Skiing the Slopes
Year 11 Ski Trip
On Wednesday the 10th of August year 11 departed for Bungarra Alpine Village Jindabyne. The students were very excited! For some this was their first opportunity to see snow and experience skiing and snowboarding in Thredbo Alpine Resort and experience the natural beauty of Mt Kosciuszko National Park. The staff were also very excited too!
After a few stops for morning tea and lunch in Sutton Forest and Cooma and some very loud sing a longs to John Denver Country Road and The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, we arrived at Bungarra and unpacked the bus. It was then down to the gear hire shed to be introduced to hire our gear ready to hit the mountain the next day.
Dinner was next on the agenda, and many of our students were very happy to see chicken schnitzel on the menu! Afterwards we enjoyed some bonding time and more singing in an old train carriage that was converted into a common room with couches, TV and ping pong. Lights out time arrived and everyone was filled with excitement and anticipation ready to hit the snow the following day!
An early morning wake up at 6am was difficult for some, but impressively the boys managed to be ready first, at 5am for some, watching the sunrise with again some old country tunes playing as the sun pierced the horizon over the valley of Jindabyne. After some pancakes and breakfast we loaded the bus ready for a day on the mountain.
Arriving early to Thredbo Alpine Resort gave us the opportunity to head into the village and get some local education on the landscape and indigenous heritage of the land we were about to get so much enjoyment from. Brady our tour leader was invaluable in this regard and lead us then to the Merrits Gondola! For some students and even Miss Preston this was the first time they would be physically in the snow! On the way up it began to snow and the excitement ensued. Many students relished the opportunity and snow balls started to be fired at one another.
After this brief morning exploration it was time for our first lesson on Friday flats. There were many laughs as staff and students began to learn how difficult learning to Ski and Snowboard actually was! As the day rolled on unfortunately the rain started to fall and a blizzard hit on top of the mountain making conditions cold, wet and challenging. This didn’t deter the resilient year 11 students and they continued to practice the basics and improve continuously despite some difficult conditions. The day finished and there were many cold, tired and wet but extremely happy students who couldn’t wait for Friday! Hot showers were in order as well as some nachos, snacks and ping pong and singing!
Students woke on Friday to much nicer conditions and a very busy morning of packing ready for a day at Thredbo. On arrival we had some free time to refine what we had learnt the day before ready for our last lesson and from some a trip up to ski and board some green runs at the Merritt’s chairlift. The sun pierced the sky and clouds parted for an almost blue bird day on the mountain! A great day was had by all and many stories followed on our long and tired bus ride home back to Cecil Hills with some more singing and a bit of footy to entertain us.
Thank you to all of the year 11 students who attended for a wonderful trip! On behalf of Miss Sentic, Miss Preston and I we’d like to thank you all for your singing, sense of humor, resilient attitudes and excellent behaviour! This will be one to remember for everyone involved!
Mr Dunn
PDHPE Teacher & Ski Trip Coorindator