DC’s Area 43: Chalet Diary
In Méribel, Wednesday is the day that all the
chalet workers have off. What this means
is that Tuesday night is party night, and it
didn’t take much convincing to head back
up the mountain to party. Stumbling back
to the Chalet at 3am probably wasn’t the
best idea, but dancing all night to UK garage
in a steamy French restaurant seemed like
the perfect way to end my first day in this
incredible resort.
The next morning, I made it up the mountain
for a couple of runs. I decided to take it easy
by sticking to some red runs up a different
lift. Very quickly my body told me I needed
to go back and sit by the fire with a big mug
of tea. Max Jorge, the youngest of the DC
UK riders, and his Dad had arrived and had
filled the chalet with their infectious energy
and excitement for Méribel’s 80th-birthday
celebrations later that night.
The event was mesmerising. Gold and
crimson fireworks like bursting flowers
rained down over the dark skies and
sparkling slopes. Max, Si and Faye hit a
kicker at the bottom section of Méribel
accompanied by a huge group of skiers
holding blue and red lanterns that drifted
down the mountain like fireflies. The
spectacular display coupled with a cosier
rise to minus 5 degrees Celsius urged us
all into town for a night of French wine
and fondue - a personal favourite and
something that everyone should try at least
once in their lives.
My final day of riding in Méribel was met
with an early wake up - today I would be
riding with Max Jorge, Simon Cudlip and
Faye Young. We arrive at the top of Area
43 and even though it was dumping down
at the Chalet, it was blue bird and a warm
minus 2 degrees up the mountain. We
stripped our jackets and did some laps. Max
was out to impress, riding everything in the
park. It was great to see such a young rider
killing it. u
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