GstaadLife

A new chapter has opened not only with the JFK international school but also with its previous managers - the Lovell's. Well, Bill, Sandy, Bryce and Vicktoria Lovell started their own company - Lovell Camps which offer boys and girls from around the globe both summer and winter holidays. They told us that these camps combine sport, language, and outdoor and cultural excursions. More after the jump.

Marcel Granollers wins the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad against his fellow Spaniard 6:4 3:6 6:3. Haven't heard from him before? - well we haven't either but he solidly played himself into the final and is currently the no 33 in the ATP ranking.

The Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad started last Saturday with cool temperatures (we were shocked to return from a sunny holiday and find the thermometer in Gstaad at 6°C!). Nevertheless the games have been exciting so far, even if punctuated by enough rain that center court has been as much covered up as played on. The weekend looks more promising though, but Swiss favorite Stanislas Wawrinka went out today Friday in the quarters. Nonetheless it's still worth a visit to the areal in Gstaad, with the PC-7-team flying their acrobatics again this year - definitely a spectacle not to miss: Saturday July 30 around 11h30 and Sunday July 31 at 10h30.  

Is it getting harder and harder to convince your teenagers to come up and slow down in Gstaad? Well now they don't have to slow down, with the July 16 opening of the new skatepark in Oeyetli-Saanen (on the other side of the field beside the river opposite the Eggli-Saanen skilift). The skateboard club of Saanenland is also holding training sessions for all-comers every Thursday from 18h00 to 19h30. 

Above the winners of the 2011 Grand Slam beach volleyball tournament in Gstaad:  Brazil's Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti won in the final against Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser (USA) in straight sets 22:20, 21:19. Germans Brink and Rickermann won against the Polish team for the bronze medal.

In the women's draw, Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta Silva took gold for Brazil, beating Xue/Zhang Xi from China in straight sets 21:15, 21:13. In something of a tournament upset, the bronze medal went to Cicolari/Menegatti from Italy, who won against Talita/Antonelli of Brazil also in two sets 22:20, 21:14.

Peter Erzberger and his team from the Gstaad Yacht Club sailed fastest in their category at the 80th edition of the Round the Island contest. The 50 nautical mile race around the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England featured over 1'908 entrants in gruelling weather conditions (65 emergency callouts and many teams forced to retire). But Erzberger and his crew prevailed in the Farr45 category. Congratulations!

 
The countdown is at 9 days, the stands are up, and the long legs can already be spotted around the village. Swiss teams are hoping for better results than at the World Championships in Rome this year. So pencil it in - July 4 to 11 2011 - beach atmosphere is back in Gstaad. Somebody tell the weather gods.

 
Even though as we write this it is far from swimming weather - drizzle and temperatures in the low teens -  the outdoor swimming pool in Saanen is pressing ahead with its 2011 summer season this Friday June 10. In their ad in our sister publication, the Anzeiger von Saanen, they even say "Abtauchen ins kühle Nass" - "dive into the cool waters" - finally acknowledging that the pool is indeed damn cold, even on a hot day! Brrrr!!

 
The sports center in Gstaad with the indoor swimming pool will be closed from Monday May 2 2011 until Sunday May 22 2011 for repairs and cleaning. The tennis courts and the mini golf will remain open, though only from Monday to Friday. The restaurant will be open from Monday to Friday from 9h00 till 14h00, and on the weekends only by request for at least 15 people on. Hmmm, so that limits weekend activity choices because what is the playground without the minigolf, a drink, and an ice-cream?

 
Last Wednesday the Tour de Romandie made its way through Saanenland. With police at every intersection and roundabout, team vehicles in pursuit, and TV helicopters above, it made for quite a spectacle.