No Regrets

Losing It

2012-01-22T07:06:00.000-08:00

One benefit of improving your skiing is the feeling of control that develops. To achieve that secure feeling we often seek runs, terrain, and conditions with which we are comfortable and then ski them at a comfortable speed. I’d like to challenge that conventional way of thinking by positing that the only way you can truly know that you are in balance is to lose and regain it. One amazingly fluid and exciting skier I had the pleasure to ski with recently likened her skiing to a series of linked recoveries. She goes for it when she skis and if she gets out of balance she corrects mid-stream with a double pole plant or repositioning of the body. To watch her you would never think she is out of balance. My best runs of the day were when I really went for it – it is amazing how quickly you are able to recover from any imbalances when you are active in your skiing. When trying this, keeping the turn shape smaller as it keeps you moving.To be clear I’m not advocating being unsafe. You have to be mindful of other people on the hill. But the next time you are out skiing, look for opportunities to ski off-piste, on rollers or side angles, and pick up the speed skiing on the edge of your comfort zone. You may be surprised to see what you are capable of.

Striving for Balance

2011-12-15T16:27:00.000-08:00

Finding balance in skiing can be as elusive as finding it in life. It is especially challenging at the beginning of the ski season. Yet balance is the foundation of good skiing.

A wise man (okay, a race coach) once said balance is any position you are in if you have not fallen. While a little tongue in cheek, the point he was making is that balance in skiing is achieved by being in a constant state of motion. As a skier makes their way down the hill the platform under their skis is constantly changing due to incline, snow texture, bumps, depressions, and so on. If you are static (i.e., not in the process of either bending or extending your legs) you will get the sensation of the terrain skiing you rather than the other way around.

Here are some simple drills I find helpful to get in balance, particularly at the beginning of the season.

1) “Shmeered turns”. Try not to carve your first day or two back on snow. Instead focus on using lots of movement in your hips, knees, and ankles to make round turns down the hill. With carving skis, one can easily apply an edge while being out of balance but it is impossible to execute round turns out of balance.
2) Feel your feet in your boots. Where are you feeling pressure on your feet (shins, heels, inside, outside)? Where in the turn are you feeling it? Try feeling as though your feet are flat on the bottoms of your boots – as though you are balanced on the binding – throughout the turn.
3) Try skiing with your toes up throughout the turn. This forces you to balance over the ball of your foot.
4) For more advanced skiers use inside ski turns where you start each turn skiing only on your inside ski, adding your outside ski after you turn out of the fall line.
5) Also for advanced skiers, use delay turns where you pivot into the fall line, take the time to balance over your skis, then pick up the edge to complete the turn.

Above all, be patient. Your balance will return with some mileage. This is the time of the season to focus on the fundamentals. With strong balance as your base you will be able to take on new ski challenges throughout the season.

On a personal note, I have made a huge leap forward in achieving some balance in my life. I have made the permanent move to Whistler where I will run my media consulting business while skiing and instructing as much as I can. :)

Guided Mileage

2011-02-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

Skiing is a mileage game. The more you ski the more opportunities you have to experience different conditions and terrain and improve your ability to ski them. Yet so often I hear people say that they ski and ski and don’t seem to improve. My response is to ask what they are working on. Nine times out of 10 they have no response. Unless you know what you are trying to improve, how do you expect to get better?

To help you figure out what you need, take a lesson. And don’t let the learning end when the lesson is over. Make notes of the tips the instructor gave you, the terrain you skied, and any drills or tactics the instructor had you use. When you free ski replicate elements of the lesson that worked for you. Have a focus for each run. Know what you are working to improve and what tactics you can use to get better. Rather than just repeating the way you always ski over and over again, guided mileage helps you make the changes necessary to improve.

Buckle Up

2011-02-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

The most important part of your ski equipment is your boots. For people starting out who can’t afford to buy everything at once I advise buying boots and renting skis. Your boots are what transfer all your muscular efforts into your skis. Changing boots will affect your skiing more than changing skis.

Yet I am constantly surprised at the number of skiers who suffer through ill-fitting boots, who have to crank down the buckles to get anything out of them, or whose feet are always cold. Boots can be blown out. Buckles can be moved. Shells can be shaved down. Very few people are lucky enough to have factory-made boots fit them perfectly at the store. This is why ski shops include boot fitting as part of the cost of the boot. This includes not only the initial fitting but any adjustments required once you start skiing them and they pack out.

Don’t forget the bottom of your feet. I’d highly recommend foot beds if you are a regular skier. Foot beds support the arches of your feet allowing for better power transfer and feet that aren’t sore at the end of the day. The ones that come with boots are one size fit all. Super feet are a cheaper alternative though I swear by my custom foot beds. They last for years and can be moved from ski boot to ski boot.

I am often asked how a boot should fit. My answer: snug but comfortable. You want your foot firmly housed in the boot with no room to move but you don’t want it to pinch or hurt. You should be able to ski comfortably with your boots unbuckled. In fact, I often keep the bottom couple of buckles undone for my first one or two runs of the day until my feet get used to them again.

The most important buckle on your boots isn’t actually a buckle at all but the power strap – the Velcro strap at the top of your boots. This should be done up as tightly as you can so that the tongue of your boot is firmly against your shin with no space between. Otherwise people ski too far forward in their boots trying to seek the tongue and find that control.

The single best thing I’ve learned this year is to do up my power strap over the tongue but UNDER the shell of the boot. If your boot will accommodate you doing this, do it. It will get the tongue of the boot firmly against your shin. Plus it will upright the boot slightly allowing you to stand more comfortably in your boots and ski in a more stacked position using your skeleton rather than your muscles making you less tired at the end of the day.

Once you get your boots fitted perfectly, there is a lot you can do once you take them home to take care of them. Always keep them buckled. Thoroughly dry them out each time you use them by either removing the liners or using a boot drier. Do NOT leave the carefully adjusted shells by the fire or there is nothing a boot fitter can do to help you!

Ice Ice Baby

2011-02-28T16:04:00.000-08:00

I once had a trainer tell me he loved the ice. He said that it gave him external feedback as to whether he was balanced on his skis. While I certainly wouldn’t go as far as to say I enjoy skiing on ice, there are ways to it less painful.

First, it’s important to determine if what you are skiing is, in fact, ice. Sometimes skiers refer to hard pack as ice. It isn’t. Hard pack is snow that is packed down so hard that there is no loose snow on it. It is white. Ice is when you can see your reflection. Ice sparkles in the sunlight. Neither are particularly fun to ski but at least with hard pack, you can carve through it. Well tuned skis certainly help.

One strategy with ice is avoidance. Some runs will always be icier than others. These are usually those that funnel through a lot of traffic. For the same reason, icy spots are generally found in the middle of runs. These spots can be avoided by skiing as close to the side of the run as you are comfortable. Steeper pitchers are often icy because of skiers and boarders of lower abilities who push the snow to the bottom side slipping rather than carving the run.

If a patch of ice is unavoidable I think of skiing it “lightly”. While the natural reaction is to try and dig in, if it is truly ice and not hard pack you will not win that battle. It is better to get over it as quickly as possible while trying not to allow it to disrupt your rhythm. Concentrate on this good rhythm and on continuous movement (bending and extending) in your legs as ice often causes one to freeze up (pardon the pun).

The better balanced you are over your skis, the less ice will throw you. So on icy days, as on any other days, focus on balancing over your feet with your feet flat in your boots .

Like any new situation, skiing ice gets easier with practice so try not to give up and quit early on an icy day. You may never love it like my trainer but you will get more comfortable with it. And if all else fails you can exact your revenge on ice by consuming it in your après ski cocktail!

Posture Perfect

2011-02-18T18:54:00.000-08:00

A simple adjustment many skiers can make to improve ski performance is to modify their body position between the waist and the neck. The majority of skiers either ski too upright or bend over straight from the waist. Skiing with your back straight and shoulders back may follow what your mother told you about good posture but does nothing to engage your ski from its centre to its tail. This body position is more often seen with men, particularly those who carry some extra weight around the middle, but can also be seen with those who have participated in aesthetic-based sports (e.g., dancing, figure skating, diving, or gymnastics).

Skiing bent over from the hips is more common with women and tends to happen when skier are told to bend over more without being told how to do so. Then the bend comes at the hips giving the appearance of the butt sticking out. What this does to ski performance is get the skier “in the back seat” and thus unable to effectively work the front of their ski.

So what should good ski posture look and feel like? Think of being in a “ready position” – an athletic position like you would if you were waiting for a tennis ball to be served to you or a football to be snapped. For women, picture wearing a super tight pair of high waist jeans that force you to suck in your tummy. Picture these jeans coming up a couple inches higher than your belly button then roll your shoulders over keeping your waist upright. For men who may not be as familiar with the tight jeans feeling, picture getting sucker punched in the stomach around your belly button. As your stomach moves inward, roll your shoulders forward.

The goal for both groups is to keep your butt and hips upright and stacked over your legs with only your shoulders rolled forward. This will give you the active stance necessary to react to anything that comes at you but also allow you to use the whole length of the leg in your skiing and engage the whole ski tip to tail.

Look up...Way up...

2011-01-13T14:18:00.000-08:00

One of the simplest things a skier can do to improve their skiing is to change where they look when they ski. If you love the way it looks when your skis disappear under deep powder or how cool it is when you show off the base when you are carving, you are not looking far enough ahead! When you are driving, do you look at your hood ornament or the road? The next time you see ski racing on TV take a look at where the racers are looking. They are not looking at the gate they are skiing around, they are looking two or three gates ahead. Integrating the same tactic into your recreational skiing will dramatically improve your skiing.
Skiers that look down or immediately ahead when they ski are often not symmetrical from turn to turn. They fail to anticipate changes in terrain. Their skiing lacks flow. They are more likely to be involved in collisions with other people on the hill.
So the next time you are skiing, pick an object way down the hill to focus on – a ski chalet, body of water, or a caution sign. Keep it in your sight the entire run. If you are not in the habit of doing this, it will feel foreign at first and you will likely have to keep reminding yourself to look up. But I guarantee you will be skiing faster, more fluidly, and in control.

A Fresh Start

2010-12-14T06:06:00.000-08:00

A unique part of skiing is its limited season. Without extensive travel and expense, we can only ski a few months of the year. This brings a process of relearning as we start again each year. It is important to be easy on ourselves during this time and not compare our skiing to what we were doing at the end of last season. Think of it instead as an incredible opportunity for reinvention and to break past one’s previous abilities. Here are some ways to ease back into the season while setting yourself up for your best season yet.

Balance is one of the most critical aspects of skiing. In order to get your season off to a great start, the best thing you can do is experiment in finding your balance. One way is to concentrate on your feet in your boots. Think about feeling your feet flat on the bottom of the sole of the boot throughout the turn.

Play with your stance. Do one run with your legs as wide apart as you can muster. Do the next run with your feet glued together 80s style but still using good form. Find a position somewhere between that feels natural to you.

While standing still, try hanging off the front of the boot. Then see how far back you can lean in them. Find a relaxed natural position somewhere between.

Remember that in order to maintain balance while skiing over constantly changing terrain, balance must be in motion. Keep your legs moving constantly through the turn without any static posed spots.

Choose terrain with which you are comfortable to figure things out. But don’t be afraid to once in a while throw in a more challenging run. This will prevent you from getting caught in a rut and make you a more rounded skier.

Look ahead when you ski. Not just for safety but to add flow to your skiing by anticipating where you will be a few turns out.

Mix it up. Everyone has a favourite turn shape that we like to revert to. If it is medium sized turns that are your thing, do some great big turns mixed with some short turns in the same run. This promotes movement and adaptability.

Ski top to bottom. Especially if you are skiing in Ontario. Our runs are simply not long enough to stop, rest, and re-gather part way down. If you want to get back in ski shape quickly or prepare yourself for skiing a bigger mountain, you need to ski longer runs. You should be a bit out of breath at the bottom. It shows you are pushing yourself. You have the whole lift line and chairlift ride back up to recover.

Ski loose. Chances are the skiers you admire on the hill have a relaxed ease to their skiing. Make a conscious effort to be loose and free. And have fun!

Hope something here resonates with you and you have an incredible start to your ski season! Hope to see you on the slopes soon!

Lessons from the Rink

2010-11-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

Ice skating, whether it is hockey, ringette, or figure skating, is one of Canada’s great past-times. It is hard to grow up in Canada and not have skated at some time in your life. Being your typical prairie Canadian, I grew up on skates, logging 15 years of figure skating while simultaneously coaching figure and power skating for the last 7 years of my skating career.

Then when I graduated from high school I stopped. It was what was expected. I moved on, went to university, began my career, and eventually embraced downhill skiing as my winter passion. But I still dreamed of skating and this fall after a 20+ year hiatus, I returned to the sport. Doing so has caused me to reflect on the similarities between skating and skiing.

There is a lot of muscle memory involved in a sport you performed regularly over 15 years. Though I had only skated a half dozen times in the last 20 years I had full confidence I would still “have it” when I returned. Skating across the ice the first time, I really missed having a long ski underfoot instead of a wee blade. Which brings me to my first shared skill: Balance. If you can balance on a rockered blade that’s 5 mm wide and less than a foot long, what challenge is there to a 66 cm wide, 164 cm long ski?

Of course, Stance goes with balance and there the hockey players’ semi-prone body position is much more similar to that of a skier’s. For years I had to work on getting rid of my figure skater’s arched back when I skied. Now that I am skating again, I am trying to straighten it back from the rolled over posture I’ve gotten used to as a skier!

Strong skaters have the ability to move quickly from forwards to backwards and backwards to forwards. Hockey players do it by transferring weight from one foot to the other (a Mohawk in figure skating parlance) while figure skaters are also capable of doing it on one foot (a three turn). Both methods of turning require Pivoting – turning with the feet- our second ski skill. Three turns involve bending the knee to initiate, un-bending (unweighting) to pivot, and bending again to complete. Sound a little like a ski turn?

Ever watch a hockey player fly around a corner to pick up a loose puck? How about ice dancers create deep, round edges as part of their program. There is even a warm up drill for skating called slalom. Yes, the third shared skill between skiing and skating is Edging. When skiing, skaters have a great ability to “move inside” the turn due to their well-developed lateral balance.

As a point of departure between the two sports, when you carve in skating, your weight is on your inside leg, the opposite as when you are skiing. This is what makes skaters so good at inclination (leaning into a turn) but sometimes lacking in angulation (maintaining weight on the outside ski by keeping the body in a C-shape).

With skating as in skiing, a lot of forces are built up that need to be reined in. In figure skating you see this when figure skaters “check” using a still upper body to land a jump or exit a turn. You also see it when they land a jump, reaching down to their ice with a straight landing leg that then quickly bends and absorbs the pressure upon contact with the ice. This can be likened to a skier absorbing the forces with their skis for Pressure Control, the fourth shared skill.

The final shared skill is Timing and Coordination. In hockey, you have to have incredible hand-eye coordination to pass the puck or score. Timing is everything. In figure skating, all routines are set to music with jumps, spins, and dance moves timed to the beat. Having the wrong timing on a jump or lift can be disastrous. Teaching skaters how to coordinate their movements and implement a pole plant is a piece of cake.

What these five skills don’t take into account are the intangibles that make skaters great skiers – a zest for life, fearlessness, and embracing of our Canadian winters.

So, if you are looking for a great off-season way to work on your skiing, or a way to stay in ski-shape on days you can’t make it to the hill, why not consider lacing up and getting in some skating? Your skiing will be all the better for it. See you at the rink!

Setting Yourself Up For Success

2010-10-09T03:10:00.000-07:00

From turkey tent sales and ski shows to the nip in the air, signals abound that the ski season will soon be upon us. As passionate skiers we can't help but start to make ski plans, get our gear in check, and perhaps even think about goals for the season.

What helps you to get better as a skier? One key is mileage. Whether you were lucky enough to get that mileage as a child or are now building it as an adult, to get better at skiing you need to spend time skiing. Now is the perfect time to lay out your ski plan for the year - whether it's marking up a calendar, inputting it into Outlook, or (like me) a detailed Excel spreadsheet, commit now to the number of days you plan to ski this season. Then try to beat it.

Of course we all know that repeating the same thing over and over expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity. Guided mileage is key. Start the year with a lesson. The first ski day after the summer break is magical. Just when you're thinking "will I remember how to do this?" your body takes over and you recall why you love skiing. This sensation of your body taking over is what is often referred to as muscle memory. The beginning of the season when your muscle memory is just being reactivated is the perfect time to break bad habits before they are reinforced.

Once the season is underway, check back in periodically with lessons to measure your progress and to find new ways to develop your skills. But remember to also spend time free skiing and integrating this knowledge. Discovery is an important part of the learning process.

Challenge yourself. Try new things. Define now what your goal for the season is going to be. The opportunities are endless - skiing black diamond runs on your next vacation to a big mountain, getting comfortable in the moguls, racing the gates efficiently, or becoming a ski instructor. The best goals are SMART - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Speak to an instructor about steps you can take to reach your individual goal.

The ski season will soon be upon us. Make it your most successful season yet!

Straddling East and West

2010-10-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Last winter my dreams came true. I was able to spend the entire winter living in the mountains, skiing every day, instructing and training with an incredible ski school, and oh yeah, taking in the Olympic alpine events in person. I turned the layoff from my corporate job into the opportunity of a lifetime.

Last winter's blog posts were written from Whistler, usually after a hard day's skiing. Since returning to Toronto, I've had the opportunity to reflect on some of the differences between skiing and instructing in the East versus the West.

Days at Whistler Blackcomb began with early moring training sessions for the instructors. There I quickly learned a couple things. These skiers skiied fast! Aand they don't stop. I was initially held back by my Ontario obsession with trying to make each turn perfect. I had to learn to just go for it and let my skis run. An invigorating way to start the day for sure! I also had to build up my endurance. My muscles and my cardio had to take me the equivalent distance of at least five Ontario-length runs without stopping.

So when could an Ontario insrtuctor excel? Perhaps not surprisingly in more technical conditions - on the odd day that we didn't have fresh snow or worked on skills like short radius turns. Then my "skinny skis"" (carving skis) came in handy! As did my regimen of meticulously waxing and edging my skis - something that is less of a focus for skiers that are always used to fresh snow.

One thing that has always bothered me as a skier in Ontario was so-called skiers who couldn't be "bothered" to ski in Ontario and limited their skiing to the one week or two they could get away each year. I love skiing too much to go a sinlge weekend without skiing. While Ontario does not present the challenging terrain that the west has to offer, there are many opportunities to improve your skiing - ski gates, moguls, trees. Heck, if that fails to challenge you, try skiing backwards or head into the terrain park!

The hardest part of my experience was winter ending and leaving Whistler. I would have stayed in a heartbeat if I could have figured out a way to integrate my professional life into the community. So I am back in Toronto where I have started my own company and will be instructing for High Park this winter. But I will still be straddling East and West as I have also committed to teaching at least four weeks for Whistler Blackcomb. You will be hearing from me from both places come this winter so stay tuned....

Packing it in

2010-04-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

For those not lucky enough to have a spring ski vacation on the horizon, it is time to start thinking about packing away your ski gear for the summer. A little extra care now will set you up for a great next season.

First your skis: before stashing them away, treat them to a thick coat of hot wax. Coat not only the bases but also include the metal edges. Do not scrape. The wax will keep the bases moist so your skis don't dry out or warp in the off months. Covering the edges helps prevent them from rusting. It doesn't matter which of your ski waxes you use. I use whichever one I have the most of at the end of the season.

Note your DIN number and write it down on a Post-it note that you attach to your skis. Then take a flat edged screwdriver and release the front and back DIN of your bindings by unscrewing it to zero or until there is no tension left. This will ease the tension of the springs and ensure your bindings continue to work well for the lifetime of your skis. Just don't forget to re-set the DIN come fall! The Post-it note will remind you to re-set as well as remind you of your DIN. Store your skis somewhere with little temperature fluxtuation and that isn't too dry or too damp. So long as they are completely dry, storing them in your ski travel bag will keep them dust-free.

Before putting away your ski boots for the season, make sure the buckles are fastened in the same spots you keep them fastened when you are wearing them. Do up the power strap. Ski boots should never be left unbuckled even during the season as the hard plastic has memory that will make them difficult to fasten later. Store them somewhere that does not get too warm. Heat will affect the plastic shell and can undo any work (punching out) you have done on the boots.

Finally, I find it very useful to make note of any ski items (e.g., gloves, long underwear) that I need for the following season. Then you will be armed for any surprise summer sales or fall ski shows.

For those finished skiing for the season, enjoy your summer! For those not quite ready to call it quits, it has been DUMPING in Whistler. Look me up.

Pow Pow!

2010-03-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

As I write this, it is dumping snow outside which means one thing - powder! True powder days are elusive and thus stand out in skiers' memories. The key is to make it stand out for being fun rather than tedious.

Many western skiers are effortless in the powder, floating along on top of the snow. Not only do they have the opportunity to ski powder more often but they are also often on a wider ski. Some ski widths have gotten ridiculous. I've seen many skis this season that are wider in the mid-section than my skis are at the tip and tail. However, a mid-fat ski (around 80 mm) underfoot will allow you to float on the snow while still controlling the ski. Unless you are doing the majority of your skiing in powder (if we could be so lucky!) or you keep more than one pair of skis, it will not make sense for an eastern skier to buy mid-fat skis. However, that doesn't mean you can't rent them for the day. Just do it early - maybe even the night before when lots of snow is in the forecast - as they sell out quickly on a powder day.

Whether on mid-fats or "skinny" eastern skis, try running a straighter line than you would when you are carving. You need more speed in the powder as it will slow you down. If you are uncomfortable with speed in this unfamiliar environment, try it first on easier terrain. How to weight your skis? I had always been taught to keep my skis closer together in the powder and to weight them more evenly. However, this year I have been exposed to the new train of thought which is to ski more like you would when you are carving - "pedaling" through the turn by keeping the skis hip width apart and transfering weight from one outside ski to the other as you transition between turns. I have found this incredibly effective in the powder and more akin to the way one usually skis. It is particularly helpful once the powder begins to be chopped up as it helps maintain balance.

