We decided on a whim to self-drive to france for a meeting in Paris – so very nearly booked flights – and what a relief as it just happened to be the day iceland’s volcano caused complete havoc in the skies!

We didn’t need to think about limiting ourselves with our luggage and chucked everything randomly into the boot of the car – what bliss not having to squash things into suitcases only to be told we were overweight by some arrogant  airline.

Travelling FlexiPlus with Eurotunnel means you  get  directed down an empty lane for the first available crossing and you get to overtake hundreds of cars sitting waiting obediently for their appointed time. FlexiPlus signposts guide you past the bottle necks and you arrive at the wonderfully empty flexi lounge  exclusive to FlexiPlus clients – where you get to stuff your face with a limitless picnic including wine, wide variety of sandwiches and puddings, fruit, chocolate, crisps – and topped off with complimentary newspapers and comfy sofas.  Quick snooze on the train and you are all set for your journey!

Waking up today to 10 cm of snow and perfect sunshine looking out over Whistler Creek from my cosy condo as The First Tracks Lodge, what better start to a day can you have?  Excitement was building at the sheer thought that we were going to be watchng the ladies’ downhill in just an hour and a half – and the whole resort was buzzing!   Sitting on a chairlift on the way up  Whistler mountain the snow was positively glistening and we were regailed with stories of bears hibernating – Ben  Ayling, our very own ErnaLowian turned Whistler-owian – spending his winters out in Whistler and summers in New Zealand – was taking us to a secret spot where only a handful of skiers could take advantage of a perfect view of the starting podium to the Women’s Downhill – where we would catch a glimpse of Britain’s own Chemmy Alcott competing against the best athletes in the world.   Leaping out of her hut – second out of 38 skiers down the treacherous slope, she managed a very admirable 13th spot – and just 2.5 seconds behind the American winner!  

Starting gate for the Women's downhill - C'MON CHEMMY!

As I watched the incredible prowess of the female athletes, it struck me again how brilliantly the Canadians have organized the whole event – and I could not stop myself feel more than slightly cross at the negative publicity coming out of the UK about the Olympics – as if some of the journalists had set their story before they had even written it.  Although the death last Friday on the luge was tragic and terrible, one feels that this has fuelled ALL the news to be negative – but if you are actually here on the spot, you experience a Canadian efficiency and hospitality second to none!

Me and my sons enjoying the privileged view

After having watched the downhill, we then spent the whole day floating through powder – silk under your feet, and views to die for!  We were so privileged:  there could have been no more than 500 skiers on Whistler mountain – normally 23,000!   And having explored the nooks and crannies of Whistler, we ended up on Blackcomb – connected by the incredible Peak to Peak gondola – and staring over mountain ranges that stretch up to Alaska ….

Finishing the day on the champagne powder

Many a morning I sit at my desk and feel the inimitable Miss Low peering over my shoulders wondering what is in store for us today.  Tut-tutt!   After 20 plus years of working by her side, I still feel her energy permeating our offices, spurring us on to new and exciting adventures.  Never have I thought of her more, though, than over these past few weeks after a decision to personally invest in the newly launched Consensio Holidays! 

Erna Low on the slopes back in the 1930s

Erna would have loved what the founders, Ceri Tinley and Stuart Pinnell, are doing to launch this new co-operative chalet business — she prized smart, dynamic people sharing new ideas and business models.   Thanks to Ceri and Stuart’s wealth of experience in the ski and hospitality industry, they have managed to secure the most luxurious chalets in the Alps and are launching a business that will allow chalet owners to have the pick of the weeks they want AND share the benefits of increased chalet occupancy.  In the past, chalet owners would have just received a flat season rental with no uplift on successful occupancy.  With Consensio Holiday’s model, they will enjoy the rewards of ownership on a profit-sharing basis, lowering their risk in recessions like this and increasing their gains in better times.  And this can only be good for the quality of enjoyment of the consumer, where everyone benefits!

I’m struck by how this parallels another part of our business we focussed on this summer – which is working on behalf of the owners at the Residence Aiglon at Morzine by re-creating a model that empowers the owners themselves, rather than the management company.  When the owners of the Aiglon (including my husband and I!) woke up with a jilt one morning last March to find that its management company had spectacularly gone into liquidation, we were left stranded with no rental return to pay our massively spiralling mortgage.   So we quickly created a new owners-controlled company to run the building and take charge of the rentals – see www.aiglonmorzine.com   It has been a massive few months re-structuring and founding our own jointly shared owners company for Morzine but we are proud of what we have achieved – and bookings are pouring in, with all the upside set to go to the owners themselves!

So while I rummage through my buzzing inbox (with Erna peeking in), I can’t help feeling proud of the fact that we breathe her trailblazing principles in to every new adventure we take.

Have your own peek at  Consensio Holidays and let us know what you think!

Joanna

To see the full story and other ski news, videos, blogs and pictures take a look at www.planetski.eu.