First Ride of the Season!!!!

Another Great snowboard season start in Zermatt!!!

I arrived in Zermatt with my uncle Bernie, who just came back from Canada, after the recent event that shook the canadian side of the Jakob family (see previous post). His plane landed in Geneva, and the train then passing by Lausanne, I jumped in for the rest of the trip to the great Alps.

We arrive at about 12h, and start the week-end by shoveling the snow off the terrasse (Yes, snow in November!!)

Uncle Bernie on the balcony of the Olympia Stubli, resting a bit after a long trip


Then, the next day, I get up early, meet my cousin Jeremy, and get ready for a first ride of the season. The temperature is perfect: no wind, not too cold, no clouds in the sky. We couldn't hope for better.

Sunrise on the Matterhorn


Top of the mountain, 9h in the morning (Klein Matterhorn 3983 meters high)
In pictures:

Jeremy and Me


The Italian Alps

Highest reachable point on the resort, summer skiing peak, with fog over Italy (in the background)

And Video!

Then, the time has come for a first descent, the feeling is sooooo great, I can't believe it! Once again on these mountains, such a great sensation!!!!

We go on the Italian side of the mountain for a couple runs. There is more snow on that side, which makes it more interesting.

In picture:

And Video:




There was some ski testing that day. The professional skiers were going down at crazy speed (almost as fast as me!! hehe)



We go down a bit off-piste, and end-up next to a big glacier filled lagoon, kept full by a huge dam.

We had to cross the dam, and climb on the other side to get back to the slope, what a drag...at least the view was magnificient

We fight our way back to Switzerland, and ride all the way down.
We get back to the Olympia, where I spend the day stacking wood with Bernie.

I took this superb picture, just before the sky turned black


The next day, back on the slopes!!
I go back all the way to the top, and go down again in Italy for some fast riding and slope-jumps!!
Here's a couple pictures of that second perfect day on the mountain, Italian Side.

You can see the slope-bumps, which are perfect to fly out at a crazy speed!!

Going back down in Switzerland, I take those two vids.
Getting started...



...and speeding down...

Going down, some fog in the valley, so nice!

Rest time after a great morning of boarding!!


I get back to the restaurant for a hard wood-cutting'n'splitting afternoon, and then get ready to go back to Lausanne...

A great week-end in Zermatt!!! Once again!!


See you Soon!