Like anything, the best way to get better at skiing powder is to ski it. So fingers crossed that there are many powder days in your future. Not to rub it in, but I'm signing off now to catch this one!

Are your skis really parallel?

2010-02-26T10:38:00.000-08:00

The goal for almost every skier starting out is to get their skis parallel. To a beginner skier this means eliminating the wedge they use to initiate a turn. However, there are at least three other ways skis can be less than parallel with advanced skiers. The next time you are out skiing have your instructor or a friend watch or video you skiing past them so you are seen from the front, side, and back. Here's what to get them to look for:

A wedge to initiate turns. This is caused by pushing out the outside ski to initiate turns. While most common with beginner skiers, intermediate and advanced skiers will sometimes revert to using a wedge to initiate turns on steeper or more intimidating terrain. Similarly they may "step out" to initiate short radius turns or ski moguls. Tactics to eliminate the wedge include moving to easier terrain to build confidence, exercising patience when initiating the turn, and braquage style drills.
A reverse wedge where the tails of the skis come together at the middle to end of the turn. This can be seen even with advanced skiers and is best diagnosed by watching a skier from the back. It can be caused by having the weight on the inside ski instead of the outside ski, by solely pivoting instead of using a blend of pivoting and edging to steer, or by poor body alignment. Depending on the cause some tactics that can be used to address the deficiency are outside ski turns, rollerblade turns, or feeling the feet flat in the boots and legs stacked in a natural standing position.
An exaggerated lead change where the inside ski is far out in front of the outside ski. This is usually caused by having too much weight on the inside ski but also can be caused by alignment issues (i.e., dropping the butt into the turn). Tactics to have skis more parallel fore/aft are to consciously pull the outside leg forward so the tips match when in the fall line and "kick start turns" where the inside ski tail is lifted as the turn is initiated.
Skis are not equally on edge (i.e., one is flatter than the other). This can be caused by sitting too far back or by A-framing (not having the outside and inside knees move equally into the turn). Tactics include feeling pressure on the front-inside of the outside ski boot and front-outside of the inside ski boot rather than full on the front or on the rear of the ski boot and uphill Christies.

Have fun checking each other out and getting parallel on all four fronts!

Mastering Short Radius Turns

2010-02-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

Being a versatile skier means being able to ski a variety of turn sizes from great big carving turns to tight little short radius turns. Being able to ski short radius turns in particular is very useful when skiing steeps, moguls, or glades. For those learning how to ski short radius turns, or who just want to improve their short radius skiing, I have developed a short radius progression guaranteed to making you better at skiing short radius turns. Spend at least an entire Ontario-length run performing each one of the following steps before progressing to the next.

1) Side slipping. Slide sideways down the hill increasing edge angle by rolling your ankles and knees up the hill until you come to a stop. Then release your edges by flattening your ski to resume sliding. Repeat over and over again facing one direction until you are halfway down the slope. Then do it facing the opposite direction. Remember to keep your upper body facing down the hill as your legs are across the hill. This will help you develop muscle memory of being counter-rotated. The act of applying edge angle and just importantly, being able to release it, will help you finish your turns strongly and start the next turn in a balanced position.

2) Braquage. Start by side slipping in one direction with your legs (ankles/knees/hips) bent. Turn your legs as you extend (straighten) them as much as possible as you enter the fall line and then bend them as much as possible to bring your skis back across the fall line. Repeat down the hill. The result should be something that looks like sloppy, slidey short radius turns. Tip: the more you bend and extend your legs the easier it will be to turn them. Again, remember to keep your upper body facing down the hill. The object of this step is to improve your pivoting (ability to turn the ski with your foot) and to reinforce counter-rotation.

3) Hockey stops. Point your skis down the hill and then bring them out of the fall line coming to a full stop in one direction. Once you have stopped, plant your pole strongly down the hill. Repeat down the hill alternating directions coming to a full stop with a strong pole plant with each turn. This step will work on your steering as you must bring your skis completely across the hill to stop. Having a strong pole plant down the hill will set you up for your next turn and yes, reinforce counter-rotation.

4) Link it all together. Start your run doing the hockey stop drill above, then a few turns in, stop coming to a complete stop between each turn. You are skiing short radius! You have learned how to apply edge angle and release it in step 1, pivot your skis by unbending and bending your legs in step 2, and steer your skis in step 3. Throughout you have kept your body facing down the hill and using a strong pole plant at the end of your turn, stabilized your upper body so all the skiing happens from the legs, not the upper body.

Now get out there and have fun ripping it up with your small tight turns!

The Importance of the Pole Plant

2010-02-05T21:48:00.000-08:00

The pole plant is one of the most overlooked parts of skiing. For those not yet skiing parallel, poles are great for propelling across flats, getting up after falls, and keeping balance on magic carpets. For parallel skiers a pole plant can be an integral tool to help them ski better.

When in the turn should you pole plant? If you answered "at the beginning of the turn", while technically correct, you are probably pole planting too late. Skiers who think of the pole plant as the beginning of the turn generally start to extend and turn their skis into the new turn before they pole plant. The pole plant is the link between two turns. Because one turn begins when the last ends, thinking of the pole plant at the end of the turn puts it in the right spot.

When skiing medium to larger turns, the pole plant is more of a pole "touch" and is used primarily as a timing device. For these types of turns the pole touch is forward towards the tips of your skis. This changes in short radius turns and moguls where the pole plant becomes a strong plant and is further from your body and not as far forward. By reaching your pole down the hill in line with your boots in short radius and moguls, the pole plant does more than control rhythm and symmetry. It has the folowing additional benefits:

It gets the pole out of the way as your skis slide into the next turn. I have seen many people trip over their poles in steep terrain when the skis must slide to begin a turn.
You can do a shorter radius turn because you don't have to ski out and around a pole that is planted forward towards your tip
It forces your downhill shoulder down the hill so that it is parallel with the slope, thus allowing you to angulate properly over your outside ski.
It stabilizes the upper body so that you are steering with your legs, not your upper body
It allows you to recenter your body over your skis and down the hill between turns

So the next time you are out skiing, think about where and when you are planting your pole. For short radius turns and moguls reach down the hill in line with your boots and plant that pole firmly. You will be amazed at the results.

Pre-Olympic report from Whistler

2010-02-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

The hills are alive with the sound of...military helicopters?!? It is an interesting time to have moved to Whistler. The village is changing daily in anticipation of the games. The military and RCMP have established a presence. Volunteers have arrived from all over the country. Many Whistlerites, including a large portion of the ski school, have temporarily left their regular jobs to work for the Olympics. Every day there are new banners hanging and new stages installed. Stores and public buildings have been repurposed as Olympic houses. I can't wait to sample Swiss chocolate at Swiss house and have my fingers crossed that the outdoor bar at Austria house has gluhwein!

As I write this I have just arrived home from the torch lighting ceremony in Whistler Village. An estimated 10,000 people showed up. That is the entire full time population of Whistler! Julia Murray, daughter of legendary Crazy Canuck Dave Murray and Olympic Ski Cross hopeful, rode on the back of the snowmobile up the hill where she handed off to Crazy Canuck Steve Podborski, who skied the flame down to the village and turned it over to Whistler high school student and potential 2012 Olympian Tyler Allison, who lit the cauldron. Very cool. It was so exciting to see Canadians being patriotic. People were wrapped in flags, had red painted faces, and belted out Oh Canada when the time came.

The next few weeks are going to be an exciting time for Whistler, Vancouver, and the rest of Canada. Go Canada go!

Overcoming Fear

2010-02-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

The hardest part of learning to ski as an adult is overcoming fear. Fear takes many forms. For beginner skiers, it can be fear of going too fast, of being out of control, or falling. For intermediate and advanced skiers fear can be caused by poor visibility, steeps, ice, powder, trees, or moguls. What all these fears have in common is that they are fear of the unknown or unfamiliar.

Today I skied Spanky's Ladder at Blackcomb for the first time. As I climbed up to the top of the mountain ridge it quickly became apparent why it is called ladder. I had to kick the toes of my boots into the steep narrow ledge to make my way up. It was so narrow I dared not look over the edge. A couple of times my boots slipped on the icy ascent and I dropped to a knee. I could not tell if my rapid heartbeat was caused from exertion or fear.

I was wildly relieved to get to the point in the climb where my whole ski boot could make contact with the snow. Then I realized I must ski down. The entry to Garnet Bowl was narrow and steep. There was lots of fresh snow that my narrow eastern skis sunk into. But taking it section by section it was totally skiable and dare I say it, fun. When I reached the valley floor I felt like I had conquered my own Everest. I couldn't keep a big grin off my face as we skied back to the lift. The next double black diamond we skied, Pakalolo, had a narrow entry which ordinarily would have been intimidating yet didn't feel so bad after Spanky's.

So how does one overcome fear? To become better at something you must do it. Yet getting into an intimidating situation often leads to a skier regressing to old habits - leaning up the hill, stiffening up, and even beginning a turn with a wedge. The best solution: put yourself into situations on the edge of your comfort zone. If you don't usually ski anything harder than a black diamond, try a double black diamond that isn't too long (Elevator Shaft at Blue Mountain comes to mind). Then the stakes aren't too high. Try to ski at least one run that challenges you every time you are out. As you become familiar with what was once unknown you will find that what used to look steep begins to look flat. You will begin to seek out moguls and more challenging terrain. What used to scare you will give you an adrenaline rush. And isn't that the reason we all started skiing to begin with?

Skiing the Glades

2010-01-28T20:45:00.000-08:00

[Photo above: skiing the glades in Whistler on January 28, 2010]

The light is flat. The snow on the groomed runs is skiied off. It's time to head for the trees! Gladed runs offer the fun trifecta challenge of loose snow, moguls formed by everyone turning in the same direction to avoid the trees, and of course the trees themselves. Skiing the trees is not only exhilerating but also a great way to practice your short radius and bump skiing as tree skiing requires strong pivoting/steering. Sighting ahead even prepares you for skiing gates.

A few things to help you in the trees:

1) Remove your pole straps. If one of your poles catches a tree you'd rather your pole get left behind than your shoulder.

2) Ski with a buddy or buddies. Make sure you can see or hear each other and check in often. Tree wells can form at the base of trees which is very dangerous should one ski too close to the trees and fall in.

3) The single best thing you can do to ski the trees better is to look for the white spaces between the trees, not the trees themselves. You ski where you look so look for the path between the trees.

So the next time you see some skiable trees, dive in and have fun!

The Warm-up: Setting Yourself up for Success

2010-01-23T20:55:00.000-08:00

Every day that you ski you have the opportunity to change your skiing and improve. The best way to ensure your success is to set yourself up for it right from your first few runs. How do you warm up for a day of skiing? Or, perhaps better put, do you warm up at all? By warming up I'm not advocating arm circles and static leg stretches. Static stretches before warming up do nothing to help your sports performance and can in fact lead to injury. Save the stretching for the end of day when your muscles are warm and stretching prevents soreness.

The best warm up for skiing is skiing, albeit at a slower pace and a lower performance level than that which you are capable. Balance is the key skill from which all of the other skiing skills fall. If you have strong balance, it is easier to do just about anything on skis. To set up great balance at the beginning of the day, try some of the following tactics for your first few warm up runs. For best results, focus on only one thing per run.

1) Feel your feet flat on the bottom of your boot. Often when one is skiing they feel more pressure on the ball of their foot when extending and on their heel when bending. Keeping your foot flat in your boot will ensure your fore/aft balance is in line.

2) Ski "shmooshy" turns. Try NOT to edge when skiing big round turns. It is easy to edge from an out of balance position. It is impossible to ski round turns without edging unless you are well balanced. Many high end skiers feel embarassed to "de-tune" their skiing in this fashion. To them I say, this is the way Herman Maier warmed up for his many World Cup wins. If the Hermanator can ski sloppy parallel turns, who are we to think we are too good to do that?

3) Ski with your boot buckles undone or very loose. You should have no trouble controlling your skis at a slower speed with loose buckles. Too often skiers crank down their buckles in an effort to control their skis instead of relying on good balance. This is especially hard on the feet muscles at the beginning of the day when we want lots of blood to flow to the feet.

4) Hop turns. Begin each turn by straightening your legs quickly allowing your skis to leave the snow. Land on a straight leg and then quickly absorb the hop. Hopping is impossible to do when out of balance.

5) Drag both poles in the snow. This is a great way to ensure you begin your day steering with your lower body rather than rotating with your upper body.

6) Ski any turn shape other than your favourite. If it is little tight turns that you love to do, ski great big carving turns, or vice versa. Set yourself up for change by trying something foreign first thing in your day.

Take a few runs to get to the point where you can comfortably up the performance. Having the patience to do a proper warm-up will set you up for success for your whole day.

Craving that Carving Feeling

2010-01-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

What could be more fun than ripping up a clean sheet of corduroy snow? Shaped skis make it easier than ever to really carve it up. To get the most out of your skis it is integral that you are the one dictating your turn shape, not your skis.

The first step to carving a turn is the set up between turns. This is where you release your edges from your previous turn and get stacked for the new turn. The best thing you can do to have awesome edge performance at the end of your turn is to take the time to set yourself up properly at the beginning of the turn. Be patient. When you release your edges from your previous turn, allow your skis to be flat on their bases before beginning to simultaneously extend your legs and turn your feet to begin your new turn.

Be sure to continue extending as you enter the fall line (skis straight down the hill). At that point begin to progressively bend your legs (ankles, knees, hips) as you steer your skis across the fall line. For ultimate edge performance, you should get the sensation that you are almost steering back up the hill as you finish your turn. The energy you create should propel you into your next turn. The following are a few tactics you can use to help develop the edging sensation.

Feel as though you are pressing on the inside corner of the tongue of your boots as you complete your turn
Uphill Christies - on a quiet hill, practice doing one large turn at a time where you come to a stop by edging up the hill
Rollerblade turns - on flat terrain practice going edge to edge by rolling your ankles and legs without pivoting
When completing the turn allow your inside (uphill) leg to go completely soft
My new personal favourite - pretend you have elastic bands around each leg extending from the knee to the bottom of the ski. As you stretch the band on your outside leg through the turn, feel as though the band on your inside leg is contracting. If you are at the stage where you are skiing laterally with a wide natural stance, your inside leg will actually be a lot more bent than your outside leg making it easy and natural to do.

Take the time to play with some of these ideas and enjoy carving it up at a whole new level. Carve on!

Moguls 101

2010-01-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

The most common request I get from parallel skiers is to learn how to ski the moguls. As an instructor, bumps are one of the things I enjoy instructing the most as there is just so much to work with. The biggest challenge is focusing on the changes that will make the most difference.

The single largest thing a parallel skier can do to improve their bump skiing is to pole plant. Not pole touch or pole point but really plant the pole. Plant it as far down the hill as you can reach in an area roughly even with your boots. This will do several things for you. First, it will get your body down the hill rather than leaning back up it. Second, it will recenter you as the bumps manipulate your fore/aft balance. Third, it expands your base of support from just under your skis to all the way to your pole. Finally, it will help you develop a rhythm in the bumps which brings me to the next point.

Moguls are not the place for shopping. Save that for the ski shops at the end of the day! I am often asked where the best place to turn in the bumps is found. There are several acceptable answers - on top of the bump where the tips and tails of the ski are free to pivot, on the front side of the bump to use the bumps to help you steer, or even in between the bumps on a powder day or when they are well spaced. However, the best answer is wherever your rhythm takes you. Keep the poles swinging. Always have one planted or in the process or being planted. Good rhythm hides a multitude of sins!

Finally, one of the areas where bump novices have the most challenge is getting thrown around in the bumps. It is integral to use your legs as shock absorbers to absorb the bumps. Practice traversing them with the visual of being in a low ceilinged room with the only way not to hit your head is to bend your legs (ankles, knees, hips) on the top of the moguls and extend your legs down in the space between the moguls.

Ultimately the best way to get better at skiing the moguls is to ski the moguls. Venture in whenever the opportunity arises and soon you will be looking for moguls with anticipation rather than trepidation.

Ski Like a Kid

2010-01-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

I recently spent a day instructing 6-8 year olds. For someone used to skiing with and instructing adults I was reminded of a valuable lesson from the kids.

Skiing is fun!!! It shouldn't be about countless drills and thinking of a myriad of technical instructions as we make our way down the hill. Instead, ski like a kid. Look for the "funnest" way down the hill. Take advantage of of dips, rolls, and the sides of the run. Get some air! Ski where the snow is untracked and ungroomed. When you open your eyes to the possibilities, you will find areas of familiar ski hills that you have never before thought of skiing.

Concerned that this will impact your ability to improve? It's actually quite the opposite. Skiing up and down an embankment on the side of a run improves both balance and pivoting skills. Skiing through and over dips and rolls helps with pressure control and timing. Skiing less than perfectly groomed snow prepares you for an all-mountain experience when you travel.

But best of all you will remember why you began in this great sport and have fun! So next time you are on the hill watch some of the kids. See where they go. Then go tap that terrain and have a blast skiing like a kid!

Getting the Most out of Your Lesson

2009-12-15T18:45:00.000-08:00

Have you ever experienced a lesson where everything just clicked and you were able to make a big change in your skiing? Perhaps the instructor said, did, or showed something that resonated with you. Just as likely, you were in a receptive place and open to learning that day. Being an active participant in the process ensures that you are getting the most out of your lesson.

How do you actively participate in a lesson? Take charge of your own success. Be open to trying what the instructor suggests. Your instructor knows your ability and wouldn't be asking you to do something if you were not capable. Sometimes a change is going to feel awkward at first. Stick it out and give it a chance.

Watch the instructor's demonstration closely and try to mimic not only the tactic but also the speed and turn shape. Pay attention to how you feel while doing it. Do you feel more or less in balance than usual? Where in the turn are you feeling pressure? On which ski?

Ask questions when you don't understand something. If you are not getting individual feedback ask for it. Listen to not only your feedback but also the feedback for the rest of the group. As they are of comparable ability to you, they are likely working on similar things. Plus if you have any aspirations to instruct someday, this is a great way to develop your eye to spot things people are doing well and things they can do to improve.

Be supportive of the other members of your group. When you see them make a positive change, tell them. Keep it positive. Instead of saying, "hey, you finally got your legs apart" try "your edging was really strong when you were skiing with a wider stance". Hopefully they will return positive comments when you do something well. And by following these simple tips, you will soon be giving them lots on which they can compliment you.

Women: Not Just Little Men

2009-11-29T10:59:00.000-08:00

[Photo above: Britt Janyk]

Walking into a ski store these days you can't help but notice the proliferation of women-specific ski equipment. Is it all a clever marketing ploy or is there something to it?

There are technical and anatomical differences between male and female skiers. Women have a lower centre of gravity and thigh bones that angle towards the knee which can contribute to an "A-frame". For years women got beat up over this in lessons as male instructors tried to get their image to mirror that of a man's. Now it is recognized that so long as both skis are at the same angle on the snow a little A-frame can be okay! As a woman may not have the same strength as a man, putting her hips inside the turn gives her the leverage she needs to resist the forces of the turn.

In the photo above does Britt Janyk have an A-frame? That is, is her outside (right) shin at a different angle than her inside (left) shin? Absolutely. But are her skis on the snow at the same angle? Again, yes. So, is there anything wrong with the way she is skiing? Absolutely not! I know I'd like to carve a turn like her!

Women-specific equipment has come a long way in addressing women-specific issues. Women's boots are a lower height and tulip-shaped to accomodate women's lower calf muscle. They have padding specifically placed for women's anatomical foot shape. The most imprtant determinant in whether a woman's boot is right for you is your foot and your level of ability. A qualified boot fitter is essential in finding the right boot for you.

Women's skis, once known more for their pretty graphics than for performance, now come in high performance options. The concept is to have a woman's skis that is energy-saving yet athletically high performance by making adjustments to side cut, flex, weight and mounting system of the ski. Like any ski, it is best to try before you buy and go for what feels good and improves your performance, rather than what colour they are. Of course, if they happen to be a pretty colour, that's just bonus!

Why Wait for Snow? Start Skiing Right Now!

2009-11-25T11:00:00.000-08:00

How would you like to transport yourself from in front of this computer screen to be on the slopes right now? Picture your favourite ski run laid out before you. See the trees covered with snow, the village down below, and the undulating surface of perfectly groomed snow with a dusting of fresh powder. It's first thing in the morning and you have the whole run to yourself. As you push off and begin to ski you can hear the snow spray beneath your skis as you carve the perfect turn. You feel the sun's warmth and a cool crisp breeze on your cheeks as you make your way down the slope linking one round turn after another. It's the run of your life.

Visualization is not only a great way to enjoy the sensation of skiing out of season or when you can't get to the hill, but is also a proven method of improving our skills by building muscle memory. One famous study on the topic was conducted by Dr. Blaslotto at the University of Chicago where he split people into three groups and tested each group on how many basketball free throws they could make. The first group practiced free throws every day for an hour. The second group just visualized themselves making successful free throws. The third group did nothing. After 30 days he tested them again. The first group improved by 24%. The second group improved by 23% without touching a basketball!!! The third group did not improve which was expected.

Imagine how much you can improve your skiing if you combine practicing with the mental rehearsal technique of visualization! Elite athletes do it all the time. You have probably seen ski racers at the start with their eyes closed, leaning on their poles, skiing with their arms through a course. For every one time they can physically run a course, they have hundreds of opportunities to practice it in their minds.

Tips for successful visualization:

Visualization works best if you make it a multi-sensory experience. Involve sight, sound, and feeling like we did in the opening scenario.
Visualize events unfolding out of your eyes (the first person). Think about the same things you think about when you are actually skiing. Feel the same positive sensations.
Picture yourself being successful. If you are just learning to ski the moguls don't picture yourself skiing through them with trepidation. Visualize yourself absorbing them as you execute rythmical controlled turns.
Practice. Just like you didn't learn to ski in a day, visualization is a skill that gets better the more often you do it.

I look forward to seeing you on the slopes soon. Until then enjoy many perfect runs in your mind!

