Saturday, January 31, 2009

Lazy Days are so Good!

Sorry peps, i haven't exactly been keeping up with the blog very well the last few days.

Its been the usual case of time just disappearing on me and not having enough of it to write a post. This is even the case when i haven't been skiing. I haven't skied since Thursday but i every time i say i need to add to my blog something happens and i don't achieve it.

So as some of you have been saying i being slack not posting every day - not naming names Mum and Mart, here is what has been going on in the last few days.

Friday was a classroom session on Avalanche Safety Training (AST). My god it was so long and so boring. We saw a gazillion pictures of avalanches and their trigger points; the first few were intriguing but after the umpteenth time of seeing the same thing it was quite OTT. The video was quite cool but again was a little long. The theory behind snow, how it forms, the different types of layers and weather effects seem to drag on as well! There was a big sigh of relief when the instructor finally said that's it!

Friday night was hockey night so we headed over to the Fernie Memorial Arena to watch the Ghostriders get their buts kicked 5-1, not a great nights entertainment - oh well.

Highlight of the day was definitely the pool party after the hockey. Being the boring sod i can be i didn't get in the pool - cos it was freezing and i rather enjoyed the humour of watching Hannah and Brad go in virtually fully clothed. The highlight came when the Snowboard Host, Adam came down after the receptionist tried to lock up at lock up time only to find a party going on in the Rec Room / Pool Area and had the shock of her life. Adam said he would stay and look after the place until 11.30 but not long after 11 Tom decided he should go in - fully clothed, wallet, beer and mobile included. Superb!
That though brought an abrupt end to the Party and our night!

Saturday was a chill out day for me as i was not doing the activity that was going on. I did make use of it though to get some things done that i have been meaning to for a while. I went to town to buy my ski waxing kit and some general groceries. Then came back and did the frightening thing of waxing my skis for the first time! It's rather disconcerting i have to say to watch the ski bend out of shape as you apply the wax and then run the iron over the skis to spread it out. Fortunately it appears i did something right cos they have bent back and are ready to go for tomoz!
Apart from sitting around chatting to various peps the afternoon disappeared without incident till dinner time.

It was a double whammy of hockey this weekend so a quick dins was required - bring on A&W's (a McDonald's predecessor). Papa burger was good - kinda! Then off to watch the hockey - what a game - plenty of rough and tumble and what a win for the Riders - 4-2 on Penalties.
After the game i came back to the lodge and chilled in the Rec Room for a while playing pool and chatted after that with the gang in Paul and Marks Room. Just in case i ha vent detailed enough; AFTER THAT i watched the first set of the Aussie Tennis Final and AFTER THAT i went to sleep!


Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Pow - Pow

Today i have nothing more to say other than POWDER!
Skiing the pow pow was absolutely brilliant.
Need i say more than i want more - bring it on!


Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Snowplough is so hard!

Snow snow snow glorious snow. We woke up this morning to light flurries of snow!
By the time we had reached the hill it was blowing a hooley and pouring with snow. Yeah!

Instructor stuff started proper today and we went back to the basics!
which end of the ski is the front, which is the back, how to do up your boots and how to ski in a straight line then sssssnnnnnnnnnooooowwwwwwwwwppppppllllllloooooouuuuggggghhhhhh!
When trying to do this it really is hard as we are so used to parallel skiing.

Also today we had our first video session; its so wierd to watch myself skiing - but useful at the same time.

This afty we went powder skiing for the first time - it was awesome and the snow was amazing even though there was only 5cm ish of it - loved it and cant wait for tomoz.

This evening we had a tuning session for tuning our skis and looking after them. Closely, to closely in fact (only had time for starter and pudding at dinner!)by my first climbing class at the college. Great fun - loved it.

So if that wasnt enough i am going to bed to get up nice and early hopefully for lots of powder skiing!

Laters people.


Monday, January 26, 2009

OK so it is insanely cold here!

Not going say more than today was the coldest i have ever been.
-30C without wind chill is ridiculous and it was about -35C with the windchill; thank god for the sunny day.

Skiing was great and very challenging as well as fun, like skiing without skis!

Praying for snow tonight and hopefully it will be right for once.


Sunday, January 25, 2009

Chillout Day

With nothing on the agenda as such today i spent it doing chores and stuff.

Went shopping for food, did the washing and wanted to phone home, but the whole of fernie lost telecoms today so couldn't access internet till late this evening - bugger.

Wont bore anyone with more boring details; will write again tomoz after day 3 of lessons.

Laters


Saturday, January 24, 2009

So it does get really cold over here!

