As 2017 draws to a close and you begin the reflecting process of the last year, the generic annual thoughts of “What a year it’s been”, “I can’t wait for this year to be over”, “Bring on 2018” start to run through your head as you judge the year gone by.
Pinch Yourself Chad, It’s Not Real
The voice in my head keeps hitting the repeat button :“did that really happen?”…highlights from 2017 include walking the streets of Ethiopia, flying in a wind tunnel in Norway, surfing tropical Philippines and now this past weekend, snowboarding in the French Alps?
Cheers. To The Best Company
If you’re reading this wondering “ How has this stumpy legged, big headed, questionable hairdo’d South African from the Bluff managed to wangle a year like this?” Well… I won’t tell you because you may steal my thunder in 2018 and I can’t have that happening. 🙂
(This has all happened due to the fact, I work for the most epic adventure travel company in the business. Ticket To Ride!)
A Jammed Packed Year
Although my year was jammed packed with inconceivable adventures, my most recent one to Meribel Mottaret has managed to assume it’s spot on the mantle of “Chad Schwab’s most epic adventure of 2017/life” (Working on title still, don’t knock it!)
Never Touched Snow In My Life
Before this weekend, I had never touched snow…never! I rocked up to the Ticket To Ride Mountain Lodge to more than half a meter of fresh pow, slang for powder for you snow virgins (Freshly fallen snow). It’s always been a dream of mine to build a snowman and have a snowball fight but it’s been an even bigger dream to go snowboarding.
Tickle My Fancy
Growing up as a surfer, taking on the challenge of mastering other board sports has always tickled my fancy. Learning to snowboard has always sat at the pinnacle of those sports. Probably because I never thought it would happen. (Not too many snowboarding opportunities in South Africa.) Together with the freshly fallen chunks of heaven and the opportunity to hit the slopes and roll and play and slay in the white stuff, this weekend’s extravaganza in the Alps was non-stop excitement.
Friends
This weekend would not have been anywhere near as epic without the hooligans I had the pleasure of sharing the mountain with. A team of close friends and colleagues made for an awesome experience, to say the least, as I popped my snow cherry.
Gwil, who I had seen last in the Philippines, and who I had then given surf lessons to returned the favour by teaching me how to snowboard. One of my best mates and SA trip leader, Luke was a key element to the mountain fun, and of course the grumpy Bondy, Head of operations on Ticket To Ride South Africa and friend, had a great time filming Luke and myself spending more time on our backs than on the boards.
Got it!
Took a few hard falls but eventually we were all flying down the side of the mountain, pretty dam clueless to what the hell we were doing, yet facing fear and laying new tracks in, sometimes a meter of fresh powder. I sometimes battle with words, so enough with the typing, here are some pics for you to be jealous over.
Just for some giggles… (Volume up!)