Over New Year, I had the privilege of trying something completely new: skiing.

This was the trip that finally made it out of the group chat.

Mountains and snow are two of my favourite things, so I’m not entirely sure why I’d never considered skiing before. Add in the chance to go with some of my closest friends, and let’s just say… a lot of fun was had.

Before heading to the Alps, I’d already had a rather disastrous introduction to skiing at the SnowDome in Birmingham. To be fair, I’d sprained my ankle the week before — but still, oh my golly gosh, I was dreadful. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t stay upright. I was completely out of control and mildly terrified by the realisation that I’d paid for a full week of skiing. I had fully underestimated how hard skiing was going to be.

Determined not to give up, I booked an ‘Introduction to skiing’ beginner’s lesson at Mendip Activity Centre on a dry ski slope. This experience was much kinder. The teaching style felt far more supportive — less “let’s throw you down a big slope” and more “let’s be a bit silly on a small one.” For the first time, I managed to stop without ending up on my bum, which felt like a huge win.

Reassured by that second lesson, I finally started to feel excited about the trip.

Then, December 27th rolled around, and we were off.

We headed to La Plagne in the French Alps, staying at the UCPA at 1800.

Booking with UCPA was perfect for our group as most of us had never skied before, and we definitely had no idea how to organise a ski trip. Having everything taken care of for us (including meals!) was an absolute dream. Lessons were also included, which was a necessity!

Our first morning began with getting suited and booted, before being unleashed onto the slopes under the guidance of Rose and Cameron, who quickly became the group’s unofficial ski instructors.

They started us off on the baby slope so we could practise our snow ploughs, before bravely taking us down a green run. I’m incredibly grateful for their patience — especially when it came to helping me stand back up again.

My first fall of the trip was actually intentional, purely because I didn’t know any other way to stop myself from flying into a net and landing in a ditch. Had I not chosen to fall, I definitely would have fallen anyway… just with a lot more dramatics. A strong start…

Later that day, we had our first ‘official lesson’, which mostly involved learning how to walk around on skis and practising snow ploughs on the baby slopes. With the confidence from skiing earlier that day, it felt like a breeze!

The following day brought a full day of lessons. We returned to the same green run our friends had guided us down the day before, this time practising turns through cones placed on the slope. My accuracy wasn’t amazing — I often skied over the cone rather than around it as intended — but I was pretty chuffed to be turning and controlling my speed within just two days of skiing.

That evening brought a different kind of adventure as we hopped on the bus to La Plagne Centre to celebrate Clare’s birthday. We started with drinks at the Igloo – a bar that felt like it belonged in Ice Age – followed by dinner at Pépéetcie, where we were seriously impressed by the food. My pizza was incredible, and I also got to enjoy some of the GINORMOUS raclette cheese after David admitted they weren’t going to finish it between the three of them!!!

The next day, we had another lesson — but this time, we were ready to leave the green slope outside the UCPA, which I’d started referring to as the back garden. I was very excited to go somewhere new and use the chairlift!

We spent a good chunk of the morning snaking down the slope as a group, even attempting the questionable challenge of lifting one ski while turning. Confidence was high… right up until I was completely humbled by the most terrifying ski back to the UCPA lodge.

Our instructor, Chloe, led us onto a twisty blue run that sent me straight into panic mode. Any skills I thought I had instantly vanished. I became utterly convinced I was about to fly over the edge, which resulted in me zooming downhill in a blind panic and wildly out of control. At one point, I wiped David out… whoops. Sorry David!

Thankfully, neither of us were injured in the spectacular wipeout, and honestly, I found it absolutely hilarious. If only it had been caught on camera.

Chloe then introduced us to a red slope, which quickly became my nemesis of the trip (more on that later). David and Ryan bravely gave it a go, making it a fair way down before succumbing to gravity. Amy “attempted” it too, before delicately sitting down and announcing that she had fallen. As for me, still traumatised by the blue run, I removed my skis entirely, held them in my lap, and enjoyed zooming down with a bum-slide instead—which was, surprisingly, great fun.

After refuelling with a much-needed lunch, we headed back out and ventured further into the mountains.

I was sooooo excited to see so much more of La Plagne and the Alps! The views were incredible.

The afternoon really did break me. I’ve never felt quad burn like it. I was in absolute agony and even had to ask for a five minute rest. Still, I always believe it’s healthy to step outside your comfort zone every now and then.

