Cross Over (canceled because of Presidents' Week)

The gang of eight were all here today… and it was the “new” Family Day holiday. Our team was the first out the door at 8:50. Up the gondola and Big Red, we were. It wasn’t as crowded as I thought it was going to be so.. Green Acres bumps were all ours and the kids skied it with some panache and gave an admirable performance skiing on one ski on the road to Emerald.

Back up, we navigated Upper Whiskey Jack and turned right at the Chick Pea to connect to Ego Bowl. A nice set of brushes have been set up in the School Yard for ski school. The kids took some interesting routes through the training gates! Emerald was crowded with ski school groups so I handed responsibility to the kids leading the class down Olympic to mid station. I’ve exhausted my library of stories but placated the team with gummies on the ride back up. Time to ratchet up the skiing: Roundhouse Roll (no splats) to the Chick Pea; skate as fast as you could through Orange Peel flats; Orange Peel to Dave Murray; through the Toilet Bowl and regroup at Creekside gondola. The kids demonstrated they were ready for a rights-of-passage run: Crossroads to Lower Franz’s then exit the end onto Dave Murray. I gave the team a well earned free ski on the last pitch to the bottom on the condition they count how many turns they did. Fifty seemed about the average.

We parked our skis by the learning area and were on time for our 12:00 lunch in the Clubhouse. It was packed! Swamp water today was really boring… only Whistler water. Out after our allotted 45 minutes, rambunctious Soldis and Finley had to go on a hunt for their FLAIKs. Sheesh!

A race to the beaver bench on Expressway burned off some pent up energy. On the ride up from mid station, the kids finished my bag of gummies. Skis on at the Olympic rings, we did the bump run below the Roundhouse onto Pony Trail. There was a lot of cheery banter on the jumps on the side of the run. Wildcard was groomed, so another steeper challenge done. I think we scared a few of the tourists as we gave a primal scream going through the tunnel on Highway 86. We were 5 minutes ahead of the ski school rule about not skiing out after 2:30… so we took the same route as we did this morning. Axel’s grandfather joined us for the end of day run. Riddley had the splat-of-the-day doing a face plant off one of the jumps and the kids definitely picked up the pace on the free ski down the last pitch.

Well done all! Another banner day.

The following items are the principal requirements to be ready for a level 4 group: I can control speed, using turn shape on green terrain. The highlighted items are “must haves”.

• I can adapt my turn shape to control speed on varied terrain.

• I can maintain an athletic stance while holding my poles in front.

• I am able to ski all green runs using wide stance parallel turns.

• I can skate on flat and gentle terrain.

• I can side slip at least 4 meters on groomed terrain.

• I am able to do hockey stops on both sides.

• I can ski a side bank and turn back down it.

• I can ski blue runs with a wide parallel stance.

• I can traverse across easy slopes on one ski.

• I can stay balanced and travel at a safe speed over jumps on the side of a run.

• I maintain a centered stance in cut up snow and powder.

• I can ski safely through the race course and turn around gates.

• I know how and where to stop safely.

• I can safely pick my own line down blue runs and choose a safe stopping location.

• I understand how to merge and who has the right of way.

• I follow the alpine responsibility code.

• I know what tree wells are.

• I know the lift riding rules and where to meet my group at the top.
  

Show the Love

Damage from Brooklyn’s “activated charcoal” hand warmers. :)

It was another clear chilly morning… -22c. However, the children must be getting climatized to the temperatures. The Clubhouse was busier and noisier with parents adding clothing layers, inserting hand warmers, etc. Our “six pack” was out the door and uploading Creekside gondola shortly after 9:00am.

Remembering the problems holding poles last week, we parked them behind the snowmobiles. A race to the beaver bench got everyone warmed up. With a cat-like stance all the landings on jumps on the side of Expressway were excellent. We took the Garbanzo exit and made a hard left above Fitzsimmon’s onto Crabapple. It was a bit icy, but emphasizing “squishing bananas” and keeping hands in front, skis would bite and carve nice “Big-S” turns.

We read “Walter the Farting Dog” on our Village gondola ride to the Roundhouse. Hmmm… the Umbrella Bar has a new roof! Kids know the drill: skis on at the Olympic rings and regroup at the welcome pole. We tried something different on Green Acres. I had the kids do 6 “little-s” turns followed by 3 “Big-S” turns. Not bad! On the road to Emerald, all had to work on skiing on one ski. There was a few complaints about cold hands and feet. I promised we wouldn’t do any chair lifts, so more drills on Olympic to mid station.

From the Roundhouse, we did a bit of wall climbing into Upper Whiskey Jack. We cut left at the Chickpea and did the road to the jump above the Tree Fort. I tested the snow on the trek to the “Deidre Drop”… not bad, but will wait until we get more snow before challenging the kids on a drop. Ho hum… the bike trail chicane on Orange Peel is easy! We tucked the flats to Pony Trail and there was a few tears and grumbling about cold hands. Almost there team… we skied Bear Cub and there was a resounding “NO.O.O” to skiing down for lunch. So, after waiting about 5 minutes for “responsible adults” to assist downloading, liftie “Mike” volunteered and took Beckett and Riddley.

We were in the Minions building for our 12:15 lunch. Thick minestrone soup helped warm up Maleah’s frozen fingers. The ingredients for swamp water today didn’t sound appealing, so just apple juice. Out after our 45 minutes, there was no missing vests or FLAIKs today. YES!

Back up, we did Crossroads to Franz’s. Beckett had saucer eyes taking a jump and nearly launching himself off the road. “Experiential Learning” about speed control there, young guy! We repeated the route through Dave Murray to the bottom. I gave the kids a well earned free ski on the last pitch… as long as they demonstrated safe skiing and good turns. Up again for another lap.

At Raven’s Nest we devoured my stash of “Swedish Berries”. The kids are skiing much faster. Steve was wondering if our groups could do two more laps. My guess was we’d be early if we did one and have concerned parents if we did two… so opted for an early arrival and did some video to slow down our arrival.

Mitts covered part of the lens, and I also fat fingered video format… blame cold hands and brain freeze.

Scotty put a tree poster in the Clubhouse with no leaves on it. Next week we’ll post leaves with some of our favourite thoughts. Next week is our Cross Over day… so adventures on Blackcomb (the “dark side” ). Star Wars costumes are encouraged. I’ll wear my Darth Vadar goggles.