Pistachio Monkey

After challenging my friends to ‘grind a tree’ at Fraggle Rock on Blackcomb mountain, it got thrown back in my face when they said ‘why dont you do it’. the result is a silly video of me hitting the tree and wipping out.

then Olly Lyon thought he could swing around the tree to… again no luck

Good times must inevitabley come to an end and i soon relaised that i had to leave Canada and return home to old blighty to see friends, family and address the isssue of an empty bank account. With most of my main objectives complete though, i was happy to bored the plane, but sure enough as we started to hurtle down the runway i was thinking, what the hell have i done!

My final fortnight in the winter wonderland was plagued with spring weather. On one hand it was nice and sunny, but runs were diminishing along with the snow, it sure does melt fast. I travelled down to Vancouver to pick up Elizabeth who felt as if she had been living in the longest day ever. With the next day written off we then headed to Blackcomb base to teach my first lesson and get Liz skiing on a mountain for the first time in her life. Like a duck to water she did very well.

In time we had Liz going all over the mountain, round the Burnt Stew trail and even the tricky blue run that is the Saddle. But before we knew it her ski pass was to expire and her time on the learning to ski was over. luckily she is looking foward to getting her snow fix next year.

One of my main objectives, becide learning to teach and becoming an all mountain skiier, i wanted to successfully land a 360^o. A full rotation in the air without falling over was the mission and on Liz’s last day i tried and tried again. After 6 failed landings i was starting to get to sore and thought i am going to have to leave it to my last day. Day 75, and we are expected to be at the GLC for lunch at 12 and its my last run. Burton has convinced me that its possible, and i start my run up to the table top jump. I throw myslef into a full rotation and hit the ground. I did it, a single 360^o and im extatic. The final run down is complemented with some big grabs in the park and race to the base, splendid!

Draggin my bags over to the Greyhound bus loop, Grizwold, Lemon Loaf, Burton and Scholes surprised me with a farewell gift, a Whistler Hockey shirt tagged by the left overs, very sweet. Arriving back at the Hostel International, Liz and i decided to join a ghostley tour of Gastown. A quite intresting trip which took us to some of the darker parts of the area we probably would have not ventured into without our guide

Liz finally decided that she did want to go to the food market, which was full of all sorts of tastey treats. We then went to Brewery (what i wanted to do) and had a tatser selection and finally we went to the Kids Market (something we both wanted to do). Afterwich we thought the best plan would be to go and get drunk, which we did.

Our final day in Vancouver I finally made it to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden which was really cool and forefilled my expectations.
We then checked out some native stores before heading to the airport, where i went on standby for a seat, and infact got 3. Landing back in the UK i got a lift home with Greg to my mum’s new home in Odium, near Farnham. All was well until i realised that she had sold Xanthos Tom Foolery while i was away, most upsetting

I find myself a week after getting back sitting in an office, not far from my old one. It looks remarkebly the same, white walls, steel flooring and rows of computer terminals, just different faces and different clients. Im just freelnacing for the moment, but i expect ill be back in full time work soon. So long snow… see you soon.

My last ski photos are here and some Vancouver ones here and my friend Andy Burton’s here (great shots mate!)

So my trip to Whistler has most certainly been worth it. I have just completed my Level 2 course with the CASI. So basically it means i have another badge to show off, but more importantly it means i can easily teach in Europe and the Alpes. Not everyone was lucky enough to meet the standard this time, but none the less were are all enjoyed a final week skiing together.

Our trip to Vancouver was a great oportunity to get out of town and experince some City life. while some of the lads enjoyed hanging about the computer game stores playing with the new PS3 and Wii i went with some others to see more of the city and spent time in the Dock (where we had some nice food and found the Steam Clock) , Aquarium (we love Beluga Whales) and Stanley Park.

Spring arrived and the majority of the village snow melted as the freezing level rose. Slush has arrived and we have seen how waterproof our gear really is. Its still snowing though and with more free time on our hands we have been truley pushing ot to the limit. Andy and i are determined to have skied every run on the mountain while also nailing 360’s.

Sadley we have had to say good bye to our old home and good friends. But a strong few are still here and going strong. But people are dropping like flies, which Andy can speak for literally (entering the Couloir on Whistler, following Tom, andy decided to drop and loose his skis so he could do the run on his belly, nice move. Ski patrol arrived shortley after offering me an alternate/safer point of entry). Anyhow, saying farewell usually means some good nites out. 80’s night at Tommy’s was the best yeat, with Robbo and Rowland celebrating their Birthdays, and a long night in Buffalo Bills sealed the deal.

The plan for now is, still the search for snow, but i am awaiting a special delivery of Betty, who arrives next week, ready to be my first pupil on the slopes. And then i suppose i need to think about returning back to London for a new home, job and summer.

latest photos are here and some but new ones here

This cheeky snap of Ollie at the top of the Symphany chair on Whistler Mountain with the Black Tusk on the Horizon just won me 2 tickets for Fresh Tracks breakfast and a DVD. Nice!