Making the Most of your Preseason Training

2009-10-11T14:21:00.001-07:00

So, how's that off-season training going? Are you doing everything you vowed you would at the end of last season? Don't worry. For the majority of skiers who did less physical activity than they hoped this summer, there is still time to gear up for ski season. The key is to focus on the four areas of fitness most integral for skiing performance – stamina, the core, balance, and fast feet.

Increasing your stamina allows you to get the most out of your day on the slopes. To boost your cardiovascular endurance, introduce or increase cardio activity. Choose what you enjoy – running, cycling, in-line skating, rowing, or rope jumping are all good bets. Mix it up to stave off boredom. Increase the quantity (time or mileage) by no more than 10% per week to allow your body to adapt to the new stresses and ward off injury.

Because skiing requires the body to move and rotate around three different axes, in three planes of motion, training your core is essential for optimal performance. A strong core will allow you to recruit the right muscles, improving balance, timing, and deceleration control, not to mention preventing injuries. Using tools such as a stability ball, BOSU ball, wobble boards, and stretch bands while doing such basic exercises as squats and lunges will strengthen the lower core and legs in all planes of motion.

From beginner to expert, balance is the most fundamental skiing skill. Skiing is an open-skilled sport. The terrain changes continuously so in order to stay upright we must continuously adapt. Training balance is as simple as introducing unstable surfaces to your routine. The tools mentioned above all work great as do a full foam or half foam roller or even a rolled up towel. For fun, look for safe ways to challenge your balance in your environment – trail running, balancing on a log, or on a “tightrope walking” a curb.

Finally, how many of us would like to do shorter, tighter turns and really ace the moguls? Fast feet training improves foot speed and lateral movement making it easier to adapt to terrain changes, increasing stability. Before starting fast feet drills make sure you are warmed up. Then have fun! I like to do intervals of running up and down staircases as fast as I can. Just be sure to hold the handrail! Hopping and jumping drills also work well – especially those that have you jumping in all directions. Just be sure to do them on a soft surface that is forgiving to the joints.

Just remember, you still have time. Work on your cardio, core, balance, and fast feet now and by the time the snow arrives a fitter you will be ready for your best season yet!

Skiing in heaven - Sunday, Aug 17

2009-08-17T17:59:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: me pausing enroute for photo, group shot minus Sandy and Shelley who were filming, view for final run of the "summer season"]

What an amazing way to end our trip! After over 24 hours of continuous snow, the day dawned bright and clear. All the better to view the winter wonderland the mountain had become. The staff at El Colorado groomed many swaths down the mountain as they could really use the coverage the heavy snowfall provided. The grooming was a little rough. Casey explained it usually is after a big dump as there are many air pockets in the snow. Watching the cats yesterday evening attempt the task was something as the snow was higher than their tracks. There was plenty of snow off-piste that wasn't groomed but it was super heavy. Most of us did not have the strength left in our legs after yesterday to give it a go. Casey, however, made it look easy as he floated through it.

A lot of photos were taken as we wanted to capture the beauty of the place with the fresh layer of snow. We started skiing at 9:00 today rather than 9:30 and carried through to lunch without taking a break. After one last fondue it was time to head back to the hotel to shower and finish packing to head to Santiago. Our one autobus gave us a little scare as it didn't show up until an hour after it was due. It then got stuck turning around through the snow as soon as we got in. It took us only the first few switchbacks before we had to transfer into an older mini-bus for the rest of the journey. I noted that there are 38 marked switchbacks on the mountain yet there are easily a half dozen before the marked switchbacks and that many again at the bottom. The top switchbacks were slushy for our return trip and the mini-bus had chains on its tires that he had to stop and remove once we got below the snow. Luckily he took the turns at a much more moderate speed than the small cars whizzing past us.

The mountain looked quite different on the way down than it had a week previously. The snow line extended much further down. In fact, we even saw cacti covered in snow. We also noted more horses grazing on the side of the mountain. They did not look comfortable. Even with the late bus, we made it to the airport in plenty of time and were able to get to duty-free before boarding.

I am now an adamant proponent of melatonin as I again took a couple before the flight. I stayed awake for dinner on the plane and then fell asleep until breakfast. Even with an uneasy, fitfull sleep, being asleep during most of it certainly makes an 11 hour flight shorter! It was a weird coincidence that Casey and I were seated together given that I didn't book as part of the group and it was a huge plane. It worked out well though as I could get up when he did and stretch occasionally through the flight.

When I got off the plane in Toronto it felt like I had traveled somewhere tropical. The hot cloying weather made me yearn for the crisp cool air we had left behind. There was a lot of hugging at the airport as the group said their good-byes with most of us driving to our homes in southern Ontario and Ginny and Casey flying on to Edmonton and Calgary respectively.

All in all, the trip to Chile was a great experience. I am glad I got to see another part of the world. Though further than Europe, the travel was actually easier than getting to most ski destinations in Europe. The people on the trip were completely first rate. Sandy and Casey did a fantastic job helping us improve our skiing and showing us a good time. What a fantastic trip!

POW POW!!! - Saturday, Aug 15

2009-08-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: our overnight snowfall, making snow angels]

Wow! What a day! Woke up to at least a couple feet of fresh powder with a bucket load still coming down. The mountain looked completely different today - a veritable winter wonderland. I was really glad the last two days weren't too intense so I had some energy for the deep, deep snow.

Sandy started us off with some slower skiing, leading into turns with a wedge, the Jeep of the Alps. We then went on an extended adventure as we couldn't see where we were on the mountain due to the snow that was puking down. (Sorry, couldn't think of a more descriptive word than puking.) At one point Sandy went the wrong way and started down a gulley where we had noticed big rocks the day before. He realized his error in time to redirect the rest of us the right way. For him to get out he had to take off his skis and climb up a cliff. At the top part of it there was no rock, only snow, and Sandy was concerned it may give way. To help Greg got on his stomach and helped pull him up. Excitement!

As the morning progressed we all got more comfortable and competent with skiing the powder. As if to challenge us, it kept snowing hard through the day making each run fresh tracks and each run deeper than the last. I learned the hard way never to take your goggles off on a humid day like today. They fogged up so badly I felt like I was skiing underwater. I had one wipeout where I landed on my face. I spit out a mouthful of snow before clearing my snowfilled goggles. Luckily any falls felt like landing on a pile of pillows. By afternoon we did a run where the snow was mid-thigh. We had to pretty much straight run it. I felt like a human snowplow! What an unbelievable day!!!

We are now doing apres at the one bar at the base of the mountain so I best get back to my group. We still ski tomorrow morning before heading back. It is going to be incredible as they are calling for sun with all this wicked, wicked snow. What a fantastic way to end the trip!

P.S., Josh, eat your heart out!

Skiing Day 5 - Friday, Aug 14

2009-08-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

[Photo above: clockwise from bottom left - Rory, Steve, Shelley, Casey, and Sandy playing euchre]

Trying to get wireless access in this hotel sucks. I guess I'll have to go back to the bar with my computer tomorrow to update my blog and add photos.It is incredibly stormy here tonight. The wind is howling so hard that anything not solidly secured is flying across the mountain. We are lucky that our room is on the opposite side of the direction of the wind as the other condos have windows shaking and breezes coming through them.It was the windiest day I've ever skiied. Because of the intense wind no chairlifts were running. Even the t-bars were running really slowly. One time I came over a ridge and the wind I hit was so strong it almost stopped me dead in my tracks.

We had a mid-morning break where I tried milo for the first time. It is a type of hot chocolate that is popular in the southern hemisphere including Australia. It was very good. At lunch six of us shared a delicious cheese fondue. By that point the lifts were all closed so we had no choice but to call it a day. Pam, Ginny, and I checked out the two small hillside shops and then walked back to the hotel.The afternoon and evening's entertainment once again centred around the one deck of cards I had thought to bring. I finally learned how to play euchre. I wish I had brought my dominos! Hopefully the weather improves for tomorrow. Good night.

Skiing Day 4 - Thursday, Aug 13

2009-08-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

[Photo above: our hotel, the Monte Blanco]

Yay! Internet access! Posting all my blogs today. I think the week is catching up on me as I am feeling quite fatigued, not to mention a little sore. The sad thing is that I'm convinced that it is more from the t-bars than skiing! The winds were howling this morning. The chairlifts were not open so we rode the t-bars to the top and did a few runs before even the t-bars were closed due to the high winds. We had quite an adventure making our way through the 100 km/hr winds with 160 km/hr with gusts back to the main chalet. After an extended coffee break we made the call to call it a day and headed back to the hotel. Of course once we had changed into regular clothes, the winds died down and the lifts re-opened. Pam and I decided to still call it a day. I thought I'd have a better rest of the week if I rested my sore muscles today. TTYS.

Skiing Day 3 - Wednesday, Aug 12

2009-08-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: mountain view during coffee break. Lunch time. Mmmm....crepes....]

Very different weather today. Overcast and chilly. Still warm by Canadian winter standards but not like the summer weather we've been having. The frozen over slushy snow from yesterday made for some challenging runs. Conditions were better on the far side of the mountain which is serviced by, you guessed it, t-bars. The wind is howling now so it will be interesting to see what it will be like tomorrow.

We skiied with Casey again today. There were only three of us with him today so we each got tons of individual attention. My short radius turns were back to being as good as they were last year. :) My knee has not been an issue. :) :) :)

The gang is now playing euchre with a deck of cards I brought. I am actually going to hit the sack soon as I'm wiped after another full day. Buenos noches.

Skiing Day 2 - Tuesday, Aug 11

2009-08-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: 1) The view from my room. Note Santiago down in the valley. 2) Apres ski

Another beautiful sunny day! I'm already sporting a better tan from these two days than the rest of summer. Wore just shell layers today as it was really warm.

We broke up into 2 groups for the morning to do some ski improvement. Casey led our group of four. The theme of the lesson was using only the movement necessary to accomplish the task - a great theme for day 2. It was very effective. My short radius turns were fun and snappy under this guidance. It felt awesome particularly under the beating sun on hero snow.
I shared lunch with Pam today. Lunch was again on a deck in as little layers as we could manage. In the afternoon the entire group reunited and did some fast carving runs. My legs (EVEN MY KNEE!!!) are holding up beautifully! I am taking a couple Advil every morning to manage the swelling in my knee and it's working well.

My skis are not faring as well. I hit a rock while following Casey down a run. I managed to keep my balance but tore a strip out of one of my bases. We'll have to fix it before we can before I head out tomorrow.

Everyone has gone to sleep already. I think a few were partying too hard earlier in the week and are using today to catch up. It seems there may be wireless in a common room downstairs. I'll have to check it out tomorrow after skiing. Good night.

Skiing Day 1 - Monday, Aug 10

2009-08-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: the group of 11 and the switchbacks on the way to Valle Nevado]

What a beautiful day! The sun was shining. The sky was bright blue. I got more sun skiing today than I have the rest of our "summer" combined. It was super warm. I was wearing only a shell with one top and had my zips wide open and was toqueless. I had my gloves off for most lifts. Tomorrow I'm going to try my shell pants, soft shell jacket, spring gloves, and sunglasses. The condo is visible from most of the ski area but involves tons of stairs so is not an incredibly easy place to get back to to drop off layers.

All 11 skiied together today. Everyone is at least a Level 2 instructor so all ski well. The terrain is really wide open, much like glacier skiing. Like glacier skiing, we did have a few t-bar rides but luckily here they were interspersed with chairlift rides. Feeling really natural to be skiing.

Dinner was good tonight. Food on the hill for lunch was quite expensive but huge portions so I'm going to try to share with someone tomorrow. Time for bed now. We are meeting for breakfast at 8:00. Buenos noches.

Arrival at El Colorado - August 9

2009-08-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

A very interesting drive today. The 20 switchbacks required 30-some odd turns to get us to our mountain top destination. The road is one way with traffic going up in the morning and down in the afternoon. The road was very narrow with no shoulders yet three little cars managed to snake their way by our little van. Most of the way the mountain side was very arid with yellowed grass and cacti. It wasn't until we got near the top that we saw snow.

It is very warm. I walked around wearing only a long sleaved t-shirt and jeans. The sun is bright and you can see for miles. Our hotel is perched at the top of a ridge. You have to walk up three sets of stairs before you can even begin walking up to the third floor that I'm on. The rooms are actually little suites with two bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, a living room and kitchenette. They are very basic and a little less than clean. There are three people per suite and I'm lucky enough to have the single room with Queen sized bed in mine. I have a big closet with tons of shelves and a window with an incredible view of the mountainscape with Santiago lit up below. There was a beautiful sunset view tonight. My two roommates are Ginnie from Edmonton and Shelley from Toronto. I know them, and for that matter everyone else on the trip, from Zermatt.

What we can see of the ski area actually reminds me of Zermatt. We are above the tree line with wide open runs and lots of suface lifts. We'll see what I think of it tomorrow. There is nothing else really here other than the skiing.

Everyone has already gone to sleep and I will be joining them shortly. Good night!

Santiago - Aug 8

2009-08-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't written sooner. It's been a whirlwind 24 hours. Our flight left late as there was a mechanical issue with the emergency floor lights. We almost missed it as we went to a quieter area to wait as the gate was extremely busy and noisy. I guess the reason the area was quiet was because you couldn't hear announcements. Oops!

The flight was really good. I took a couple of melatonin pills to make me sleepy and managed an hour sleep right around take-off. I then woke up for a decent pasta dinner and watched "The Boat that Rocked" which was pretty good. Afterwards I fell back to sleep for four hours. Fantastic! What a difference some sleep makes. The flight seemed shorter than flying to Vancouver.

Our hotel, the Park Plaza, was really nice. Very personal service. In fact, everyone in Chile is extremely nice. The people are a mix of Spanish-looking and indigineous. Everyone has dark hair and dark eyes. Chile has about 16 million people, 30-40% of which live in Santiago. So with a population of aroind 5 million, Santiago is around the same size as the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).

After checking in to the hotel we took the metro (subway) to the old downtown. The metro, like the whole city really, is super clean. It was also fast, smooth, and cheap. There was a lot going on in the old city - tons of people everywhere, impromptu parades. There were some beautiful buildings, particularly the Cathedral Metropolitana in Plaza de Armas, the original town square. There are palm trees throughout the city so compared to our winters, or even this year's summer, the weather was fantastic. I wore only a t-shirt and jeans most of the day, occasionally slipping on a hoodie in the shade. We had lunch at an outdoor patio. Menus are only in Spanish but I recognize enough foods to get by. In fact I ended up being our little group's guide and translator, remembering more Spanish than I expected.

On our way back to the metro station we wound our way throught the Barrio Paris-Londres - cobblestone streets and more great buildings. On the other end of the metro we stopped at a gelateria for gelattos. Prices for everything are really good here although everything sounds expensive due to all of the zeros in the currency. For example my gellato was 1,000 pecos which is $2.22 Canadian.

Back at the hotel I had an hour nap and the got ready to go out. Then two other members of our ski group, Brenda and Greg, met Rory, Steve, and I for drinks at our hotel. Our hotel had given us each a coupon for a complimentary pisco sour. Yummy! Very similar to a lime margarita but with icing sugar and a raw egg white thrown into the mix. Does that qualify as an energy drink?

For dinner we walked six blocks to Bar Liguaria, a restaurant I had read about in my guide book. It was FANTASTIC! It had a really fun and vibrant atmosphere. The service was stellar. Food was tasty and really well-priced. With our bread they brought a home-made salsa and garlic butter. Delish! Everyone was very happy with my selection.

I got home early enough to get a good eight hours sleep. Nice to be starting a trip well rested! A buffet breakfast was included at the hotel. The fruit was incredible! Hard to believe it is winter here given the freshness and variety of fruit. There were two fruit I had never even seen before. One kiwi-coloured fruit looked like a cross between a dragon fruit and a kiwi. Another fruit's colour and flavour was a cross between a papaya and mango with the texture of a melon. Yum!

I'm now at the airport picking up the rest of the group. We are about to leave for the mountains. I didn't bother paying for wireless in Santiago but am hoping I'll get it at our next destination so I can post future write-ups and photos on my blog. Either way I'll write more soon!

Day of the Quatchi - Easter Monday

2009-04-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: Quatchi in his natural environment; plotting a route; riding Peak 2 Peak, ascending the Creekside gondola]

Our last day dawned with promise - big white flakes in the village. We elected to begin on Blackcomb. We got off the shuttle at the Blackcomb base and got on the Wizard Express. It is a bubble chair but as the bubble was coated with snow, there was no way I wanted to be closed in on it. Instead we kept it open and had inches of fresh snow on us by the time we got to the top. From it we took the Solar Coaster. By the time we were at the top of the second chair we were covered with snow and raring to hit the powder. It was definitely the most fresh snow of any day I have been out this year. On our first run, Springboard, we were in fresh snow over the tops of our boots. It was tiring as we figured out how to deal with it. We were both wishing we had powder skis to float on top instead of sinking in with our skinny Eastern skis. As challenging as it was though it was so much fun. The snow was soft underfoot and so quiet as we floated through it. Huge flakes continued to fall as we skiied.

After that first run we took Wishbone, one of the two runs of the day according to the lifties, and then went on to Zig Zag. Every run was covered with huge amounts of fluffly loose snow. By mid-morning we were exhausted and stopped at the Glacier Creek Lodge for a hot chocolate break. We decided to ski more runs in the Crystal Ridge area as being amongst the trees these runs were nicely protected from the wind with great visitbility. Over the course of the morning we did Trapline, Ridge Runner, Twist & Shout, Backstage Pass, and Rock 'n' Roll doing the circuit up Excelerator to Crystal chair each time.

By 1:00-1:30 we were getting hungry and decided to start making our way somewhere to eat. As the snow had now stopped and the sky was clear, we decided to take Jersey Cream to the top and the Peak 2 Peak across to Whistler. The views were breathtaking.As we did not take a glass bottom gondola this time we looked out the windows instead of down for a whole different perspective.

As we had such a fantastic lunch at Dusty's yesterday we decided to make our way down to Creekside again for lunch today. This time we took Pony Trail to Little Red Run to Franz's. Franz's run is actually going to the Women's Downhill and GS course for the Olympics. It was neat that we took the Men's Olympic run one day and the Women's the next. As with yesterday, the bottom part of the mountain was very slushy and a lot of work for our tired legs. The restaurant was like an oasis at the bottom of the run.

We had a fabulous lunch and then took the Creekside gondola up and skiied back to download on the Whistler gondola as it was already later in the afternoon and our legs were toast. What a fantastic day!

Upon getting back to the condo we had a good soak in the hot tub. Even with almost 10 hours of sleep last night I was having trouble staying awake in the hot tub. After the hot tub we walked into the heart of the village and did a little browsing. We decided to have a quiet last night in so we bought a couple of slices of pizza at Avalanche and ate at home and watched Dancing with the Stars.

It has been a great four days of skiing. I forgot how much I love Whistler. I hope it won't be as long before I am back again.

Whistler Creekside - Easter Sunday

2009-04-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: Michelle testing out the Olympic bob sled; me seeing what it feels like to be on the top step of the podium]

After our big night out last night we had a slower start today. We leisurely made our way to the Westin to pick up our skis that we had left at Shane and Amy's the previous night. Shane and Amy were still having breakfast so Michelle and I headed up Whistler on our own. In the lift line I ran into Esta Evans who had just moved here from Toronto and was doing a session as part of Whistler Ski Ski School.

It was raining in the village but as we ascended the rain turned into snow. We started by taking Jolly Green Giant to Marmot to get over to the Harmony Express chair. My plan was to get over to Symphony where we would hopefully find some untracked powder. Not such a great plan as it turned out. Symphony was closed and visibility was brutal at the top of Harmony. A couple of snow hosts suggested we get down taking Harmony Piste and we followed their advice. At the bottom we grabbed Sidewinder to get back to the Emerald chair. Conditions off the Emerald Chair were spectacular. There was a ton of loose fresh snow and great visibility. It was crowded by western standards but way less so than I am used to in the East. We did the rest of Jolly Green Giant for our first run and then headed into Ego Bowl for our second. It is only rated a green but had some soft fluffy bumps I wanted to jump into. They were so easy to ski that I was able to fly through them.

To do something different today we decided to ski down to Creekside for lunch. I had seen Dusty's on Pontiac World of Skiing and it looked really good. We took Dave Murray's Downhill, the run that is going to be used for the Men's Downhill and Super G in the Olympics. It was cool to see where they had already set up netting and interim timing intervals. I tried to memorize the hill so I could remember it when I watch the Olympics next winter. A big chunk of the run was in the fog which hopefully the racers won't face when careening down it at speeds far exceeding ours. The bottom portion was really slushy making me think of Slurpees.

Dusty's was great - fantastic food and table service at a similar price to the cafeteria-style dining on the hill. As we finished up lunch Shane and Amy joined us, just in time to upload with us before Michelle and I quit for the day. We came back to the condo and cleaned up before meeting Shane, Amy, and Gord at Brandy's at The Keg for an apres-ski catch-up. Michelle and I then did some shopping in the village before going back to the Keg for a steak dinner. Michelle bought me a stuffed Quatchi, one of the Olympic mascots, as a thank you for staying at the condo I traded for and using the lift tickets my work suppliers provided . Quatchi is not only my favourite but judging how he is the most sold out of the mascots, everyone else's as well. Maybe Quatchi will go skiing with us tomorrow. They are calling for up to 20 cm of snow so it is going to be an early night.

Blackcomb - Sat, April 11

2009-04-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: Amy + Shane - should we or shouldn't we?; Peak 2 Peak from Blackcomb]

After beautiful weather Friday, I was determined to dress in less layers today. The sun shining in the village bore out my decision. So light and free we ascended Blackcomb from the gondola to Excelerator to Glacier Express. As we rose higher it got colder and stormier and I was reminded that the big mountain experience is a little different than the east where what you see at the bottom is what you get on top. From the top of Glacier Express we took the Crystal Traverse, which was wind-swept with really poor visibility, over to Ridge Runner. At Ridge Runner everything changed. There was about an inch of fresh snow on this beautiful run that winds its way up and down rollers. No one else was around. It was perfect. We made our way down from it to Blackcomb Glacier Road and back to the top of the gondola. By this time I was quite warm but given the variable conditions decided to download to pick up some diffferent layers I had left at the base. It worked out perfectly as Shane called when we were in the gondola so Michelle and I made plans to grab a hot chocolate at Second Cup and then meet up with him and Amy in the village and go back up together. Shane is one of my old Voyageurs ski buddies. He and his girlfriend Amy now live in Coquitlam so it was great to reconnect and share some turns together.

