Jet lag and very disturbed sleep aside, our first few days in Pano have been amazing. We have been free to ease back into skiing while everyone else has been taking their Level 1 exams this week. There has been a temperature inversion meaning it has been much clearer and sunnier at the top of the mountain (The Summit) where you can look down on all the clouds. Just stunning!
After a couple of days we decided we had better get warmed up with a few “small” moguls – they always look bigger when you are in them and certainly focus the mind! Mindfulness at its best.
Pano has some incredible long and steep runs, huge amounts of off piste and glades and lots of moguls – some monster ones. It also seems to attract some very talented and fearless skiers and snowboarders.
We have tried the hot spring pools which pump out 40 C degree water – a nice way to rest your legs after a day on the slopes. Very relaxing! The group of kids next to us also provided great entertainment while challenging each other to lie in the snow for 2 minutes or bury their face in the snow. Their antics kept us amused and earned them some holiday spends from their betting parents.
The only part of the whole experience that was similar to my recent sea dips was the pavement on the way back to the changing area, which was at least minus 10 degrees. This felt quite similar on your bare feet on the walk up Laxey Beach after a swim.
Yesterday all the Level 1s got their results and happily everyone was celebrating, apart from one poor snowboarder. Shame. It was a great night out with dinner at the Cliffhanger Restaurant at the golf club followed by lots of beer, shots, jugs etc at the T-bar. Then everyone squeezed into the common room for a party which was like a tiny nightclub dance floor for a little while until other hotel guests started complaining about the noise. At that point we snook off to bed and left the kids to it. It was a fun night and nice to meet everyone. We had already met quite a few of them already but in ski goggles and helmets, sometimes it is hard to tell if it is the same person you met and spoke to the evening before.
We see most of the Winter Sports guys in the “kitchen” and common room. Both of these areas are converted hotel rooms and the “kitchen” has a microwave, one hot ring, a toaster, a kettle and 2 fridges. I think the maximum items that can be used at any time is three, otherwise the electric trips. But it’s ok, by putting the kettle in the bathroom, that seems to be on a different electricity ring, and doesn’t stop the cooking. Suddenly it feels like uni again – trying to find a space in the fridge, hoping your stuff doesn’t go walkabout, trying to time your cooking/hunger to a quiet time etc. Usually people just use this room for breakfast and there is a meal plan to eat out a lot but covid means a few of the restaurants are only doing limited menus (often pizza which Pete is gutted about – not), so the meal package has been refunded and more people are catering for themselves.
And like last time, we are by far the oldest on the course. There are a couple of people in their mid twenties and everyone else is between 18 and 20. Good job we still think we are young at heart !!!!!
