So woke up this morning with great hopes of getting some fresh snow on the Glacier this morning but it wasn't to be! They have closed the ski area due to problems with the T bar lift which was playing up yesterday which is a real gutter for the campers as its the last day for a few of them today. We had big plans for the guys today and I know a lot of them had tricks they wanted to nail and had it all planned. Its really annoying as there is nothing we can do about it and you can't blame anyone although I always feel the guilty one when i have to tell the campers at breakfast that its closed! Anyway, I have loads planned for them today including a big football tournament later. The sun is now coming out too so it will be a nice day in the village to hangout and do some trampoline training too. Tomorrow is transfer day and the start to out last week of the British Freeski camps. Can't believe how fast this month has gone and don't really want it to end as its been such a great summer over here. Well I guess thats about it for now.

Thanks for reading.

Pat

Todays photo is of Sam Allen that you might have seen on facebook. This was his attempt at a backflip that went a bit wrong but I have to say, Sam gives it 101% all the time and has been going for it on the camps this year, literally! He's also one of the UKs top alpine racers.

Yes, thats right! It's snowing and were in the middle of summer! When I looked out of the window this morning it was raining hard in the village and looked pretty cloudy up on the top peeks of the Glacier but when we got to the top it was snowing and there was already a good couple of inches sprinkled on the pistes. The visability was still fairly poor but started getting better after a while. A lot of the campers were up for a bit of freeskiing while some of the guys hit the rails. After a while the cloud lifted and it was perfect winter conditions and it was great to cruise around the mountain. Woodsy had a bit of bad luck today and smashed into what I call a death cookie which is a solid bit of ice lumpy snow and hurt his ankle but fingers crossed it's not too bad and he might be back on his skis tomorrow. And Monty who has been training with us all summer and who is an awesome little skier had a big crash in the pipe so Vanessa took him to the doctors to get him checked out but he's totally fine and back running around the hotel causing trouble! So we carried on lapping the park once the light got better but in the end they had to close the mountain early as the wind got stronger and the T bar lift was struggling so I guess its been a bit of a strange day. Big respect to the campers who did stay on the mountain with us. A few of them did leave early today as they weren't digging the weather but you have to remember, even though it's summer we are still in the mountains and you have to be able to deal with what the conditions are thrown at you. It was colder and windier than normal but the snow was at it's best and to me thats what counts the most when skiing! S we have swimming for afternoon activities and then a bit of trampolining to finish the day off with. Going to have a super early night to night and watch some 24. Had a great night with my buddies last night and Andy cooked us a wicked dinner. We also finally got to watch the episode of Top Gear which was amazing. Loved the part with Ayrton Senna. Legend!

Thanks for reading.

Pat

So today is the rest day for the British Freeski campers and coaches but a lot of the guys have headed up the mountain because the conditions are so amazing! For the last 2 days we have had a sprinkle of fresh snow each morning with cooler temperatures so the snow has stayed firmer than normal and the park has been shaped really well. We have had a bit of unwanted cloud appearing over us now and again but apart from that it has been pretty much perfect! All the campers have been going for it as always and after hearing a few stories this morning, it sounds like some of them have been going for it in the evenings too! It's just cool to see everyone having fun and making the most of everything over here in Saas. So I have decided to catch up on some emails and phone calls today as im so behind on work etc but I have managed to get a fair bit done so thought i would have a little break and write this blog. Vanessa and me went out last night with Paddy, Andy, Josh Birch, Warren and Melody and had a good laugh. I was feeling pretty tired but after I had finished room checks and making sure all the kids were all settled in their rooms which they weren't I decided we deserved to go out for a drink. Nothing too crazy and we were back to the hotel for midnight but Paddy and Andy seemed to make up for me being lame. Tonight were off to Paddy, Andy, Dave and Woodsy apartment for dinner and to watch the episode of top gear which we still haven't seen yet! Woodsy is on the mountain today and skiing for himself along with Hector Barbour who I have to say is one of the most awesome guys you could meet and super talented skier! Looking forward to hearing what they have been throwing down all day.

Thank thats about it for now. Checkout the photo I took on the mountain yesterday with the cloud. Think it looks pretty cool.

Thanks for reading.

Pat

It's not often you get your name on the same credits as 2 of the biggest movie stars on the planet. Here is a photo of the credits from Sundays Top Gear which had my very little car chase scene with Richard Hammond. Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz were just amazing on the show and I thought they came across so well in their interview! This is my new claim to fame.

Thanks for reading.

