Day 110 - spring!

Spring!

Went out for some spring riding with a guy I met in Lift Ops last summer and kind of re-met him through other avenues recently.  Whistler is closed so we met at Wizard Chair on Blackcomb and headed to the Glacier/7th Heaven.  As you can see from the pic, it was a perfect blue bird day.  (I hope that goggle tan isn't coming back!)  By noon the snow warmed up nicely and the groomers were perfect.  It was a great day of spring skiing.... well, skiing for him - riding for me!  I wouldn't be caught dead on two planks....  

View of Whistler from 7th Heaven. Perfect "blue bird" day.

Day 109 - last day of Telus fest

My friend Linda made the trip up from the mainland to enjoy some spring shredding.  Loaded the gondola nice and early and found some crappy icy conditions on the groomers around Emerald.  Decided to hit the Terrain Garden on Blackcomb with hopes of finding some warm snow.  BINGO!  Lapped the Garden about three times, got some lunch at Rendezvous then back on the Peak to Peak to ride down Whistler.  End of the day cocktails at the GLC while listening to the last band at the Telus Fest perform on the village stage.  Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Day 108 - No More Work/Instructor of the Year

Dress up your instructor day.  LOL - Good sport!

April 17th and WB received 7cm of fresh snow overnight with another 7cm during the day.  Snowboard school lessons are dwindling as we only have 11 kids.  I took the three level three's and they were all from England and pretty cool.  I didn't do any teaching today as the top of the mountain was completely ungroomed and completely full of powder.  Unfortunately, by the time you hit Pig Alley, the soft light snow turned wet and by the time you reached the bottom of Emerald Chair, the snow was basically sludge.  

After noon, the conditions up top turned from light flurries to complete blizzard/white out!  It was cold, it was windy, it was snowing, and there was no visibility.  I thought this was suppose to be Spring?  My kids were freezing after we got out of the Marmot Trees so I decided to take them on the Peak to Peak as a time killer.  By the time we took the roundtrip to Blackcomb, it was then time to download the village gondola and get the kids home.  We didn't ride too much but the conditions were tough conditions, meaning the kids were all out of energy and couldn't continue to ride without injury even if we wanted to.  By the time we reached the village, the sun was shining, the music was ripping (Telus Ski and Snowboard Festival) and I was told today would be my last day.  I didn't complain since I just worked 12 days in a row.  I could use a couple days off .... err, the next 6 months off.  

On another note,  I was nominated as my pod's Snowboard Instructor of the Year.  Besides the recognition, the award comes with a nice photo/plaque (see pic) and a $50 gift certificate to a local sports shop.

 : )

Day 107 - 11 days down->3 days to go

Today was my 11th day working in a row.  I'm not complaining because after Sunday, my 08/09 snowboard instructing season will be over and I will officially be.... a "BUM".  It's sad how quickly a season passes by.  It seems like just yesterday I was blogging my first day.  

Anyway, still lots of kids in snowboard lessons.  I think we had just over 20.  Most of my Level 3 kids moved up to the level four class.  That left me with the choice between level two Spanish kids who speak no English or three kids who never snowboarded before.  I opted for the never-ever kids (I have to learn how to speak Spanish!).  Turns out I made a good decision as we moved from Magic Carpet, to Super Carpet to Village Run all by the end of the day.  

Day 106 - OK! a fantastic day

Sun was shining.  No lift lines.  Temps of +1 at the Roundhouse.  Snow was soft packed most of the morning.  Had seven level 3 kids who were all excited to learn.  I made them work on their turning down most of the Family Zone.  After lunch, we hit the fun runs: Orange Peel to Freight Train to Hit Run.  Headed up the Red Chair where the kids convinced me to take the Peak to Peak over to the Terrain Garden on Blackcomb.  We ended up coming back down to the village about 15 minutes late.  Their parents weren't too amused but the kids had fun..... oh well.  Their parents will be thanking me when the kids are asleep early tonight.   ; )

Day 105 - OMG! one of those days

I started out with five low level 3 kids.  We immediately headed up to the Roundhouse where the conditions were soft packed with sunny skies.  Lunch was at noon and I decided to drop down the Creekside runs.  (If you know this part of the mountain, you know most these runs are cat tracks.  And cat tracks are murder on snowboarders, especially kid snowboarders who aren't very good to begin with)  ~~ Anyway, we hit the Papoose/Pony Trail crossroads and one of my kids fell so hard patrol sledded him out with a neck brace and on the backboard.  Not necessary, more precaution.  Well that took well over an hour, it was now time for lunch and we were very far from the lunch room.  All of a sudden, one of my kids said his legs were sore and sat on the run for 10 minutes at a time.  Then when he did get up, he would slide down on his butt.  It took us an hour to get back to the CLC.  It was 1pm (an hour late for lunch) and I was ready to be HOME!

