Where Have I Been?

My last post about where I'm going this season got me thinking... where am I not going? Where have I been so far?

This season will be the first since I started snowboarding that I haven't been to Chamonix. Chamonix was my first real snowboarding experience; over the last four seasons, including that first time, I've spent either one or two weeks there.

It's kind of a shame because I really like the place, but one of the great things about snowboarding is going to places you've never been to before - travelling and exploring. And besides, I'm not entirely sure that I'm good enough yet to get the most from Chamonix. The best off piste terrain, or at least the areas that I've read about as being good, seem pretty difficult.

This will also be the first season since I started that I haven't driven to at least one mountain resort. Another shame because I really enjoy a good road trip - the plans this season just kept pushing towards the plane. I'm not complaining though!

Actually, there's a pretty cool article in this month's (January) WhiteLines magzine that compares the three main modes of transport for getting to resort: the plane, the car and the train. In the article they use Tignes as the finish line for a race, which reminded me that I wanted to note down our experience of driving there last season...

Anyway, onto the purpose of this post. As I was reflecting on previous trips and how they might compare with what I have planned this season - I thought it would be worth jotting them down:

• January 2003 - 1 week in Chamonix (car)
• March 2004 - 2 weeks in Chamonix (car)
• November 2004 - 1 week in Les Diablerets (plane)
• January 2005 - 1 week in Tignes (coach)
• March 2005 - 2 weeks in Chamonix (car)
• July 2005 - 1 week in Zermatt (plane)
• January 2006 - 1 week in Meribel (plane)
• January 2006 - 1 week in Chamonix (car)
• March 2006 - 2 weeks in Tignes (car)
• June 2006 - 1 week in Les Deux Alpes (plane)

It's probably not much compared to some peoples' experience, but the list doesn't look that short. I wonder how it compares with doing a season?

What about the future? Well, I haven't ridden in Austria yet and there are one or two places there that I'd love to try. The crazy amount of powder to be found in Japan seems like it shouldn't be missed, and I'd really like to visit an American or Canadian resort to find out how they compare with Europe...