We spent the day on Blackcomb starting with Trapline by the Crystal Chair. The visibility kept changing making it a challenge to try to find areas of the mountain where we could see better. A highlight for me was when we raced each other down the dual slalom at the Pontiac Race Centre. Shane gave me great competition. I only beat him by 2/10 of a second.

We then hiked into Blackcomb Glacier. The entrance is much wider than it used to be. A guide told us they had blasted it out the previous year at a cost of $100,000. It definitely made for a more pleasant entrance than the ridge I remembered. There was a lot of fresh snow in the bowl. That, the poor visibility, and my wobbly legs from the day before, made it a lot of work but well worthwhile. We had lunch at Glacier Creek Lodge before heading over to 7th Heaven to do Cloud Nine. By this point Michelle's and my legs were calling stop so the two of us did the ski out as Shane and Amy went up for more.

Back in the village at 3:00 we did our part by holding a table on the patio at GLC. We were to meet Shane and Amy as well as Gord, another former Voyageur who know works at Whister, at 4:00. Unfortunately Gord was not well and had to cancel. The rest of us had a great time there before separating to go back to our condo and grab our stuff for evening. Michelle and I then joined Shane at the hot tub at the Westin where he and Amy were staying. Very nice. We didn't leave their hotel for dinner until 9:30 pm. We ended up on the second floor in a pub-ish place in the village. We didn't get home until 11:30 pm so it will be interesting to see if we are as bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow as we have been so far this weekend.

Whistler - Good Friday

2009-04-10T16:28:00.001-07:00

[Photos above: me in an Inukshuk; Michelle doing her Easter bunny impression]

We had an uneventful journey to Whistler last night which is the way I like it. Air Canada even deemed fit to deliver all my luggage. Our shuttle was fast and easy and the bus driver gave us a little tour on the way up. Dave's condo is nice - comfortable, clean, a similar size to mine, and conveniently located in Marketplace.

Today dawned bright and clear. With the time difference Michelle and I up were up early and raring to go. We took the shuttle to the village and began our day on Whistler. I don't remember ever having a day so bright and clear here before. It was beautiful. For our first run of the day we went up the Peak chair as any other time I've been up it we have not been able to take advantage of the view. From it we skiied down to the bottom of the Big Red Express. We got into the shadows there which wasn't as nice as the sunny Saddle. Plus the conditions were very much Ontario hard pack. At least we were used to skiing it! We then made our way to Harmony Chair and skiied Harmony Ridge. While Michelle stayed on the trail I occasionally headed off into the ungroomed sections then linked up. Off-piste wasn't all that great in the morning as it was frozen over from a previous thaw and thus pretty rough. I still had fun playing in the smallish moguls. We eventually figured out how to get to Symphony Bowl, a new section in Whistler. It was really cool - wide open bowl at the top and some runs that lead into spaced out trees with really good snow near the bottom.

Surprisingly we weren't hungry for lunch until noon BC time. We had hoped to stay on Ontario time in order to beat the lunch crowd but were just having too much fun to stop before lunch. As we had lunch at the Roundhouse it was a perfect opportunity to take the new Peak 2 Peak gondola when we were done. We waited for one of the two cabins with a glass floor to get the full experience. The tall evergreen trees became specks as we rose above the valley floor. The gondola moved quickly and smoothly. It felt strange to be at the top of Blackcomb minutes after leaving the top of Whistler.

At Blackcomb we skiied down to the Glacier Express and then to the Horstman t-bar to get over to 7th Heaven. Unfortunately by that time the light had turned flat so we only did the Panaroma run before doing the incredibly long, incredibly breath-taking, ski-out to the village.

Once back we took the shuttle to our condo as I had to get out of my ski boots! They held up well today but at that point my feet had had enough. We are now going to hit the outdoor hot tub while we decide what to do tonight. I have a few friends I should call to see if we can hook up this weekend. Tomorrow I want to spend more time on Blackcomb and do the glacier. I can't wait!

Manly Beach, Sydney - Sun, March 15

2009-03-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, view from "walk"]

The torrential downpour continued last night. Heinz & Pirkko will be happy to know I took a cab to the casino. It was under $9 as the casino was so close. It was great to stay dry. Unfortunately the cards were not good to me. I'm still up for the trip but barely.

My taxi driver told me that it was supposed to rain all day Sunday. Greeeaaat...Luckily the morning skies were clear so I did not need to change my plans for the day. I took the ferry over to Manly Beach. The views of the harbour and both the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge were amazing.

At Manly I walked across Corso to the surf beach and spent the morning walking the length of the beach and over to another nearby beach in a protected cove where there were lots of people scuba diving. I had lunch on a rooftop patio overlooking Manly Beach - Corona and calamari - this is the life.

After lunch I visited a little street market and bought myself a beautiful coral ring. It's an oval shape and the colour of the coral is magnificent. I then spotted a nail place offering cheap mani-pedi's and I couldn't resist. The colour I chose had something to do with Ayer's Rock. I guess OPI customizes their names to countries. It's a reddish coral and looks great with my ring.

After stopping in a couple shops (surf shops and souvenir places) I embarked on the 10K "walk" my guidebook recommended. A strenuous hike would be a better description. I am soooo glad I wore running shoes today. The walk started off on a wide paved path that took you along harbours and beautiful residential areas. It then became a scramble across rocks and up rock formations so high that I looked way, way down on cliffs. The walk took about 5 hours. Phew! Thank goodness the views were spectacular. I got lots of photos I'll have to go through, perhaps on the plane tomorrow.
The rain held off though. I only had a few drops as I waited at a bus stop to come back downtown. This time we crossed over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The bus took me to Wynyard station from which it is a short walk to the hotel.

By the time I got back to the hotelI was wiped. I must have walked for over 8 hours today. My feet ache. My arms and chest are giving off heat as I did not use enough sunscreen. I am having a quiet relaxing night in before my journey tomorrow. I'm lying on my super comfy king bed watching TV. Oh yeah, the toiletries at this hotel are great too.

I hope you have enjoyed joining me on my travels. Stay tuned for more adventures soon. :)

Bondi Beach, Sydney - Sat, March 14

2009-03-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: Bondi Beach, ominous clouds over Tamarama Beach]

It's raining again...luckily I saw it coming this time. The ominous clouds were hard to miss. I did my coastal walk from Bondi enroute to Bronte when I figured I better abort. I stopped at Tamarama and found a bus shelter. I took shelter just as the downpour started, complete with thunder and lightning this time. The good news: I'm dry and the bus that comes to this shelter actually goes to Bondi Junction, the train station I need to get to to get back downtown. The bad news: I have to wait 50 minutes or so for the bus. Oh well, not too bad all things considered.

I have been actually been doing well with public transit. The hotel is between two major train stops so I was able to walk to the hotel from Wynyard station when I came from the airport. Then I walked to Town Hall station to catch a train to Bondi Junction and then took a bus from there to Bondi Beach. Tomorrow (weather permitting) I'll walk to the Circular Quay to take a ferry to Manley Beach. I passed Circular Quay on the way from the airport. The train was above ground there so I got a good view of the Sydney Harbour bridge.

I did well with the hotel too. I was upgraded to a suite on the top (15th) floor. I have a living area, desk, microwave, mini-fridge, and walk-in closet. I should have asked if I could stay in a smaller room and get a harbour view as the view is nothing to write home about. But the hotel is very nice, in a good area, with a lot of attentive staff.

Once I get back to the hotel I will clean up and head out to Star City for some evening entertainment (blackjack). I will probably eat dinner at the casino as I think there are a few options there.

Winding Down - Thurs-Fri, March 12-13

2009-03-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: exposed rocks at Snapper Rocks; me surfing]

My days in Coolangatta are numbered. I'm feeling the end drawing near and I'm none to happy about it. I have completely adapted to the time zone and my skin has decided that it is no longer allergic to Australia. I've even worked up a nice base tan although most of the time the weather is overcast with showers threatening constantly. The beach was actually closed on Thursday due to "extremely unstable beach conditions" so I was unable to surf. The rocks at Snapper Rocks are now completely exposed with no sand on top to walk over them. At least it cleared up in the afternoon and I was able to enjoy a little beach time. Could the end of the bad weather be in sight?

Regrettably no, the high winds and rains were back with a vengence on Friday. Mom, Dad, and I walked all the way to Kirra Surf in decent weather. It then started pouring as we made our way back. We took a short cut going up over an incredibly steep hill. At one point it looked like we wouldn't be able to make our way to the other side but luckily it was open to pedestrians.

Once back I surfed in the rain and ended my surfing days by paddling onto a wave and riding it all the way to the beach. Sweet. Tomorrow I'm off to Sydney for the weekend before making my way home. I wish I could be one of those people who are anxious to get home after a vacation but no matter how much I love my life back home I never want any vacation to end.

Byron Bay – Wed, March 11

2009-03-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: views from Byron Bay]

Another overcast rainy day. Damn cyclone! The rain here is like in Hawaii where it blows in suddenly, downpours, and then goes away. So, while not the best day for sightseeing, there wasn’t much else to do in this weather.

We drove south to Byron Bay. It is only 50 km or so from Coolangatta. I’ve been there before on my two earlier visits to Australia and wanted to return for the out-of-the-world views and cool shops. Upon arrival we drove immediately to the lighthouse for the best views of the coastline, beaches, and back to Byron Bay. Like the other times I’ve been there we spotted a pod of dolphins playing on the waves below. Because the water was so stirred up we didn’t see their whole bodies so much this time, mostly their fins as they came up for air. It was still really cool. We hadn’t been out of the car for 15 minutes when a downpour blew in. We ran for the lighthouse and killed time in the gift shop waiting for the worst of the storm to pass. While there I found a cool wooden bracelet for only $10 so all was not lost. When the storm had died down somewhat we headed back out to take in some more of the picturesque views.

Our next stop was the main street of Byron Bay where we had a little look-see in the shops before having lunch in a sidewalk café that didn’t look like much but had wicked sandwiches. I’m eating avocado in everything here. It is so good.

We then left Byron and traveled north of Coolangatta to Benowa to pay a return visit to the RSL lottery house. Mom and Dad had really liked the artwork in the house and wanted to see if they could source it for their house. They referred us to a few shops that we also took a look around in.

We ended the day at Jupiter’s Casino in Broadbeach. This time I took in $55 playing Blackjack. I was up $105 at one point and should have quit then but as I was doing well I decided to keep going. Oh well, at least I still quit while I was ahead. I’m now up $160 in casino playing this trip.

Surfin’ Safari – Mon-Tues, March 9-10

2009-03-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: Warning sign at popular surf beach which may explain why Aussies are so tough - natural selection takes care of the weak. Me at said beach.]

A couple of days chillin’. Began each day with a morning walk which was followed up by surfing. Monday was tough. Waves were really choppy and breaking apart. A cyclone from the north was really affecting things. On Tuesday I headed out at 8:00 am instead of 10:00 am to try to get better conditions. It was super deep as tide was in and high. I had to paddle onto waves rather than push off the ground. It made it tougher but more gratifying when I did catch waves and ride them in.

Otherwise I spent my time walking to the mall, booking flights to Sydney, taking in a free movie at Twin Towns club, reading my book on the Wurtele sisters, and sipping shanties at the Coolangatta Hotel. The Cooly Hotel is really more of a pub than hotel. In Australia hotels are pubs. Clubs are pubs. And pubs are pubs. Basically every public building with the (possible) exception of schools and churches are pubs.

The surf competition is still on. It’s winding up to the finals. I may check it out again this afternoon before my trip back to the Coolie. Ahhhh, life is tough….

Roxy/Quicksilver Pro Tourney – Sat-Sun, March 7-8

2009-03-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

[Photos above: crowd at tourney, Winner of Roxy Pro Tourney)

The Quicksilver Pro Tournament (Men’s World Championship Tour) returned to Snapper Rocks at Rainbow Bay on Saturday. Rainbow Bay is where I surf so while I managed to catch some great waves Saturday I elected not to rent a board Sunday as the buoys marking the competition are now covering most of the bay. What little area remains is full of the weekend crowd. The last thing I want to do is make myself infamous by being the surfer who drops in in front of one of the pros catching a big break.

On Saturday I watched three heats of the Men’s competition. The last was won by Dane Reynolds, a US pro, who had one wicked ride which scored him a perfect 10. It was awesome to see live. At the end of the heat he walked right by me on his way out of the water. The pro surfers are really friendly and, though exhausted, stop to sign autographs and take photos with fans on their way up the beach.

Saturday night we met Mom and Dad’s friends, Heinz and Pirko, for dinner at the Tweed Heads Bowls Club as it was Pirko’s birthday. While the two couples stayed to play pokies I took a cab home and had an early night.

On Sunday morning we visited the weekly markets in Coolangatta. Mom and Dad bought a painting for their bedroom back in Canada. We all got to see the finals of the Women’s competition. It got really heated at the end with only minutes left with a local girl winning the title.

We are planning to barbeque dinner on the beach tonight so hopefully the crowds will die down.

Mount Tambourine/Surfer’s Paradise – Friday, March 6

2009-03-06T03:39:00.000-08:00

[Photos above: In Coolangatta on the way to “hire” our car and in Mount Tambourine]

Road trip! We rented a car today to do something different. We started by touring the RSL Union house up for auction. It was gorgeous – an open layout beautifully decorated on a riverfront lot. I bought four tickets.

We then drove to the Hinterlands to Mount Tambourine. The drive reminded me of New Zealand – narrow road with no shoulders, occasionally down to a single lane, that creeped through beautiful countryside and up large/steep hills. The hills were labeled with gradient (most in the 14 degree area) which would be really cool if you were cycling them. But to be honest I have no desire to ride up or even down those hills on a bike. It was crazy.

Our first stop at Mount Tambourine was a winery where Mom and I sampled 6 white wines. Yum! I ended up buying a Chardonnay/Verdelho blend. We then went to the Gallery Walk where we had lunch and toured the shops. It reminded me of Unionville north of Toronto.

We then descended from the hills and headed back to the coast to Surfer’s Paradise where we browsed up and down the main streets. It is getting more upscale every time I come to Australia with an increasing number of designer shops. There is still a young scene as well with the backpacker bunch walking around barefoot everywhere. On a side note, I can’t believe how anti-footwear Australians are. I get walking barefoot to and from the beach but I’ve seen countless people dressed to go out in the evening barefoot.

We ended our day at Jupiter’s Casino where I turned my $100 Blackjack buy-in to $205. A fine ending to a great day.

Learning to surf is like learning to ski - Thu, March 5

2009-03-04T20:08:00.000-08:00

I have come up with another story idea for CSIA Ontario’s Ski Talk magazine – “How learning to surf made me a better ski instructor”. Dave’s method has made all the difference in my surfing. Four years ago when I was in Australia I was able to catch, stand up, and ride in one wave out of 20 I tried. That one ride was so worth it that I kept at the sport. Today I was catching and riding in every second wave. Quite the progress! Why the difference? The first surf school I went to believed only in the true method of surfing – the jump up. The analogy I would use for ski instructors is that this would be equivalent to expecting all of our students to instantly be able to ski parallel. While some may be fast-tracked, for most this is not a reasonable expectation. Dave’s method where you get to bring one foot up, then get up, gets people up and surfing and enjoying it right from the get go, kind of the equivalent of teaching wedge turns to get to the end goal. Which would you prefer?

Koalas are as soft as you'd think - Wed, March 4

2009-03-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

[Photos above: Me petting kangaroo, koalas]

It’s official. I’m allergic to Australia. I don’t want to be. I love Australia. Unfortunately since getting here I’ve been developing a rash all over my extremities. Yesterday the pharmacist gave me an antihistamine which dramatically reduced the swelling but alas after another day in the sun it’s raging again. Plus I cannot seem to put enough sunscreen on my face! My surf sessions are making my forehead and nose bright red. I’m hoping that by the end of my stay I’m rash-free and my red face becomes bronzed. We’ll see.

Today I rented a board from Dave, my surf instructor, and went out on my own. I did well catching a few waves on my own. I went out at 9:00 which is an hour earlier than I did for yesterday’s lesson. It was a mistake. The tide was still coming in and the waves were not as strong. I’ll go out later tomorrow.

The reason I surfed earlier today was because I wanted to get an earlier start on getting to Carumbin Wildlife Sanctuary this afternoon. Mom accompanied me. It was pretty neat. I got to hold a koala and have my photo taken with her. She was as soft and cuddly as you would imagine. We got to see koalas being fed which is the most active I’ve ever seen the critters. I also walked up to some kangaroos and petted them and saw crocodiles close up. All very cool.

In the evening we walked down to the Coolangatta Hotel for dinner.

Hang Ten Mate - Tuesday, March 3

2009-03-04T19:55:00.001-08:00

[Photo above: beach bounty]

Another early morning brought another long walk with Mom. This time we started by walking up the steep hill behind their place to Point Danger (love Aussie names!). We weren’t the only ones out at 5:45 am - there were tons of surfers enjoying the waves. The area around Point Danger is stunning – a high hill with beautiful trees and rocks framing a wicked surf beach where the Quicksilver/Roxy Surfing World Cup is currently being held. I’ll have to go back another day with a camera.

At 10:00 I showed up at a surf truck advertising surf lessons. Other than a CRAZY woman in my group, I had fun. I managed to catch quite a few waves. This surf school teaches an adapted method to getting up that is much more beginner-friendly than the jump-up method I’ve learned in the past. Plus for our first lesson he pushed us onto waves for the first hour. Nothing like the sweet taste of success.

In the afternoon we walked to a local mall. There was nothing that interesting with the exception of the licorice store. Yum! I bought pineapple and strawberry flavoured licorice. The pineapple licorice is wicked.

Tuesday night is Mom and Dad’s night at Seagull’s, a club in Tweed Heads that we had to take a bus too. We had dinner then Mom and Dad hit the pokies while I tried to stay awake by doing some Sudoku.

Welcome to "Retirement" - Monday, March 2

2009-03-04T19:49:00.000-08:00

[Photo above: view from the condo’s living room balcony]

I began my day bright and early this morning with a beautiful beach-front walk with my Mom. Bliss. The weather is perfect – hot but not disgustingly so. We walked 7km. My knee didn’t bother me at all.

We returned for a breakfast of French toast and tropical fruit – papaya, mango, pear, and apricot. Everything tastes so fresh and flavourful here. After breakfast we headed to the beach first taking a stroll and collecting seashells. I then took a boogie board we found in our condo’s storage locker out to catch some waves. I had fun despite the fact that the board was pretty useless. I definitely want to surf instead as soon as I can line up a surfboard.

The afternoon had an unusual twist. My parents and I went to the Coolangatta Hotel and they pulled out coupons so we could each get a $15 cocktail for free – mine a mix of rum, butterscotch, and ginger beer was fantastic! We then entered a gaming area off the main bar that was full of slot machines (pokies in Aussie lingo). Mini Vegas in Oz! My parents then handed in another three coupons and we were each given $3 to gamble. I love the way seniors operate! Those playing between 2:30-3:30 pm were eligible to win a cash prize of up to $500 just for playing. So we played for a little while. I lasted half an hour before I quit. That was pretty good for me as I’m not a slots fan. My mom quit with me. My dad lasted the whole hour and got entered into the draw but unfortunately did not win.

Monday nights are free movie nights at the [social] club nearest my parents’ place so we showed up at Twin Towns for a light dinner and a movie. The movie was not fantastic. It was too soon for me to sit still for that long after my journey here. I felt like I was back on the airplane watching another endless movie only this time I could not flip through a magazine or do a Sudoku puzzle while it was on! It was another early night which suited me just fine as I was anxious to get up early for another beachfront walk.

Arrival in Coolingatta

2009-03-01T01:06:00.000-08:00

I’ve arrived! And it feels really good. Twenty-six hours of travel were quickly forgotten as I slipped on a bathing suit and made my way to the ocean minutes after my arrival. I am so excited to be back!

In the days/weeks/months leading up to my trip I really hadn’t given it much thought. I am not sure if my lack of anticipation was because I had already been to Australia twice already or because I was so busy with work and skiing leading up to my trip that I really didn’t have the mind space to think about it. But my excitement mounted as I flew from Sydney to the Gold Coast airport taking in the stunning views featured above. I was thrilled to find my parents waiting to greet me at the airport. On the drive to their condo, I was excited to recognize favourite haunts from the last time I was here four years ago. My excitement culminated in our walk along the beach.

After a little beach time we chilled on our 7th floor balcony with stunning views of Rainbow Bay. We then went for a walk to pick up some groceries for dinner in. It is definitely going to be an early night for me as I have only slept an hour or so in the last 48 hours. I am looking forward to my early morning walk along the bay.

Sunshine 2 - Friday, January 2

2009-01-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

On my last day I wanted to return to Sunshine as I had only spent one day there and it had the best snow, both in terms of coverage and consistency. Mike Romano from Voyageurs was in Calgary for a family wedding so we arranged to meet and ski together. I was a little worried as the forecast was for -16C temperatures but the day turned out to be amazing. It was our first sunny day from start to finish. There was even a vertical rainbow in the centre of the resort for most of the day. The snow was fantastic - tons of loose snow and no icy patches like Lake Louise and Norquay. My freshly tuned edges felt sooooo much better than my railed skis did at Norquay.

Mike and I skiied A LOT. We skiied off every lift and spent a great deal of time at Goat's Eye as conditions were better there than when I was there earlier in the week. We started pretty much when the lifts opened and skiied through to around 3:00 pm. With my "private shuttle" (Mike's rented Prius) I was back in no time and even had time to go for a hot tub before beginning to pack.

The group went to Bumpers for another beef dinner. I swear I am not going to eat steak or any kind of beef for probably three months after this trip! We will be leaving early tomorrow for Calgary. So another trip winds down. I am glad I got a lot of big mountain skiing in. I am happy I found some great people to ski with. After over two weeks away from home I am actually looking forward to seeing my renovated condo, sleeping in my own bed, and just being by myself doing what I want when I want. Ahhhhh!

