3rd March 2007, 21.27
Sitting on the sofa in the lounge
So we’ve been doing a fair bit of filming on the slopes and I thought I’d put together a little clip of Jen’s riding around! She’s been doing fantastically, but I’ll say no more, see for yourself
Jen riding
PS Note that there’s no footage of me – everytime we try to film me, oh, the batteries have run out. Bloody typical.
26th February 2007, 23.34
Living room, Meadowridge
So another typical snow storm in Fraser, just 6 inches or so. Had an immense day riding trees and bumps, before catching up with Jen and cruising around together for a bit.
Just thought we’d try a bit of movie on the site!
Fraser Snow
20th February, 17.53
In the kitchen
Wow, what an epic day! So we had about an inch of fresh snow (not much, but enough!), Pete’s out here visiting and the sun is shining. Yesterday we went skiing in the afternoon and then today went riding all over the shop – trees, bumps, steeps and a bit of freestyle! I was having a storm today, riding really well through the trees and generally enjoying things.
So, thoughts have started to turn to what happens after the season, I’d really love to do another season, but although I love instructing, I struggle with the politics and hassle that comes with it, plus this life is not really sustainable in the long term, so I thought I’d explore my options for coming back to London. I registered my CV with a recruitment consultancy and by some remarkable stroke of fortune, the next day I had Entec Consulting (a top environmental consultancy) call me.
After what turned out to be two phone interviews with one of the Directors, they offered me a job as a senior consultant in their climate change team, with the aim of taking over the principal consultant role in 6 months. It’s a pretty good package and a fantastic opportunity as they are looking for someone to develop their climate change business. Even though I’ve got no consultancy experience, they’re really keen on me and want to put me through my paces in the first few months, with some fast track training and development. I’ve been thinking about it over the weekend and decided to take it, so I’ll be starting on the 1st May. The snowboard instructor option will be here for me if I decide that’s the route I’d like to take, but at the moment I think a return to London and working in a professional environment on an issue I really care about is the right choice. I have to make sure that I don’t fall back into the same unhappy lifestyle I was leading in my last job, but so far it seems a much more balanced existence. Plus it’ll pay for some long snow holidays!
23rd January 2007, 18.53
Meadowridge, Fraser – home, sweet home
Finally, I’ve got round to an update! Anyways, life’s beginning to take shape for us here now after quite a tumultuous month. Things have been quite tough on both of us; work for Jen hasn’t been great and she’s not as into the snow lifestyle as I am. It’s been made harder by the contrast with how much I’m enjoying myself and how well work has been going for me. It’s been even tougher cos we’ve been trying to adjust to being in a new country and moving into a new place, plus the lack of phone and internet access means we’ve been a little cut off!
But things are much better now, Jen’s been making the most of being here and getting out there more. She’s been enjoying skiing much more (snowboarding is on hold for the moment!) and has been shadowing kids skiing lessons. Plus now we’ve got internet and a PO Box, so contact with other people is much easier. Ronnie came out over New Year and I think that helped Jen get a bit of perspective on things and appreciate life here for what it is. It’s still tough for her, but things are getting better!
Anyways, now we’ve both got two days off a week (Tue and Wed) – most mornings I have clinics at 8am. For me, morning line-up is at 9.30 (when we find out if we’ve got work or not) – I’m teaching adults so work is either at Sorensen Park (total beginners), Plaza (upper level lessons) or Burton Learn to Ride (4.5 hour all day lessons for total beginners). I usually finish my morning lesson at 12 and then have to be back at afternoon line-up at 12.30 – but by the time I get down from the mountain, I’m normally left with about 15 mins for lunch, so it’s a little rushed!
Sometimes I get privates (I had quite a lot over the holidays) – it’s less pay, but generally better tips and you get to give more personal attention. But overall, LTRs are my favourite as you get to spend all day with the same people and can take more time to develop skills.
Work has been really quiet after the Xmas rush – so I’ve been learning to ski and to instruct skiing. Got myself a brand new pair of Salomon Foil freestyle skis for a great price and have been loving it! Other than that, I’ve been working on my riding – riding a lot of park and had a few clinics on the halfpipe and bumps. We’ve got some great trainers here, including Chris Hargrave who wrote the AASI book on freestyle. After a clinic with him, I’ve learnt to frontside lipslide on boxes and actually enjoy riding rails now!
The snow here is out of this world – we had a huge storm before Christmas and had about 20 inches of snow in 24 hours. Cos it’s so dry here, the snow is really light and powdery – perfect for riding! The only problem is that I have to dig my car out of snow from time to time and driving can be a little sketchy at times. It’s also bloody cold here – the last few days have been around -38 Farenheit. But things are warming up now and blue sky has returned!
So, life is going well here – I’ve got a car now (a 1991 Subaru Legacy), which makes it easier to get out of resort and visit Denver or Boulder. In fact, we’re heading to Boulder tomorrow (over the Berthoud Pass, which people seem to think is scary, but they obviously haven’t been on NZ roads!).
17th December 2006, 20:24
The McKellar’s
Well, it’s been a crazy few days! Having made contact with my supervisor at Winter Park, it turns out that I was just in time for the new hire academy that I needed to do before starting work. However, I had no way of getting up to WP in time and was distinctly carless. Gordon very kindly came to my rescue by driving me up there!
So we’ve moved into our condo now, it’s really nice (although there was a flood over the summer so our carpets still need some work) – we’ll be living with two others, Colin and Tiktak. It’s all a bit hectic at the moment with work, trying to set up life in the mountains and getting used to the altitude! Up here in Fraser, we’re at around 9,000 feet so the air is a lot thinner, plus it makes the air drier so we’re drinking gallons of water to try to stay hydrated. Up at the resort, the mountains go up to around 12,000 feet, so altitude sickness is a genuine risk. But we’re taking it easy and trying not to over-exert ourselves.
