The Uk came to a standstill a few days before Christmas with black ice & eurotunnel melt down. The over-hyped News meant people did not travel & we managed to get to our Grandmothers Funeral in Holland on time. A grand age of 99 years old, the Dutch gave ‘Oma’ a great send off & the bridglets got the chance to meet their Dutch cousins.

The Edge van loaded with Kites from size 3.3mtr- 12mtrs & ski’s, boots, boards, Christmas cake, santa claws gifts, bedding & mattress’s we head south into France on Christmas Eve. The trip to the Col Du Lautaret in the southern alps went well until we hit Grenoble & saw a big sign saying Col du Lautaret– Ferme!!! We check into the Novhotel & get the kids quickly asleep so we can get their stockings filled!!! Strangely enough an early excitable morning after eating the chocolate orange & playing with all the toys we head as far up the mountain for some downhill ski/boarding. We get a call from our good Friend, Christoph who runs the Refuge to say that the Col is open and its windy!!! That night we track up, bridglets crashed out while Eric & I wished we had done a dry run back in the UK with the snow-chains’!!! A superb warm welcome at the Refuge by Christoph who cooks Veal & we drink some well overdue glasses of wine.

 Boxing day & we are all snow kiting at the Col –But its busy, maybe 40 kites & less 15 degree’s. Tom is on his 4mtr & doing kite loops & air pass’s by the end. Guy is tearing around enjoying the freedom. Oliver is working on the air time while Eric & I get the hang of skiing downhill with the kite above your head ( into the wind).

Day 2 we hit ‘Chazelet’ where the ski pass costs 12 euro’s! With 3 drag lifts this place has a superb feel & perfect for us to share the snow kite with some downhill which young Tom wanted to do. Oliver & I tracked up a ropey drag lift & walked across a ridge over to a huge bowl which just looked perfect. We ski down & get to the bottom where we lay the lines out–bosh we are ripping, tearing through powder & just loving the freedom that this sport brings. The wind was increasing and we took the kites as high as we could before packing down & skiing home.

For the rest of the week we have a period of no wind & poor visibility so we pay our fee’s & take the lifts. By New years day the wind is blowing 20knots & we are back enjoying some air time. Oliver cracks the floaty jumps & returns down the mountain in a blizzard saying ‘that was the toughest thing I have ever done! For me, going in the mountains with a kite is a superb feeling and to take the best line up & making a trip is where its at.Snow kitting is definitly best in 4 knots of fun– ideally in March/ April when there is higher temperature’s & longer days. If you go to the Col take your chains & on any given day you will always have a few legends around who make for a fantastic show. The snow kites are all ready for this weeks action in the UK which is looking good for wednesday!!!