Canadian Ski Quest Instructors Carving up Rinos Run

Jonathan Campagna followed by Dylan Streilioff followed by Aladar Ruesz.

Red Mountain Bumps

Red Mountain was the place to be today. The bump skiing was fantastic all day. The video clip is Canadian Ski Quest participant John McFadden on Red Mountain Towers. Nice Run John!

All the Basics

This shot is of long time Canadian Ski Quest contributor Fiona O'brien.

To me this photo demonstrates just what the Canadian Ski Quest program can do for recreational skiers. All the basics are there in Fionas skiing. The CSIA basic competencies are 1) Centered and mobile stance (check) 2) Turn with the lower body (check) 3) Balance on both edges (check).

It should be noted that Fiona has also taken some advice from Tom Klingspons Peak Perfomance Camps in Fernie, Thanks for doing the groundwork Tom! Today I got the glory work.

Red Mountain Freeskiers Podium Shot

Alli Eve just sent me this photo of Red Mountain skiers who made the podium at the Canadian Open Junior event. Left to right are Sally Steeves, Hanna Sterpin, Dyaln Streilioff (Red Mountain Academy Coach) Xander Sterpin, and Alex Berg.

Thanks Alli!

Change is Here

What a sweet sound to wake up to-my neighbour shoveling snow off his walkway. I think I have forgotten where my snow shovel is?

We didn't get much but it is nice to know that it can snow. It did snow throughout the day today but without significant accumulation. It has been snowing tonight but I am not expecting much as I can see stars through the clouds.

I was skiing with Michael and Emma O'Brien today with very good results particularly with young Emma. I encouraged more movement with her lower body which helped to keep her out of the backseat. After quite a bit of mileage I asked her to move laterally instead of vertically. She was a totally different skier, she turned dynamic, and made my job very rewarding. Great work O'Briens.

First NONSTOP Red Mountain Incident

Our first injury of the season. Charlie Mason-McLeod sprained her ankle over the weekend. She will be out for a week or two. No glory in the cause of the injury as it was not a skiing injury, but a walking injury (not even any alcohol involved). Coincidentally I was on the scene shortly after it happened. I came across the accident scene on the top Cat Track of Granite Mountain, this was unusual because it is flat there, I thought how could there be an injury here? It turns out that Charlie and friends were hiking up to the top of Granite from the Cat Track to take in the view when she stepped on a rock somewhat awkwardly.

The Red Mountain Ski Patrol could not have asked for a better patient, Charlie managed to maintain her humour throughout the ordeal (as you can see from the photos). There was concern her leg was broken since all her symptoms indicated so, but X-ray determined it was merely a sprain, good news.

We are all looking forward to seeing you back on the hill Charlie.

Seek and you shall find

One of the things I love about skiing is there is always a challenge to be found if you look for it. This video clip is Sally Steeves finding some challenge just off the Back Trail on Red Mountain.

Changing Slowly

This photo will give you an idea of the conditions, the groomers are just perfect. This is NONSTOP instructor Jonathan Campagna about to ski into the fog on Red Mountain.

Groundhog Day

I feel like we are stuck in this cycle of weather. The forecast was for change today but......
Every day is beautiful but everyday is just the same same same.

The Red Mountain groomer operators are doing an amazing job of keeping the runs in shape. The snow to me seems very well used, but every morning the groomers are perfect. The skiing on Red Mountain backtrail in particularily good as it has not seen the sun.

NONSTOP Red Mountain

The inversion weather patter is still holding. Today there were signs of hope with high cirrus clouds indicating winds at jet stream elevation.

The NONSTOP group has arrived at Red Mountain. We picked everyone up in Kelowna on Monday and have been very busy getting all 32 of them settled into Rossland life. Seems to be a great group, everyone is so positive about being here and so far all seem to be happy with the operation. This year we have participants from all over the world. Japan, USA, Latvia, Germany, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and of course the UK. A very international crowd. To me this shows the value of a place like Rossland and Red Mountain, the fact that these people choose Rossland as a destination confirms to me that we are very lucky to live where we do.

