Bulgaria Ski discussion board

It was the coldest week in a very, very long time - the gondola opened on Sunday, then closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...

A good flight from Gatwick and we arrived on Saturday night at about 8.30pm, dumped our stuff at the Iglika and went straight around to White Magic where we got a lovely greeting from Christo.

Sunday was ski school - got up early, got our ski packs from the reps and then went in search of Tosh - found him and got him as my ski instructor for the week. It was a beginners class, but I was an "advanced beginner" - needed to get the ski legs back first before going into an intermediate class. We spent the first day on the Rila slopes just doing the basics - and in the afternoon we were already on the drag lift there - no longer side stepping up the slopes.

On Monday morning, we went to the steeper nursery slopes over the other side and spent the morning there, and in the afternoon, the group took the Sitnayakovo chair lift and did the 6km run. I didn't join in with this.... too scared.... spent the afternoon at White Magic instead. Monday evening was the Borovets Meet in White Magic. There were about 100 people there - we played the first cut of the SkiDVD Borovets DVD and lots of people were enquiring about it. Thank's to Banknote for sponsoring some of the evening - drinks went down very well.

Tuesday the group were back on the Sitnayakovo run - but did a couple of practices on the small drag lift at the top there first. I decided to try the blades on Tuesday - I'm not a blades person I've decided - I'm glad I only rented them for the week and not bought them. Came down on the chair lift and joined the group at the end of the run. Did the Inghams Pizza and a Quiz night and our team came third.

Wednesday - missed the group so checked the e-mails, went to lunch at White Magic and got convinced by Footfixer (Bananaman) and Debbie to go on the Sitnyakovo 6km with them. Only fell once and that was on a piece of sheet ice where I didn't have the momentum to keep going. I got to the part where it crosses the black run and Footfixer refused to let me take my skis off - I've a new nickname - Sheeeeeeeeet scared of Borovets... It was such a feeling of elation doing it - back to White Magic in the evening...

Thursday - the Gondola was open at last - went up to the top and rather than just do one run on the long drag, we went straight off down to the red run. No falls - great fun. Schussing down the blue though didn't half judder my legs. Spent the whole day up there and it was so nice. Got the skidoo taxi up to the gondola again - it's gone up, it's 5 lev this year!!! In the evening Elaine and I went to Sunny Pizza (opposite Chalet Iskar) and used our voucher from coming third in the quiz evening. Had a really nice meal in there - can recommend it too.

Friday - last day on the slopes and Tosh took us up the Rila 4 man chair. Oh no, that was really scary... Sheeeeeeeeettt scared of Borovets was in her element - I looked at the slope and just thought to myself "gulp" I can't do that - only one tiny fall - actually going out from the blue run out onto the red bit - the sheer steepness of it unnerved me. I lay there in the snow just scared out of my wits. Got down nearly the whole way without incident - got cramp in my legs just before it turns off onto the green so came down on my bum from the red across to the green then skiied the rest of the way down (including across the black and reds)

In the afternoon, we went up the Gondola again and I just pottered around on the baby drag lift - the rest of the group went on the red, but by then, my legs had enough. Did the baby blue about 4 or 5 times but I know when I've had enough. Got the skidoo taxi back up and took some photos.

Flight home was fine - except a 3 hour delay so we didn't get indoors until 2am!!! should have been home by about 10.30pm so am a tad tired today.

Had the best time for ages - I'm slowly getting my confidence and tackling more challenging runs. Met a fantastic group of people and will definitely be going back again - but I'm going to try Arinsal in 2007, just to see the difference.

J

Hi just got back from Boverets last night I was lucky Judith as we were on the other Gatwick flight that was not delayed.

I have mixed feelings regards to the skiing side of things due to having problems with skiing equipment initially. But the social life was good and met some really nice people. Especially one person (he will know who he is) I dont usually give my mobile number out but I hope he gets in touch

You sound like you have a full packed week and yes it was cold !

Happy skiing
Regards
Jenny