A large group of pupils swapped snowy conditions in England for even snowier conditions in France during the Easter
holidays on the annual junior ski and snowboarding trip.
Conditions in the resort of Les Menuires in the French Alps were excellent, with fresh snowfall every day, and the M4, U4 and 5th form pupils were able to explore a large area of Les Trois Vallées (The Three Valleys) both on and off-piste.
The beginner's group started tentatively but by day three were doing blue and red runs with consummate ease. Abbie Kellett, Fraser Price, Ed Aves, Kelly Cheung, Chantelle Murphy and Jamie Gleave were all given an Activity reward as a result of their excellent progress.
The intermediate and advanced ski groups also covered vast mileage at pace and with considerable style.
The snowboarders excelled too – so much so that on day three they were allocated the French National U21 snowboarding coach.
They ventured off-piste on a number of occasions and, on the final day, traversed a ridge at 3200m in Val Thorens and sampled some of the best off-piste, deep powder runs to be found in Les Trois Vallées.
Accomplished boarder Harriet Teasdale showed real finesse in her free-ride style, as well as taking on the parks, rails and jumps with aplomb.
Staying at the Hotel Le Skilt, the party enjoyed excellent food and evening activities, including karaoke, Mafia and board games, crepe making and a keenly fought quiz night, and were able to mingle with younger pupils from the Beacon School and an older group of students from Westminster School.
A new and well received part of this year's trip was DEAR (Drop Everything and Read or Drop Everything and Revise) time. Fifth form pupils had daily Maths, English, Chemistry or French revision clinics, while the M4 and U4 members had a quiet hour to read a good book in the hotel lounge.
The trip was organised by Carr Housemaster and DT teacher Mike Day with support from Jim Stephens, Andy Wilson, Steve and Lorraine Hibbitt and Beth Day.
"The pupils behaved very well publicly, were good humoured and their company was much enjoyed by all who encountered them," said Mike Day.