Skiing at Lake Louise

I am at Lake Louise and am skiing. I am here for the CSIA Course Conductor training, day two today. There is about the same amount of natural snow here as there is at Red Mountain, but they have snowmaking here so the area is able to open. The skiing is limited to basically one run of reliable snow, but it is probably as good as man made snow can be. We are doing a lot of carving. This is a great way for me to start the season, skiing with really good skiers who I have known for a long time. I will be here through the week.

Skiing at Lake Louise

I am at Lake Louise and am skiing. I am here for the CSIA Course Conductor training, day two today. There is about the same amount of natural snow here as there is at Red Mountain, but they have snowmaking here so the area is able to open. The skiing is limited to basically one run of reliable snow, but it is probably as good as man made snow can be. We are doing a lot of carving. This is a great way for me to start the season, skiing with really good skiers who I have known for a long time. I will be here through the week.

Snowin Rossland- A Start at Least

It did snow last night, but not to the same extent it did in my dreams. We got 10 cms out of it which is an okay start. It looks as though it will stick around. It is cool and clear this morning. In my dreams I was waking up to about 40 cms. It was actually coming down hard enough last night for that to be realistic.

I am off to Lake Louise today for CSIA events. I will be skiing on man made snow, but I love that too!!!

SNOWING HEAVILY

8:00 Thursday night, and it is snowing heavily in Rossland. We will see how much accumulates overnight. I will post photos in the morning. I knew it would snow because I am driving to Lake Louise tomorrow.

Canadian Ski Quest Bus

I knew that at some point in my life I would have a bus. Here it is a 44 passenger Blue Bird. There is no shuttle service being offered this year between Red Mountain and Rossland which presented a bit of a problem for the 32 NONSTOP participants we expect this year. This was my solution! Yes I am losing a bit of sleep over it.

Weather Conditions: Cold in Rossland today, heavy frost this morning, but we are still waiting for the snow.

Sometimes things work out better than planed

If ever a car was blessed my recently sold Dodge Grand Caravan was. I bought this van from a dealer four years ago and have put 50000km on it without trouble. I drove it to Vancouver this week to buy another van with a vauge plan to sell it cheaply to a dealer somewhere in Vancouver. Well, I bought the new van and was at the insurance agent transferring papers etc. While I was moving my things from one van to another a man pulled into the parking spot beside me. "Want to buy a van?" I asked him.

Guess what? He did!

Sometimes things go right! 20 minutes later I was driving home in the new van with a bit of a smile on my face.

No new snow at Red yet, but conditions today look promising.

Remembrance Day in Rossland

Nice to have snow on remembrance day! It has been snowing all day so far, should be accumulating nicely on the hill.
Isabelle (6years old) was very excited to be part of today's ceremonies, particularly about being in the parade. I had to explain the somber nature of it to her. In the end she did very well, maintaining composure the entire time. I think it was a great experience for her, she is starting to work out how the world really is.

Dawn is 39 Today

Happy birthday to my Dawn. We have been together now for 17 years, you know it is long time when a calculator is used (like I just did) to work out how long you have been together. In writing this, I have also just realised another milestone has occurred. I have lived with Dawn for as long as I have lived with my parents (you know you are middle aged when.....). Dawn is the love of my life, we have accomplished a lot together. To think where we were 10 years ago. Then it never occurred to us that we would have so much now, we have been a very successful partnership in life and in business. Life has exceeded our expectations. In having Dawn as my partner, I have a lot to be thankful for. Happy birthday Dawn.

42 Year Old Ski Instructor Schooled by Teenagers

We are two months into the Freeskiing Academy Dry land training program. We have reached a point where the athletes have surpassed the coaches (speaking for myself, not Dylan) in terms of physical fitness. The part for me that is hard to accept is the rate at which the athletes physical fitness increases in comparison to mine. In September I was definitely setting the pace on runs. Both the athletes and I have been on the same training program, but I have been going to the gym in the mornings as well. Even so, I am now at a stage where I am trying to keep a brave face during training as the kids set the pace. I keep up, but during stretching Mark is the guy drenched in sweat while the kids look as though they have not done anything yet.

I take comfort in knowing that my basic parallel turn demonstrations must be superior.

November, the Waiting Season

November is a slow time in Rossland. Yesterday was slowest day ever for Bear Country Kitchen sales. The days are short and there is not to much action around town. Rossland's quite time. Mountain biking is still good, but you have to dress for it. Skiing is so close, yet seems so far away. Sinners (Dave Heath's celebration of winter dvd) is being watched by many a Rossland household. Watching Sinners at this time of the year has become a bit of a tradition. It has the effect of not quite satisfying ones skiing need. It brings inspiration into the soul but then there is no way of matching the experience with the real thing. I guess it will just make it better once the skiing is actually here.