Inversion at Red Mountain

The weather pattern we experienced at Revelstoke seems to be in a holding pattern. It is gray and dull down in Rossland and brilliantly blue on the mountain. The weather is very nice but we are having a bit of a meltdown on the Paradise side of Granite. Spring like conditions: soft melting snowpack in the sun and hard icy snow in the shade. Although I am enjoying the mildness, I am looking forward to a change.

Revelstoke Sunshine

The Canadian Ski Quest Revelstoke tour has come to an end. What a great way to finish off. Our last day started our Gray Gray Gray and dull. What an inspiration it was to be lifted through the clouds into the most brilliant sunshine you could imagine.

Book now for Revelstoke 2010

Revelstoke Mountain Resort Day 3

Paul McMullan (lower photo) turned it on today, perhaps inspired by his peers, perhaps by the surroundings, whatever it was his skiing turned dynamic. The nice thing about skiing in a group is having others around to push you. As I was today to redeem yesterdays somewhat weak 360 attempt. Thanks group! Upper photo is Samantha.

Visibility on the upper mountain and wetter snow on the lower mountain had us focused on the Ripper Chair for most of the day where pleasant winter conditions existed all day.

Day Two at Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Another fantastic day. The runs were very open as if we had the place to ourselves. The groomers here are amazing, not what the place is known for but these runs alone are worth the visit. We also had some enjoyable tree skiing. The trees are a bit tighter than they are at Red Mountain, perhaps there will be some selective logging in the future. This afternoon I skied with Dan and Nitzan Skulnik and Julie Hamel. Dan runs the Snowsports School and Nitzan and Julie are instructors here. They opened my eyes to the potential of the terrain here. I plan to take the group on a bit of an adventure run tomorrow.

Tearing up the Revelstoke trees are Canadian Ski Quester's Samantha Bell and Peter Parrot.

Check out Samantha's blog by going to my profile if you are interested in today's action by Mark Impey

Samantha Bell Living on the Edge in Revelstoke

Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Great first day in Revelstoke. We ran into my friend Bill Derksen at the top of the first lift ride. Bill proceeded to guide our group around the mountain. Bill has spent the past seven seasons at Red, this year he opted for a change and made the excellent choice of Revelstoke. Thanks for the guidance Bill, good to see you. The runs here are long! I was not used to the length of lift ride (short) compared to the length of run (long). One thing that is nice to see here is the way the runs have been cut. Revelstoke has opted to leave all the natural rolls in the terrain, this has made the groomers very exciting.

As you can see from the photos the tree skiing is pretty good here as well. We are looking forward to more exploring tomorrow.
Skiers in photos are Samantha Bell and Rick Sala.

Paul Egan Skiing Quite "Campy"

I'll let the readers decide who is more Camp. Egan or Impey?

Nothing Wrong with Being Gay

We had a very relaxing stay at Halcyon Hotsprings, it felt great to stretch out after a week of hard skiing at Red. We are in Revelstoke now and after two days off are ready to take on the highest North American vertical drop. It is quiet around the town, the place seems empty.

The group photo is (from left) Peter Parrot, myself, and Rick Sala on the Galena Bay ferry. Paul Egan describes my pose as "a bit camp". I guess that is Scottish for gay. Even though there is nothing wrong with being gay, I would like to point out that I am not! Sometimes I am just a bit happy. Thank you.

Lots of Room

This is a typical Red Mountain moment; Paul Egan (in foreground) and Gwen Campbell are today's entire crowd on a slope of perfect corduroy. At most other resorts you would expect that this photo was taken before the lifts were open.

Canadian Ski Quest is off to Revelstoke tomorrow. We will be spending the night at Halcyon Hotsprings.

Alex Bergs run in the Canadian Open

Thanks to "coach" Jeff Amentea for the footage.

Stay Up High-The Skiing is Good

It was raining this morning in Rossland. This turned all the fairweather types off. The Red Mountain snow report was less than enthusiastic. But the skiing was superb (up high). The video clip is Canadian Ski Quest participant Rick Sala getting first tracks on Papoose Bowl AT 11:00. The sun even came out for it. If you never look at anything you will never get anything. Red Mountain is always worth a look.

