Ski Trip 2023
Published by Davenies on Wednesday 19th of April 2023
The much anticipated return of our biennial Ski Trip saw a tour party of 45 excited boys in Years 6–8, accompanied by five equally enthusiastic staff, depart for Austria at the start of the Easter Holiday.
After an early start flying from Heathrow, the boys settled into new routines, navigated personal organisation, kit hire, and dormitory dynamics in our well-equipped hotel. The Ziller Valley provided a picturesque backdrop to an outstanding 5 days on snow, with all boys from complete novices, to seasoned accomplished skiers being challenged and improving their skills throughout the week. Kaltenbach and Mayrhofen were the resorts the group skied on throughout the week, with picture post card landscapes, and ample slopes of suitably varying difficulties for boys to work through, and develop as skiers. Benefitting from small groups with encouraging instructors, boys covered miles across a range of runs from snow ploughing on the nursery slopes to carving in control on blacks; it was a joy to see everyone progress outside of their comfort zone and return each evening with tales of triumphs, alongside a fair few ‘epic’ tumbles, not least from Mr Fryer.
New friendships across year groups were formed as boys enjoyed the opportunity to mix outside of their usual social circles. Our older boys demonstrated their leadership and care for the younger boys, whilst the younger members of our group grew in confidence and independence. They truly upheld our school motto singulus pro fraternitate laborans. The tour party was sustained by hearty and delicious meals, with lunchtime and evening debriefs between groups sharing their daily activities being enjoyed by all.
Alongside superb ski days, the evening entertainments proved to be equally engaging and inspiring. Activities included the pool with slides, wave machine and whirlpool, team bowling and quiz night with challenges including egg rolling, synchronised balloon popping, and winter Olympic sports charades. The Tyrolean evening was a roaring success, where boys discovered that all challenges could be done to traditional Austrian music. The group were yodelling, sawing, dancing and milking the cow with typical Davenies zeal and passion; indeed the Ski Astons staff were suitably awed by their passion and team spirit!
Blessed with near perfect ski conditions, made the early morning get ups worthwhile, with boys enjoying fresh powder and blue skies. The boys remained good humoured, resilient, and embodied the Davenies Code in their actions throughout the week. It was a joy to see them grow as individuals, and as a community, throughout the trip, where wonderful life-long memories and shared experiences were made.