Norquay - Thursday, January 1

2009-01-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

After a late night, we had a bit of a lie in, waking up at 8:00 am. After four days of frenetically getting ready to catch shuttles to hills and enduring the long transfers back in the evening to get only minutes to get ready each night, I was ready to take it easy. I took my time getting ready and caught the 9:12 shuttle to Norquay with Pat. I remembered liking the oft-overlooked hill the last time I was in Banff and was looking forward to avoiding the crowds and having only a 15 minute commute.

Norquay did not disappoint. It was a picturesque drive and a beautiful hill. There were no rocks poking through on the moderate blues and blacks we did and a fair bit of fresh snow on the sides of the runs from yesterday evening's snowfall. My only problem was that one of my skis kept washing out any time I was on firmer snow. Upon inspection I realized I had rolled an edge, so I traded skis to move that edge to an inside edge to minimize its impact. Then when I returned to Banff I took my skis in to get the edges done.

Pat and I had a nice lunch at a pub on one of the side streets and then returned to the hotel to chill for a bit. The outdoor hot tubs have now been repaired and are likely my next stop.

Kicking Horse - New Year's Eve

2009-01-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

[Photos above: Craig and Bruce before diving in; Pat and I at New Year's Dinner, the scene on Banff Avenue at midnight]

The High Park trip included five days of skiing at your choice of Lake Louise, Sunshine, or Norquay. For most that was all the skiing they planned to do. I however did not come all the way to Banff to visit souvenir shops. I'd rather be making some souvenirs (memories). With that in mind, three of us - Craig, Bruce, and I - booked a day trip to Kicking Horse in Golden, BC. It was $91 for the door to door coach and lift ticket, pretty good considering a lift ticket alone is $67.

The trip to Kicking Horse took about 2 1/2 hours with pick-ups. As it was still dark when we left at 7:00 pm, we didn't see much early on but the scenery was stunning as we got close. I was glad I was on a bus as I sure wouldn't want to drive that highway! It snowed hard all day which made for awesome snow conditions but not great visibility which made the tougher runs a challenge. The most interesting run we did today was one off Redemption Ridge. We had to follow the ridge down a way to where we wanted to ski. The downhill traverse kept us on our toes as a lot of wood and rocks were still uncovered this time of year. But once we dove down it was deep, deep powder.

We had planned to eat at the Eagle's Eye restaurant on top the mountain but as visibility was so poor we elected to grab a sandwich at a coffee shop at the base of the mountain. It was delish - probably my best sandwich since the bakeries in New Zealand. Appropriate as almost everyone working in Banff and Kicking Horse seems to be either Kiwi or Aussie. We then skiied hard all afternoon, just taking a brief pause at the end of the day to get a gluewine (Yes! They even have mulled wine there) and a cute Kicking Horse t-shirt. OK, so I did get my souvenir after all!

As today is New Year's Eve, once I got back to the hotel o had to quickly get ready and hightail it over to the pre-arranged New Year's party. Really, who plans a formal in Banff!?! Dinner was fantastic. I ate several different things than usual - beef carpaccio (me and basically raw meet?), scallops, and bison. The creme brule dessert had saskatoon berries in it so I explained to the easterners what they were. It was not a very wild crowd with most departing before midnight. For those of us who hung in we were treated to a huge fireworks display for the gigantic crowd on Banff Avenue. Rather than watch from above, we joined the crowd in the street. It was fabulous. Happy New Year!

Lake Louise 2 - Tuesday, December 30

2009-01-01T07:26:00.000-08:00

Day 3 brought a return visit to Lake Louise. This time we caught the earliest bus at 7:40. It turned out to be a good move as the best light was earlier in the day. It was our first sunny day. You could see the Chateau and Lake Louise. There was a lot of photo taking, to the point of "Enough already! I came here to ski!"

The day didn't start well for me as my feet cramped up on the first run. I think it was a combination of thinner socks and doing a harder effort than I usually would apply right out the gate. I loosened my boots up and took it easy for the next run and luckily they felt a lot better. By mid-morning I was able to buckle them up properly and they were comfortable the rest of the day.

We skiied in the same group as the day previous - Bruce, Craig, Pat, and me. We covered a lot of terrain once again. Perhaps the most interesting run was one I had no interest in doing initially. We had to take a poma lift (little saucer like disc that is inserted between your legs and pulls you up the hill) to the summit. Once there we were able to traverse over to a bowl of soft fluffy snow. With the bright sun out it was the perfect day and time to ski it.

This evening I FINALLY made it to the hot springs. They were packed. Still it felt good to relieve my tired muscles. The same group that skiied together then had dinner at Giorgio's Trattoria. I had their signature dish - a pasta pinwheel that was delicious.

I then returned to the hotel to rest up for my big trip to Kicking Horse tomorrow. Stay tuned...

Sunshine - Monday, December 29

2008-12-29T21:09:00.000-08:00

Today we got an earlier start, catching a 7:55 am shuttle to Sunshine. I started the day skiing with Pat and a fellow named Dave. We did a little tour of the mountain starting on the Angel Express chair and then skiing into B.C. on the Continental Divide before heading over to Standish. Pat and I then took a hot chocolate break to warm our tootsies. We had great timing beating out the lunch crowds.

The two of us then continued on to the Wawa chair - by far my favourite area of the day. It was lower and more treed and thus warmer. The snow there was fantastic! We skiied next to the trees in soft, soft snow. At noon we met up with a couple other High Parkers, Bruce and Craig. They decided to ski with us instead of the snow host they were about to join. After showing them the best runs on Wawa, we made our way to Goat's Eye. Enroute we ran into four other HP'ers who joined us for a couple runs. By then Pat and I were ready for a late lunch, once again managing to evade the crowds. We sat out one run and then rejoined Bruce and Craig to travel back to revisit some of our favourites of the earlier areas we had skiied before doing the ski out to the bottom of the mountain (perhaps better termed the human pinball machine run).

As you have probably already surmised from all the skiing I got in today, my newly adjusted boots felt fantastic! The cuffs have never felt better. My feet felt great all day. The only remaining issue is that my toes are freezing instantly because the toe beds are too tight. So it was back to the boot fitter after skiing today for one (hopefully last!) adjustment.

Tonight there was a group dinner planned for us at the Elk & Oarsmen - another good opportunity to meet people and swap ski stories. Tomorrow it looks like we will be heading back to Lake Louise. Best rest up!

Lake Louise - Sunday, December 28

2008-12-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

I knew we were in for a good day today when I opened our hotel door to find fresh snow on the ground and plenty more coming down. A huge group of us boarded the 8:40 am shuttle to Lake Louise. I was the only one who wore regular boots and carried my ski boots and it was a decision that paid off in spades as the latest adjustments made to my boots are not working out at all.
Most of us began the day with a guided tour by a snow host as a way to both familiarize ourselves with the mountain and find others at the same level to ski with. I joined the highest group they had - one they termed Double Blue. There were 6 of us from High Park in the group as well as a woman from Blue Mountain whose daughter lives here. The host took us to a few different areas and showed us some Black runs we could do later in the day.

After lunch the 6 of us headed out for a run that I somehow ended up leading. After that run, two of the group decided to leave us and we were four - Pat, Richard, and Edit (pronounced Ed eat), and me. We got a few good runs in. The best was probably Paradise Bowl. It's too bad that the visibility had gotten poor by that time. I begged off a run earlier than the others as it felt like my right boot was taking a bite out of my leg.

I got on an earlier shuttle than the others and saw a huge (maybe 30?) herd of elk on the way back. After making a quick stop to drop off my skis I continued on to a ski shop to try my luck with a boot fitter there. I chose a shop that advertised guaranteed boot fitting and asked the young guys at the front if they would recommend a "kick-ass boot fitter". Simultaneously they answered "Kev" with thick Aussie surfer accents - more like Keeeeeehhhhhv. I ended up working with Kevin for two and a half hours!!! He moved over a couple buckles, blew out the back (an unusual area to blow out) where the back of my leg below the calf did not have enough room, removed some of the padding that had been added and wasn't doing me any favours, added heal lifts to give my calf more room, and blew out the area around my forefoot which will keep my toes warmer by giving me some more room there. The lesson here: buy boots that most closely resemble the shape of your feet and then have an expert boot fitter make them match your foot shape exactly. I can't wait to try out my re-worked boots tomorrow at Sunshine!

I didn't get back from the ski shop until 7:15 pm. Luckily I had called Pat to let her know I was okay and she invited me to a dinner that a group had set up for a nearby Greek restaurant. I got ready and out the door in 15 minutes (*new record*) and met them there. It was a fun group. Now I am totally ready to hit the hay to save some energy for tomorrow.

Banff - Saturday, December 27

2008-12-27T19:34:00.000-08:00

Today was a LONG day. Dad and I woke at 2:00 am for him to drive me to Winnipeg to catch my 7:00 am flight to Calgary. We made good time, arriving at the outskirts of Winnipeg at 5:00 am. I found out later that Dad was back home asleep by 8:30 am. Good job! I cat-napped a bit on the drive in, again on the plane, and a little on the shuttle to Banff. As I got to Banff at 8:30 am I took a 9:30 am shuttle rather than wait for the group to arrive at 12:30. It turned out to be a great decision. I arrived in Banff at 11:15 am, a full five hours before the group.

During my time this afternoon I unpacked, got organized, went for a walk around town, had lunch at a local pub, and spent some time in our hotel's lovely outdoor hot tubs. It was basically a day of apres-ski without the ski.

This evening once the group arrived we met up for appy's and dinner at Wild Bill's. It was good to get to know a few more members of the group. Everyone is nice. What would make the week perfect is to have at least one really good friend with me to know I have someone I can ski with and go to dinner with, and so on. My roommate Pat is nice. We walked down to dinner together and on the way back stopped at Safeway for snacks. Sunkist Mini Bites (100% fruit and veg's) totally rock! Taste like candy. I can't stop drinking water here. It is so much drier than Manitoba. My hair is totally staticky.

OK. I just re-read what I have written so far and the random thoughts I'm now generating tell me that it's time to get some rest. I'll be sure to post after my ski day to Lake Louise tomorrow!

CSCF Update - Dec 13-14

2008-12-25T12:30:00.000-08:00

In the xmas rush, I haven't had a chance to post before now. I hope I can do the CSCF Update justice by memory because it was an awesome two days! Every CSIA instructor could benefit from doing this update yet I so seldom see anyone I know from the instructing side there. My friend Michelle who just got her CSIA Level 1 last season came this year and her feedback was that with her limited experience with the CSIA and CSCF, the CSCF sure seemed a lot more fun!

I would guess that there were about 50 people participating in the update. Groups are completely random. You ski with whoever sets off with that instructor. Michelle and I stuck together. We were the only instructor-types in our group. We had the opportunity to ski with four coaches over the two days which is fantastic to get exposed to different coaching styles, information, and ways of presenting it.

The first morning we were with Larry. (Sorry, I don't know last names!) What I took most out of the morning with Larry was skiing the rhythm of the hill. It was a new and fun way of skiing for me. While I was quite familiar with skiing the same speed the length of the hill by shortening the radius on the steeps it was quite another thing to look ahead and play with rolls and dips and go where the hill wants to take you. It made the same run feel completely new and exciting every time depending on the path you took. A great trick to make Ontario hills exciting! Larry also informed me that my 120 cm poles are 5-10 cm too short for me and that as a result I am skiing with my hands too low. This after having just lamented having to buy new boots and two new pairs of skis this year. Looks like I'll be shopping for poles over Christmas. Mmmmm.....new Leki's!

In the afternoon we skiied with Matt Distefano. I had heard rave reviews about Matt's coaching over the years so I was excited for a chance to ski with him. Matt took us through the five fundamentals stressed in coaching - active balance, mobility, weight over outside ski, pole touch, and separation. God, I hope I got those right! Weigh in if I didn't. Unlike the CSIA where I can refer to the manual I find at CSCF training that I am trying to memorize everything as I don't have as source to go back to and check. The good part is that if I get it right, I hold onto and retain it forever. The bad part is that there is nowhere (that I know of) to check if I remembered it correctly.

I had a new experience in Matt's group. We were working on lateral balance (my favourite!). I was having one of those runs where you are feeling really good, testing out my new Head Speed GS skis, when I was suddenly flying through the air sans skis. As far as falls go, it was a good one. It was spectacular for spectators and I didn't hurt myself a bit. I had no idea whatsoever what had caused it though. When I skiied down to the group Matt made me feel a lot better by telling me that I had "booted out" - gone inside so far that my boots actually grabbed the snow and released themselves from the bindings. Cool! The next run the whole group wanted to watch me to see if I could/would do it again. I figured it was a fluke the time before and tried to hold nothing back. I could tell I was a bit slower and more hesitant this second run but I still managed to boot out with one ski. This time it was video'd so I could see it myself. Now that I have found out how far is too far my next challenge will be to bring it back while not sacrificing performance. Hmmmm....

There was an excellent dryland session after we got of snow led by Pierre Ruel. Then some great apres-ski and hot tubbing for Michelle and I before we met up with friends at Twist Martini Lounge for dinner and drinks. Dinner and the company were fantastic. Luckily noone was up for too crazy a night.

The next day we started off with Keith. Conditions were changed so we were advised to put safety first. With Keith we got a lot of mileage in. He had us doing laps and called us over to stop only if he had something to tell us. After my boot outs the day before,I had forgotten to unlock my hip and move my body up and down the hill to build momentum. It felt much better once I made the change.

In the afternoon we were with Sarah. We did a lot of fun, wacky things with her to shake things up - mixing turn shapes, pole planting differently than we usually do, and follow-the-leader. I want to make sure to introduce some of these tactics in my teaching this year to shake things up with my athletes.

All in all, it was a fabulous couple of days. I learned a ton. I love that the CSIA and CSCF seem to be getting closer every year. Both have been empasizing mixing up turn shape and trying fun techniques to take us out of our box. I can't wait to apply all that I have learned!

Course Conductor Training - December 6-7

2008-12-08T14:52:00.000-08:00

One of the things that was exciting about getting my Level 3 before the start of the season is being able to become a Level 1 Course Conductor. This weekend I did my first on-snow course conductor training. About 60 Level 3's were there. I was happy to see quite a few familiar faces - Rory, John, Phil, Sasha, Anik, Pam, Dave, Mark - among the Level 3's. I knew most of the Level 4's from training to get to the Level 3 standard.

The first day I was put into a group of 6 with Ian Kirkpatrick from Horseshoe. I had never skiied with Ian before. What impressed me most about him was his enthusiasm. Even in the cold damp day, it was really infectious. He also had a really nice touch on the snow. My group consisted of John Fortin from Craigleith, Andrew from Alpine, Lianna from Devil's Glen, Sean from Snow Valley, and Larry. I'm not sure where Larry teaches - he was sporting a course conductor suit.

We worked on ski improvement in the morning and then got into teaching fast track to parallel (FTTP) in the afternoon. What I worked on personally was not edging too early in the turn. Edging too early gives me nowhere left to go at the end of the turn. It is also not easy to emulate and does nothing to work on my pivoting skill. I was really getting it by the afternoon and felt a lot smoother by consequence.

For FTTP I led the session introducing the class to mobility. Not having taught many never ever's, the exercises I used are ones I remembered from my own Level 1 course! What really worked well was having a mix of experience levels in the groups. The rookies brought a fresh perspective while the experienced course conductors (CC's) had a lot of great ideas from courses they had taught.

The drive home Saturday night was exhausting. What took me an hour and 15 minutes on the way up took me 3 1/2 hours to get home. There must have been an accident earlier on the 400 or 401 as the 400 to get on the 401 was backed up almost all the way to Major Mac. Sunday morning was especially treachorous getting back up to MSLM through blowing snow and snow-covered roads. Next time I think I'll splurge on a room in Barrie!

We stayed in the same groups for Sunday but changed instructors. This time we had Doug Leeming. Sunday morning was spent on class management, safety, and lift operations. It was a COLD morning for standing still looking at lifts but Doug moves it along as quickly as possible and kept it interesting and interactive.

Sunday afternoon was the most fun. We focused on fun tactics with which we can arm our Level 1's. We did things like Follow the Leader; finding loose snow, jumps, and natural ramps; synchro; skiing backwards; 360's. Wicked fun! I really enjoyed the run Andrew lead us as it was fast, fun, and challenging with little verbage.

All in all, it was a great experience. I learned a lot and got great feedback on my skiing and good feedback on my pedagogical skills. It was fun skiing with a strong group of skiers that had all achieved the Level 3 standard. It reminded me of when I first started training for my Level 3 and found this whole new group of people with similar skills and objectives. I guess at each level you get to, there is always a new group of people there already to welcome you. And what a fun new group to be a part of!

Montreaux

2008-10-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: Montreaux lakefront walk; Chateau Chillon; Casey, Gary, Pam & Steve at pub]

I got up early today and took the train as far as Montreaux with one of the groups leaving Zermatt. At the Montreaux station I bid the group adieu and toured this magnificent town. The lakefront path was among the most beautiful I have ever taken. I walked from the train station to the castle. My knee bothered me a bit but the views made it easy to ignore. The castle, Chateau Chillon, was spectacular - one of the largest and most restored castles I have ever seen. I spent a couple of hours going through it. Afterward, I took a city bus back to the main part of town where I ate lunch at a restaurant overlooking Lake Geneva (or Lac Léman as the Swiss call it). I had Rosti Complet - potatoes with ham and an egg. Delicious. It's such a thrill to be able to get by in French when I travel now.

Around 3:00 pm I hopped on a train to Geneva. I had trouble staying awake for the hour-long train ride. In Geneva I went to the old part of the city for the two hours I had before the shops closed and made a major dent in my Christmas shopping - finding something for every member of my family. In the evening I met up with a few members of the group that were in Geneva that night at a pub famous for its beers by the litre. I don't usuall like beer but this one was pretty good.

That's the end of my posting for this trip. I had an amazing tme. I made many new friends and enjoyed reacquainting myself with old ones. The weather and snow conditions were fantastic. I ate a ton of really good food and still managed to lose a few pounds with all the skiing and hiking. I learned a lot and dramatically improved my skiing. I achieved the ultimate goal of my Level 3 certfication. I could not ask for more.

Zermatt - Day 13

2008-10-23T23:05:00.000-07:00

It's sad this morning as some of the group are leaving. Among others, Josh and Rory have both left. I am going to ski one last day. My lessons ceased once I got the Level 3 so it will be my opportunity to free ski and have some fun. I did a little of that yesterday morning but had to be a "student" for the three men taking the Level 3 teaching exam yesterday afternoon as well as the afternoon before. My current plan is to have an early day on the hill and come back to pack so I can leave early tomorrow morning and spend a few hours in Montreaux on the way to Geneva. I will have to look into train connections too.

This may be my last post for a bit as I'm not sure of wireless availability from here on in. I hope you have enjoyed sharing my journey. No regrets. :)

Zermatt - Day 12

2008-10-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: celebrating my Level 3 at Papperla Pub, solo and with Sandy. Note the shiny pin on my top.]

Sandy surprised us yesterday with an announcement to the group that Rory and I passed the Level 3. It came as a complete shock as we thought we were still going to be evaluated today. I was in a daze afterward accepting everyone's congratulations.

Needless to say curfew was lifted. A huge group of us adjourned to the Papperla Pub to celebrate. Rory spent a fortune buying rounds. Courtesy of Josh we were introduced to a Big White tradition - three rounds of three shots, all red, to celebrate. Our achievement was toasted all night. It was a lot of fun.

Zermatt - Day 11

2008-10-22T11:37:00.001-07:00

I GOT IT!!!

Zermatt - Day 10 Part 2

2008-10-21T11:46:00.000-07:00

[Photos above all taken at the Papperla Pub yesterday evening- Steve & Jason, Sandy & Doug, Josh & Casey]

Okay, I don't know who is going to love this more - my friends or family. I have a curfew. Sandy has instructed Rory and I that we are not to drink any alcohol tonight or tomorrow night. We are also not allowed to leave the hotel after dinner. He says if we are serious about getting our Level 3 we will follow these instructions. Or in his words, "two days or two years". An easy compromise to make as far as I'm concerned. After another full day skiing I am ready for an early night.

We had a good day. Sandy was tough on us but better now than after it's too late. I started the morning with some good runs for all of intermediate parallel, dynamic parallel, and short radus. Sandy congratulated me on becoming a "whole new skier" since I arrived. In the afternoon we did a lot of skiing the ridge. Fog had greatly reduced visibitliy by then. I had one particularly bad run on the ridge as I didn't realize a groomer had just gone by leaving a double ridge and I went down to far and hit the second one. My balance has been really good this year. Despite a few near misses, I have yet to fall in 8 days of skiing. Must be those new skis keeping me on my feet!

After skiing today I went back to the physiotherapy clinic and had the physiotherapist work on my leg with the bad knee again. She worked on the one leg for a full half hour. I wish she had another half hour free as I would've gotten her to work on the other leg as it is starting to get tight as I rest my bad leg whenever I can. My knee has been holding up well while skiing. It was starting to twinge at the end of the day today so I'm glad I had the physio work on it so I'll be fresh for tomorrow.

Sandy is going to work with us again tomorrow. He wrapped the day with telling us that we are both skiing runs at the Level 3 standard but that he wants to see our consistency increase. Today's ski tips are the things I need to keep in mind over the next two days to make sure I do just that:

Intermediate Parallel

Make sure feet are toe to toe in the fall line (i.e., no lead change)
Show a lot of mobiliy
Keep moves progressive
Cross over low in phase 1

Dynamic Parallel

Do not hold on too long at the end of the turn. Start the new turn before you feel you are done the last turn.
Start each turn feeling as though you are doing an inside ski turn

Short Radius

Begin each turn with a strong pivoting effort
Shoot feet forward at the end of the turn so they don't get left behind

Terrain Adaptation (Ridge)

Keep really small/compact bending even further at all joints (legs and waist) when cresting ridge
Ski with feet close together like you do with bumps. Keeps both feet hitting the same terrain at the same time and helps eliminate lead change.

