Austrian Ski-ing Holiday 1968-69
- from Phoenix 69 [undated - assumed post-October 1969]

Our party assembled at Victoria station on the afternoon of Saturday, 27th December and boarded the train to Dover. There we embarked on a Channel steamer for Calais, later diverted to Boulogne due to the rough conditions in mid-Channel. We travelled with an organization called the 'School Travel service' which books travel to and accommodation at various ski-ing resorts for school parties. Boarding couchettes at Boulogne, we prepared for the long journey through the night. Travelling through Switzerland was spectacular, the train emerging from tunnels through the Alps to overlook villages deep in the valleys below. Eventually we arrived at Innsbruck where we boarded a fast train to Worgl, thence to the village of Leukental by coach.

After an evening meal, we were fitted with skis, ski-sticks, and ski-boots. although one lower sixth former was of the opinion that some were fitted with the latter better than Others'. However, he limped bravely around for the week.

The next morning we met our ski-instructress, Evi ICecht, who was the daughter of the head ski-instructor and was found to be, to everyone's surprise, only sixteen years old. We began our lessons with zeal matched only by our initial incompetence, but we soon made progress and found ourselves braving the hazardous journey by ski-lift to the higher slopes. Perhaps I should stress here that this 'ski-lift' has no chairs, but could better be described as a 'ski-tow', its operation involving pairs of ski-ers grasping a length of wood behind them to be hauled up Steep slopes with their skis resting on the ground. The highlights of the holiday were to be caused by this apparatus, as when Mr. Arm succeeded, by a miracle of precision balance, to avoid a head-on collision with a heap of bodies in his path, only to be tripped at the last moment by a ski which caught him on the ankles. He thus joined the small group left behind by the ski-lift.

Conditions for ski-ing were generally good except on the day of our skl-ing test, when a lot of soft, freshly-fallen snow lay around making it difficult to see ones skis let alone control them well. However, we all passed the test, based mainly on our previous progress, with a grade four or grade three, the latter being a higher grade We thought it best to leave grade one test for another year.

We celebrated the New Year with traditional fervour, eventually retiring at 3.00.a.m. It was no surprise, therefore, that ski-ing the next morning was not so enjoyable as usual. Other points worthy of mention must include the participation of most of our group in a talent competition, singing a well-known song were of the unanimous opinion that we deserved first prize for our efforts, and attribute our utter failure to make any impression on the judges to their being bribed by Inferior contestants.

The holiday, as I hope I have shown, was eventful. Even on the last day, when we rose at 6.00.a.m. and arrived at the hotel for breakfast, we found it locked After a hurried meal obtained only through nearly breaking down the door to attract attention, we left for souvenir shopping in Innsbruck We departed by train at 4.3 0.p.m. travelling overnight to arrive at Calais at 8.10 a.m. for breakfast. It was a contrast to see grass in France after the great blankets of snow in Austria and Switzerland. From Calais to Folkestone by boat, and by train to Victoria at 4.00p.m. were the final stages of the return Journey.

I believe it was a very successful holiday, due greatly to the efficient organization on the part of Mr. 1,rm, to whom we all owe our great appreciation.

Peter Durrans LV1 (i).