CSQ Pro in Training

This post is for anyone participating in the Feb 7-14 Canadian Ski Quest week. Canadian Ski Quest Pro Mike Manara is in training for it, so get ready or hope you are not in his group. Apparently his main tactic this season for his physical conditioning and for his teaching style is DODGEBALL. "I find the Dodge Ball image provides the ideal type of intimidation needed for motivating my students to make changes in their skiing technique" states Manara "If they are having trouble understanding a concept or if I perceive a lack of effort I just pull out the Dodge Ball. Results are immediate"!

We will see if the CSIA follows Manara's lead.

Perseverance Furthers

The day started out with all of the signs pointing straight back to bed. 1) Due to the heavy snowfalls in the past couple of days there was a power outage in Rossland. My first thought was that the lifts may or may not be running. 2) It was warm 3C and things were melting, it looked like rain was on the way. 3) It started raining on the way to the mountain. 4) No power problems at Red, great! BUT Motherlode was closed due to high Avalanche probability (with heavy snow on top of the fluff of the past two days, this was a good call).

The Canadian Ski Quest groups persevered electing to get into full on ski lesson mode on the Silverlode Chair. We skied, drilled, assessed, developed, until a latte sounded better than progress. Almost everyone else who showed up for first chair had gone home, our coffee's were consumed, we were prepared for yet another Silverlode. Announcement: Motherlode is opening!!! Up we go, visibility is limited but who cares when you are making new tracks all afternoon. Paradise was empty of other skiers and full of untracked snow, a bit heavier than yesterday, but still inspiring. Here's to perseverance and reward.

Yes the guy in the red jacket with snow stuffed in his goggles and helmet is me! Yes I did have another double ejection in front of my group!

Still Good

Another great day! After yesterdays effort we were a bit tired so I spent the morning working on technique with the idea of bringing improvements into the off piste. It started snowing again at lunch time and by 1:30 we were making freash tracks again. We had a few great runs through Powderfields and had one run through newly spaced trees skiers right of Booty's run. I managed to find a tree well at one point, stay posted for photos. I did not see a single camera amongst my group until I was stuck, somehow then cameras came out from every pocket. It has continued to snow, my guess is that we have another 30 cm so far.

OHH YEAHH

What can I say: 50 cm on the quietest day of the year. We were making fresh tracks all morning.

Skiing was completely silent except for the sound of powder moving rapidly over gore tex as it continuously flew up in waves from my waist up over my shoulders and past my ears. One of those days where you had to time your breathing with your turns.

Showing excellent form are Canadian Ski Quest participants Dave Wisenthal, Paul Egan, and Rick Sala. The best photo from the day is of Gwen Campbell on www.skiquest.ca

50 CENTIMETERS

Last night I thought it "could be good" today. 50 cm fell overnight and it is still snowing. Will report back tonight.

Variable Conditions

Although it was a bout 10C warmer today, it felt colder than yesterday. It was damp. The best skiing I found was lower down. Red being better than Granite. It is snowing now we have had about 10 cm in the past three hours. Tomorrow could be good!

Canadian Ski Quest Week One

Today was arrival day for the first Canadian Ski Quest camp of the 2008/09 season. It feels great to move from organization season to operational season. My winter routine starts tomorrow, nice to have guests in town. We have 13 participants this week between Aladar and I. Tomorrow we will ski with everyone for a couple of hours, it is a chance for everyone gets to know each other and for us to work out who will ski with who.

A cold beautiful day at the mountain today. -18C but hardly any wind and blue sky. I was on my snowboard, had some great carving runs. Felt good to me anyway, possibly it looked quite disgusting to others! The cold and dry weather has created very gripy and squeaky snow, made me feel like a snowboarding hero!!

Major Controversy at Red Mountain

It once was parking. This season however Red Mountain passholders are up in arms over the removal of the LARGE nachos option from the Rafters menu. As of this season the only Nachos option available in Rafters is the "regular" (small) size. In terms of quality, as high as ever. In terms of promoting camaraderie amongst free thinkers bonded together by the common soul uplifting experience that is Red Mountain: Not so good! I encourage everyone to fill out a comment card whenever you are at Red Mountain. Encourage Rafters to encourage sharing. "BRING BACK THE LARGE!"

The skiing: Busy today, by Red standards, but a beautiful day. Cold, clear and blue with high quality snow. It is still thin in many off piste areas, but if you stay in the open, rocks seem to be less prevalent, the skiing is great.