I'll be heading to my room shortly and will be in bed by 10:00. I hope I can sleep through the night as I am sure we are going to have another big day tomorrow. I'll write again soon.

Zermatt - Day 10 Part 1

2008-10-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

The pressure starts today. Sandy was on us last night about how hard he was going to work us over the next two days - no breaks, skiing top to bottom without stopping, and a lot of work on the ridge. It's do or die time. I had a fairly good sleep last night - with the exception of my roomie's phone ringing at 2:30 am - someone who obviously did not know she was in Europe. My knee is a bit stiff but I'll take some Ibuprofen and manage. It felt the best it had in a long time during the hike-out yesterday so hopefully it is already on the mend.

I best go as we are leaving at 8:15 today to make sure we are not late. TTYS.

Zermatt - Day 9

2008-10-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

[First photo: the scene at the bottom of the T-bars with all the backpacks - see if you can find the racers. Second photo: Josh, Rory, and I doing our "classroom session".

I will be relatively quick today as a few of us are leaving shortly to go to the Papperla Pub for a drink. It is not going to be a late night as Sandy tells us it's another big day tomorrow, that we'll be doing a lot of skiing the ridge. We just figured we could have an evening out away from the hotel bar. My new roommate Maria goes to sleep so early every night that I am sleeping too much and am unable to sleep through the night. I figure if I go out until 11:00 pm or so I can still get a good eight hours in.

We had another perfect day in paradise today. The weather was once again bright, sunny, and warm. I've skied with just a shell and spring gloves almost every day this trip. I'm sporting a great ski tan on my face. We worked on more dynamic skiing with Josh. I felt I was really getting it and laid some really good runs in. We called it quits a little early today as we wanted to end the day on a good note. We then adjourned to a pub patio with various members of the group dropping in periodically.

What I learned today:

Drill for pivoting: rather than push outside ski out into a snowplow position,start with a wide stance and move tip of outside ski in. Changing the focus from pushing the ankle out prevents unnecessary hip rotation.

Begin all turns (and particularly short radius) with a strong pivoting action/turning of the feet.

Think of lifting inside ski up at the angle it would be on the snow to put more pressure on the outside ski without adversely affecting angulation.
When pole planting aim fist downhill. This keeps body from rotating too much.
For increased performance/angulation ski trying to get the inside hip to touch the snow. (Marc if you are reading this: you will know this is my forte from my training with you!)
Feel the heels touching the bottom of the boots at the end of the turn. Note that this is not counter-intuitive to feeling pressure on the front of the boots. Doing both will ensure a balanced position.
Be sure to bend from leg joints not waist (personal feedback)

Time to get ready for the late shift at the pub. Talk to you again soon.

Zermatt - Day 8

2008-10-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

[Photo above: walking to the first gondola station at 8:30 am]

Today was the first day of my second week. I started the day determined not to complain about any aches and pains and to really give'er. Rory and I are now the only two people in our group as Sandy does his best to give us the maximum amount of opportunity to improve in time to get to Level 3 standard. Yesterday Sandy asked me who we wanted to ski with and I asked for Josh Foster from Big White and Pontiac World of Skiing. I had Josh for a couple of days last year and was impressed with keen eye for detail and his relentlessness in his desire to improve us. So Josh it is.

It was a challenging day. While Sandy recognized how far Rory and I have come, with Josh we are a blank slate. Therefore he was a lot harder on us. I think Rory felt quite discouraged. I personally would rather have Josh find things to improve in our skiing now than during the exam. I think Rory is getting nervous as we near the exam date. He has started asking for feedback constantly and seems to be getting worked up. I'm still relaxed. I figure all I can do is try to do everything asked of me. It helps that I have been getting consistently good feedback through the week.

Josh did a great job of picking up where Sandy left off. We started the day working on eliminating unnecessary lead change. Today was the first day I was called out as having too large of a lead change on one side. Wonder if it is my knee? It was bugging me again this morning, making it easier to turn to the right than the left. Thankfully my knee felt better by afternoon. Not sure if it was loosening it up or the Ibuprofen.

The tactics Josh used to improve our skiing were:

1. Begin the day by doing "shmedium" (small to medium) radius turns where your feet are parallel in the fall line. Don't concern yourself with carving, just alignment. Your ability to increase edge will be improved as you improve alignment.
2. Think of the beginning/end of the turn as being in the fall line (phase 2) rather than across the fall line. This will move the impulse further up the turn. A simple way of working this is to try to direct snow off your skis to the side instead of down the hill.
3. Most skiers begin each turn with a shuffle step forward. Their turns are not rounded but rather more in the fall line. The key again is minimizing lead change. An easier way to elminate lead change is to drop the inside ski back rather than my bring the outside ski forward (which is hard to do as it is under a lot of pressure) . I almost felt like I was telemarking today!
4. Once you have mastered foot alignment, make sure your pole plant is done with elbows down rather than elbows up. This ensures you get pinching or angulation rather than rotation.
5. To lighten the ski at the beginning of the turn, use inside ski turns (lifting the outside ski) for the first half of the turn, then put down your outside ski in the fall line and continue to bend through the turn. Once you have done a couple of runs of this, do a run simulating the feeling of lifting the outside ski at the beginning of the turn without actually doing it. This worked really well for me. I had my best run of the day after doing it.

Pontiac World of Skiing was here filming today. They are doing a four minute segment on My Swiss Trip as their two ski tip presenters (Josh and Steve) are here teaching. Steve is actually hosting several episodes of the TV show this year so they will be filming more of Zermatt tomorrow. Maybe I will get a chance to be an extra. ;) On that note I am going to sign off and have an early night. It was a big day today! Still getting a lot of compliments on my skiing which is nice. I followed Josh down one run right by the T-bar today totally ripping it up that got lots of admiring glances. :)Wheeee!

Zermatt - Day 7

2008-10-18T06:36:00.001-07:00

I can't believe a week has gone by already! I am so glad I am here for two weeks this year. I can't imagine having to leave already. It took me until Day 3 to get to a good place in my skiing. It would have sucked to leave just as I was beginning to make positive changes. In the last couple days I have had at least 4-6 different people tell me that they heard that I was skiing very well. I don't know who they are hearing it from but keep it coming!

Today was our day off as some groups left and others are arriving. We took full advantage of our ability to sleep in today. Last night a huge group of us from My Swiss Trip as well as a couple of Ontario coaches, Storey and Cam, headed to the Papperla Pub to start the night at 9:00 pm. At around midnight we went to "the cave", a bar in the basement of the Post Hotel. I'll have to look up the real name as we just named it the cave due to its cavern-like appearance. I got home at 4:00 am and the disco was still going strong when I left! TThe Flying Hirscht/Jager Bombs kept me going. The last two at the bar last night were Josh Foster and Steve Young which is funnyas they are the only two people to have to work today. Pontiac World of Skiing is filming here this week and they are both on-screen talent.

I got up early today to send my roommate Leslie off, then went back to bed. It was a lazy, slow morning getting organized and dropping off my laundry. I then walked downtown, stopping to take some photos. I had a "hangover breakfast" of sausage, scrambled eggs, and cheese fries at a local pub. A couple of people from our group dropped by to join me. Then I checked out a few shops before returning to the hotel.

My new roommate has already arrived. her name is Maria and she is from Toronto. She remembers doing the Level 3 prep course with me at Mount St. Louis last year. She is doing her Level 3 course this week. She was on this trip a couple of years ago.

There had been talk that Rory and I were going to be the only two taking the Level 3 exam next week which would have been great as we both have the teaching and would only have to do the ski off. Unfortunately for us there are now at least two others taking the whole exam so we will likely have to be their students (victims?). These guys are in the hotel bar where I write this right now. They are total ski nerds, studying every night. This may be cruel but I hope I ski so well in their lessons that they have trouble finding anything for me to improve. :)

Back on snow tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it!

Zermatt - Day 6

2008-10-17T09:30:00.001-07:00

[Photos above: the clouds below us in the valley, me and my British friends – Caroline, Liam, and Leslie]

Yay! My lovely roommate Leslie passed her Development Level Coach today! She is justifiably thrilled. The Brits leave tomorrow so there will be a big celebration tonight. We have already had a lot of new arrivals with more arriving tomorrow but it doesn’t feel like it will be the same without Meredith who left early this morning, and Liam, Caroline, and Leslie who are leaving tomorrow morning.

Today was spectacular on the glacier. We emerged from the clouds in the valley to ski in the bright sun. There was snow overnight so we were able to ski into Italy on a run that was able to open today. I finally took my skis to be waxed today. Conditions have been so fabulous that the wax and edges have been lasting much longer than usual, even with the rides up the T-bars.

My knee held up well on snow. The hike out was the hardest part of the day on my knee. I felt well rested and skied well. The day off yesterday to allow my knee to recuperate was a good call.

Tomorrow is another day off – no coaching. I could have skied but want to be fresh for the six days of coaching next week. I am not sure yet what I am going to spend the day doing. My knee will limit my choices to something not too physical.

Today’s tips:

With softer snow, keep the weight between both legs more equal and make sure skis are aligned tip to tip.
Start the new turn earlier than feels right. Too many of us hold on for too long.
Watch so body does not get ahead of feet in fast, short turns. Shoot feet out in front at end of turn to prevent this.
When skiing a ridge, treat it like moguls and bend knees as you go up it.

I best get off to join the night’s festivities. I’ll write again soon. Happy Birthday to Mom and Jillian! I’m thinking about you.

Zermatt - Day 5

2008-10-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

I began my day with an 8:00 am visit to a local physiotherapist, Lucy. Luckily she spoke beautiful English. Her mother, who she shares the practice with, comes from England and married a Swiss man. I was relieved to find out my knee problems are simply a result of strained muscles around the knee causing it to track out of alignment. She massaged it and instructed me to apply some heat to it and take it easy. So my plan to take the day off skiing maintained intact.

I spent the next couple of hours shopping in downtown Zermatt. I picked up some new Uvex goggles (my first new pair in 10 years!) as well as a Swiss military pen and chocolate for colleagues, friends, and family. If you are reading this, there may be some chocolate coming your way!

I then headed back to the hotel to rest for a bit. I ended up writing a letter to a guest for our hotel proprietress as she wanted to get the English writing just right. I then had a blissful two hour nap.

When I woke I went back to the main street for lunch. It had started to rain but I still sat on a patio with an awning to stay out of the smoky indoors. I notice Europe isn’t as smoky as it used to be but people still do smoke indoors at restaurants and pubs. I had a typical Swiss lunch of bratwurst and rosti. Easily the best rosti I’ve ever had! My server is a former member of the Masedonia freestyle team and now teaches skiing in the winter. While we were talking several other World Cup athletes wandered by that knew him.

On my way back to the hotel I heard a loud rap on the window from the inside of a pub and looked up to see Josh Foster. I knew he was going to be here next week but didn’t expect to see him so soon. I joined him and his travel-mate Jennifer for drinks. Before we knew it we had a huge crowd including some other arrivals from the Ontario ski scene that I know. Soon Meredith and my British friends will be leaving and a whole new crowd will arrive.

Time to head back to the group. I just wanted to let you know that my knee is okay and that I will be back on snow tomorrow. Take care and talk to you soon.

Zermatt - Day 4

2008-10-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

[Today's photos: Caroline, Casey, and Steve taking a break from their Entry Level Coach course and me icing my knee]

I’m posting later than usual today as I spent my après-ski time searching for a physiotherapist. Zermatt is a small village but as I found out today, ski and climbing injuries manage to support at least a couple “phisiotherapie” practices. Unfortunately I was not able to get an appointment at either today so will be visiting one or two tomorrow as I have been advised to take the day off skiing. Let me go back to the beginning…

The ski day started fantastic. Helga Cuddy from Oakville/Blue Mountain joined Rory, Paul, and I in Sandy’s group. Helga is a great lady who got her Level 3 last year. The group continued our work on short radius turns while once in a while mixing in some longer turns. I was doing great. The pain in my calves and quads was way down from the days previous. Even riding the T-bar was more comfortable. Sandy told me he couldn’t believe how much I had improved over the last couple of years. He also told me that I was skiing at Level 3 standard and that if I keep it up over the next week and a half I would have no problem getting my pin.

Then everything changed. After doing a fun, fast run where I demonstrated for the group, I was standing at the bottom of the T-bar. When everyone got there I pushed off to join them in the line and my right knee just gave out. I experienced searing pain and couldn’t put any weight on it. I figured it had to be just a cramp or something and tried again, still pain and no weight. A second later it was fine, and then again pain and no weight. I didn’t know whether I should get on the T-bar but it felt better at that point and I did. I rode all the way up with no problems. I did the run cautiously as I was scared to put too much weight on that leg not knowing whether it would hold up.

At the bottom Sandy told me to sit out a run and rest. I sat in the snow with Casey’s group and waited. They took a while as Rory had a crash and hurt his ankle. What a pair we were! We both managed to ski out to the tram. Really there were no other options from where we were.

I felt fine walking back to the hotel but still thought I should see if I could get professional treatment; hence my search for the physiotherapist. While walking through town my knee swung from being completely pain-free to being so debilitating that I couldn’t walk for a few minutes. This was obviously upsetting. I came back to the hotel and went to see Sandy. He set me up with ice from the bar. Casey gave me an herbal remedy. I had already bought some Ibuprofen as the Ibuprofen I brought from home spilled in my luggage on the way over and ground itself into a fine powder.

Sandy was great. He convinced me it was in my best interest to take a day off tomorrow – to seek treatment and to rest. He assured me that I was doing great and am well on track to get my Level 3 next week and that not to consider this a set-back. I’m trying to stay positive. :(

Zermatt - Day 3

2008-10-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

Finally the fog in my head has lifted. Today I felt alert and wide awake. Even though my calves were screaming and my quads were complaining, I felt so much better. Our group was told to meet at the bottom of the glacier at 10:00 which meant I didn’t have to leave until 8:30. We totally missed the huge lift lines so the day was off to a great start.

I was with Sandy again. The other members of my group were Paul from Mansfield and Rory from High Park. The three of us have our Level 3 teaching and are all hoping to go for our Level 3 skiing while we are here. Paul is under more of a deadline as it is his second week here. We worked on short radius again today. I skied much better today than yesterday. It was easier to apply myself as I was feeling better.

As today’s class was an extension of yesterday’s, our group goal was to extend more gradually into the fall-line, to make sure that we carve short radius turns from the top of the arc. For Rory and Paul that meant moving more gradually in the top part of the arc and getting rid of any upward motion. What helped them with that was getting rid of any lead change. For me, my range of motion and timing was good when we slowed it down. I was softening my outside/downhill leg to allow it to become my inside leg without rising. My challenge will now be to keep the same skills and timing intact as we speed it up and decrease the width of the corridor. That will be tomorrow’s task. Key tactics we used today included:

Start with larger turns and ski “sloppy” – arc the top part of the turn and skid the bottom part. Skidding the bottom actually forces you to be in balance and allows you to soften your new inside leg.
Novice-style turns. Gradually extend into a wedge at the top part of the turn and finish parallel. Slows down the top part of the turn and simulates the feeling of arcing the top part of the turn.

As with last year’s trip, the food has been amazing. The company is also excellent. Though everyone is great, I have been spending most of my socializing time with three English people who teach in Andorra. One is my roommate Leslie and the other two are a couple Liam and Caroline. It is actually Caroline’s birthday today so I am not sure what we are going to have in store for her. They are all rural English – Caroline used to be married to a sheep farmer and Leslie is a competitive horse rider – dressage, jumping, and cross-country jumping. She has already invited me to stay with her and her husband in Andorra one winter! Not this winter though as she is actually coming to Canada to instruct at Whistler for a year. Definitely something to consider for the future!

Well, time to soak my sore legs. They felt better on the walk out than they did yesterday so hopefully I’ve now gone through the worst of it. Working on the power chord situation. Hopefully I’ll post again soon.

Zermatt - Day 2

2008-10-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

[Photos above: walking the "ski out"]

Today’s meet-up time moved up to 8:00 am but after my second good night’s sleep I felt much better. No nauseous feeling on the glacier today. My calves continue to feel like tight steel balls and my quads started to feel it a bit today. Even with the pain, I had way more energy skiing, which was good as we spent the day doing short radius turns, including spending the afternoon doing them up and down off the sides of a ridge. That same ridge may actually be what we are tested on for moguls for the Level 3 exam as the only moguls here are the ones the World Cup ski teams are training on.

I got good news regarding the exam – the CSIA has removed wedge turns from the ski off. Yay! They are now only being tested during the teaching of Fast Track to Parallel. Because I have my teaching, I do not have to ski off the wedge turns. The other four runs remain – Intermediate Parallel, Dynamic Parallel, Short Radius, and Moguls. Both Intermediate Parallel and Moguls are now must passes. You can fail one of Dynamic Parallel or Short Radius.

The Swiss Ladies Alpine team is here training this week. The guys are enjoying seeing them in their tight downhill suits. There are also a number of international development teams including the U.S.. For once the Americans are not the obnoxious ones. They are some of the most civil in lift lines as do not subscribe to the European push and shove method. There are also several World Cup freestyle teams training on the moguls. Today I watched some of them do aerials off the bump run as I rode the T-bar up.

While the snow on the glacier is fantastic – much better than last year - because it is much warmer, the ski-out is not yet fully open. Thus we can’t ski out all the way to the second tram. Instead, we ski most of the way and then hike about 1 km over mud and rocks carrying our skis to get to the tram. That’s what the photos above are depicting. It’s not so bad though once I get there I check my skis for 2 Swiss Francs rather than having to carry them all the way back to the hotel. I am very much done with carrying them at that point so feel it is a worthwhile investment!

Hopefully I will be able to keep blogging. My computer power cord is three pronged and my adapter is only for two prongs so I’ll have to see if someone has either a chord or adapter I can borrow. We shall see.

Our focus on short radius turns today was to promote carving from the top of the turn rather than jumping or pivoting from turn to turn, particularly in steeper terrain. In order to do this we did the following:

“Soften” the outside leg at the end of the turn as it becomes the new inside leg. This allows you to begin your new turn without rising or losing contact with the snow.
Keep both tips even through the turn (ie, no lead change). A lead change prevents you from moving inside fully with ankles and knees at the end of the turn.
Stay low (compact body) through the transition between turns.

Heading to the grocery store to buy some fruit now. Not a key food group in Europe! I may have to get a treat at one of the chocolate boutiques as well. :) I'll post again soon! Thanks to those who emailed. It was great to hear from you.

Zermatt - Day 1

2008-10-12T08:13:00.001-07:00

Something like 20 hours after I set out from Toronto I finally arrived in Zermatt. This year I was on a different flight than any of the other Toronto participants so I made my own way via two planes, two trains, and two taxis. All I could think about as I arrived in Zermatt was having a shower to wash the travel off me. As soon as I arrived at the hotel I ran into a bunch of people I knew. After that needed shower, I joined a group for dinner. I met three really great people from England. My roommate is also English. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her much as she was already in bed when I went back to the room after dinner. Considering I hadn’t slept in days I was wired after dinner and stayed up to midnight unpacking. Luckily my roommate is a good sleeper.

Today everyone met up at 8:30 am and walked to the lifts together. As it is the weekend, the gondola at the bottom was open so we did it and two trams rather than three trams. The gondola is so much nicer – less busy and you can sit. I started the week in the same group as last year – one racer kid who already has his 3/2 and an older gent who has his Level 3 Teaching and is going for his skiing. We had Sandy, the trip organizer, as our coach today.

The weather was fantastic. Warm and sunny. After my first few runs I had to drop a layer and just ski in a shell. If it keeps up I am going to have one heck of a ski tan!

Unfortunately I didn’t feel the best on the glacier today. We were advised to put on our ski boots after the second tram, rather than the top like I did last year. By the time I got to the top my feet were already killing me. I then got a stomach ache likely related to the elevation. I was also just overwhelmingly tired. Hopefully it will be better after a good night’s sleep. I already feel like a new person since coming down off the mountain…although my calves ACHE big-time and I’m kind of hobbling around my room.

On a positive note, I LOVE my new skis. They have WAY more performance in them than my last ones did. I could really feel the snap when I put things together right. Today was just about getting in balance and acclimatized. What I learned:

Ø Ski in contact with the front of the boot at all times. If you feel yourself lift off it, you are either making the move too quickly (popping) or getting too far back.
Ø For me personally I am working on not moving inside too quickly so that I have a move left to make at the end of the turn. When I did this right, it felt amazing – I could really feel the rebound from the skis at the end of the turn.
Ø Move progressively and continuously through the turn. When you have nowhere left to move start the next turn. Basic, I know. But important to remember at the beginning of the season. The way I was able to get it right is to shorten the width of my turn corridor.

More tomorrow…

Zermatt - on my way!

2008-10-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

I am leaving for Zermatt, Switzerland in a few hours. I can't wait!!! I'll be there for two weeks this year. I can't remember the last time I was on a two week holiday. I have never skiied 12 (almost) consecutive days. But I figured if I went for the full two weeks I could do ski improvement the first nine days, take my Level 3 exam on days 10-11, and celebrate on day 12. I'll keep you updated on how it goes. Wish me luck!

Peterborough Sprint - July 6, 2008

2008-07-06T18:15:00.000-07:00

I missed the early season races this season due to a bad combination of a longer ski season than usual, back problems, and an increased workload keeping me from training as much as I'd like. Despite this lack of training I decided I would still do Peterborough as it is one of my usual races. Michelle and I drove up Saturday to pick up our race kits and visit the race expo before the race. I was definitely out of practice as I forgot both my inhaler and race belt. After a quick trip to Shopper's Drug Mart and the race expo both were taken care of.

Standing at the start on Sunday morning, I felt pretty good. I knew I didn't have the training under my belt to be challenging my personal bests (PB's) but felt I could at least put in a decent result. I felt really good throughout the swim. I kept my cool and, while I did not feel particularly speedy, felt strong and consistent. Michelle, who was in the wave behind me, overtook me around the halfway point and smacked me on the butt as she went past. At least I think that was Michelle? I was disappointed when I got out of the swim and discovered I was a full 4 minutes slower than the previous year. :( Swim: 25:17. T1: 2:38

The bike exit had changed from the previous year. Due to the narrow start, you were prohibited from passing in the first 100 m. I hurried out ahead of one athlete but got stuck behind another slow starter. The bike course consists of a series of short, sharp hills. I felt okay throughout but did not push myself as hard as I could have. Lack of training rides coupled with my demotivation from my swim result was not a pretty combination. Bike 52:28. T2: 2:38.

