The coach departed and travelled via the channel tunnel to France. The route to the Alps was via Riems and Lyon. Arrival at the resort was scheduled for midday leaving a comfortable time for rest to be achieved. On arrival at the Hostel we were able to unload luggage and were then asked to go into the resort of Val Thorens to allow the out going party to disperse

The evening was taken up with kit issues and preparation for the start of the activities the following day.On the first day beginners were grouped on the green run. The lift systems were not operating until hrs 0930 and it was the intention to complete all the walking and climbing on skies early and to introduce the snow plough brake and glide. The De Lac chair lift allows access to the green circuit where instruction was to take place.

All members of the group developed quickly and with the prelims over by 0930hrs the re mainder of the better skiers assisted in getting th e beginners onto and off the chair lift. Clearly once the groups were up the mountain the basic instruction progressed rapidly with a confident controlled decent by the lunch break.

By the end of the day all exercise member were allocated a group dependant on ability. The language barrier was not an issue as some of the groups contain Scandinavian and other Europeans who conversed in English.

Monday proved to be a gloriously sunny day and as some of the initial altitude shock had subsided there was an après meeting at the local Swedish bar at the top of the resort. All French instructors in attendance it proved to be a fun gathering for all. The evening meal timings are set for 1930 hrs, giving some latitude for a few beers.The French instructors were able to take the better skiers off into the

more remote areas of the resort whilst exercising the correct safety procedures. A back run of the top of the Cime de Caron takes you out along the boundary with Les Menuires passing some significant and useful training areas. Slab avalanches and the s pring point avalanches were available for viewing and the snow rouse block technique was also explained. This experience proved to be most valuable and allowed the advanced groups not only the exposure to the effects of a snow slide but also to appreciate the vulnerability of relatively insign ificant snow holdings exposed to the spring sun.

The following morning presented some changeable conditions with an increase in wind speed and the prominent high cloud forming from a northerly direction. Mont blanc had the cloud starting to accumulate at its peak and we were reliably informed that the weather was changing. The top groups were developing advanced techniques and were all clearly able to ski with much more style speed and control. Edge control and carving became the buzz word.

Saturday morning was the day of the assessment and true to form 60 centimetres of fresh snow had fallen and was still falling.

The lifts were delayed as the resort was cleared from avalanche danger. The slopes had not been groomed and the fresh powder allowed the soldiers to experience a different type of skiing. Undeterred the assessment was conducted in 4 stages with each group arriving at a pre determined time.

It was most evident that the instruction throughout the week had been superb. Although visibility from the knee down was impossible during the assessment the skiers and more importantly the beginners were able to present the demonstrations in a good manner. This was underpinned by some excellent free ski runs by the beginners. Whilst some of the groups had completed the silver assessment in the past all were re assessed on the day at the basic ski proficiency and all passed.