So...
That was almost a year ago....
Better get my finger out and update this thingy
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Friday, June 09, 2006
Back in the Highlands
It's June - must be safe to get back to the highlands... managed a few hills on the way here, but not much running.
Fat, slow and unfit. Commuting 26 miles on the bike each day will hopefully see that off...
... or see me off...
Fat, slow and unfit. Commuting 26 miles on the bike each day will hopefully see that off...
... or see me off...
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
You know you're from Colorado if ............
1. You switch from "Heat" to "A/C" in one day.
2. You know what the "Peoples Republic of Boulder" means.
3. Your sense of direction is: towards the mountains and away from the mountains.
4. You're a meat-eating vegetarian.
5. The bike on your car is worth more than your car and you have your own special bike lane.
6. You're able to drive 65 miles per hour through 13 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without even flinching.
7. You take your out-of-town guests to Casa Bonita even though you would never go there otherwise.
8. You think your major food groups are granola bars, tofu and Fat Tire beer.
9. You design your kid's Halloween costumes to fit over a snowsuit.
10. You think that sexy lingerie is wool socks and flannel PJs.
11. You know all 4 seasons "almost winter, winter, still winter and spring blizzards
12. You've been tear gassed in a riot to celebrate a CU/CSU victory.
13. You can never figure out why your out-of-town guests faint from altitude sickness on a picnic to the mountains.
14. You can drive over a 12,000-foot pass in 4 feet of snow, but can't get to work if there are 4 inches of snow.
15. You know the 'correct' pronunciation of Buena Vista.
16. When you visit friends at s ea level, you can drink a case of beer and not get a buzz.
17. Your car insurance costs more than your car.
18. You have surge protectors on every outlet.
19. April showers bring May blizzards.
20. 'Timberline' is someplace you have actually been.
21. You know what a 'Chinook' is
22. You know what a 'Rocky Mountain Oyster' is.
23. You know what a "fourteener" is.
24. But you don't know what a "turn signal" is.
25. A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you nearly as much as a Democrat in Congress does.
26. Your golf bag has a 9-iron, a 3-wood and a lightning rod.
27. You know who Alfred Packer was and what he did.
28. You know who Baby Doe Tabor was.
29. SPF 90 is not out! of the question.
30. People from out of state breathe 5 times as often as you do.
31. Having a Senator named Nighthorse doesn't seem strange.
32. Thunder has set off your car alarm.
33. A full moon has never kept you awake at night.
34. You have an $800 stereo in your $300 truck.
35. A sudden loss of cabin pressure is not a big deal.
36. You think a red light means 3 more cars can go.
37. Where we're going, we don't need roads!!
38. You know where Doc Holliday's grave is.
39. You know where Buffalo Bill's grave is.
40. You know where the real "South Park" is.
41. You can recognize the license plates of all 50 states on sight.
42. Driving directions usually include 'Go over _________ Pass.'
43. You've 'checked for ticks'
44. You've dressed in shorts, sandals, and a parka with a hood.
45. You've gone snow skiing in July and.....
46. You've played golf in January and.....
47. They were in the same year!
48. You've urinated on the Continental Divide just so it could run into both oceans
49. You know what a down slope and an up slope weather pattern is .
50. And the most important: You get a certain feeling of satisfaction from knowing that California and Texas are both downstream.
2. You know what the "Peoples Republic of Boulder" means.
3. Your sense of direction is: towards the mountains and away from the mountains.
4. You're a meat-eating vegetarian.
5. The bike on your car is worth more than your car and you have your own special bike lane.
6. You're able to drive 65 miles per hour through 13 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without even flinching.
7. You take your out-of-town guests to Casa Bonita even though you would never go there otherwise.
8. You think your major food groups are granola bars, tofu and Fat Tire beer.
9. You design your kid's Halloween costumes to fit over a snowsuit.
10. You think that sexy lingerie is wool socks and flannel PJs.
11. You know all 4 seasons "almost winter, winter, still winter and spring blizzards
12. You've been tear gassed in a riot to celebrate a CU/CSU victory.
13. You can never figure out why your out-of-town guests faint from altitude sickness on a picnic to the mountains.
14. You can drive over a 12,000-foot pass in 4 feet of snow, but can't get to work if there are 4 inches of snow.
15. You know the 'correct' pronunciation of Buena Vista.
16. When you visit friends at s ea level, you can drink a case of beer and not get a buzz.
17. Your car insurance costs more than your car.
18. You have surge protectors on every outlet.
19. April showers bring May blizzards.
20. 'Timberline' is someplace you have actually been.
