CSIA Level 1 at Whitewater

Dennis Lynch demonstrating CSIA potential

 I was at Whitewater this week finishing off a CSIA Level One Course that Brent Hahn did the first two days of.  It was a full course with a great group of people.  It is always good to have a mix of ages on these courses.  Often we get a lot of 15-17 year old skiers taking this program which is great but the older skiers tend to be more relaxed and less afraid of making mistakes.  The two younger skiers we had on this course were both confident and mature.  It was also international, in addition to an ex-pat American, we also had a Swiss and a Chilean candidate.

The best part was the 100% pass rate, congratulations all.  Where are you going from here?

Galo Viguera from Chile

Whitewater Ski School Director Brent Malysh far left with the newly certified ski instructors

Conditions: As you may be able to see from the photos, Whitewater is definitely ahead of Red Mountain with snow conditions, the groomers on Silver King are mid winter standard.  But we are catching up, it is snowing in Rossland as I write.

4FRNT

 I am working with 4FRNT this year and am really excited about it.  This is a ski company that just feels like it is going somewhere.

I will be skiing on the Switchblade, the Cody, and on the Hoji.  So I am covered for all conditions.

So far I only have the Switchblades mounted, I have 8 days on them.  The Switchblade is a Park Ski, but it is also a great performer on the groomers and in the bumps (where I have been using it).  It is 86mm underfoot with a 16 meter radius, a great all around ski, I love carving on it and I think it will be the ski that I will do most of my teaching on.

4FRNT is available at Red Mountain/Rossland through Ross Vegas 250 362 5858.

Canadian Ski Quest skiers get in touch with me if you want to talk skis.

Red Mountain Snowsports School Training Day

 Matt Briggs and I spent the afternoon today helping Paul Clarke and Dylan Strelioff with some Snow-sports School training.  One of the great things about early season is that everyone can get out at once.  Paul and Marion's team is looking fantastic in their new North Face uniforms.  It is great to spend time with people who love what they do.

2014 Red Mountain Opening Day

 Well Red Mountain opened yesterday for the 2014 season.  I say well done to the Red Mountain staff for working with what they have.

We have started but definitely need another snowfall.  Skiing was good up high as long as we stayed off piste.  There were a lot of stick coming through on the groomers.  I skied with the Red Mountain Free Ski Team.  We lapped Mini Bowls and Beer Belly.  It felt great to be skiing with the team and we had a great day, it was the first day of the season for me where I finished physically tired and emotionally high.

Top Photo: Links Line, I might ski it today, staying skiers far left.

Toby Sutton on Beer Belly

 Jayson Taylor working his Lines

Fine Form from Maeva Canayer









Simon Gagnon making it look easy.

First ski of the year in Kootenay Pass

The first time out in the year is always nice, good to reacquaint myself with my equipment.  And to remember how good it is to get out, especially in Kootenay Pass.

To get started at Kootenay Pass, you have to park your car right at the top of the Pass on somewhat of a major highway where space is limited.  I was changing my boots right next to  truckers who were adjusting chains and checking brakes, both people in the same place but about to experience something completly different.  Within three minutes the mayhem there is a world away.

I stopped here on my way to Banff for more CSIA Course Conductor training.  What a worthwhile break in the drive, I feel like I squeezed a bit extra out of life.  There is about a meter of snow for a base, conditions were definitely early season.  The snow in the photos looks great but it was quite heavy.  It took one hour to skin up, I had 8 great turns and then had to kind of straight-line through tress and the heavy snow.  Still it was great to be out there, I still feel the flow of those 8 turns this morning. 

Are We Skiing Yet?

Well me and my Falls Creek Ski Instructor friend Gayle Bourke-Sheppard are.  Gayle and I ventured out to the Blackjack Cross Country area, just across the highway from Red Mountain, today.  Yes it was a bit sketchy and not yet groomed, but we definitely were skiing and therefore definitely had a great afternoon.

Gayle slip sliding away, just like she downhill skis, laughing more or less continuously.

 Yes the conditions are still "early season".

It is Movember, and yes I am raising money for prostate cancer awareness, and for the Rossland Skatepark.

Marks Impey's 2014 Goals

A goal without a plan is simply a dream, I have plans but will not bore with the details.  Warren Jobbitt, the  CSIA western Program Director asked all CSIA Course Conductors to share our top 5 season 2014 goals with him, so stating them publicly I think will make them more real for me.

