Good morning Verbier! Sun coming out and ready to start a ski day. Arrived Monday evening as the sun was setting in rose gold hues on the mountains across the valley. The outbound trip was not as challenging as I had envisioned, once I found the correct balance and positioning for lugging skis and gear through multiple transit changes. The final leg to Verbier is via a teleferique (La Chable).
En route to the hotel, I stopped at Ski Service Center to pick up my electronic lift pass (European ski resorts are much more advanced in using electronic passes..with an active pass, just stand next to the lift entry gate with the pass inside your jacket and access is activated.) They also were able to make the needed adjustment to my bindings so I could head directly to lifts in the morning. No cost for the binding adjustment, just a beer money tip as is customary in Sun Valley.
After an early breakfast, I booted up. My left boot felt pinched in the toes -- unusual as this is the 3rd season for these boots with custom footbeds and form fitted liners. These boots have from the outset had a perfect, comfortable fit. I assumed I could dial in adjustments on the mountain and the interior tension would ease.
I met my mountain guide/instructor at 9:45 in front of the Medran lift center. We were en route up the mountain to Ruinnettes before 10. My guide/instructor, Yaz, is a Scotish lady with 7 years of experience in Verbier. In the off season, Yaz manages her family's sailing charter business in Scotland. She fears Brexit will disrupt her well established seasonal life style. All this personal information was imparted by Yaz before we reached Ruinettes.
At Ruinettes, we did 2 warm up laps via the Mayentzet chair lift and then ascended to La Chaux. At La Chaux, I made a couple of adjustment to my left boot -- slightly eased of the front boot pressure. At La Chaux we did multiple red and black runs (they don't name specific pistes here and a red piste is the equivalent to a blue in the US ) and then further ascended to Col des Gentianes (2950 meters) via the 3 Jumbo teleferique. More left boot adjustments before commenced our long decent back to La Chaux. Videos of new Stockli skis getting some groove below:
When we reached La Chaux, my left toes were screaming for relief after 2 hours of skiing. We took a WC break and a quick coffee on the sun deck. Unwilling to concede my 1st day on the mountain to the final ascent via a teleferique, we skied down.
Yaz help me find a boot fitter. Jack, the boot fitter, quickly diagnosed the issue once my left boot was off. My custom footbed has slipped forward, pressuring my toes into the front of the boot. With the footbed firmly reset, I hobbled back down to my hotel (note, none of my toes were happy in going downhill in ski boots on wet cobble stone).
First ski day done, I had an early dinner a Cafe Chamois -- traditional swiss cuisine. Midway through dinner, a couple sitting next to me, Chris and Arlene from Truckee CA, started a conversation. After helping them with their train schedule to Geneva, we swapped stories of skiing at Squaw Valley and Heavenly, where we agreed the lift lines have become too overcrowded to enjoy skiing.
Early to bed. When I awoke pre-dawn Wens morning, two of my left toes were in full protest over the prospect of residing in a ski boot for the day. My conversation with them, offering Motrin to ameliorate their concerns was not successful. Ultimately I decided the risk of aggravating their condition for the ski season was too great. Thus arose my decision to forgo skiing and an earlier than planned return to Lausanne. I will to return to Verbier in late Feb or early March.. to many great piste here yet to be skied.
Beautiful adventure