The Anton Files... Riding The Storm

Mid-season blues. I’d heard about them, but never actually witnessed them. Four years ago, I did a winter in Kitzbuhel and, yes, the seasonnaires got a bit fed-up, but not at the same time or in numbers.

Fast forward to St Anton, 2010. Bloody hell, it was like a rabble of mentalists had escaped en masse from an asylum.

The full moon probably didn’t help, but – on one particular night out – it seemed that everyone I talked to had lost their mind.

Why? Maybe it’s the demographic. Kitz was more multi-national, but here the spilt is predominantly British/Swedish. The sun does weird shit in Scandinavia and us Brits are probably pre-disposed to gloom.

Then there’s being stuck up a mountain for four months, riding the same runs, going to the same places with the same faces. Doing the same job, smiling for the guests, answering the same questions one million times.

I guess you have to have a pretty high boredom threshold to maintain your enthusiasm.

Being determined not to get sucked under, I turned my attention to new pursuits.

Busting out of town at least once a week helped. Not going out meant I saved cash. Planning a sunshine holiday for the end of the season made me excited. Joining the gym was an incentive for achieving the bikini body required for such a jaunt. And I took up knitting.

A day up the hill with an American boy helped to shake off any stupor. The poor lamb had never seen mountains and I offered to help him learn to ride. He was amped – by the snow, the scenery and the boarding. It made me realise that my office wasn’t too bad after all.

But you don’t have to do it all yourself. Thankfully, the people who organise competitions, events and tours tend to rock up in resort when the going gets tough.

This weekend, it’s the turn of freeride extravaganza The Big Lepowski. Now in its third year, it’s coming to Anton from March 19 to 21 with its most ambitious programme to date.

Billed as a series of workshops and clinics, it features stuff like studying avalanche situations, how to read a freeride map and packing your off-piste bag – as well as all the practical adventures.

What’s more, there are ladies-only workshops, goody bags, parties and a photography contest. It costs 20 bucks and bookings can be made online at http://www.ready2climb.com

That aside, some people are getting excited by starring as extras in a film (allegedly starring Bill Nighy) called Chalet Girl and the sun’s making a much more regular appearance, meaning Rendl Beach (yes, there is a beach here) should be in full swing soon and I can get working on my tan.

Woop! 

www.stantonamarlberg.com