Here goes:

1) To maintain a level of fitness that will allow me to ski injury free for the duration.

2) To be organized enough with Canadian Ski Quest and Nonstop so that I can truly enjoy the season and my guest will experience the best season ever.

3) To attain consolidation in riding rails.

4) To be able to set an athletic standard at the highest level for the CSIA (strong level 4 demonstrator) and for the Red Mountain Freeski Team.

5) To remain involved with the CSIA

Now it's on.....

CSIA Course Conductor Indoor Training

 Jonathan and I have just been in Banff for the annual CSIA Course Conductor training.  This training is to qualify level 4 instructors to conduct CSIA certification courses for the 2014 season.  I missed the photo op but Canadian Ski Quest pros Mike Manara and Wendy McIntyre were there as well.

The usual question I get now is "how was the skiing"?  Unfortunately we did not get to ski, the training has been split into two different events, on snow (later this month) and indoor which we have just been through.  So photo on the rights is about as much sports action as there was.



The training was great but I kind fell like I have just done a day of lift accessed mountain biking, as in I got into the topic but left unsatisfied.  It was odd to be in Banff with the ski areas open and not ski.  Unfortunately Jonathan had to be at work today (damm his dedication), so could not even ski on our own.  Self imposed I guess, we will have to organized it better next year.  So I am still looking forward to day 1 on skis.

Photo of Jon on the way to the training, the view was inspiration, always nice to be in Banff.

Seven Summits School Opening Ceremony

The Seven Summits Learning Centre Official opened last week.  What a huge effort so many people put in and what a sense of acheivment now that it is off the ground and running.  I am honored to be a part of it and honored to have been asked to help cut the ribbon.  This photo is with Shelly Ackerman, chair of Learning Centre Board and Jonny Coleshill Head Mentor at the Centre.

World Snow Awards: Nonstop is "The Best"

Nonstop Ski and Snowboard has been awarded "Best Ski Tour Operator" at the World Snow Awards

Big News for a small company.

Letter from Rupert Taylor:

Dear colleagues, I have some great news...

On Friday evening, much to our surprise, Nonstop won "Best Ski Tour Operator" at the World Snow Awards!

Although we were chuffed to be finalists, we were up against some absolutely massive companies and we were certain we could never win. After all, it was down to public vote and although we have roughly 3,500 supportive past clients we didn't think we could match the likes of Crystal Ski who take 200,000 clients skiing every winter! We were so convinced that we couldn't possibly win that I didn't attend the awards ceremony (it was my sister's 30th) and Max went along just to give Nonstop a presence. We're relatively unknown in the industry so no one at the awards ceremony thought we'd win. When the ex-Olympian GB skier, Graham Bell, announced Nonstop as the winner apparently most of the room initially fell silent!! Max was at first speechless too, and then he started laughing and couldn't stop! So much so that when he phoned me, we spent several minutes just laughing at each other down the phone. It was a very surreal but a great feeling!

In the hours and days that followed I have reflected on how we won this event. Of course I knew already that we have given our clients a really great time, but it seemed amazing that the large ski companies couldn't get enough of their hundreds of thousands of past clients to vote for them. This event has given me a chance to reflect on two things:

Firstly, that we provide something very very special. The "Nonstop experience" our clients have with us is unlike anything that they've had before and the memories stay with them for years and years. What we do is really positive and we should be proud of the positive impact we have on people, and the passion we pass on to them.

Secondly, I have reflected at length on how this award has been won by every single person involved in the Nonstop journey over the past eleven years. So many people have influenced this company, our culture, the programs we offer and our clients' experience. From the office team to the hosts, from the pros to the hotel & restaurant staff, and from the guides to the drivers, everyone has had their impact. This award has been won by all of us. I am immensely proud of what we do but above all I am eternally thankful to everyone that has ever been involved in Nonstop.

So thank you, and congratulations. You should feel proud of your part in this recognition.

Incidentally, I shall be writing to our current & past instructors, plus our main suppliers, to pass on the news and my thanks.

Here's to us!! ... and to another great winter ahead of us.

