Wayne O’Fathaigh

For a ski school while others are on beaches, they are already looking to the new season, and months before people have even thought about getting their skis and warm jackets from storage Prime Mountain Sports and their instructors, have started to train on the Titlis glacier in Engelberg. For some the journey is a short walk, or a train ride for others like me, it is a flight from Ireland to Zurich and then the train to Engelberg. Why make this journey for a training day? Well it’s always nice to ski on good early season snow, but even better to do it with such great team mates, and amazing skiers. The start of season team event is a mix of fun, learning and remembering to ski, so the same for the instructors as out guest we will welcome in the season. The day starts with a quick briefing, some nice breakfast treats and the essential coffee before some portraits of the team. Then up to the snow, with a fun warm up, and the team separate to work on different things that will be important, in the new season. Having instructors from, different systems and backgrounds allows us to talk about new ideas or how to make old ones better, or just mixing things in to see what happens. It is a great chance to get used to the alitutde after living at sea level all summer, to meet friends new and old and to focus the mind for the new season. For most the day ends with the traditional, Apres ski activity of a quick, or extended Apero, and stories of the days skiing. For me however, this was not so, I had to run and catch a flight back to Ireland so I could teach on the artificial slopes of the Dublin Mountains the next day. But this is only the first day of the season, there will be plenty of time for Apero, and Apres, in the upcoming season, when I am back in Engelberg in 3 weeks.