'The wildest week of my Bath Spa experience so far? The Boardsports society trip to Risoul, France wit Wasteland Ski. Being only in second year I’m sure there is a lot more university-styled madness coming my way, but it’s going to take a lot to top the start I had to January 2011. Nursing mammoth hangovers from New Year celebrations, a total of 70 Bath Spa students and friends piled onto coaches from Newton Park Campus on January 1st. After 24 hours of attempted sleep, plenty of The Inbetweeners, and a ferry crossing from Dover to Calais we had arrived at Yetti Hotel, our home amongst the Alps. Rooms were allocated. I would share with 5 others in the largest two-story room, but most rooms were made up of 4 people. We had a kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room and a balcony. Comfy but cramped, or cosy if you’re the positive type. As the week progressed we lost our electricity and hot water. Cold showers? Character building, I say. Popping next door to borrow a plug socket? Good excuse to meet the neighbours.
Greeted by puke from previous occupants in the bathroom sink meant only one thing. It was time to get drinking. After a little unpacking we made our way down to the Yetti bar for welcome drinks. Discounts and free shots? Yes please. There were over 700 students from different universities staying in Risoul thanks to Wasteland Ski, most of them packed in the Yetti bar, and good looking Wasteland reps a plenty. Our own Bath Spa reps were Tom and Jonny. As
one of them grabbed my head and started pouring free shots into my mouth I knew this was going to be a week to get social.
The next day, after a wait for skis, boots and boards at Ski-Set, it was time to hit the slopes. For beginners, skiing and boarding lessons with ESF were on offer from 2 o’ clock each day. Those with more experience went off to make the most of the slopes. For the majority of the week the weather was sunny and clear, with two days of snowfall in the mix bringing fresh powder. I don’t think we could have expected better conditions.
There was Risoul to explore and Vars, the neighbouring resort, a little further afield. There was a range of pistes to at- tempt in Risoul, a highlight being the natural half pipe. In Vars there were more open plains and off-piste runs to try. Snowball fights, photo stops, heated discussions over which sport was better (boarding or skiing? Skiing, naturally) and stops for beer, pizza, and some immensely tasty crepes divided the day up between runs. But although the skiing and boarding was amazing, I think most of the memories of this trip will be taken from the nights out.
Besides the welcome party, the first in a series of unforgettable nights out was ‘Wingman night.’ Pick a partner, attach yourself to them and for the rest of the evening go where they go. Drink what they drink. This, followed by an intro- duction to Morgans club, made for some messy results. But not as messy as the following night, however. ‘KY Jelly wrestling.’ Get kitted up in a costume fi t for a wrestler, pick an opponent and fi ght to the death in a paddling pool full of lube. Girl vs girl. Boy vs boy. Boy vs girl. Boy vs chicken (seriously). But most importantly, Bath Spa vs Hull Husskis. Bath Spa won hands down, of course. Clothes and reputations went fl ying as Impact of the Drop played an amazing set and I think it is safe to say everyone had a brilliant night. After showers, everyone headed to Morgans to continue the party and the next morning, nobody’s head was thanking them. Nor was their hair, especially mine, which was only KY Jelly free after three intense scrubbing sessions with washing up liquid.
To follow there was ‘Geeks and Freaks’ night, where people looked like they’d either fallen out of a fetish club, mental asylum or library. Interesting mix. A party on the slopes, starting late afternoon outside of the Anna Perna bar, was next. People arrived in ski gear for a BBQ, Impact DJ set and bum-boarding. Tom and Jonny organised races down the slopes, for those who were willing to get cold. People slid their way to victory as I face planted my way to the bottom. Rounds of drinking games followed before heading to the club once again to fi nish the night. The grand fi nale, ‘Acid Rave night’ involved plenty of glow sticks, boiler suits and visors. People moved between Yetti bar and Anna Perna before moving onto Morgans, where they danced and drank through to the early hours. The night passed in a blur of break dancing sessions and florescent paint.
After a final day of exploring the mountains, we returned everything to Ski-Set, tidied our rooms as best we could and crawled back into the coaches. I could barely keep my eyes open for the entire 24 hour journey home. It seemed I was fi nally crashing after the extreme adrenalin rush that was Risoul 2011. As we approached Newton Park Campus I was overwhelmed with disappointment to be home. For only 300 pounds I had had the best week of my University experience to date. And that’s saying something. Without a doubt I will be going again next year and would encourage everyone to do the same. I’ll see you on the slopes. You’d better be ready.'
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