Northcote hits the slopes

Mt Hotham Ski Trip

On 13  August at 6:30am a group of half-asleep Northcote High School students ranging in ages and skiing skill levels started the 6-hour coach ride to the much talked about Mt Hotham.  A group of 7 teachers and staff accompanied the 40-something students on the four-day trip.

On the first day as we arrived there was a range of reactions as we saw our first snow on the windy icy roads that lead to Hotham central. With many students not previously having seen snow (or at least not for a long time) and a smaller group of students who, later it seemed, lived at the snow, with their skill levels of both skiing and snowboarding exceeding all our expectations, there was an overall feeling of excitement and apprehension in the bus. We all arrived at the Snow Bird Inn at about lunchtime and quickly got unpacked and settled into what would be our cabins for the next four days. We had our first lessons later that afternoon. We were broken up into groups according to our skill levels and went off with an instructor to finally get to do what we all came there for. The majority of students were snowboarding with a smaller minority of students on skis.

Between the one lesson on the first afternoon and the four more on the next two mornings of our camp, we all progressed enormously in our skill levels and by the last two days were all confidently free skiing down blue and some students and teachers confidently enjoying black runs. All meals were eaten together as one big group and the food (to all of our surprise) was pleasant and nourishing! By the last day we were all exhausted and most fell asleep on the bus ride home so I’m sure it’s fair to say on behalf of everyone who went that we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and created a new highlight of our year.

Note - Thanks to all the teachers and staff involved in planning and coming on this trip!!!

Maia P,  11D