Cheers,
Rupert

P.S. Sorry that the attached photo is so cheesy - I'll bring the award out to Canada in December and get some photos with some real snow, real Canadians, and real ski industry heroes!


Rupert Taylor
Nonstop Ski & Snowboard

Hike into Jumbo Pass

 Simon and I hiked into Jumbo Pass last weekend from Duncan lake on the west side.  We hiked in with our friends Patrick and Finley.

Such a beautiful place!  This was one of those experiences that I can't believe I have not done sooner.  Amazing that this place is so close to Rossland.  We camped overnight but it would be feasible to leave Rossland in the morning and get up there.

We were surprised by the number of people up there, there must have been 40-50 other hikers coming in from both the Invermere side and the Duncan lake side.

The hike (8.5km return) is short and somewhat steep, which meant that we were surrounded by views of glaciers and peaks rather quickly. The word "wow" was used a lot.

I would love to Ski tour up there sometime.

Seven Summits Learning Center Game ON

Today is a big day for me, a realization of a community dream that I have been a part of.  We have all known that it would happen but today it is very rewarding seeing the dream happening.  Today was day 1 for the Seven Summits Learning Center.  Teacher Jonny Coleshill gave the students an introduction as to what to expect from the education, how to make it work etc (this seemed to be very well received) and then he and I took the students for a hike on Red Mountain.  Great Start.

Seven Summits Learning Centre

The Community project of continued K-12 education in Rossland has been successful (Yahoo and Whew).  The NOL Committee has established the Seven Summits Learning Centre which will open in September 2013.  This is wonderful news for the Red Mountain Academy because it means that we can continue to attract International Student/Athletes to Rossland who will integrate with local youth.

This whole process has been a roller coaster ride for me emotionally and I would say the same for the town of Rossland.  It has been very hard to gauge progress or interest in the project and we never really knew if it would be successful or not.  Unlike my business projects, this was one where the outcome was dependent on so many factors (and people) that were beyond my control.  When it was annouced that it was a go I have to say I was more relieved that the process was over than anything.  But now I am excited that this is a go ahead and am starting to think of all the potential of what this can become.

Happy times!!!

Simon's First Swim Meet

I thought he was going to be asked to pee in a cup after this rookie performance.

Letter to Fellow Rosslanders

Dear Fellow Rosslanders,

The Neighborhoods of Learning Committee is on the cusp of creating something remarkable in Rossland, Grade K-12 education for the 2013/14 school year.

As a community we have adamantly expressed a demand for what the NOL has now actually produced, this is an exciting time.

The new Independent School will be partially Government funded.  There is an extra tuition fee of $1000 ($100/month) to attend this school.  However the intention of NOL is that this venture is in no way exclusive.  This fee will be waived to students with financial need.

This education will be provided in the Old Firehall or at the Red Mountain Conference Centre (as a temporary measure).  The School will offer a full grade 8-12 curriculum in an highly supportive and professional learning environment.  It will be a place where full potential will be realized.

The Red Mountain Academy has committed to enrolling its 9 international students in this new school.  However, the Red Mountain Academy needs to be assured that this School is confirmed by June 25.  The enrolment of the Red Mountain Academy students into this new school can make this a financially viable venture for NOL.  To move forward this school needs a minimum of 33 grade 8-12 students enrolled by June 25.  This school is open to any grade 8-12 BC student.

Rossland can make this happen (now) if the Red Mountain Academy contribution aligns with the expressed community interest.  This is a call to action.  The NOL is presenting us with an opportunity to create a community asset with an enormous potential to enhance Rossland's strength and spirit.  Let's make this happen!

Contact Aerin Guy of the NOL for more information aeringuy@gmail.com

Mark Impey
Chair-Red Mountain Academy

Independent School Update

What a crazy time for education potential in Rossland, tonight I had the choice of attending two emergency meetings, one with the Red Mountain Race Club and the other with the the Rossland Neighborhood's of Learning committee, both meetings focused on continued education in Rossland.  I was at the NOL meeting.

At the meeting tonight the Red Mountain Academy communicated to The NOL Committee that the Academy's mandate is to provide athletic training and coordination of that training with an educational provider, but not to actually be that Educational provider.  The NOL is now taking charge of working with the timeline that the Red Mountain Academy has set out.  The Academy has set a deadline of June 25 for a school to be in place to serve the 12 international student/athletes that are coming to Red Mountain and Rossland to train and go to school for the 2013/14 term.  If an educational option is not in place by that date the Red Mountain Academy will have inform the international students who are registered that they will have to find an education alternative.  The NOL is taking charge of working towards this deadline.