Despite the aching muscles, spending the day skiing and adventuring deep into the mountains was worth every sore step that evening!

With no lessons the following day, instructor Rose and Cameron took one for the team and took us out onto the slopes once more, with Jess and Tom second in command.

This time, we packed a lunch and geared up for a full day of adventure. We headed straight for the chairlift, tackled a few blue runs, and then scaled the chairlifts all the way to the very tippy top of the mountain for a hot choccie and a well-earned lunch stop.

We stayed here for a good couple hours soaking up the view.

The journey back down was absolute carnage…

The first run down from the café was so steep it absolutely terrified me. I gave it a go, but it quickly turned into a full-on bum shuffle. In some places, it was so steep that poor Rose had to ski a short section, let me slide into her to stop, and then repeat the process all the way down the hill. Meanwhile, my phone was ringing from my partner Will, who was celebrating the New Year at the time in Australia –it added to the comedy of the bum shuffle!

The steep slopes and bum shuffles did not end there.

Next up came what might have been the best takedown of the entire trip. We’d reached yet another steep section when I made a very clear and immediate decision: “Nope. Too scared. Not happening.”

I popped off my skis, sat myself down, and began whooshing down the hill on my bum. From this safe vantage point, I had front-row seats to the carnage that followed.

Amy skied straight into Tom sending them tumbling into a tangled heap in the snow. Tom, clearly very uncomfortable with how he’d landed, attempted to get Amy to take off his skis. Somehow, in the process, she managed to remove her own skis instead, and the two of them promptly slid even further down the slope.

By this point, David, Jess, and I were at the bottom of the hill, watching and laughing as Rose and Cameron tried to untangle the mess of human limbs.

I have to admit, it was a highlight of the trip for me. Moments like that, full of chaos and laughter, are the ones you remember most. It left us laughing and smiling long after it was over.

We made it back just in time to watch the New Year’s Eve light display, with the slopes lit up by skiers snaking down the hill with coloured torches.

Then, post-showers, we layered thermals under our New Year’s Eve outfits and headed to the nearby pub, La Mine, a full-on mine-themed spot. Even the bathroom sinks were made from old coal buckets.

A band played all the best hits, and with a few drinks in hand, we boogied our way into 2026.

The next day, I treated myself to a lie-in and a well-earned rest day. My quads were still so tight.

Amy and Clare were equally grateful for the downtime, so we headed to Bellecote for a crêpe before hopping on the gondola and riding up into the mountains, soaking up the views.

After a day of rest, we were ready to ski again.

This time, David planned the route, while Jess and Tom stepped into the instructor roles.

After a fairly successful morning, the universe was ready to humble me again this time with a new lift… clearly I don’t know where my centre of gravity is as when I stepped onto the conveyor belt thing, I just fully toppled backwards and my skis ended up on the air. Thank you to David for coming to the rescue and helping me get my skis off to have a second go!

We then stopped at a café for lunch and a warming hot choccie, while a few of the group split off to sneak in a few extra runs.

Despite being completely knackered, I skipped the bus back rom La Plagne centre and decided to retry the blue run from earlier in the week, the very same one where I’d taken David out thanks to a lack of control and sheer panic about flying over the edges.

This time, I nailed it. I was still scared, but I stayed upright and actually enjoyed it for the most part.

Riding that wave of confidence, I decided to give the red another go. Sadly, on the very first turn, I decked it. That seemed like a clear sign to pop the skis off and bum shuffle my way home.

Because clearly we hadn’t had enough, and we’d all well and truly caught the skiing bug, we squeezed in one final morning ski before heading home.

We started the morning together as a group of nine, before splitting into smaller groups to tackle some final slopes.

Jess, Amy, and I whizzed around a few familiar runs, and when it came time to head home, we faced my nemesis red slope one last time.

Something clicked on that final morning. I decided I was ready to conquer it. It was now or never, and I was hoping third time really would be the charm. I just went for it, and before I knew it, I was at the bottom, still upright.

We ended the trip on a high.

To the wonderful humans on this trip – thank you! Thank you for all the memories, laughter, and fun times. I will always treasure this trip and remember it with such fondness.

Thank you also for being patient when I opted to bum shuffle instead of ski, and for helping me up whenever I fell. Love you all lots!