Pat

I know I haven't blogged since last Thursday but things have been all go and super hectic but everything is good. So we started week 3 on Saturday and once again we have an amazing bunch of campers. We also have a few guys who are doing the whole 4 weeks this summer who have been just ace and really added to the great atmosphere of the camps. Every day has been an action packed day filled with hard training followed by loads of activities and trampolining and not forgetting the odd party.

So the Top Gear episode im on was finally shown last night and Ive heard it has been a big hit! Ive still not seen it all yet as we can't get it over here although Paddy is getting us it tomorrow which will be cool. My friend Ang did forward me over my little part which I thought looked cool. Shame we didn't get as much footage in as attended but It doesn't really matter as Im just stoked to be part of such a big show and it couldn't have really been any bigger as they had Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz staring in it also. Katie and Molly Summerhayes sent me a photo of the credits from the show and it was so cool to see mine and Scotts names next to Tom and Cameron's! Vanessa and me had such an incredible day at the Top Gear studio on Thursday and it was amazing to see how it all works. It was also a massive shock to the system when we saw Tom Cruise and cameron Diaz who I thought came across wicked!

So anyway, back to the British Freeski camps gossip. Things are super cool. Today we had a bit of fresh snow on the mountain but it was slightly over cast but the campers were going for it. It ended with a big group session at the bottom of the pipe again where everyone was trying back flips, flat spins and 3s and 5s. Cal Sandieson landed his first flat 5 which was cool and Henry Burrows nearly stomped his cork 7s. Also, it was cool to see so many of our guys go for their first back flips and a lot of them stomped them. There was of course a lot of crashes but it was just great to see the guys trying so hard. We also have Josh Fawcett back here with us now which is great as he's always super stoked to be skiing and he was getting his form back in the halfpipe. Other shout outs go to Kelly Odonnell who was almost getting her rodeo's and 14 year old Coomba from Poland who has finally nailed his 3s.

Think I will leave it there for today but just to let you know, we still have 1 more week of camps after this week so if your up for skiing one of the best Glaciers in Europe and learning some new tricks while having loads of fun, then please come along.

Thanks for reading.

Pat

Sorry i have been a bit slack with the blogs over the last few days. I really haven't had a spare minute to do anything as I have been super busy. This is our busiest camp we have ever had and I have so much to do and sort out. Yesterday was a good day but we did have our first big injury of the camp. Richard who was skiing in Dave's group broke his leg which was really unlucky as he had been doing so well and were really gutted for him. He's still got a smile on his face and going to hangout in Saas for the rest of the week which is cool.

Everyone else is doing really well and the standard of riding in Saas this week has been off the hook! Tyler Harding was throwing down 12s while Katie Summerhayes was working on her big 720 nose grabs on the big kickers. Other mentions are to Rowan Cheshire who was going huge in the pipe today and also getting some nice 720s on the jumps and Chris Wadsworth who has been stepping it up with bio 9s. Its also been great to see new people who we haven't skied with before. 14 year old Anna from Scotland has been turning heads with her skills. She has a lot of natural talent and isn't afraid to go for it with the big tricks. Also from Scotland is young Harris Booth who has learnt everything back on his home slope of Hill end and is now getting all his tricks on the bigger jumps here. I could go on and on about so many of the campers but I guess I have to stop somewhere. The atmosphere today on the mountain was amazing and there was loads of energy from the campers and coaches. We even did some mogul skiing on some rut lines that have been made which were pretty big. I still really enjoy skiing the bumps and I think even the kids enjoyed them today too. We have trampoline training later on today and we were going to play football but I have decided it might be better everyone chills out as everyone is looking pretty tired as they all worked super hard. Our rest day is supposed to be tomorrow but as I have to fly back to England on Thursday for a few hours (Will explain more later) we have moved rest day to Thursday. The weather looks good all week so the mountain should be open all week which is awesome news for us.

Thanks for reading.

Pat

Today was a great but tiring day for me. We didn't get back to our hotel in Saas until 1.30am after which was a long and exhausting journey back and I had to be up again at 6.30am to start arranging lift passes and sorting out our new campers. This is one of the busiest weeks we have ever had on the British Freeski camps and some days can take more organising than others. Once we were up the mountain it was great and the conditions were awesome! The snow was much more solid than it has been and the park was in great shape. We arranged the campers into their groups which we had 5 of this week with Paddy, Woodsy, Dave, Andy and myself coaching. Once again we have a huge range of ages and standards here and everyone is bonding really well. As it was the first day, we were pretty easy with the guys and just got them used to the park and altitude. It was crazy golf for afternoon activities and 2 sessions of trampolining.