To make this vision grade k-12 viable in Rossland for the 2013-14 school term the NOL needs a minimum of 26 grade 8-12 students to register for school in Rossland this September.

A lot of things need to happen but the task is not insurmountable.  We will see how this unfolds.

Independent School in Rossland

I have been involved with a project here in Rossland where a group of us are trying to establish an independent High School in Rossland.  I thought this would be a great thing to blog about.

I have been involved in the Red Mountain Academy for 9 years as a Free-ski coach and as a Board member, I am currently the Chair of the Board.  As of 2013-14 school year the Rossland Secondary School has been closed to grade 10 to 12 students.  This basically means the end of the Red Mountain Academy Free-Ski program, not to mention the Alpine, Nordic and Snowboard programs.  So the Red Mountain Academy has partnered with Neighborhoods of Learning committee with a goal of continuing the offering of grade 8-12 education in Rossland.

The potential for this project is huge and I am excited to be part of it.  The new Red Mountain Academy School at this point can be anything, we have blank slate.  We have a certificate to run an Independent School and are also trying to partner with an existing Independent School.  Both options seem viable, and local interest is high. 

I will try to use this blog as a means of tracking our progress.  Stay tuned.

Mt. Buller Re-Visited

 I had the opportunity to revisit Mt. Buller where Dawn and I spent 8 memorable winter seasons.  It has been 10 years since I have been to Buller and it was great to relive some memories. 

I was was welcome back by Mt. Buller Snowports School Director Ross Taylor, GM Laurie Blampied and Guest Services Manager Chris Redmond.  Really in talking to these guys it was just as thought I was there last season.  I a lot of things have changed but a lot have remained the same.

I am really glad I made the side trio up there and recommend to anyone that if there is a place that was important to you when you were young to re visit it.  It is nice to put things in a good perspective.

This is the Australian Army Ski Lodge that Dawn and I managed for three seasons.



Simon and I conquered Mt. Buller.

Red Mountain Reunion in Melbourne

 I am in Australia for two weeks with Simon.  Some father/son time combined with business.  I am here for Red Mountain attending the Melbourne and Sydney Ski Shows.

We had a bit of a Red Mountain reunion night last night at the James Squire Pub in Docklands, thanks to Phil Mann for organizing.  Thanks Red Mountain Skiers for great night.

Not everyone there knew each other but it proved easy to bond with the common inspiring Red Mountain experience.

Top Photo: George Susil; Keeping the vibe high.






Front and center with Red Mountain vest is former Red Mountain Ski Instructor Greg Skowronski.






Kate Austin, Alison Plasto, Andree Hawkes and Mark Impey:

2014 Canadian Ski Quest Camp Dates

You saw it on the blog first:  I am looking forward to an action packed  fun filled 2014 season,
cheers,
Mark


Canadian Ski Quest Ignition Week                                  Jan 6-9            

Canadian Ski Quest Red Mountain/Revelstoke Tour      Jan 25-Feb 5

Canadian Ski Quest Camp 1 at Red Mountain                Feb 9-14

Canadian Ski Quest Camp 2 at Red Mountain                Feb 16-21

Canadian Ski Quest Mt. Washington                               Feb 22-28

The Canadian are Coming: To Australia

Red Mountain has given me the opportunity to travel to Australia for the Melbourne and Sydney ski shows.

So Simon and I are both coming down.  We will be in Melbourne from May 14 to 19, at the Ski Show on May 19, then traveling to Sydney with my friend Charles Edwards through Buller, Hotham and the Great Alpine Way to be at the Sydney Ski Show on May 26.  

We are both really looking forward to the trip and to catching up with with all out friends Australian.

Canadian Ski Quest Guest Complaint

Dear Mr Impey

I enclose the most self-incriminating photo of the said Jonathan Campagna, attempting customer service for the Csq group Revelstoke.

It seems that on our group hike to the top of Mt McKenzie, a pleasant 30 min hike at a pitch of only a mere 45 degrees, that your assigned coach was unable to carry the group's skis.

