especially since i brought in my snowboard for a service a week ago, i've been itching to hit the slopes for the first time this winter season. lucky for me and other winter sports enthusiasts, snow has been falling rather generously in and around the alps of late. i rented a car and drove down to sölden to join my mate axel. even before i got to the slopes my adrenaline was pumping. the roads were pretty icey, and seeing cars up side down next to the roads and firemen trying to free the occupants of the car, made me clutch the steering wheel a tad more than usual...plus the foot on the accelerator got a bit lighter than usual too.

anyway, i arrived safely and as you may have guessed i was as a happy as a clam. conditions couldn't have been any better: few people, icey cold (-14 °C), fresh snow and blue skies. besides all that goodness, it was great to snowboard with my mate axel.