The day had become HOT and sunny by the time I started the run. A duathlete came out behind me and pronounced she was going to walk most of the course. The thought was enticing. My choice to wear my older shoes because they had the quick laces was not good. I felt seering pain shooting up my calves with every foot fall. I ended up walking as much as running, my only goal to finish. Run: 44:07. Final: 2:07.

I know I can represent much better than I did today. This is my wake-up call that if I want to continue with this sport I need to train more consistently and eat better. During the race I wanted to quit triathlon. Now I think I can instead rise to the occasion and work harder. I know I can do better than this. In three weeks I am doing a longer race at Bala and I am determined to feel better about it than I do this one. Stay tuned...

Sporting Life 10K - May 4/08

2008-05-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

Two months ago, I developed a running schedule to prepare me for the triathlon season while simultaneously training me for the Scotiabank Half Marathon this fall. I was finally going to have a spring where I was prepped to do the Sporting Life 10K. Little did I know that I would still be skiing well into April and would only get a chance to do a handful of short runs in April. At that point I decided that I would have to forgo the Sporting Life10K race yet once again.

Fast forward to two days before the race. I was out for a run, and not even a particularly good or long run when I figured why not do the race anyway? What did it matter that my longest race to date this season was a 6K and that all the others had been 3K’s? The race was predominantly downhill. I could do it with 10+1’s. There were race walkers I could blend in with if things didn’t go well. Plus I had already paid for it. I decided to go for it.

Race day arrives. Michelle drives in from Georgetown and parks at my place. We take a taxi to the start as she has heard on the radio that Yonge Street was already closed. Where does the taxi take us? Up Yonge Street. I guess the radio announcers were premature. We try to stay warm waiting for the race start by various means – walking, standing on the sunny side of the street, hanging out in a transit shelter, and my favourite, waiting in line for the bathrooms at Starbucks. It is sunny but the air is brisk. Ironically it is much colder than my last ski day this year.

Finally it is time. We start out together but I quickly realize that Michelle’s pace is going to be too much for me. I don’t want to hold her back or start out too fast for me so I send her on. It is cool to see thousands of runners spread across Yonge Street. The best view is near the beginning of the race when you can see the runners ahead going up the St. Clair hill – it was a moving sea of colour.

I feel really good. My breathing is good. I don’t hurt anywhere. Even the couple of hills don’t slow me down. I pass people walking up the hills. I keep to my 10 + 1’s even when I feel like I could skip a walk. I know I am going faster during the 10 knowing the 1 is coming. I am glad I brought my fuel belt as the water stations are too few and far between for my liking. The km’s are flying by. I alternate between watching for my 10 + 1’s and watching for the next km marker. I quickly determine that I’m on a 7:30/km pace which is exactly where I would like to be. I finish the first 5K in 37 minutes putting me right on track. I have a major runner’s high losing track of where exactly I am at Yonge Street. At times I make note of new stores or window displays that make me want to go back and check the store out at a later time.

In the second half something strange starts happening. I begin passing people. Not just a few people like I did in the first half but a lot of people. People have ceased to pass me. I check my pace wondering if I have sped up too much and am going to blow up. No. It’s just that my pacing was exactly the right pace for me and others went out too hard. This is an awesome feeling. I finish my last walk break one km away from the finish and lift the pace a little. I don’t know exactly where the finish line is but as soon as I see it I go out even faster and pass another 10 people on the way into the finish chute. What an incredible feeling! I can’t wait to do more races!

Time: 1:13

Level 3 Exams - The Bittersweet End

2008-03-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

I woke up raring to go on Sunday. My mantra: I love the bumps. I love Waterfall. I am going to love the bumps on Waterfall. Also, the two bump runs could possibly be my last runs of the season so let ‘er rip and hold nothing back. No regrets.

Tom, a member of my cell, and I both volunteered to go first for teaching today but I let him go as he was teaching Fast Track to Parallel and there were two FTTP lessons in our group that day. Plus I had gone first the day before. I wasn’t as worried about my lesson on Day 2 as I at least knew everyone’s names. When my time came I was a bit nervous when I first explained to the group what I was looking for but as the lesson progressed I was able to forget the examiner was there and focus on teaching a lesson as I would ordinarily. I started the lesson on Waterfall thinking that by putting them on the steepest run I would set myself up well to detect things I could work on in their skiing. It was a suggestion by Ben Prudhomme, an instructor I had on Level 3 prep. Doug Leeming, the examiner I had on today suggested later that I shouldn’t have started them on such a hard run. You can’t win! My group did not make it easy on me as they were all skiing very well. Luckily I was still able to find things for each to work on and the lesson progressed smoothly.

The morning passed by quickly and soon we were through our lessons. As we had a long break before the bumps ski-off I headed back out after lunch and did a half dozen or so practice runs down both sides of Waterfall, not knowing which side the exams would be on. Imagine my surprise when the first ski-off run was actually on the relatively flat top section where I had yet to ski! I wasn’t sure how I felt about this decision as this year I had been finding the steeper bumps easier to navigate than the flatter, closer bumps that require fast feet. But the flatter terrain did give me confidence to go faster. My practice runs in the bumps were not great. I picked a bad line on the top section that didn’t have great rhythm. On the bottom section my legs were screaming and I actually skied out of the bumps rather than finishing the whole run. I was beginning to question my decision to do as many bump runs as I had.

As we waited for our chance to do the ski-off in the top section I asked the others if anyone had found a good line. Allison, from North Toronto, volunteered that the line just to the skier’s left of the lift towers was a good one. Man, am I glad I asked. I had a fantastic run. I was able to look ahead and pick a line that was smooth and rhythmical. I felt like I was taking a leisurely ski down a green run. Our order was reversed for the next run and I went from being one of the last to ski to one of the first. Not much rest for us! As I felt pretty good about my top run I decided to really go for it on the second run as well. I let out a “whoo hoo” to start and tackled the MUCH bigger, MUCH steeper terrain. I actually felt better on the steeper top section than when it got less steep as the line I chose wanted to take me out of the bumps. I worked my way back in and stayed with it. What a relief to have those two runs over! It could have been the adrenaline but I almost felt like doing them again!

With the exams complete, the examiners convened inside and most people went in to get changed. I figured it would take a while to get results and elected to do a couple more runs while I waited. I was joined by Michele Jacques from MSLM who is a great skier. I think those were two of my best runs all season because I could finally RELAX. I’m looking forward to getting more skiing in over the next few weeks where I can seek that feeling.

Perhaps the hardest part of the weekend was waiting for results. I felt pretty good about how I had skied. It wasn’t my best skiing but felt pretty solid. My lessons had seemed to go well. I felt it was within my grasp to get the whole thing but didn’t want to get my hopes set too high. Results for getting half of it are announced first. Then those who got the whole thing were announced. So you want to hear your name but not too early. Alas, I was the second person announced for Teaching. So I passed the teaching but not the skiing. It was bittersweet. While I was thrilled that I would never again have to take the teaching I was really hoping I had done enough to get the whole thing. My marks indicated that I was close. For each run there had been two or three of the five examiners that had passed me. Of all things I actually passed the moguls! The examiners were all great. Brian and Sandy especially sought me out and told me how well I had skied. It is hard to take though, knowing that you skied well, but not well enough.

So, where do I go from here? Well, first off I need a new pair of skis. Mine are DONE. They have no energy left. And I’m going to have a few days of spring skiing for the FUN of it. I’ll refocus over the off-season and decide how to tackle getting the skiing. Thanks everyone for your support on my journey.

Level 3 Exams - Saturday

2008-03-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

One exam day down and one to go! And what a full day! We spent the morning teaching and did 4/5 ski-off runs in the afternoon. Only bumps remain.

The weather today was fantastic! It was sunny and right below freezing. The conditions started really firm and were soft after lunch. The atmosphere was much better than expected. The examiners did their best to put people at ease. Most people were pretty relaxed. I quickly distanced myself from anyone who was stressed.

There are 26 people on exams. The majority have been on exams before. Some have already passed either the skiing or the teaching and are back trying to get the second half. There are five examiners - Sandy, Brian, Doug, Jason, and James. All five are judging the ski-off runs with their marks averaged. We are in smaller groups of 5-6 for the teaching. For the teaching I had Sandy today and have Doug tomorrow.

I drew Intermediate Parallel and Short Radius for my two lessons. I couldn't be happier with the draw. As IP and SR are two of my best runs I knew I would be able to demo them well.
I had about an hour this morning to warm up before we started so I sought out appropriate terrain for my lesson, finding safe areas to stop, checking out sight lines, practicing my demo, and thinking about what I was going to say. When Sandy asked for a volunteer to go first, I jumped at the chance.
I think the lesson went well. Sandy asked me privately if I was nervous because my voice sounded tight but the people in my group who didn't know me thought I sounded confident. Sandy also told me that I did well at picking out what each needed to work on but could have had them ski faster. My guess is that it is still a pass.

I could then relax and take part in the remaining classes my cell had to teach - Advanced Parallel, Short Radius, and Bumps. My AP runs were really strong in the class where my SR was not as good as usual. It's usually the reverse for me. My Bumps were not good but then everyone was struggling in them as they were HUGE and none too soft in the morning.

I did a couple of runs after we were "released" for lunch. Then after the soup I brought from the condo I headed back out for a couple of runs before we re-adjourned for the ski-off. For the ski-off we had a practice run for each run. We started with Intermediate Parallel down Waterfall - a double black diamond, Devil's Glen's steepest run. Not exactly what I pictured for an Intermediate run!!! A good one for me to start on as it's usually one of my best runs. We went alphabetically so I was 4th from the end. I did my best to avoid watching anyone else come down so I could leave the vision of the instructor's demos in my head. It seemed to work as I think I did well on that run.

Next up: Dynamic Parallel. We did this one on Inferno, a single Black Diamond. I was feeling pretty good on it - getting so lateral that I felt I could scoop up snow with my hand. Then I had a stumble right in front of the examiners. Oops! I didn't fall or anything but got majorly out of balance. We'll see how they account for that.

The third run was short radius. We did it on Stairway - double black but not as steep as Waterfall. My run felt good. Not stellar but solid. One little stumble in the soft snow but recovered quickly. A few of the other candidates did go out of their way to compliment me on it, one going so far as to say that it was the best of all the runs. So maybe it looked better than it felt. One poor guy fell which must have been embarassing.

The final ski-off run was the dreaded wedge turn. Every examiner demonstrated it differently. The 5 of them stood close and seemed to compare marks as though they needed agreement. The run felt pretty good so hopefully I did well.

So, to summarize my day I think I passed my first lesson teaching. I skiied well today - not as well as I can but possibly well enough to pass today's skiing. To pass the skiing I need to pass 3 out of 4 of today's runs. A passing mark is 6 out of 10 as an average of the 5 judges' marks.

Tomorrow morning I teach short radius which I'm not too worried about. The real test will be the Bumps. They are a must pass and they are intimidating - large with big gullies on a steep pitch. We are doing the lessons in the morning followed by the Bumps after lunch so I can get some warm-up runs in over lunch. I'm just going to have to suck it up and really go for it. Wish me luck!

Level 3 Exams - Friday morning

2008-03-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

I have been skiing for four hours and not wanted to stop as I'm having so much fun! I've decided it's time to finally take a break so I'm in my condo for a lunch break before heading back out. I've run into a TON of people I know today. Doug Leeming is training a group of 9 people - most of whom are going on exams tomorrow. I skied with a couple of of his group- Helga and Rory - before their session this morning. I watched the group come down a couple of times and some already looked stiff and nervous. I think I made the better decision going it alone.

I didn't end up alone though. I met up with Melody, a L3 coach with the HAD team who coaches out of Mansfield. Melody and I recognized each other from a training day with Sandy. She's a fantastic skier and has her L3 teaching. Don't know how she doesn't have her skiing! She has been helping me with my wedge turns while I have been helping her with Intermediate Parallel. We gave each other tips in short radius and the bumps. Her Dynamic Parallel is awesome. I'll have to synchro it this afternoon.

The day started off with HARD packed snow but has now softened up. Perfect for more bumps in the afternoon! I'll have to put on more sunscreen, sunglasses, and a shell. This is the closest I've gotten to spring skiing all year. Should be great for CSIA Fun Day, Mansfield, and oh yeah, the L3 exams tomorrow.

Melody heard from Steve Young, who she rents a room from, that it is Sandy and Jason Scott examining tomorrow. But I ran into Meredith today and she says there is 28 people signed up. Given the number of people I know taking it, I would think that is more realistic. Steve and Sandy are probably just two of the examiners.

Well, better head back out. TTYS.

Level 3 Exams - Thursday night

2008-03-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

On the way up to Collingwood last night I decided to blog my (final?) journey towards my Level 3. When I get back to the city I'll transfer these emails into my blog with hopefully a photo of a shiny L3 pin. :)

Earlier this week I was experiencing periods of nervousness where I could literally feel my heart race. I kept myself busy at work and at home so as not to focus too much on my exams. That being said, any "free" time was used preparing for the exams - visualizing my ski-off runs and preparing what I will say and do in the various lessons I may be assigned.

But on the drive up last night a new feeling as related to this quest washed over me. Happiness?!? I actually found myself smiling when thinking about the exams. I'm totally relaxed and actually looking forward to showing the examiners what I can do! This is a feeling I want to hold on to over the next few days.

I am going to spend the day ripping it up at Blue Mountain. One last opportunity to use my 5x7. As mine was the only car in the parking lot last night I will have lots of space and no lift lines with which to contend. I love it here during the week!

Geneva - Saturday, Oct 27

2007-10-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

I took the train to Geneva this am. While still in Zermatt I got to use my French to arrange a ride to train station. The train ride was incredible. The first leg descends through the alps on a cog railway. Zermatt is actually at almost 1,600m above sea level. That's the base of the three trams! So I have certainly been getting altitude training.

A couple of noteworthy places the train passed through were Sion - cool castle you could view from train and Montreaux - referred to as the Swiss Riviera, stunning architecture and because it is sandwiched between a mountain and Lake Geneva, a micro-climate that allows the growth of olives, grapes, palm trees, etc. I would like to return to check it out some day.

My hotel in Geneva is literally across the street from the train station. Once again Sandy totally came through. After checking in I explored the city on foot, taking in the fountain, flower clock, and the old city. I had the world's best pretzel (my description) from a street stand for lunch. I ventured into the shops on rue Rive. There was a fun toy store. Jillian: J'ai acheté un cadeau formidable pour Dylan pour Noel! Although a lot of workers speak English my French is finally passable enough that I have been getting by in French! I am so proud and motivated to continue my studies.

At the end of my long walk I took a much needed nap at the hotel before showering and heading out for dinner. I went to a pub near the hotel that I heard was really good and actually ran into someone I know! It was one of the guys from Toronto that had been on the ski trip and had added some days to his trip. So we joined each other for dinner. After a day on my own it after being surrounded by people for a week it was nice to have the company. Now I'm back at the hotel as I have to leave for the airport at 3:45 am. Luckily we have the time change tonight which buys me the extra hour. Good night everybody. I look forward to seeing you all soon! Signing off from Switzerland :(

Zermatt - Friday, October 26

2007-10-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

Today was my last day of skiing here. :( Hardly anyone showed up so I got a private lesson with JF, the instructor I had the first day. Can't beat those ratios! We ended the day early as it was snowing hard ice pellets. I don't mind as it will give me time to go to the town's Matterhorn Museum and get organized for the next phase of my journey.

I have been moved into a private room for the night as almost all of the rest of the group is leaving tonight around 11:30. We have a big final dinner tonight before they go. I am going to leave here early tomorrow morning via train to Geneva. Apparently my hotel in Geneva is right across from the train station so I will check my luggage in there before exploring the old city. I leave at 6:00 am on Sunday and courtesy of the time difference will be back in Toronto that afternoon.

Zermatt - Thursday, Oct 25

2007-10-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

Powder! A foot of the white stuff awaited us this morning. Sweet! I am now seeing all the feedback come together. I had a major break-through today with opening my hip joint. Marc may be the only one reading this who understands what that means - but it's good. :)

I just came back from a walk through town. I took a few more photos. I have some awesome ones to show you all on my return. Zach: there is a climber's graveyard I went to see today. All people who while died climbing the area's peaks.

We didn't end up going to the disco last night after all. A bunch of us did hang out in the hotel bar until 12:30. Today the people on course get their exam results so it will be interesting to see if there is any celebrating or drowning of sorrows later.

Last day of skiing is tomorrow. I can't believe how quickly it all went by!

Zermatt - Wednesday, Oct 24

2007-10-30T12:21:00.000-07:00

Today's group was a "Venus" (ie all female) group. We had two Level 4 instructors - Meredith and Annie and two athletes - Esta and me. Then we lost Annie and picked up another woman. We had so much fun we are repeating the same group tomorrow.

The day started out sunny and warm but fog rolled in after lunch. There was vitually no visibility. We still managed a couple runs. Thank goodness the bottom of the ski out cleared where you had to take speed to make it.

There are a group of us going out tonight. I hope to make it in earlier than last time. :)

Zermatt - Tuesday, Oct 23

2007-10-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

Day 3 and we were in the moguls - the same ones the World Cup teams are here training on. I did alright actually, especially considering my lack of sleep.

Last night a bunch of us went out to a nightclub after dinner. Happy hour went until 1:00 am and with two for one drinks everyone sure was happy. I met the coaches of the Canadian national disabled ski team as well as a member of Canada's World Cup freestyle team (moguls). Other people in our group tell me that he has actually won some World Cup races.

The bar was itself was in a cave which was pretty very cool. It was packed on a Monday night. It was a late night (early morning) which made this morning pretty tough. Luckily we had fantasic weather - still sunny but much warmer. I have a wicked ski tan already!

Tonight is going to be a quiet night as the three members of Canada's Interski team that traveled to Korea are going to show a DVD of their experience. Pretty cool that there is only 10 people that make the team every 4 years and I have had lessons from two of them this week and am rooming with the third.

I better go finish getting ready for dinner. TTYS.

Zermatt - Monday, Oct 22

2007-10-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Left hotel at 8 am this morning as I was to meet the instructor at the top of the glacier at 9:45. After just missing a series of trams, I didn't get there until after 10 am. Only I can run into commuting problems on a glacier in Switzerland! Luckily everyone else was late too.

We had a couple of additions to our class today. I'm still in a class with all men like usual. The two new additions both have their Level 3 teaching and are working on their skiing. Marc: you will know one - Paul from Mansfield. He was on course with you when you got your 3.

Our instructor Josh, head of ski school at Big White, was really good. We'll be reviewing video of the day at 6:30. He even diagnosed me while riding the T-bar together. He noticed that my boots aren't canted properly - that I'm actually stemming (snow plowing) when going up the t-bar instead of my skis running flat. I've already taken my boots into the shop to have the canting adjusted so we will see how it goes tomorrow. I've also left my skis in the shop. The firm conditions have been rough on them. I was surprised by how few (none?) of the Level 4's tune their own equipment. They've all been taking them in.

Weather is still cold (-23C at the top this am) but as long as the trams are running and I can ski I don't care. I am getting a wicked tan from all the sun on the glacier.

I do have to get the name of a massage therapist from Sandy to see if I can get in this week. The sooner the better!

Zermatt - Sunday, Oct 21 (Part 2)

2007-10-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

I thought of a few things I forgot to mention in my last posting.

1. Weather - cold in the am (-17C) but I was dressed well so hardly noticed.

2. Lifts - 3 trams to get to the top. Can ski out under one tram so only 2 trams on the way back. T-bars are not as nasty as I would have expected.

3. Terrain - Blue-Black, nothing too insane.

4. Conditions - firm. Really firm. Glazed where the glacier showed through. Good tune on my skis Marc! If it stays like this I am going to get the edges sharpened twice while I am here.

5. Falls - one but not while skiing. ;) Walking down the ice from our lunch spot.

6. Lunch in Italy - fantastic! Included in our package is a pasta lunch accompanied with homemade bread every day. Delicio!

Zermatt - Sunday, Oct 21

2007-10-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

I am posting from my sunny balcony overlooking the Matterhorn (see view above). :) I actually need to go get sunglasses...

Okay I'm back. My roomie just got in too. We were discussing the best place to go for apres-ski. Seems I have a few hours as they do it a little later here. So let me continue...

Day 1 was fabulous! Only three of us in my group. The other two are training for the Level 4 so it's referred to as the Level 4 prep group. Funny as I have yet to go on the Level 3! Glad I am with this group rather than the other people training for the 3. It is not only a fraction of the size (7-8 people in other groups) but I also get to ski with stronger skiers. AND I've been holding my own! While I am the slowest in the group, I am already on Day 1 skiing as well as I was by the end of last year! It felt like I had not taken a break at all. This is definitely my year!

Today's instructor was JF, who heads up the Ski School at Mont Ste. Anne. He is an incredible skier and a fantastic instructor. He broke everything down very simply and related everything to how it felt (physically not emotionally!) I totally got everything he was saying and was able to make big changes instantly. I'm going to write notes after this posting to try to capture what I learned today. Then it's time to explore the town before apres. Have a great Sunday and I'll check in with you again soon!

Zermatt - Arrival Oct 20/07

2007-10-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that two planes and two trains later I have arrived safe and sound in Zermatt. The train ride from Geneva was breathtaking - spectacular lake and mountain vistas. The train ride up above high gorges was not for the faint of heart. We passed the remnants of an unbelievably large rock slide that buried an entire village in 1992.

Zermatt is a typical Alpen village - super clean and tidy and brimming with character. You can only get here from train although a tiny electric car and wagon did carry our luggage to the hotel for us leaving us free to walk unencumboured.

The hotel is nice - very similar to the hotels where we have stayed in Austria. I am sharing a room with Sunny Verault. Marc will know her as she is one of the top Level 4 women in Canada and is featured in some of the CSIA videos. She is from Chicoutimi so I can practice my French...especially good because the language in Zermatt is German. Of course I left my German phrase book at home because I was convinced they spoke French here! I also took out Euros to find they use Swiss Francs here! 0/2 so far.

