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