Well, I made it through the day with the help of my Supervisor.  I saw the kid who fell after class and he was fine.  In fact, he might be back tomorrow.  That's good.  After work, I did my laundry and found ten dollars in the dryer.  So my day ended pretty well......  : )

Day 104 - I thought I was over it

I woke up this AM to huge snowflakes at the valley bottom.  We received 14cm (almost 6inches) of snow since yesterday.  I went to work today "over it".  I didn't want to be walking through the village in the snow.  I wanted the sun to be shining and I wanted to be working on my face tan.  I gave up a level 5/6 class so I could teach a level 3 class because I wasn't interested in checking out the conditions in the Alpine.  Unfortunately, I totally regretted it once I finally got to the Roundhouse.  Once I hit that powder I was completely back into it!  I heard the trees were amazing today.  I never got in there.   I heard there were faceshots on morning session.  I never got up early enough.  I heard fresh tracks was awesome.  I didn't care enough at the time.  Oh well.  I am keeping my fingers crossed for a few more Alpine pow days before my season is over.  Today will serve as a reminder not to get spring fever too early!

Day 103 - Easter Sunday SNOW! - (and rain....)

Believe it or not, it snowed all day today as low as mid-station.  Some people may be happy about it, but honestly, I'm over it.  I loved the sunny warm days we had last week.  It's spring and I'm suppose to be working in a tshirt and getting a tan, not bundled up and riding in the wet snow and rain.  

I had a small class consisting of two level two kids:  one from Turks and Caicos and one from Venezuela.  It's fascinating being able to meet children from all over the world.  I learn so much about their culture, their language, etc.  Anyway, I got both the boys turning by the end of the day.  One is returning tomorrow and requested to have me again.

It was also Hip Hop Easter Day!!  .... along with fun photo day.  Enjoy the pics! 

Day 102 - Easter weekend

I was happy to get a higher level class today until we went up top and found hard packed icy conditions.  It snowed about 2cm overnight but that did nothing to cover up the hard pack that has been melting since the beginning of the week.  Not to mention, it was cold and cloudy with a mix of freezing rain/snow.  Once you hit Emerald, the icy conditions immediately turned to slush!  I had a hard time taking my boys somewhere to ride.  The park was too icy, the trees were too icy, and the lower runs were too slushy.  It was a long day -- but it ended on a good note when the sun decided to start shining around 2pm.  

Day 101 - Good Friday

Good Friday was good for me as I finally got off the Magic Carpet and snarfed me up some level three kids.  It was great to finally get back up to the Roundhouse and to see how the snow was fairing.  For those interested, it's not bad.  There are some soft packed runs, some hard packed runs, and some icy spots.  I don't want to forget to mention the snow below the Emerald Chair:  slow and wet.  And don't even think about riding out below mid-station at the end of the day.  There is literally standing water on some of the runs.  It's bittersweet .....  

Day 100 - reflection

"A hundred days have made me older....

 A thousand lies have made me colder and I don't think I can look at this the same." - 3 Doors Down

As I spent my day (once again) standing on the Magic Carpet, I took the time to reflect on the last three seasons.  What started out as a trivial challenge has turned into a twist of fate.  My life, as I knew it, will now be changing course.  As I reflected on the last 307 days of riding, I couldn't help but wonder what lies ahead.  Everything happens for a reason and there is a reason why I will continue my stay in Canada on this beautiful mountain.  Maybe it is to make a difference in some little kid's life, maybe it is to meet my true soul mate, or maybe it's to find my own peace and harmony in my life.  Whatever it is, I will find it by keeping my eyes and heart open. 

"Watching fate as it flows down the path we have chosen." - Nine Inch Nails

Day 99 - more amazing Never Ever's

For the third time in a row, I got the shaft working Adventure Camp.  My one kid decided to transfer to Blackcomb so he could take his snowboard lessons with his friend.  No worry, I still snaked a class from Destination.  Unfortunately, it was another class of kids who have never snowboarded before.  Actually, I really don't mind teaching kids who have to spend their day on the Magic Carpet considering the conditions up top aren't anything to be bragging about.  In fact, a fellow instructor told me many of the runs were a sheet of ice before noon.

My class of six were just as amazing as the class I had the other day.  Once again, after lunch, I was able to take them to the village.  After that, most of them were turning down the Supercarpet.  In fact, two kids from Scotland moved from level one to level three (normally unheard of).  

The sun was behind clouds for most of today and temps were noticeably cooler.  Winds picked up by the end of the day as a front is moving through and forecasted to bring a couple CM's for the next few days.