I actually had a funny incident checking into my room. When I got to the room Sandy told me I was sharing with Sunny I knocked on the door only to have it answered by a middle-aged male Brit wearing nothing but a towel! We had a laugh over the fact that he was expecting his new roommate too. I asked Sandy what kind of services he was offering on this trip?!?

Just had a really good dinner. There would have been no leftovers for Marc at this one! Meals are included and I got to choose an appetizer, main, and desert. I'll have to ski hard to work it off tomorrow!

There is actually talk that the trams may be shut down tomorrow due to high winds. If the day does go it is going to be cold. I really hope we can ski as I'm dying to get out there.

The people on the trip are great. Have already met people from England, Victoria, Thunder Bay, and Montreal. Have also recruited a new Voyageur - a new Level 1 my age from Toronto who I sat next to on the flight from Zurich to Geneva and then sat with on the trains.

The one thing I haven't done is slept - not a wink since Thursday. I'm calling it a night now as I can't stay awake for another minute.

Riding Mountain Triathlon - August 18, 2007

2007-08-20T17:45:00.000-07:00

Flying to Manitoba I am still not certain if it will be the Sprint or Olympic distance I will compete in the following week. On the one hand, I am feeling healthy and having a great season. I know I can beat my previous Olympic distance time on this course. On the other hand, it is my vacation and I want to have fun. I don’t want to spend the entire week worrying about the longer distance. I want to have fun doing the race. I don’t want to come in last in a tight field of competitors. Eventually I come to the decision to do the Sprint. I have nothing to prove. I want to have a good time.

Race day arrives. It is very cool outside. I have to wear a jacket while getting set up in transition. I begin to second guess my decision to not wear a wet suit but I know I will be more comfortable with my breathing without it. I try to get in a warm-up but when I take my bike for a ride I decide I don’t like the seat set up. I get my Dad to help me adjust it…twice. I must get a new bolt or a quick release for that seat. The pre-race meeting upsets the rhythm of my warm-up but is integral as it reminds me that the entrance to the run is not the corner I think it is. I head out for a warm-up run to check out the course but I’m feeling antsy and don’t go out for as long as usual.

The Olympic distance athletes start their swim. I go in the water to warm up. It turns out it is too soon. A few of the Olympic distance swimmers are very weak and the race marshals elect to wait for them to complete before letting the Sprinters start. I am shaking I am so cold. The water temperature is 17C and the air temperature is similar. The announcer notes that by the times coming in, the course is set long.

Finally we get the clearance to start and I dive into the cold, clear water. Something is wrong. I cannot get my breathing under control. I mix my freestyle stroke with some breast stroke to try to get enough air. When I do freestyle I breathe every second pull instead of every third. I tell myself to just continue moving forward and that it will get better. I fight my way through the first three buoys, choking on some water between the second and third. When I get to the final buoy I check my watch and find out that I have only put in 11 minutes. Surprisingly I have not lost much time. I fight to get my breathing under control and start going 20-30 pulls before sighting during the last, longest, leg to shore. As I exit I see that I have exceeded my goal by 5 minutes! I don’t know how it happened with that disastrous start, but I’ll take it. Swim: 20:01 PB (course)

I run into transition handing over my first Velcro number. This is what life must have been like before electronic timing! As I exit transition I hear the announcer announce my name and mention that I have come here from Toronto where I am a Vice President at an ad agency. Love the bios they made us fill out as it definitely makes it more interesting for the spectators as well as personalizing the experience for the athletes.

I go out hard on the bike past our family cottage, passing two people on our street that leads to the highway. I feel fantastic the entire ride. Though I am breathing heavily for the first part of the ride I continue to push, trying to stay in aero or at least on the low drops for the majority of the ride. I remind myself to drink lots of Gatorade even though it is cool out. I know the hills well and try to take a lot of speed from the downhills into the uphills. My heart beats a bit faster as I go up the hill where my chain broke days before. Luckily it holds and I have no gearing issues whatsoever for the whole ride. I see Michelle heading back so I know she is having a great race. I average 24.8 KPH on the way out. I’m happy with that as it is an extremely hilly course. The turnaround is on a downhill which sucks as I have to dump my speed to turn around and then set off uphill. I am feeling good though and feel even better when an Olympic distance athlete passing me states “you’re looking good”. That is until she follows it up with, “is this your first race?” Ouch! On the way back I try to push at 30-40 KPH on the flats so that I can average 25 KPH overall. I am feeling so good that I can’t believe it when I see the turnoff back into town. How can it be over? I’m still feeling so good! I kick it up into town and disaster almost strikes. A truck stops at a crosswalk (yes, they do that in Manitoba) by the campground and three kids begin crossing the road right in front of me on their bikes. I yell “WATCH OUT!!!” at the top of my lungs and they stop dead in their tracks. Luckily I am able to swerve around them. The announcer again announces my arrival. I’m thrilled to note I did manage to average 25.2 KPH on the bike. Bike (including transitions): 51:07 PB (course)

As I leave transition for the run I note that my time is 1:10 and change. I completed the course in just under 2 hours the year previously and had been aiming for 1:55. I could walk the run course and meet that! Instead I decide to push it and see if I can get 1:50, maybe even 1:45. I am breathing hard the first kilometer or so. I know the course well but I don’t see any distance markers so I have no idea how far I have gone. I check my time at the turnaround and see that, if it is truly halfway I am running at about 7:30 minutes per kilometer. I try to go quicker, even running up the awful hill on Ta-wa-pit whose twin sister on Wasagaming was the hill Michelle and I hill trained on (twice!) earlier in the week. Finally I see the 8K marker which given the Sprint and Olympic courses had married up must mean I have 2 km to go. I am still feeling surprisingly good. When I get the 9K marker I check my time - 1:40. As I usually race at 7-8 minutes per km, I figure that 1:45 is now out of reach but I can break 1:50. I pick up the pace still further. I see the right turn ahead that will take me past my cottage and to the finish line. I put everything I have into getting there as quickly as possible without falling down. As I cross the finish line I am ecstatic to see that I did it in 1:45!!! I ran the last km in under 5 minutes!!! I did not know that I was capable of that pace! Run: 33:37 PB (course) + PB (Ever!)

Total time: 1:45:27 PB (course) + PB (ever!) A six-peat PB race! I am soooooooo happy! It only gets better as I run Michelle in for her Olympic distance finish and we find out she has finished third in her age group. One of us medaled! What a fantastic way to end an amazing holiday!

Belwood - August 5, 2007

2007-08-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

I am really nervous. I am wondering why I felt compelled to do a longer distance than the nice half-Olympic sprint I am used to. I know I can complete the race but I also know it is going to hurt!

I stay overnight at Michelle’s before the race so we will be closer to the start. She prepares an awesome carb-loading pasta dinner that we top off with a trip to DQ.

Sunday morning arrives too early and we make our way to Belwood Conservation Area by Fergus, Ontario. We arrive closer to the start time than we like yet because it is a smaller race there are still plenty of primo parking and racking positions. I even have time to warm up my run, bike, and swim. It makes me feel more comfortable to fit my warm-up in and also to remember the course.

We line up on the boat launch area for the entrance to the swim. I position myself at the back of the group as I don’t want a repeat of Peterborough with other swimmers pushing down my feet. Michelle and I are both in the fourth of five waves. When the siren goes off we pick our way down the ramp into the water as there are even rocks on the boat ramp. The water is nice and warm and other than a couple of pushing matches near the beginning of the swim I am left alone. The water is clearer than I remember and the lake is weedless. Things to be thankful for as I swim the LONG 1K loop. The buoys for this race almost reach the shore on the other side of the lake which is quite intimidating. I go at my own pace and feel fine throughout the swim though at the halfway point I have to wonder when it will ever end! On the way back I use the dam for sighting and don’t have to look up as often. By the last 100-150m I am back to my typical zig zag swimming. I must be tired but I pour on an additional effort as I know it almost over. Swim: 32:48

I’m very dizzy as I exit the water. With the longer effort and rocks on the bottom I drunkenly spill out of the water and run up the hill to transition. Why is transition always at the top of a hill? T1: 2:01

I start out on the bike feeling really good. I am not hyperventilating as I did at the last three races. The route is quite flat to start and it is very windy. I spend as much time as possible in aero, dropping to my drops when my shoulders can’t take the aero effort. In my drops my back is just as low as in aero though I lose some aerodynamics with my shoulders being more open. At the 10K mark I am ready to head back in as I would in a usual spring but alas with this race I am not yet 1/3 finished. The course is a loop which I love for training rides and hate for races. There are few other riders around me and I am not motivated. I start to enjoy the scenery too much and have to remind myself that I am still in a race. The 33K mark eventually comes and I am ready to hop of the bike and begin the run. Bike: 1:19:09

There are some finishers already in transition. The cruelty of it all. I hasten to get out on the course. T2: 1:30

The run is almost completely flat and on a trail that is easy on the legs. Unfortunately it does not offer much for shade and it is now approaching noon. I make the decision to stick to 10 + 1’s as I want to pace myself for the longer than usual effort and I have already given up on my goal time as it would require a 50 minute run that I do not feel capable of. I decide to think of it as simply a training run and to pace myself accordingly. There are lots of water and Gatorade stations and I am pleased to note at the two turnaround points that I am actually ahead of a few people. I even pass a couple of people in the run. I take my last walk break right before my last km and try to sustain a tougher effort. I am shocked to discover at the end of the run that it is a PB for me on the course by 3 minutes. It enables me to sneak in a new overall personal best by 15 seconds! Run: 50:42 PB

Triathlon: 2:46:09 PB.

I decided during this race that doing a triathlon could be likened to what I have heard about childbirth. While you are going through it you are wondering why you are doing it and vow never to do it (or at least this length) ever again. When you cross the finish line the pain is instantly forgotten and all you feel is the thrill of having completed the race. Which brings me to my next question of myself: I am currently registered in the Riding Mountain Olympic distance triathlon in two weeks. I could still drop down to the sprint distance. I know I can complete the Olympic and probably even get a PB but I also know it is likely that I will be last in the field and that it is going to be very painful. If I do the sprint I will have a fun, stress-free race but will I feel I didn’t deliver to my potential? The dilemma unfolds…Stay tuned for my decision…

Birthday Weekend - July 28-29

2007-07-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Why is it everyone goes on holiday during my birthday? Luckily Michelle came through once again and the two of us headed to Pinery at Grand Bend for a weekend of camping. We took our bikes with us but they didn't leave the rack all weekend. :( Michelle was nursing a bug and I had to do a couple of runs to keep up with my Half Marathon training. Saturday was only a 4K but on Sunday I ran 15K over two hours. The campground was so huge that I didn't cover a fraction of it over that time!

The weather was fantastic and the natural beauty of the park was wonderful. We had some beach time both days - my first this summer! I even had time to finish reading Harry Potter. Overindulged in snacks and ice cream cake so now am on the straight and narrow as I head into a race this weekend. I'm doing Belwood on Sunday. I'm a bit concerned over its longer length but know that I will persever. 'til next time!

Blue Mountain - July 21-22

2007-07-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

Another race-free weekend. I could get used to this! I spent this weekend at my place at Blue Mountain with my friend Michelle and her sister-in-law Chantal. On Friday night Michelle and I disappointed Chan by heading back to the condo after only a couple of drinks at Windy O’Neils, choosing an early night in order to get some rest for our ride the next day. Saturday morning we took out our mountain bikes and covered the Georgian Trail from Blue Mountain to Meaford and back. It was fun to be back on my mountain bike. Though it is very old it is still functioning well and is oh, so much more comfortable than my road bike. The ride ended up being 63 km. I felt great throughout. Chan impressed me with her ride out as she hadn’t biked much this season. She did pay for it on the way back though as she dropped further and further behind. On the one 500 m section of what could be termed single track on the whole ride, Michelle elected to sacrifice herself rather than a couple of seniors on a corner so had some battle scars – skin loss on her arm and cool bruises on her hip/thigh – to prove her mountain bike riding cred the rest of the weekend.

The next day Chan opted out of the training run I had planned so Michelle and I dragged ourselves away from the mountain stage of the Tour de France for a 14K run. (OK, Michelle dragged me kicking and screaming away from the TV I was hugging.) We did the other part of the Georgian Trail heading towards Collingwood this time. The run went by so much faster having someone with me. Post-run Michelle dove right into the swimming pool only stopping to take off her running shoes. I took a little more time getting there only because I needed to gulp down another litre of water first! The rest of the day was spent relaxing and hobbling around the village feeling good about the weekend’s efforts.

Training weekend - July 14-15

2007-07-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Not much to report. On Saturday I rode in St. Jacob’s. Not a great ride as the area reeked of manure and a red minivan decided to use me as target practice in an intersection after I signaled my turn perfectly clearly. Crazy-ass minivan drivers! The awesome farmers’ market was the only thing that salvaged the day.

Sunday was better. I didn’t leave home as early as anticipated as the Tour de France Alp stage was wicked! Once I did, I headed to Hilton Falls for some trail running. I LOVE trail running! The time just flies by as I maneuver myself up and down hills, across rocks, and over roots. I did a 9.5k trail followed by a 4K trail. In the end I ran almost two hours. I skipped my swim as I needed some chill time after the run more badly.

I’ve decided to register for Belwood on the August long weekend as it will be good to do a race in between the short sprint and Olympic distances before my Olympic race in Manitoba in August. I’ve only done Belwood once before and it was an interesting day as the swim headed off into a dense fog and I did the ride on my road bike for the first time. Other than the swim I had a pretty good time so it may be a challenge to get a PB. Something to strive towards!

Peterborough Sprint - July 8, 2007

2007-07-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

Photos above: Me “relaxing” after the race. Michelle doing her strip-tease act in the transition area post-race. For the first time this season my friend Michelle and I competed in the same race so I lost my official race photographer and had to settle for post-race photos for my blog.

Michelle kicked some serious butt in the race coming in at 15th in her category of 38! She scored 10th in the bike, averaging over 30 km/hour! Unfortunately Michelle was also the biggest bad-ass in the group of over 400 and ended up getting disqualified after the race for having “words” with a race official. Michelle assures her fans that the race official was being unreasonable.

As for my race, I didn’t have a great feeling about it from the beginning. My allergies were really acting up this last week and I was woken on Sunday morning by Michelle’s Blackberry alarm going of at 5:00 am and could not get back to sleep. In transition before the race I was accidentally smacked in the face by male athlete warming up doing shoulder rolls. Not a great omen.

The siren goes off. I dolphin dive a few times into the lake. I feel like a goldfish in a goldfish pond competing for food thrown in by a tourist. The water is thick with bodies and I can’t find my spot. I keep getting my legs pushed down which is throwing me off. I concentrate solely on my breathing, getting it under control. The whole swim continues in this vein, fighting other swimmers off, avoiding flailing legs and arms. Two women in my age group block me doing an assortment of strokes – sidestroke, breaststroke, freestyle – the whole race. I am determined to beat them. One gets out of the water right before me. I run as fast as I can to get past her into transition. Score! I know I have beat at least two people in my age group in the swim. (After checking results, I find I actually beat four – making the swim the strongest part of my event.) Swim: 21:17

It was raining when we started the swim but it is now bright and sunny. Like Muskoka, I have to change back my sunglasses lens to something darker for the bike. T1: 2:47

I couldn’t warm up the bike as the fight for transition spots was fierce in the morning and I didn’t want to risk losing my spot by unracking my bike. I run past five people out of transition and get on to find that my guess as to the right gear to start was correct. The bike is a series of short and steep hills. I am working hard and breathing hard yet I can’t seem to go as fast as Guelph. I am trying to be as aero as possible as there is a strong wind. I gear change too quickly as I fly down one hill and dump my chain. A horrible place to do it as I now have to stop at the bottom of the next steep hill to put it back on. Two runners happen to be there and assist me in getting it into the right gear for the hill. One even pushes me to get me started on the hill. I don’t even think at the time that I should not be accepting aid. I’m just so grateful for the help. Don’t tell the OAT officials or Michelle won’t be the only one DQ’d! Bike: 49:24 T2: 2:15

I run out from transition and then stop dead in my tracks. I don’t know which way to go! They changed the course since the previous year. Luckily someone sees my dilemma and tells me. The run course is now through the park instead of through town. It’s a lot of grass running which is slower than concrete but I don’t mind as it is also a lot cooler. I am not terribly motivated because I know that even with a PB run I can no longer get a PB on the race because of my swim and bike times. I still run as best as I can only taking one 30 second walk break. I experience some cramping but nothing like the stitches I usually get. I try to really push it the last couple of km’s thinking the faster I race, the faster it will be over! In the end I come within hundredths of a second of my run PB. Run: 36:28 Total time: 1:52:09

Next up: I’ve registered for the Olympic distance of the Riding Mountain Tri at the cottage in Manitoba on August 18. I may do Belwood on the August long weekend as its distance is halfway between the Sprints I have been doing this season and the Olympic. Stay tuned…

Canada Day (training) weekend

2007-07-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

Photos above: Me getting mauled by a black bear at Santa's Village and Deborah annihilating me at mini-putt.

No races this weekend. Took the opportunity to do a few day trips and get some training in. Friday: Left work early afternoon and headed to Lake Kelso for a 30K bike ride and 30 minute swim. Made it up the evil 6th line hill. A very scenic ride that is brutal outbound and oh so short and sweet on return.

Saturday: Got in a 12K run on the Beltline before meeting Deborah and driving to Niagara. While Deborah wandered around NOTL I got in a short fun 20K bike ride on the paved trails. Some silly pedestrians but not as much bike traffic as expected. I wish my competition was as slow as these people on bikes.

Sunday: Did a hill training run in the morning. Flew up the hills in Mount Pleasant cemetary. Unbelievable. Could I be improving at hills? Probably just the cool, temperate weather. Later picked up Deborah and headed to Muskoka for Canada Day which is where the photos above were taken.

Monday: Time for one more serious training day. To Guelph Lake for a 40K bike ride. Love the countryside there for cycling. Good roads. Very little traffic. Other cyclists around. Some challenging hills but nothing too killer. Afterwards got in a 35 minute swim.

Next race: Peterborough on Sunday! I love that race. I tend to do well there. Usually I'm inspired by the Tour de France by that point but as it only starts Saturday I can't rely on that as motivation. My goal: 1:50 which is better than the last two years but not quite as good as my PB of 1:47:57. Stay tuned...

Guelph Sprint - June 23, 2007

2007-06-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun doing Muskoka that I decide to attempt to repeat the experience this weekend in Guelph. I drive up to Guelph early Saturday morning. No traffic so I get there in time to cheer on the Try-a-Tri'ers including Michelle's friend Sasha and her husband. Michelle and her boyfriend Richard are camping at Guelph for the weekend as she is doing the Olympic distance Tri on Sunday. It is great to have some "athletic supporters" there to cheer me on.

I find myself in the elder stateswoman role for the first time at this race. I am answering one first-timer’s questions when another begins peppering me with questions of her own. I help them out as much as I can. Richard comments that if they looked fitter than me I should have led them astray with my answers but Michelle decides that helping others will give me better karma for the race.

I try to replicate the warm-up of my successful Tri in Muskoka as much as possible. I go for a 1K run scoping out the finish area and deciding on the point from which I will sprint to the finish. I bike 4K, going through my gears to make sure everything is working properly. I have to adjust the bag that carries my spare tubes as it is catching my shorts. The water is cool to get into for my warm-up swim but I feel good in my decision to go without my wetsuit given my great swim in Muskoka doing the same.

I line up at the start feeling calm and confident. As the whistle blows I am off running into the water, doing dolphin dives to get through the shallows. Dolphin dives are fun but I do get some water up my nose. I stay with the majority of my wave most of the way out to the farthest buoy. There is some unusual swimming going on around me – I count a sidestroke, breast stroke, and even a backstroke. The breast stroker is quite strong so I follow her for a bit to keep me in a straight line. I kept listing to the right so I concentrate on feeling like I am going left in order to go straight. I actually rub up against the first buoy as I go by so I can't have gotten any closer. At the furthest buoy the fastest swimmers from the next wave catch me so there is a bit of jostling but I keep my cool. Before I know it I am back at shore, running up the LONG grassy hill to transition. Swim: 23:34.

In transition one of the newbies is still asking questions. I'm kind of busy but I try to be polite and answer as I pull on my bike shoes. T1:2:45

Out on the bike I am not feeling as breathless as Muskoka and try to push myself harder. The hills aren't as bad as Muskoka and I am able to get a run at the uphills from the downhills. I pass a number of people including several women from my age group. I even manage to pass a couple of people on uphills. Yay! I know the course well and the hills aren't as bad as I remember. I am able to stay aero in the flats and push at over 30 KPH knowing that I will lose substantial time on the two steepest hills. On the way back I concentrate on getting and keeping my average speed at over 25 KPH knowing the one last big hill will bring it down. As I swing into transition I see that I was successful in keeping my average speed at exactly 25 KPH. Bike: 45:38 PB

Back into transition. More questions from a newbie. I really have to stop being polite. T2: 2:23

A time check confirms that I have 41 minutes for the run to make my goal and a new PB of 1:55. Cramping on right side. Tell myself I can massage it during a one minute walk break after running for 10 minutes. Stick to it and get rid of the cramp after 11 minutes. Take only 30 seconds of my next walk break and then decide to nix them as I'm feeling good. With 2K to go, realize that not only will I attain my goal of 1:55 but that if I really push myself I could potentially make it in 1:50. Decide to go for it. Pick up the speed. With 1K to go, I have 6 1/2 minutes left to make 1:50. I'm glad I practiced this km in warm-up as I know what to expect. I run up the last hill knowing I have conquered worse in training and that the rest of the way in will be downhill. When I get to the spot I picked out in the morning I pour my last effort into going hard into the finish. Run: 35:53 PB.

Not only do I make it in at 1:50:11, seven minutes faster than I have done this course before but I also score PB's in the bike and run and almost match my PB on the swim. Another fantastic race! Stay tuned for Peterborough on July 8!