Totally Dehydro

As you probably know the snow has been rubbish this season. We get a dump for three days, which is great but in less than a week’s time it’s compact and death trap icy again.
I’d planned a nice day riding by myself. Packed my little bag with tunes, water, mountain snacks and headed of with a massive grin. Blasted down a few greens for a warm up. Headed over to Tignes hit some blues then finished on relaxed reds. The run into La Daille is the first way down the mountain you come to on the way back from Tignes. The only problem with that side of the mountain is its in shadow all day mixed with lack of snow. It’s ok though, I knew there was a blue that should be ok.
Headed off. The first bit wasn’t too bad, came through the tunnel which you have to slam a hard left or you fly full speed into a solid ice wall. After that it all went horribly wrong. The piste was actually shining blue with ice. I looked ahead at a sea of bodies. Not only were people not able to stand up they were actually sliding uncontrollably down the slope on what ever part of there body met the ice first.
SHIT. Was my only thought.
Well, gota do it when your half way down the mountain. Slid the whole way down thinking once I’m past this it’s just the blue the rest of the way. Hmmm? Turned the corner to see the massive sign saying the blue was closed. Ok.
Again started down it fell, fell again, fell some more. Stopped to try to gather my thoughts. As I was sitting there with my tunes on I heard a faint screeching. Turned around to see a lady sliding sideways towards me. Realising if she hit me we’d both not stop till the bottom. I tired to dig the edge of my board into the ice. Think there was about 1mm holding me onto the slope. She came to a stop at which point we both sat there  “What the hell do we do now?”. Thankfully her mates arrived. They fenced her in with their ski poles after loads of heart in throat pants full of poo moments we managed to get to the side and free. It was the longest 20 minutes of my life. We actually kissed the ground when we made it to the bottom.