Ollie in Symphany on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Ash from the ‘House of Trouser’ has been pretty keen on his Mac and pulled out a wicked video which features small parts of yours truely (skiing in a pink shirt!). Check it out

I have never been one who would take his ski’s off and trek a kilometer around a mountain peak but the other sunday i did just that. ‘Fun’ Oly Lyon is a keen mountainer and climber who took us back country.

Out of Blackcomb Glacier, up the spear head and treverse around the peak until we reached just short of 7th Heaven, we found a kicker and a whole lot POW! (Powder not Prisoners of War) After a couple runs we had a flat track and were getting some air. After wiping out on the runup drop Oly decided to dig a snowhole. I let my feet do some talking and then we climbed out to arrive back in town at 6, skiing in front of a cat to ski some groomed courdrouy.

Sunday at 6 see’s the fire and ice show which i saw again from the GLC veranda. Attending is a good idea for free hot chocolate and hot dogs are available, and if your lucky you may even win the free Heli Ski trip, and that would be awsome!

Karreokke Monday’s precedde’s the inevitable 80’s nights, where for free beer i will sing Maccho Man, Thanks Colin. And out here it was great to see Blanche, Emily and Mark assembeling aquatic undersea costumes for Valentine’s.

Finally caught up with Robbo for a day’s ‘push it to the limit’, Tom likes to take his time on the lifts, and i bumped into Rowland at the top of a 10 minute hike is search of fresh tarcks and deep snow
. We took some Oriental border chicks for steep powder above Jersey Cream, and i found a cool cornice

The time also came where i was privaleged to wear the blue and yellow of the Whistler Blackcomb Ski School. Looking pretty sharp i shadowed into 2 schools aiding in the teaching. Whats better is that i got to ride the mountain will the full respect of Public, and on Presidents week, it get really busy, so jumping the life queue is essential. Twice up and down the Whistler Boal on Peak in 20 minutes with a 40 minute line, cheers Johnathan and Chris! Meet some happy Huskies
as well, i love the blue eyed ones.

With some freetyle coaching to finish the week, and 180’s now in the bag, who needs twin tips,
im off to Vancouver

latest photos are here and some but new ones here

So it snows a lot here and this season its sensational. Met up with Rowland and his buddy and hit the Symphony bowl to ride through the James Bond gladed run, which i revisited later on in School.

School is sweet as. Was running a bit late on Wednesday but spied the school from the Gondola but left Drew² who went the wrong way and were meant to sing i’m a little tea pot. This was probably because the night before we had stayed up late to go to the Hustler party at Moe Joe’s. Before the girls came on, which took forever, I won a beer by dancing with a baloon on stage.

So i live on Egale Ridge next to Smoke Tree which over looks the Village and on Saturday it was Party Time! Cleaned up the Crib and hid our ski’s, we invited over Chris and the rest for drinks. Drew is learning to drink at home while we tried to keep the noise down, ipod pluged into wack TV with sheet to make a mood light. The Police and the neighbours got involved so people escaped over the balcony and hid in the closet. So the next day it was key to get outside and away from the aftermath and walking dogs from WAG seemed delicious.

The Fire and Ice show finsihed of the week
relaxed, which we followed with a Sauna and Snow. Check out more of my photos

With Christmas time now all over i have flown out to BC in Canada to experinace the next 4 months in the snowy peaks of Whistler.

I had to say goodbye to some good friends of mine, so we had a couple shandy’s (not literally joe!) at the Porter House in Covent Garden. Betty and i followed it up with a boogie in Angel at Kinky Mambo’s where Ch!co plays now and then.

Dragging my ski’s, boots and other bags to the airport was no doubt a mission but having gone online to ba.com before hand meant i secured myself a sweet seat with much legroom, just what a lanky guy like me needed. Arriving in Vancouver airport is always a great pleasure and the long ride on the bus to Whistler gave my fellow companions on this Base Camp Group course to mingle and get to know one another.

A flurrey of snow greated us, but a delayed start to the first day prevented us from getting up in time to make some fresh tracks in the snow, but it did provide a magical start to this adventure.

Apres ski for the locals is on regular rotation and this week we have been to the Longhorn, Buffalo Bills and Tommy Africa’s. Not all of us have been able to join in as some are a little underage but are waiting for their birthdays to turn 19.

Staying a lodge with 8 lads is not going to be the most pleasent of homes but we certainly have the most amazing location. Walking through the back of our pad and through the trees leaves you on a snowey ridge with an awsome view of possibly the worlds greatest playground.

So my main purpose of stay is study, and i hope that by the end of it i really am a pro skier. This week has been mainly about orientation of the mountains and also tearing down our current ski styles. For more of the photos of the action go to my photo’s page. Check back soon for more.

Phil has posted what he described as 5 months of hell. i don’t think so!