21. You know what a 'Chinook' is
22. You know what a 'Rocky Mountain Oyster' is.
23. You know what a "fourteener" is.
24. But you don't know what a "turn signal" is.
25. A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you nearly as much as a Democrat in Congress does.
26. Your golf bag has a 9-iron, a 3-wood and a lightning rod.
27. You know who Alfred Packer was and what he did.
28. You know who Baby Doe Tabor was.
29. SPF 90 is not out! of the question.
30. People from out of state breathe 5 times as often as you do.
31. Having a Senator named Nighthorse doesn't seem strange.
32. Thunder has set off your car alarm.
33. A full moon has never kept you awake at night.
34. You have an $800 stereo in your $300 truck.
35. A sudden loss of cabin pressure is not a big deal.
36. You think a red light means 3 more cars can go.
37. Where we're going, we don't need roads!!
38. You know where Doc Holliday's grave is.
39. You know where Buffalo Bill's grave is.
40. You know where the real "South Park" is.
41. You can recognize the license plates of all 50 states on sight.
42. Driving directions usually include 'Go over _________ Pass.'
43. You've 'checked for ticks'
44. You've dressed in shorts, sandals, and a parka with a hood.
45. You've gone snow skiing in July and.....
46. You've played golf in January and.....
47. They were in the same year!
48. You've urinated on the Continental Divide just so it could run into both oceans
49. You know what a down slope and an up slope weather pattern is .
50. And the most important: You get a certain feeling of satisfaction from knowing that California and Texas are both downstream.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Spring is Sprung
Weather has already hit 67 degrees (Funny) in the valley... Snow is mush. On a very long private booking with some fun clients out of Beaver Creek. 6 days left in ski boots this season.
Been out on the bike already - glad to say I can get bike shoes on despite bunions.
I fly to Charleston, SC on 19 April - looking forward to running on the beach and a little sailing...
Hope to get a little more cycling in before then.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Professional Ski Instructors of Africa!
I got selected !!
Despite some ropey low end manoeuvers, I skied and taught well enough to be selected as an ITC examiner for PSIA. The ski day was awesome! We had 7 inches of new powder on top of everything else.
I'm told I skied the best bump run and had the best indoor presentation - so I guess it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.
The only problem is I'll need a different visa for next year - as I'll have to work for PSIA and Vail Ski School. Better go figure that one out before the end of the season.
Two weeks to go.
Despite some ropey low end manoeuvers, I skied and taught well enough to be selected as an ITC examiner for PSIA. The ski day was awesome! We had 7 inches of new powder on top of everything else.
I'm told I skied the best bump run and had the best indoor presentation - so I guess it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.
The only problem is I'll need a different visa for next year - as I'll have to work for PSIA and Vail Ski School. Better go figure that one out before the end of the season.
Two weeks to go.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
PSIA ITC Examiner Try-outs
So tomorrow is the ski day for ITC Examiner Try-outs (probably "selections" in Scotland). Not skiing nearly as well as last year - unfit, sick and masssive bunions on each foot - think this might be the first ski "exam" I've ever failed.
Success will mean I lead exams for Level 1 ski instructors next year (equiv. to BASI 3 examiner)
Monday is the teaching day. Feel a bit more confident about that.
Roll on Monday night...
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Welcome to the Swazi Ski Report!
No - you are quite right, there is no snow skiing in Swaziland ! There is, however, Swaz skiing in snowland!
With over 386 inches so far this year, Vail is definitely "Snowland" this season. We still have a settled base of over FIVE FEET at Mid-Vail - so come on out and GET SOME!
I've been meaning to get this blog off the ground for sometime to keep you in touch with conditions in the valley, developments in ski instruction and my own progress as an instructor, here in Colorado.
Last season was monumental. I successfully passed my Trainers Accreditation, which means I am now qualified to train instructors here in the Rockies. I was also part of the Vail Demo Team, a group of nine instructors from Vail who traveled to the Aspen World Synchro Ski Championships... and WON! Finishing second overall in the Vail Pro Series of races was a bonus to top things off. Where were you ? You missed yourself !!
This year has been a little quieter. The pressure from some of the teenagers I've been teaching drove me to park and pipe. No, this doesn't mean inhaling strange smelling tobacco in the confines of an automobile - rather performing freestyle tricks in the terrain park and the half pipe! I passed my Freestyle Accreditation at Steamboat Springs in February with a few of my colleagues from Vail. Apart from that I've been busy growing my private business. If you skied with me already, then you know just how good Vail and Beaver Creek are skiing.
There are still great deals left this season. Get onto http://www.vail.com and snag yourself some close of season accommodation!
Come out and make some turns with me before spring hits in full force!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)