Ski Trip 2005
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Passo Tonale, Italy
As the hour of midnight approached on 1st January 2005 sixty students and six teachers assembled in the recreation hall of St. Eunan’s College waiting to depart for the Alpine region of Northern Italy. With all the bags counted and labelled Mr. Gordon gave the signal for departure, the two busses were fully loaded with the St. Eunan’s ski team and began the journey to Dublin.
Despite a number of small technical difficulties at the check in everyone was checked in and proceeded to departures with plenty of time to spare. Playing cards, watching dvd’s and gameboy’s were the order of the day for amusement as the would be Herman Maiers waited for the flight. Upon arrival in Verona airport we were met by our rep who took us to our waiting coaches for the transfer to the resort. Many were worried that there was no snow to be seen on the ground but the real geographers knew about the Lapse Rate and tried to explain the influence of altitude to the philistines among us. As the coaches inched up the narrow mountain passes having skirted the shores of Lake Garda cheers greeted the first sight of snow on the ground. When we arrived at Passo Tonale the pistes were thronged with skiers and boarders which only raised the excitement levels even more.
Following check in Mr. Gordon and the other teachers began talking into their sleeves once again like they were extras on a Will Smith movie, however the radio communications sped up the ski fit and ensured that everything went with military precision. The first morning is always hectic with everyone jostling for pole position to get their skis however Mr. Doherty, Mr. McDaid, Mr. McCroary, Mr. Devenny and the other Mr. Gordon (James) ensured that there would be an orderly and efficient distribution. Mr. Neil Gordon at this time was still in bed, well no he was organising with Mido the rep where to meet the instructors and trying in vain to get automatic ski passes.
Once into their groups the boys went off like lines of ducks for their first swim on the pond. Two hours later and after some practice before lunch progress was being made rapidly. By the time the first evening came everyone was shattered but excitedly exchanging stories of what had happened that day and how cool this skiing lark was. Most progressed quickly from the green to blue and then red runs, with an assault on the Black the target by the weeks end. A viral infection struck the group on the third day with high temperatures and nausea, despite some falling sick everyone pulled together and ensured that the après ski activities such as bum boarding, tobogganing and the fire works display with outdoor disco still going ahead. As the week progressed the Irish lads began to become European in their tastes with frequent pit stops in the mountain cafes for lattes and hot chocolates. Each and every one in the party showed more than a little improvement in their skiing with some surprising even their instructors with the rapid progress they made.
Leaving the skis and boots back is always a bitter sweet moment for a skier but there were few complaints as everyone had emptied their reserves of energy with the weeks activities. An early morning departure saw the group depart Passo Tonale on the return leg of the journey, and early evening arrival in Letterkenny. The cases were hardly unpacked before the clamour for another week on the pistes began again. Next year the intrepid travellers and piste bashers from St. Eunan’s College will be destined for Switzerland and extra Yodelling classes are starting in September, contact Eilish in the office for details!!
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