New NONSTOP Program Proposal

I have no idea why this is underlined and in this font?

How is this for an idea? NONSTOPCURL!! We set up a certification program, people come to Rossland from all over the world with an aim to kick start their new lives as Curling Instructors.....

Phil Snook (above) in a somewhat familiar position (see Jan 14 blog post) Simon Impey (below) showing everyone how it is done.

Deremie Bell doing a Deremie Bell

Dylan Strelioff is the head coach of the Red Mountain Freeski Academy. Unfortunately he has injured himself, in a minor way, and is not able to quite keep up with the skiers in the Academy. So he and I have switched jobs this week, Dylan is teaching NONSTOP and I am out with the Freeskiers. My knee is getting better, I am now at a stage where I feel I am not holding them up to much.

This video clip is Deremie Bell doing a trick that I think is called a Deremie Bell.

Bluebird Day

Beautiful Bluebird day at Red today. It was cold and clear, although it was warming up on southern aspects.

I was skiing with the Red Mountain Freeski Academy today, we were out with Erik Kalacis trying to get some good photos. While we were waiting for Erik to get a glory shot of Meagan and Sally the guys found a nice little drop.

Real Snowboard Instructors in Training

NONSTOP Snowboard instructor training seems to be somewhat different from NONSTOP Ski instructor training! I am trying to understand it. The skiers seem to be slightly more focused. The snowboard training regime today might have had something to do with the fact that Matt Briggs was teaching on Australia Day.

Snowboard Instructor in Training

Mark Impey on a Snowboard??? On the slopes of Red Mountain the reaction to this is either surprise or disgust. Since we started NONSTOP at Red Mountain I have been trying to improve my riding, and am now at a stage where I am quite enjoying myself. To his credit the managing director and inspirational snowboarder Rupert Taylor is learning how to ski, so I see this as a bit of an exchange.

Some of the disgusted looks I referred to come from NONSTOP Snowboard instructors Matt Briggs and Drew Hurst who tell me I ride like a skier. I focus down the hill to much (as this photo indicates I guess I have to admit).

photo thanks to Keith Boxer

CSIA Level 4 Corridor

I tried to tie all these video clips together but could not make it work, so I have three separate clips instead.

One of the ski off runs in the CSIA Level 4 exam is the "Corridor Run". These clips are of Russ Wood, in red, and Scott Bailey and Jennifer Colinson. Russ is the course conductor, Scott and Jennifer are Level 4 candidates who are definitely getting close to the Level 4 standard. For those with an interest in technique, you can see that Russ has more refined steering skills. He is traveling about the same speed down the hill as Scott and Jennifer but his skis are going on a rounder and longer path. A well timed and stronger steering effort through the turn transition will see Jennifer and Scott dealing a blow to Russ's dominance of refinement.

Silver Star

I am at Silver Star today for the CSIA Level 4. I have brought Isabelle and Simon with me. They had one quite invigorating run. Check the video clip. Disclaimer: No parental encouragement was involved whatsoever in the making of this video.

Training Days

The NONSTOP program is now into a routine, people seem to be settled in. The group has bonded well already. We are now well into week two and have been getting more focused with on snow training.

This week had been quite foggy but the snow has been good. We have had touch up snowfalls throughout and the grooming has been excellent.

This Worldcup like Photo is actually NONSTOP instructor Brent Hahn, giving the skiers something to aspire to. Apologies to anyone who had to later ski through the ruts he left behind.
Michelle Herveiu, looks like she will be pushing Brent someday very soon.
Tom Rigby demonstrating the benefits of being young.

In other news Ann Vriend Played at the Old Fire Hall last night. Just an amazing singer. My camera does her no justice at all. If you are in Rossland, it is worthwhile getting on the Old Fire Hall mailing list, Zac Gribble (the owner), brings some incredible talent into our little town.

Winter Wonderland at Red Mountain

Another glorious day for the Red Mountain NONSTOP program. 16 cm on the upper mountain made the place a winter wonderland.

Photos:

Lisa Richardson tearing up Paradise.

Dennis van Kampen in Alder Estate

Dennis again taking a drop, the sound effects coming from Dennis were at least as dramatic as the drop. Yes he landed it.

