Skiing in Tignes again today. The piste down to Val Claret in Tignes is now open and in Val they have 11 pistes ready to open at the weekend. There is still no new snow – it is keeping us all waiting – but training conditions are excellent at high altitude with the good weather. In recent years the snow has actually come too early – last year was an example. When the snow falls early on there are several fluctuations in the weather that follow until winter really settles in – during which the base becomes very unstable and dangerous for the whole season ahead. Last year caught a lot of people out this way. I felt very uncomfortable with it and severely restricted my adventures for the whole season as a result. Several events during the season confirmed my intuition. The snow will come soon enough – it managed to come in July and August so it will definitely manage now.
Today I was feeling stiff from running and tired from cycling so the skiing would just be focused on coordination and feeling. The great thing about skiing alone is that you can listen to music. I’ve always loved to listen to music when skiing – not “songs” but rhythmic almost “trance” type music. There is a clear connection between the musical centres in the brain and physical movement. Anyone who doubts that needs only to reflect for a moment about “dancing”. Why do music and dance go together? Whenever the weather is really bad then music comes into its own. Normally in a howling blizzard you are focused on all of the negative aspects; cold, bad visibility, getting lost etc. With music playing the whole scene transforms and it’s probably because the music draws your focus back inwards – where you need it to be.
Good read Ian,enjoyed that little insight on skiing and music as well as how the pre season conditions can affect the whole seasons base layers.
Billy