Ski day in Schladming: Alumni on the piste
This year's Alumni Club ski day took us to Upper Styria. When shortly after seven o'clock the last passengers were welcomed in St. Pankraz, it was still rather quiet in the bus. This was not only due to the fact that it was still quite dark - but also to the fact that changing weather conditions were predicted for that Saturday.
However, the enjoyment of the first coffee and a nutritious breakfast lifted the general mood. As the sun rose, so did the confidence that the weather god on this day of skiing would have some sympathy for us after all. In order to get to the slopes as quickly as possible after arriving at our destination, the day ski passes were still distributed in the bus. Shortly before 9 a.m. the bus was parked at the parking lot near the valley station, half an hour later the first of us reached the mountain station already in full gear.
After the obligatory group photo, which was still taken under cloudy skies and light snowfall, the 31 athletically ambitious alumni split up into smaller groups to explore the extensive ski area. While some demonstrated their skills with skis and snowboards right on the slopes of the Planai, others were drawn to the slopes of Hauser-Kaibling, Hochwurzen or Reiteralm.
Just in time for the lunch break, the sun came out and made sure that the hungry hut visitors were able to fortify themselves with culinary delicacies during the imperial weather. With a full stomach we went back to the slopes. Just in time for the last ascent of the ski lifts, the alumni swung off in the valley and after returning to the bus, they enjoyed a well-deserved farewell beer.
On the return journey, the exhausted participants were able to strengthen themselves once again with a hearty snack. And even though it was as quiet on the last kilometres of the return journey as on the first kilometres of the outward journey, our alumni still had enough energy for a thunderous final applause. This was accompanied by a clear commitment: "Next year we'll be back again with pleasure!"