The group taking on Beer Belly

Happy Ski Instructor

This video clip is from yesterday. The snow has been great, as you can see (and hear). Today the weather cleared, it was sunny and cold on top.

This is Canadian Ski Quest instructor Jonathan Campagna enjoying his day off.

Canadian Freeskiing Open Qualifying runs

Today was day one of the Canadian Freeskiing Open here at Red Mountain.

Today was qualifying runs for the Junior categories. The video clip is of Red Mountain Freeski Academy athlete Sally Steeves (14) first few turns of her qualifying run. She qualified first, way to go Sally!

The "Before" Shots

It snowed all day today, the skiing just improved as the day went on. I was skiing with the NONSTOP group again today. It was a fantastic day, partly due to the conditions and partly due to the enthusiasm of the group. These are the fun photos, there actually was some excellent skiing today amongst the group, unfortunately none of it captured by the camera. One thing I can say about these guys is that they definitely push the limits, as you can see by the photos. I did say speed is your friend to them at least a couple of times. I wonder if I still have their trust???

For this photo Rick Kilbride very kindly volunteered to demonstrate the NONSTOP pre 11 weeks training ski technique. He did a fantastic job!
Aiden working hard on keeping his feet apart on Alder gully, Phil Snook demonstrating something else in the background.

Scott Bayliss testing the Red Mountain product.

Good Skiing in Paradise

It has been raining down in Rossland but snowing up on Paradise. The skiing is quite good and the crowds have been non existent. We are halfway through the first week of NONSTOP, getting ourselves into a routine.

The video clip is my group getting into the tree skiing routine today.

Photo is of NONSTOPER Phil Snook.

Evidence of Global Warming in Rossland

January 12 2010

I took this photo half an hour ago! WHAT THE HELL???

This bear was in my driveway. These guys should be in a deep deep sleep at this time of the year. I don't know if this is global warming evidence or if it is just a confused bear.

It is a concern in any case.

Red Mountain Freeskiing Academy

I had a great morning skiing with the Freeski Academy skiers. I am really doing sideline coaching with them with the help of Tad Graves. This is my coaching technique: I watch them do these jumps and say "yeah, I could do that if I wasn't for my bad knee", or "that's exactly what I would have done, only I would have gone bigger". I think it really helps the kids!

First video clip is Jay Maloney

Second is Derime Bell

Third is George Hogarth

Early Morning Photo Shoot

I had the opportunity yesterday to get up the Mountain before the lifts opened for a photo-video shoot with Red Mountain General Manager (and resident photographer) Erik Kalacis. Erik had me along to get some grooming shots, but due to low cloud on the Paradise side we had to ski the Shoulder. I managed to put together three turns. Early morning is always such a beautifully serene time on the Mountain and it is a privilege to be there before the powder day masses.

Electrifying Experience at Red Mountain

Day two of our first 2010 Canadian Ski Quest Camp today. Unfortunately we were limited to the outstanding conditions on Silverlode Chair.

We have recently had quite a bit of new heavy snow around the base area. This has caused quite a few trees to come down. A branch of a huge Cottonwood near the Day lodge broke last night under the strain which meant other branches needed to be cut. During this procedure one branch fell across the power wires which caused a short. None of us in the group have ever seen anything like this: We saw a huge sky blue spark directly above the car park and then in rapid succession three more going up to the maintenance sheds. It looked disastrous, but it did stop thankfully. It was quite incredible, I would say each spark was about 1.5 square meters in size. The result was power outage for the Day Lodge, T-bar, Red Chair, and Motherlode. Thankfully Silverlode was not affected so we could at least ski.

We took advantage of the opportunity to work on technical skiing challenges. Still a good fun day. In late afternoon we traversed over to the T-bar and were rewarded with 20-30 turns of glory.

Photo is of Gayle Bourke-Shepard

Video clip is Michael O'Brien

Peer Pressure

The Canadian Ski Quest blog is back, thanks to peer pressure! Oh the stress in my life!

I am running my first Canadian Ski Quest Camp this week with Wend McIntyre. Around the table in Rafters, apres ski, the conversation (criticism) turned to the Canadian Ski Quest Blog, or lack of it. I guess my interest has waned, and yesterday was a wake up to me that people actually do follow it. So here I go.....