Answering the call for a snowboard rescue, braving the elements to aid those in need.
So what happens when your son loses their board and it disappears far down the slopes and across into the middle of a frozen lake? Well plot a snowboard rescue of course. Ed Leigh takes up the story.
It is mid November, the opening day of the season in Verbier and I have just finished building a jump off the side of the piste with my 8 year old son who has side slipped the run in, unstrapped and let go of his snowboard. It is now gently slipping away from us towards a huge partially frozen lake. It hits the ice and skids at an impressive pace more than 100 metres out on the lake.
As a rule I would not even entertain the idea of trying to retrieve something worth £200 from a lethal partially frozen lake. So I enquire about a new board and not wanting to let go completely speak to patrollers and the Verbier lift company about the reality of getting onto the ice. To their credit they go and have a look and then inform me that it has nestled itself over the intake pipe for the snow cannons and the ice will be thinnest there so a rescue is not possible.
Then it comes to me, an idea so cunning and brilliant that Blackadder would be proud. A friend has an inflatable stand up paddleboard, it’s perfect, it will slide across the ice and if the ice breaks it will float!
3 days later I blag my way onto a worker’s lift to Ruinette and from there it’s a 2 hour splitboard up to the top of Attelas. I ride down to Lac des Vaux at 3pm, text my wife and tell her that if I haven’t texted again in 20 minutes she should call the rescue services and start setting up. I strip down to my thermals so if I do go in I won’t sink, put crampons on my hands and grab my probe to check the ice.
Books & Magazines
-
Save 10%
-
Save 10%
Coffee First, Then The World
In 2018, over the course of 18,000 miles, Scottish cyclist Jenny Graham smashed the round-the-world...
€19,99
-
Save 10%
1001 Climbing Tips
An irregular instruction manual for anyone who hangs off stuff or just hangs around in the mountains
€29,99
-
New
Epic Rides
Packed full of our favourite stories, photos and articles and every bike in our range.
€0,00
-
Save 10%
-
Save 10%
-
Save 10%
-
Email when available
Day Walks in the South Downs
Day Walks on the South Downs features 20 circular routes, between 6 and 14 miles...
€17,49
-
Save 10%
15 Short Walks in the Lake District
Short Walks in the Lake District: Windermere Ambleside and Grasmere
€12,49
-
Save 10%
Stand-up Paddleboarding In Great Britain
Providing details on how to get started in stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) in a safe environment.
€27,49
Your next reads