?!!?

As you can see from the photo, he could only manage 3 sets of skis and of course there were 6 in our group.

A reprimand of the severest magnitude is required here. Many of the group were quite annoyed too that they were forced to also carry their own poles, an awkward moment.

Sincerely
Your friend and servant
Bradley J Tatnell CSI (yes, the tv show)

Alpine Edge Close out Sale

Unfortunately my friends shop in Brisbane is going out of business:


Closing Down Liquidation - Last Sales On-site...

30-60% OFF all Items
The last sales available for the Alpine Edge store wil be:
        Day: Thursday 31 Jan
        Time:  5:00 til 7:00pm
                         AND
        Day: Saturday 2 Feb
        Time: 10:00 til 12:00pm             


        Where: 44 Latrobe Terrace Paddington
        Why: store is closed....all stock must go!



Stock List...

A full list of available stock is at
http://alpine-edge.com/liquidation-sale-pg24674.html



Discounted Items!

ALL the stock is discounted.
30-60% OFF!!!!!!!
Last chance to get your gear.& cannot make it?
Email us to arrange the gear you want....
Contact us via www.alpine-edge.com


WHAT'S

NEXT?

Leftover stock will be available on-line for either post or pickup.
However, the items will be cheaper if you come to the final sales on Thurdsay or Saturday.

Canadian Ski Quest Ignition Camp

 Today was Day 2 of the 2013 Ignition Camp.

Igniting their skiing performance are top to bottom:

Peter Parrot (Canada)
Roger Foot (Australia)

We also did our fair share of off piste skiing, and discoverd the importance of skiing with friends on Red Mountain.   One of the group got a bit stuck and would have been there for a long time without some helping hands.

Nonstop Snow Safari

 I had a great day with the Nonstop Snow Safari over the weekend.  The Snow Safari is a Nonstop tour that travels from Fernie, to Red Mountain to Revelstoke and then on to Kicking Horse.  Nonstop organizes an Instructor to guide the group at each resort.  The group I was with seemed pretty happy with the overall experience.

Thanks to Safari Skier Alex Booker for the photos.

Nonstop Red Mountain 2013

The 2013 Red mountain Nonstop program is on.
I drove with Phil Mann to Cranbrook to pick up half of the group.  Everyone seemed very happy to be in Canada. 

The drive back was awesome, a great introduction to Canada.  Empty white highways, heavy snowfall through the Kootenay Pass (as usual), with a van towing a heavy U-haul.  I love those drives, for me it was full on focus the whole way.

Today we ran the tour of Rossland, set everyone's equipment up and had a nice dinner together at Gabriella's Restaurant.  We have 18 participants this year, it is a really nice group of people.  

CSCF Entry Level Race Coach Course at Red Mountain

The Canadian Ski Coaches Federation is running an Entry Level (EL) Race Coach certification course at Red Mountain this weekend.  Candidates from Whitewater, Salmo Ski Hill and the Red Mountain Racers are training over the next three days hoping to become certified.  

There is one remarkable thing about this course and that is who is facilitating it; pictured below are CSCF staff left to right Keith Robinson, Glen Wurtele, and Grant Rutherglen with Red Mountain Vice President Erik Kalacis.  Seriously this is the most experienced team of Course facilitators that I have ever seen.  Keith is a Master CSCF Facilitator, Glen a long time National Team Coach, and Red Mountain Racer Coach Grant is National Team Alumni and one of only a few people certified Level 4 both CSIA and CSCF.  I'm wishing I would have signed up for this course.

 

Winter Touring Wonderland

 I went for a ski tour with Nic Foot on New Years Eve.  What a great send off for 2012.  The weather was perfect for touring.  The "valley fog" was very high. We only got above it when we were on Grey Mountain but once above it everything was just so spectacular.  The cloud reached as high as the top of Granite Mountain, in fact we could see the micro wave tower but not the actual peak of the mountain.

After a warm up on Mt. Roberts, Nic and I skinned up Grey and then continued over to Mt. Kirkup and from there skied to the highway where we had left my van.
Check out the video of Nic skiing down Kirkup, a very nice way to top off an already incredible experience.

Nic and I at the top of Grey Mountain with Old Glory in the background.







Winter Wonderland











Nic nearing Mt. Kirkup Summit