Our three days off consisted of one day recovering from too many beers and tequila shots for birthday celebrations followed by two days of practicing our technique and riding switch. Our switch riding is definitely improving and starting to feel less bizarre. Monday was really busy on the slopes as it was only $5 for a day lift pass with the money raised going to charity. We went out in the morning and did a couple of runs in the afternoon before calling it a day. We did get chance to try out our new Oakley goggles which were really good in the flat light. It has only taken me since August to persuade Pete that we should buy some as our birthday presents to each other!
Whilst sitting in the hot tub celebrating one of the girl’s 19th birthdays (with 12 others which may be a record number in the tub) the power went out. We heard someone had crashed a car into a pylon and the whole of Sun Peaks had no power. Apparently this is not a rare occurance. Luckily our rostered place for dinner that night was still cooking pasta by candle light. It was very romantic/surreal. The only bar with a generator (Matas) was absolutely chocca so we couldn’t get in for the quiz and headed back to our room to read by the light of a Kindle and mobile phone. It seems that everyone on the 2nd floor of our hotel had a huge room party – we thought they were all at the quiz – doh! At 11pm the power came back on – ahh heat and lights – woo hoo!
On Tuesday the slopes were lovely and empty and the sky was clear blue with glistening g snow in the air. So pretty! We stayed out all day into a gorgeous sunset (3.30pm) and in the afternoon it felt at times like we were the only three people on the mountain.
Day three of training started with a morning of minus 20c. Ouch – that is cold! Through the night our fire had clicked on a few more times than normal and the sky was beautiful and clear when we peered our the window first thing, so there were a couple of clues.
With an extra thermal, my snood up as a hood, an extra snood and my thicker mitts on we ventured out. It was actually a little warmer by lunchtime and there was some great light.
That evening the shop called Freefalls kindly put on a tuning clinic and we learned how to wax and edge our boards. That was followed by an initiation into the game of Mafia. It was great fun.
Day three of training was another cold one, so much so that at at the end of the first run two of us got sent inside as we had the first signs of frost nip. Apparently my nose was white and this is an initial sign. Wow! It was probably only minus 14c but with the windchill of a fast run it was below the magic minus 18c at which point any exposed skin can get frostbite. Eek! Next time I’ll take time to cover my face when it gets chilly on the way down. Lesson learned. The rest of the day went well but it became apparent how hard it is to give a perfect demonstration of basic skills that you haven’t done for years. Pete and I took the opportunity to get some practice in on the nursery slope at the end of the day. We only have something like nine more days training until our exam so we need to get the practice in while we can.
Credit to Sean for this last fab panoramic photo.
