SKI TRIP 2016

After a hectic lent term, 47 Sedbergh Prep parents and children met at Manchester Airport on Saturday 26th of March, to embark on a family ski trip to Bormio, Italy. Bormio is a thermal spa town about 3hours north from Milan airport – up past Lake Como, and through some incredibly long sub-alp-terrain tunnels, to the town – which is nestled very close to the SE Swiss border. On first impression, the hotel was very pleasant, and supper awaited us upon arrival after our long trip.

The lack of snow in the town did cause somewhat of a nervous tingle amongst us all…Day 1 saw us all rise bright and early to consume a gorgeous European cold buffet breakfast, and then we walked 10minutes through the Lombardy town, to the base of the Gondola. The sky was blue and there was not a cloud to be seen.

The cable car took us up to Bormio2000, and the main hub of the resort (ski hire, ski school and restaurants). The short ride was peaceful, scenic, and saw us rise from “NO SNOW” to “PLENTY SNOW”. The grown-ups all sighed in relief at the sight of lots of the white stuff. Boot and ski fitting was manic, but everyone managed to get kitted up, and out on the slopes for a little after 9am, to begin their first ski-lesson of the week. Ski Lessons each day were from 9-11am and 1-3pm. The first lunch saw us consume our first real Italian pasta dish of Lasagna, which, for the grown-ups was washed down very nicely with a cheeky jug of red wine, compliments of the restaurant owner…who we all grew to like very much as the week progressed.

All was going skiingly well on the first day as we all found our ski legs (some for the first time, some not for a very long time). As we all returned from the slopes, many of us had a quick turnaround, and ventured up into Bormio Town Centre, to the thermal pool – which had a lazy river, Jacuzzi beds, a water slide, an outdoor swimming area….and an adults only thermarium (that none of us visited!). Returning then to the hotel for our first proper evening meal, we were greeted with our second Italian bonafide pasta dish….Lasagna. (to a whole variety of giggles and snorts!)

As the days progressed, the children impressed us with their tireless ski endeavours – often skiing during the lunch break, and after their ski lessons – most days achieving 6 hours of slope time. As you can imagine, the evenings were quiet (ish), as parents and children alike sought refuge in their beds to recharge their batteries ready for the next day of action.The sun shone 5 out of the 6 days – and we enjoyed clear cloudless blue skies for 4 of the 6 days. We relished a piste-side pizza on day 3, and delighted in a visit to a pizza restaurant in town on day 4. Day 5 saw Mrs. Carnochan show the children how to boogie on down at the town disco, and Day 6 we had our very own Sedbergh Prep Slalom race, followed by Medal Ceremony back at the hotel in the evening.

This saw a fitting end to the holiday, before packing and making the return trip from Sunny Italy to a rainy and grey Manchester Airport. When we started to write this report, we both wrote down words that summed up the holiday for us. Erica wrote “Snowy, Gondola, Sunny, Top of the World, Bormio Therme, Great Views, Helmet head hair and Pizza”. I wrote “Blue Sky, Sun, Panda Eyes, Chapped Lips, empty slopes, chairlift chats, new friends, meat&cheese platter, red wine in jugs….and Amaretto”.

I hope those words, and the brief “ski report” of our memories, gives you a taste of the wonderful experience we had in Bormio. As our first extended venture with the school, and only just being at Casterton for a year, we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone on the ski-trip for welcoming us to the Sedbergh Prep family. It was very memorable holiday, and just…..lovely. We can’t wait to go again next year.

Erica, Y6 and Nicole (Erica’s Mum)