After yesterdays chill things only got colder today. Approx -25C is pretty chilly and even the instructors were suffering saying that it aint normal to be this cold.
Great so its bloody freezing and and it aint snowing - what is going on? I came to Fernie cos of its infamous 'powder' - well i would like to see some please as i have been hear almost two weeks and i haven't really seen snow.

We picked it up a bit today with Bruno our instructor who is from Wales btw. Started pushing ourselves a bit harder and it showed - we all had falls at some point or other.
We watched the cardboard derby for a bit as well - hilarious; you are aloud to use cardboard, duc tape and string to get 4 people down a hit as quick as possible. I have put a video below.



This afty we did some crazy stuff, but great fun including a mountain bike track through the trees - fast and narrow, with little way of stopping! Had a drink in the Griz bar at the end of the day or a Starbucks hot chocolate in my case and am now chilling writing this before spending more cash to pay for my extra activities.

Later there is the first massive party at the OGS - should be mental. Will let you know tomoz how it goes!

One last thing while i remember here are a few views of Fernie and Mt Fernie:



Friday, January 23, 2009

Oh 'Shin Banging' really hurts!

As usual time just disappears and i don't have enough time to write what i want on my blog.

Any way Friday was first skiing day of the course and it was bloody freezing.
Went up the mountain before the meet at 10 and it was absolutely freezing -19C without windchill, so when skiing down it was like, well, cold!
Buying of a balaclava was a must and then we set off in our preassigned groups.

On the second run down i got track crossing so wrong and well had a mega wipeout - was quite proud of it actually. But at the time and still does my shin really hurt/s cos it got slammed back and forward in the boot hence the expression shin banging.

Hopefully all will be well for tomoz though.
The rest of the day was taken up with lunch bit of fun skiing a couple of talks back at the lodge and an awesome hockey game - it was like a war zone plus the Ghostriders won 4-1. The evening ended with lots of chilling and me writing this!

Laters


Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Fine days do exist in Fernie!

I woke up this morning to snow!

Unfortunately when i say it was snowing i mean lightly but that's better than none at all i suppose. Catching the 9.30 bus we were on the snow by 10. It was nice to have a little fresh snow to ski on rather than the ice and rocks that we have had for the last few days.

On the other hand the temperatures this morning were absolutely downright absurd! On the way up the Timberline chair my fingers literally felt like they were falling off. I had to break for a hot chocolate to get them back to a reasonable temperature. The worrying thing is it isn't cold yet - the forecast for the weekend changes by the day but the latest i have seen is -23C for Saturday!

Trying to catch up cant remember much else from today as it is now two days later so i will end this post here!


Tuesday, January 20, 2009

I think my skiing is improving

Well as usual i don't seem to have enough hours in the day to write and update a post for the blog.

Today has been quite good skiing wise although quite cold.

Have been blasting out some runs with Malin and the gang and really enjoyed myself - my skiing was much better today than yesterday - i was sitting down on my skis like i was permantlely going to la toilet! Today much more upright and better skiing for it.

Did do some damage to the bank account though; in readiness for the cold snap this weekend decided that i should replace my old selopates with some new 'ski pants' so that i dont freeze!

For the rest of the day it has been chilled and ate in at the lodge for dins.

Late now.... laters peps


Sunday, January 18, 2009

There just aint enough hours in the day!

Well i would love to try and keep doing this more often but i just never seem to have enough time.

After going for pizza last night at the local 'Boston Pizza' we returned to lodge to chill.

Today has been good as well. It started with a very rushed breakfast in the lodge cafe consisting of pancakes and syrup - nice! Then a quick dash to the bus to get on the hill.

Had slight issue when i arrived in that one of my bindings had moved and i couldn't get my boot in - fortunately a friendly chap at the slope side rental repair shop solved the issue. Gotta tighten the bindings though as doing a jump today i landed it sweetly and still my skis came off!

Up on the hill though for the first time it was sunny at the top and the view was awesome:





This evening when we returned from a full day on the hill - i hit the hot tub and sauna - that was so nice. And this evening went to 'The Pub' for dins before heading to the OGS (Old Grocery Store) for a chat with the rest of the gang - all in all a good day.


Friday, January 16, 2009

Ice Hockey is SO cool!

Things happen so quickly here i forget to mention everything. Today has been another wicked day.

After yesterdays fall i was pleased to wake up this morning and find that my leg hardly hurt at all. So i just went out as usual and skiied a normal day. We continued exploring the mountain today and came across some interesting features, although at times you couldn't see a thing in the cloud.

It was Steve's first day and we had a great time cruising around the runs showing him the areas we knew.

