Go&Ski 2024 Winter Camp

This year, around thirty people gathered for the 4th edition of the GO&Ski Winter Camp, an event supported by the Isère department, which we would like to thank. It took place from January 20 to 27, 2024 in Vaujany. Most of us stayed at the Les Valmonts residence, where large, comfortable rooms awaited us on arrival.

Many thanks to our host Nathalie for her impeccable service!

On the first evening, a banquet similar to the end of an Asterix story, with raclette and fondue savoyarde, followed by fruit salad and galette des rois (“cake of the kings”, traditional french recipe), brought us together in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

The next day was ski day for most of us and our first go lessons with our teaching team: Lucas Neyrinck 6D, Florent Labouret 6D, Denis Karadaban 6D and Augustin Noir 1K.
This year we had two strong guest players: Ali Jabarin 2P and Cornel Burzo 6D. They came to play simultaneously against the trainees, and together we ate crêpes made by our Breton specialist: Grégoire Thomazeau!

This year’s activities included ice skating, sauna at Les Valmonts (much appreciated by our Finnish friends!), various board games (including robot ricochet), and ~~casino~~ casigo games. We made the most of the excellent snow on the slopes, but we had to go up to the heights of Alpe d’Huez, because down in Vaujany it was either “spring soup” in the early afternoon, or frozen in the morning or late afternoon, unfortunately for beginners.

On the go side, there were tsumego (difficult) competition, and tournament games commented on by our teachers. We also attended lectures by Lucas N. and Florent L. on fuseki (beginning of the game), chuban (middle of the game), chou-osé (key moment between chuban and yosé), and yosé (end of the game).

On the way back, the bus almost left with 12 out of 17 people, probably because we were in such a hurry to get to the TIGGRE (International Go Tournament of GREnoble)! In the end, everyone got on.

Those who weren’t asleep on the return car were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of an ibex along the way, a magical last moment as we bid farewell to Vaujany, the snow-white territory we invaded for a week full of emotions and good food (and go, of course)!

Thanks to all of you!