We’ve got no internet access at the moment and Fraser/Winter Park is somewhat lacking in internet cafes that open late enough for us to use, so we’re a little cut off, but hopefully that should be sorted soon enough.
25 September 2006, 1920
At home
It’s been a funny few days. Now that we’ve finished, I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to do with myself. We had a good night out on Friday and a final Rookie get-together on Saturday, but I felt strangely detached from it. Felt like a bit of an anti-climax (again). Sure, I’ve enjoyed this and met some great people, but it just doesn’t feel like the end of a major occurrence. I think I need to rest and let it all sink in.
Went up the mountain on Sunday and regretted it, the Saddle lift was shut and I was just tired. I ended up renting some skis and having a blast around, which was good fun, definitely need to get some proper lessons though!
Spoke to Tim Williams, the snow school director, about shadowing some lessons a while ago. He seemed quite amenable to the idea, but the past few days, there haven’t been enough lessons going up. But today, I managed to shadow Bronnie’s level 3 lesson and ended up taking one of the clients on my own. Seemed to go well, she had fun and didn’t hurt herself! Managed to get her down Easy Rider by lunchtime. Then spent the afternoon riding in the Saddle, hitting the park – managed to land a few kickers, so result all round today.
Still, feel a bit funny though – not really sure what it is, tired, lonely, lost, bored, down. Dunno really – going to the cinema tonight, then will spend tomorrow packing stuff up and getting ready to move out of here.
22nd September 2006, 13.29
Internet kiosk at TC
Well, Kipling provided the script for today, but in a somewhat different manner than what I was expecting.
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same”
Yep, failed my BASI exam. Was on my riding, I just wasn’t up to scratch. It’s the right decision, but it’s still tough and I’m gutted. But at least I’ve got my Stage 1 and a job to go to.
I’m still proud of what I’ve achieved and how far my riding has come this season – this was always going to be a huge challenge and to have walked away with 2 qualifications and a job means a lot to me. I’ve travelled the road not taken and don’t regret a second of it.
21 September 2006, 23.37
In bed, eating lollies (sweets to non-Kiwis – no idea why they call them lollies, there’s no stick or frozen syrup involved, but I digress…)
Why I’m up when I should be fast asleep for tomorrow, I don’t know! Anyway, had a good day today – fresh powder, lots of strong riding and positive feedback. I scored well on the areas that we’re being assessed on, but still have work to do. I’m a little disappointed, cos I was hoping to have had it all wrapped up by now so that tomorrow wouldn’t be so pressured. But now, I’ve got one last shot to prove myself – I know I can do it, I just need to get out there, focus and do the business.
You’ve probably noticed that I like to quote various bods, tonight, Kipling is my inspiration for tomorrow:
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you But make allowance for their doubting too, If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream--and not make dreams your master, If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much, If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
20th September 2006, 19.38
Alpine Resort
Teaching went well today and we had the written exam today too – think that was pretty sweet, so all that’s left to do is the riding assessment. We’ve been continually assessed and last week’s riding was pretty poor by me.
But I’ve had lots of feedback and worked hard on things, so hopefully I can prove myself tomorrow. Just need to focus and remember to relax too!
Chew taught us how to ride boxes too today and I nailed a straight box about 4 or 5 times. Even tried a nose slide (where the tail of the board hangs off the box as you slide along) – just about managed that too – really enjoyed that and look forward to playing a bit more after the exam is over!
On other news, Jen got the job at Winter Park! So we’re all set to head over there, just need to figure out the visa situation – but from initial investigation, doesn’t seem too bad! Can’t believe it is actually happening – will be awesome to be in Colorado!
19th September 2006, 21.16
At home, watching rubbish music on J2 having had a power nap.
Been pretty slack at blog entries, partly due to techincal difficulties and partly due to being totally exhausted. So, three days left and I think it’s safe to say that I’ve been through every emotion I’ve got. It’s been a pretty intense time and I’ll be glad when it’s over – snow’s been terrible and the weather not much better.
Started buoyantly as a few things had dropped into place just before the exam started. But, by Wednesday, I was feeling totally exhausted and my knees were killing me. The weather and snow continued to get worse, which made it hard to keep spirits up. We had lots of video sessions and none of them particularly good. But I thought the latter half of the week would be better – we were due to cover carving – an area that I felt really confident on. However, on the day, the snow was really difficult (not that that’s an excuse) and I had an absolute shocker – scoring around 2/3 instead of the 5 I need to pass, so ended the week on a real bummer.
Spent the weekend working on a few things (despite barely being able to get out of bed) and Saturday was great – a bit of fresh snow and the whole day spent working on turns and riding bumps with Mike. Basically, needed to concentrate on closing off my turns and pedalling around the board.
I decided to take Sunday off as I needed the rest, but spent most of Sunday wandering around in a daze and feeling really low on energy. Went out on Sunday night as it was the last night of Wanakafest – watched the rail jam and snapped away with my camera at the fire poi and fireworks displays. It was a good distraction and Monday was a much better day – got lots of real positive feedback on all the stuff I’ve been working on.
Which just about brings us up to date – today was the first day of our teaching assessments. I had to teach garlands to a group of unfit clients – it went well and I feel pretty good about the teaching side. Got one more lesson to give tomorrow – I’m doing it on aft-pressure (basically, pressing the back of the snowboard to get more grip) – something that I’ve only recently discovered but has really helped my riding.
So there we have it, my BASI so far, feeling totally exhausted and tired of being assessed continuously, only a few more days to go – just writing my lesson plan now, then will have a good sleep! Tomorrow is the last teach, then there will be two more days of riding assessment – a chance to redeem myself from last week’s performance.