This evening we went to a McDonalds wannabe for dinner and rolled up to the local hockey hall to watch the Fernie Ghostriders play the Creston Thundercats.

Move over football and Rugby this sport is way more interesting, its fast and exciting and as a male exciting cos they are really rough and even fight each other; no pussies here!

After the match we hit the OGS house for a party which went on well into the early hours. I had a great time meeting people and observing the crazy goings on!


Thursday, January 15, 2009

Wicked Skiing

After a gentle and chilled first day on the slopes i just ran out of time to post last night when we returned from a Thai restaurant and 'The Pub' to write a post, but that is gonna happen.

Oh bugger - Day 2 skiing and i have done my first piece of damage. Had a fall today and hurt the calf and shin on my right leg: oh well hopefully it will be OK in the morning.

Other than this the skiing stepped up a notch today - going much faster and down stepper runs, which in all honesty i loved. The Swedish girl; Malin is a skiing godess and trying to follow her and keep up with her is great if a trifle wild!

I would like to write more in this post but i gained a surprise roommate today (Steve), and he has gone to sleep, so cant make much noise!

Oh btw i bought my skis today - ouch, will fill you in more tomoz.

Laters people.


Tuesday, January 13, 2009

I dont like the exchange rate!

Well after the party that we attended last night the whole ethos of Non Stop became clear.
Lots of drinking partying and general fun! I called it a halt after a 23 hr day just before the police arrived to tell them to quieten down!

Today was a little more leisurely but we were still up and going by 8.30 ish and in Mugshots for not long after 10 for a full breakfast Canadian style.

After this it was time to hit the shops to make some purchases - skis and a helmet. Unfortunately after walking into the first ski shop we came across i was slightly shocked at the price of skis; about CAD$1000! But they are kinda essential so have to be bought. I have lined up to try out some skies tomoz, going bright and early at 8 to collect them! Then the fun begins!

I also went on the lookout for a helmet today. After trying on a million and one Giro helmets to find one that fitted me and my goggles i eventually went for a white Smith one. Quite like it after being unsure to start with.

Still suffering from the jet lag slightly and currently think its early in the morning when its no where near - struggled a bit at the party at the lodge we had tonight. Met Louise for the first time out here today as well, doesn't seem like she having much luck at the mo though as she was brought down the mountain today by a ski patrol and that's after being in hospital earlier this week!

With the lack of sleep a major issue and early start tomoz i will sign off for today here.

Night


I have arrived

Just a quick post to let all know that i have arrived safe and well. Been to a house party this evening and am now going to bed after a full 24 hrs on the go - no sleep.
My body thinks its 7.40 am on Tuesday but actually its only 12.40 am - weird!
Will up date with more details tomoz.


Sunday, January 11, 2009

The Yotel Hotel Cube

Well today was finally the day - my three months of fun has begun.

Checking in at the airport gave me a small surprise as the bags that i finished packing this morning were obviously heavier than i thought. Slightly over weight; some re packing required!

The flight was all ok and had no issues getting as far as the transfer. Interesting system though they have got setup at Heathrow Terminal 5 - Its kinda on its own- getting to the other terminals isnt well labeled or as straight forward as it could be.

When i found it at Terminal 4 the Yotel was probably the most interesting thing of the day. Check in is easy, when it works second time round. Then the laugh of the room size becomes apparent. I knew it was small from the price i paid and what it said on the website but i struggled to get my bags in the door and when in they take up half of it! Inspite of this though - for a few hours sleep though its great. Below is a little video of my room!



Saturday, January 10, 2009

Here We Go - Almost!

Well that time has so nearly come. Its almost the day of departure. I still have a few things to pack but most of it is there thankfully.

Just booked the hotel for tomoz so i know i have somewhere to sleep tomorrow night thankfully, then we are go on Monday for the long haul to Canada!

Anyways still got things to do and bits to pack as well as sleep all before an early start tomoz so i will catch ya later.


Monday, January 5, 2009

A week to Go!

With the leaving date now less than a week away i felt like it was time to start my blog.
The aim of my blog is really to be a bit like a diary i suppose with hopefully daily updates on what i have been doing, how i have been getting on, any pictures i take and any crazy videos that get recorded! I hope to try and make it a little humorous where possible so it aint just another dull read!

Things really are starting to come together now with final last minute bits and pieces being bought and i would like to say packed but they are still sitting on the bed in the back room as my bags are in the post on the way to me. Hopefully they will get here on time; Fedex doesn't know my parcel exists yet!

Well that's the latest from James HQ so i will sign off my first post.