Atzmaennig

On Sunday, we tried out a new ski area -- Atzmaennig. I wanted to find a small resort that had some good intermediate runs for the kids, but where I'd also feel comfortable letting the kids ski on their own. This place meets all of our needs! Even better, it is less than a 40 minute drive from our home and very reasonable. All 5 of us skied on a family pass for the day for 97 CHF. You can also buy points for the lifts, making it cost effective to only ski a few runs in the day. The intermediate ski area is serviced by two lifts -- one chair and one t-bar. Sadly, the chair goes slower than the t-bar, but we're lazy and like to relax on the way up, so we took the chair. Plus, it's a lot easier for the snowboarders. There are 6 runs, mostly categorized as red runs which are similar to blue runs in the States. Here, they have 4 colors of runs -- green, blue, red, and black. There are a few trees and powder between the runs so the kids can go off-piste a bit. There's also a restaurant at the top of the mountain that has incredible views. You can take the chair up and down without skiing, so it would even be a place where non-skiers could join us for lunch. All 3 kids followed John wherever he went, and it was quite adorable! I loved the fact that the runs are really well groomed. As much as we loved skiing by ourselves and having the kids in lessons, we realized that we still love to ski as a family. It was fun to see Abbie make a pizza (and, yes, they call a snowplow a pizza over here too!), and head straight down the hill. She usually made it down the hill first. She was going fast enough that I was pressed to keep up with her. By the end of the day, she even looked like she was in control. C.J. looks great, and Brendan has come really far too. By the end of the day, he was less gorilla like on the snowboard and able to stand upright a bit. He really enjoyed getting off the bunny hill and being challenged. Apparently, some of the kids in his lesson group weren't quite as adventurous as he was/is.

We had so much fun that I took the kids again on Tuesday with a friend and her two girls (Abbie's and Brendan's ages). Abbie's highlight was getting to ride the chair by herself with her friends. Brendan learned that if he stayed mostly on trail and C.J. went off trail a bit, they went the same speed. Brendan was also very brave when he got stuck off trail and was able to find his own way out with the help of a stranger. In the past, he would have been upset that he was left behind. My friend was impressed when C.J. offered to ski with the girls after lunch. We ended up staying together, but it just goes to show how responsible my oldest child is getting! It makes a mother proud.

Last night, we went back to the resort a third time. They offer a night skiing/fondue package, and C.J. was dying to try snowboarding under the lights. This time were were on the beginner's hill, and we had to use a button tow. I think it was just as much of a workout going up the hill as it was down! After an hour and a half of skiing, I was wiped. I'm a bit sore today. I finally bought new boots and my feet are getting used to them. They fit better than my old boots, but I'm in a bit of pain the first hour of skiing. I need to figure out how to adjust them better, or return to the shop for help getting them fitted. After that first hour of agony, my feet feel great, so I know there is hope! C.J. again made me proud. Abbie's friend fell and started crying. C.J. immediately stopped, unhooked his board, and went over to her to see if he could help. Gosh, I love that kid! John thought everyone had made a lot of progress just skiing without him on Tuesday.

This weekend, we're heading up to Davos/Klosters to celebrate John's birthday. The kids and I will have skied 5 out of 7 days. John's pretty proud that he went skiing the night before his client press released.

My friend and I agree that Atzmaennig will make a great day trip for us while the kids are at school. We can do a few runs, have lunch overlooking the Alps, and be home in time to meet the school bus.