Day 98 - hotter... hotter.... hotter

The best "snow couch" ever!

Another amazing spring day on Whistler Blackcomb.  Temps in the alpine reached close to 50°F.  I didn't get a chance to ride up there but I assume the conditions were just as slushy as below midstation.  I'm getting rid of the goggle tan and replacing it with raccoon eyes.  

Another large class (eight kids) with one being my AC kid.  He's turning down the Supercarpet but nervous on anything else.  A few of the other kids moved up a level.  Most stayed the same.  I got a tip at the end of the day, which will come in handy as I believe my AC kid moved over the Blackcomb to be with his friend.  That will leave me snaking a Destination class for the rest of the week.  I haven't had very good luck with Adventure Camp kids this year.  

Day 97 - hot .... hot ..... hot ......

Spring is here!  Easter week is here!  It's crazy busy!  40 snowboarders today and over 300 skiers!  It's madness.  And the temperatures are madness!  It's about 60°F in the Village at 5pm.  Even I only wore a tshirt today ... and I never just wear a tshirt as I'm always a bit chilly.  The sun was shining like mad today and I wore my sunnies with hopes of covering up a bit of my goggle tan.

Snowboard Adventure Camp is this week (since it's so busy) and I ended up with one "Never Ever" from Barbados who surfs.  I had to take some of the Destination kids (guys who are only in lessons for one day at a time) so my class was full at seven.  I didn't mind spending the day in the sun on the Magic Carpet as the conditions down there were exactly the same as the conditions up top .... but to my surprise, my entire class was AMAZING!!!  By lunchtime, I took all of them down to the village and not via a green run, I took them down Northern Lights (blue square).  Naturally they only zig zagged but for kids to be zig zagging in control just after two hours of lessons is unheard of!  Once in awhile you get one who can do it, but NEVER do you get seven who can all do it!  It was so much fun.  And half of them were turning.  A few are coming back tomorrow and I'm looking forward to another fun day in the sun!

Day 96 - Blizzard of Ahhhh's

Ski que first thing in the morning (very busy).

Ahhhh - first day of a very busy (Easter) week. Ahhhh - I have tomorrow off.    Ahhh - first run down to the village was a complete sheet of "ice". Ahhh - I had two level four boys who shred like crazy. Ahhhh - Marmot trees were where the powder hounds went. Ahhh - all the weekenders tracked out all the fresh pow. Ahhh - the forecast for the next four days calls for freezing levels above the Peak.    Ahhh - spring skiing is here!!!

Retro Day!

Day 95 - last day of amazing pow --????

Look at the fresh pow at the Magic Carpet!

Operations reported that 5 inches fell overnight but I can tell you there was a lot more fresh snow than just 5 inches.  My first run was down to the village from the CLC and I had fresh tracks the entire run down.  Granted it was only a green run, but it was freshies down the entire run.  

Once we got all the classes sorted, I ended up with low level fours and we hit the gondola to the Roundhouse.  Our first run was through Marmot trees.  Man that was fun.  So much powder!  Next run was through the terrain park.  Bad idea!  They weren't quite up to terrain park standards so we immediately bailed on that and went on a search for powder.  It wasn't hard to find as there was plenty of powder to be found on the sides of green runs (as always).  At Noon, Enchanted Forest was still untouched!  Gotta love it!

In the afternoon we hit the soft stuff on the Creekside side of things down to Freight Train which lets out on Bear Cub.  Back up Red Chair to hit the pow in Enchanted Forest again.  Unfortunately one kid sprained his ankle half way down and we spent over a half hour with Patrol getting him down in the "blood wagon".  After that it was time to get the kids back to their parents.  I should have run back up for one last run through the pow but I was pretty tired.

Weekend forecast calls for mainly sunny skies and freezing levels past 2000 meters.  That means all the nice powder will be crap!  boo hoo .... I guess spring skiing is always fun though.

Day 94 - April Fools

April fools!  It's not April fools..... but don't tell Mother Nature cause she thinks snow in the village on April 2nd is a joke.  Not for us, we love it.  We got 5 inches of snow in the last two days.  The powder conditions up top are amazing and so much fun.

My morning was great.  I took the level four class and we hit Marmot Trees down the Peak to Peak line, back up and through the terrain park for a couple laps.  I had two fast kids and two slow kids and by noon, the slow kids were spent!  So I put the fast kids in the level 5 class, one of the slow kids got whiplash and was taken home with patrol, and that left me with one slow tired kid.  We spent the afternoon with 7 level threes, team teaching with Ian.... which is always interesting.  

By the end of the day, temps in the village read 45°F on my truck thermometer.  Here's a pic of Cabo enjoying the sun!  Spring is here.