VIN CHAUD

Last week the weather was great. Spring was in the air. Too hot actually for the snow conditions on the lower slopes, but great to sit outside with a beer. After a week full of sunshine, today started with clouds and cold wind. Just to remind us that it is still winter season.
A perfect day to make a bit of vin chaud, a spiced warm wine,  and to have it ready when the whole bunch comes back in the afternoon to the chalet for drinks!

source and © manuelafoodandtravel.com

The preparation is very easy. Make sure you make enough! 

Use 1 orange , 20 cloves, 1 bottle red wine, 3 cinnamon sticks, 100g (3 1/2 oz) sugar, 300ml (10 fl oz) cranberry juice, 300ml (10 fl oz) fresh orange juice

Stud the orange with cloves. Put it in a saucepan with the wine and the remaining ingredients and heat the liquid until nearly boiling, then remove it from the heat (be careful not to let it boil). Let the wine stand for 1 to 2 hours so the flavours develop. When you are ready to serve, reheat the wine without boiling it and strain it into a glass. Serves 4 - 6

The recipe comes from the very attractive food and travel book Winter in the Alps, by Manuela Darling-Gansser. The book is a combination of travel experience and recipes, combined with beautiful pictures in  an well thought design. A must read and also a must have. Available directly from Manuelafoodandtravel.com and in paperback format from Amazon.com ( Winter in the Alps: Food by the Fireside)

SPECTACULAR

See how spectacular spectacular can be!

NENDAZ FREERIDE

This weekend the spectacular freeride competation takes place in Nendaz. Snow conditions are great, the weather is sunny and not too windy...
The best view is somewhere on the first part of the piste from Plan du Fou towards Siviez.
Enjoy the spectacular jumps, be happy you are still on your feet and pray a little prayer now and then.

© nendazfreeride.ch

Check http://www.nendazfreeride.ch

SNOWPARK THYON

Last weekend the snowpark of Thyon 2000 was crowded with youngsters, low hanging pants, 'cool' jackets. They performed spectacular during the "GANGS OF THYON".
I quote their website:

"On February 27th and 28th 2010, CentralCamps and Télé-Thyon present the 5th edition of their main event at Central Park in the Thyon Region, THE GANGS OF THYON.

The Thyon Region has always been proud to support freestyle on the mountain.
True to themselves, CentralCamps with the help of Télé-Thyon has found a formula that brings smiles to the faces of riders. Entirely organized with their own time and care, this event will gather over sixty fully invited participants who will fight for the title « Gang of Thyon 10 » in snowboard and in freeski!"

It was really fun to see it all. The T-bar lift Theytaz runs just left of the snowpark. When one was alone on one side of the T, it could easily happen that a snowboarder just stepped alongside half way the lift, and off again just after snowpark.. Life is not that complicated, is it?

No updated video results yet, so enjoy last years video!