So super early night for me now as im shattered and can hardly keep my eyes open. Also the internet has gone down in the hotel so maybe will have to post the blog tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

Pat

Not feeling the best this morning I have to say. Our friends Kate and James wedding went off with a bang yesterday and had such a great time as loads of our close mates were there but im feeling the pain today! I think it's worse knowing that I have a mission of a day to get through too. So at this moment im in Lytham and after we pop round to say hello to a couple of friends and my cousins were on our way back to Manchester to get a flight back to Geneva. Then the hard bit is driving the 3 hours back to Saas Fee from there. Today is a big transfer day for out new campers too as we have a super busy week a head which im really looking forward to. I spoke to Dave last night and he said that they had a awesome rail battle on the back yard jib against the Dim camp guys. Our team won apparently which is good after we got our asses kicked at football by them! There was also a BBQ and party which im sure was great too and a good way to finish the week off.

So today was supposed to be the Saas fee ride big air but it was cancelled due to the snow conditions been too slushy and the shapers not been able to build a big enough jump. Real shame as I know there was so many people want to compete in it. So this week we have a few familiar faces out in Saas like the Summerhayes girls, Henry Burrows who has been coming out for years, little Haydyn who you always see ripping it up around the uk scene and many more. Really looking forward to getting on the mountain tomorrow and back to the fresh mountain air.

Thats about all the gossip for now. I will be back with proper Saas fee updates later when I get back. Until then, congrats to Kate and James and thanks for a awesome day at your wedding and to my friends who partying the night away with us. Sorry if I did anything wrong or stupid.

There was a photo booth a the wedding yesterday like the one Vanessa and me had at our wedding. Check out the pic.

Thanks for reading.

Pat

PS - Also congrats to Woodsy and Sandwich girl.

So yesterday Vanessa and me flew back to England as we have a friends wedding today in Lytham St annes where Vanessa and me got married. I always love coming back here and im sure we will end up living here soon but the weather is pretty bad and I feel sorry for my friends who are getting married today as we had perfect sunshine on our big day. Actually, as I have been writing that the sun has just started to come out. Awesome, fingers crossed it will stay like that. Im sure its going to be wicked day anyway as loads of my friends and family are going too and I can see tonight getting pretty crazy. On the other hand, im missing Saas fee already as it feels like home in the summer and I was having such a great time last week. The mountain is back open today and its the last day of week 1. I have still been getting phone calls every 5 mins to ask me questions about the camps so Im still managing to work while back here I guess. Dave and Andy are doing the British Freeski camps welcome speech tomorrow night as I wont be back in time so if anyone reading this blog who will be there for it, please video it because I think its going to be well interesting! I have written them a script to help but even so, it will still be funny.

So I guess I better get my suit on. Just bought a new shirt and tie and a belt so all set. Didn't know what photo to add with this blog so I thought I would put up a picture of my buddy's who will be working hard all day while im drinking champagne.

Thanks for reading and will be back with the Saas fee blogs tomorrow.

Pat

I woke up really early this morning as I had loads to get sorted before I went up the mountain and when I looked out of the window it looked another perfect day with just a little bit of cloud and a nice cool breeze. So thats why I was so shocked to find out the mountain was closed today. The reason was that it was too windy at the top of the glacier and that there was a cloud hanging over the top which stopped it freezing. Its always really hard for me to tell the campers its closed as I can see the look of disappointment on their faces but you have to understand that this can happen in the mountains and the resort never close the mountain without a good reason. I have loads planned for the campers today so they wont get bored. The plan of action is to do some video analysis, trampolining, and then the adventure park which has the huge zip wire at the end of the gorge which everyone loves to do.

So last night we played the Dim camp coaches at football where there was a massive turn out of Dutch supporters to cheer them on and we only had Vanessa as our 1 fan. I have to say, it was so much fun with a great atmosphere and even though we were no where as prepared for the match as the Dim camp guys, we did ok. Playing for the British freeski camps was Andy, Dave, Woodsy, Nathan Connelly, Sam Tomlinson, Pete Speight, Steph and Jordan from the academy, Josh birch and myself.

The end score was - DIM CAMP( 5). BRITISH FREESKI CAMP (3)

So im flying back to Manchester later today. can't say im looking forward to the drive back to Geneva airport buy at least were only live 10mins away from Manchester airport. Gutted I can't coach my group tomorrow as they have been amazing and I was looking forward to finishing today off on a high. Not sure if the Saas fee ride will happen now too as today was the day they were going to build the jump for the comp and as the glacier hasn't frozen, they wont be able to use the piste basher to build it as it would just sink into the slush but fingers crossed they will get it sorted as I know everyone is looking forward to it.

Thanks for reading.

Pat