getting there
So there we were on the Friday afternoon, all packed and ready (except Mr Busy Jarmarl) and starting our respective journeys to Waterloo. I got a voicemail from Guy saying that all Eurostar trains were cancelled - haha, yeh very good I thought, no way you're getting me with that one. Followed immediately by a call from The Good Stuff, with exactly the same story - fire next to the tracks, everything broken, chaos at Waterloo. No no no non nein! Surely this can't be happening? Quick call to Eurostar, explaining that I'd travelled all the way from NZ for this, at least 20 of us were going and there's no way we're missing out on the powder!
Got Mr Busy packed and ourselves out the door for the Tooting Dash to the tube (like the Paris Dash from the last Lesley Trip, with equal amounts of FEAR). Hundreds of people and police cordons at Waterloo, seemed like nobody was going anywhere - total confusion, loads started heading back home. GnarlyBoarders all together - myself, Mr Jarmarl, Dan Black and The Good Stuff. Dunno what happened next, as all of a sudden we were being escorted through the police lines and down to the empty Eurostar bit to get checked in. BONUS! Armed with free food, we were on coaches to Ashford and getting beers in before we knew it. Ours was the only train to leave that night. Fancy That was on, champagne, wine and beers were farming and we were finally on the way.
No convincing the Eurostar staff that we were ok to go down to the other end of the train to find Guy, Nick etc. but still managed to get down there, grab some tequila and head back to finish off all remaining booze before passing out under the seats somewhere. Barely awake, we got off at Bourg-St-Maurice, out the back and up the funicular to Arc 1600, quick bus to 1800 and we're done. How easy is that?!
Day 1: Riding with Alain
No rooms ready, got ourselves changed and boards ready in full view of the locals, grabbed a quick pizza, found the Pope and Stone and got up the chairlift. Hadn't been much in the way of new snow lately, but conditions were still excellent, even finding some [crusty] powder here and there. Think we lost the Pope and Stone almost immediately, farmed around all over the place before ending up at Arc 1600. The boys already loving it, Jamroll and Good Stuff stomping 3s within the first couple of hours. Alan wasn't going to get the better of us. Knowing that Monsieur Dumpy was on the way in the next couple of days, we got our heads round the whole resort so we could head straight for the pow.
Later, Ron got the rooms sorted out, the 4 of us getting one that stank like an ashtray but was right in the centre of things and let us ride right to the front door. Over to Mountain Cafe for nachos, onion ring *** and burgers, before Alan got hold and sent us to bed.
Day 2: Dumpy arrives
I think that's when he arrived anyway! Can't remember a lot, probably got a bit cloudy in the afternoon, probably did some riding, think we went to the park (to play on the swings), do some jumps, do some spins. So you think you're good do you? "Yeh, I'm alright". Dumpy really started spreading his love in the evening, so faced with a powder day, what did we do? Have an early night and watch some vids? Game of scrabble? Nope, we ate loads of garlic, cheap wine, beers and a bottle of Absolut for Dessert Derby, got Fancy That on and headed out for a massive one. Got absolutely ridiculous out there, every type of shot known to mankind, pretty much out-done on Fancy That by loads of uni kids (fine, at least they're still farming it out, we're heading for retirement). I seem to have ended up wearing nothing but my wig and a bum bag. Not good. Must've baled out at some point and locked myself in the room, leaving the others banging on the door for an hour before I finally answered it in my pants. [Edit: have been advised of what actually happened here] Jet Black, pushes Sloth, who immediately turns into Big B and chucks a boatil at him. Jet Black comes windmilling in, nails Big B, the two of them get broken apart before passing out till the morning. Did anyone mention The Boys Are Back in Town?
Day 3: Why did we do that?
Open up the curtains, around 20cm of fresh so far and still dumping. What state were we in to go riding? No idea at all. Got ourselves out there for 11 or so, trees covered in the white stuff, eyes not working, "You can't fart here, Andrew. We can't sell any lift tickets!" Allegedly we went straight up and through the park, not that we can remember that bit. Me + riding + massive hangover = not good at all, threw up 3 times before getting it together. "That's sick, dude!". Ah yes, there we were riding Areola and John when Mr Good Stuff comes up with a new hangover cure - front flips. Except with no idea how to actually do them. Genius. Mr Jamroll follows straight in, no kissing, both of them landing on head/neck. With this much pow though it just doesn't matter. Big white-out came in later, myself and the Good Stuff finishing off with a bit of ice-blasting to the face while knee deep in poudre. Bed by 10pm. Check that out.
Read on in Part Two
I don't wanna see any of this Jackie Chan bollocks - I wanna see some windmilling in, and if you've got a set of keys on you, stick them in your hand and make them count!