I received my parents' christmas card in the mail today and was pleased to find a plug for my blog in the midst of the news about my family. Powder and work, however, have conspired to make my blog entries increasingly sporadic, so I thought I'd update for those who may be first timers.
I'm living in Whistler BC, working as a bootfitter at Surefoot, and skiing every spare moment. Currently, it is peak season and Whistler is working its tail off to ensure that all the tourists have absolutely no trouble spending every dime they've got during their vacation. To top of the holiday season, mother nature has decided to give us some much needed snow, at long last.
Today, for instance, has been spectacular--a truly auspicious start to the new year. Some friends and I awoke early to catch the first chair up the mountain to make tracks through the 10-odd inches that fell on Blackcomb mountain last night. It was an incredible morning of skiing--the only time I stopped smiling from 8:30 until 11 was to whoop and holler or wipe snow from my face. Let me illustrate.
The trees under the Jersey Cream chair were seriously wind-loaded. That is to say, the wind had scooped the 10" from other places on the mountain and dumped it in the Jersey Cream trees. So instead of 10" there was 40+ inches. One moment in particular made my day. I was skiing under the lift, trying to find a powder stash I had seen on the ride up. I found the spot with little hassle, and prepared to ski. Upon entry to the small chute I realized there were several large ugly rocks that would "dead-end" my line and wreck my skis. Unable to stop, I jetted sideways through a small gap in two trees and jumped off a small cliff of maybe 4 feet. Basically I was praying there was enough snow coverage on the landing to make this maneouver pay off.
It was the face-shot to end all face-shots. Imagine jumping into a pool of down feathers--you feel the soft, silky white slip underneath your skis, and as you plunge downward a feeling of total weightlessness envelops you. As you descend, this soft blanket covers your head and for a moment everything is dark. Time and space pause allow you to better savor the moment, this single second that fulfills your deepest desires and reaffirms that powder-fever which brought you to Whistler in the first place. Then from the darkness you emerge, reborn. Speeding forwards into the light, golden-silver fluff flying from your jacket and helmet, a breathless whoop escapes your lips and you continue onward, exhilarated as never before.
All that before work.
Best wishes to all for the new year--I hope it treats everyone spectacularly well.
Happy New Year!!
I'm living in Whistler BC, working as a bootfitter at Surefoot, and skiing every spare moment. Currently, it is peak season and Whistler is working its tail off to ensure that all the tourists have absolutely no trouble spending every dime they've got during their vacation. To top of the holiday season, mother nature has decided to give us some much needed snow, at long last.
Today, for instance, has been spectacular--a truly auspicious start to the new year. Some friends and I awoke early to catch the first chair up the mountain to make tracks through the 10-odd inches that fell on Blackcomb mountain last night. It was an incredible morning of skiing--the only time I stopped smiling from 8:30 until 11 was to whoop and holler or wipe snow from my face. Let me illustrate.
The trees under the Jersey Cream chair were seriously wind-loaded. That is to say, the wind had scooped the 10" from other places on the mountain and dumped it in the Jersey Cream trees. So instead of 10" there was 40+ inches. One moment in particular made my day. I was skiing under the lift, trying to find a powder stash I had seen on the ride up. I found the spot with little hassle, and prepared to ski. Upon entry to the small chute I realized there were several large ugly rocks that would "dead-end" my line and wreck my skis. Unable to stop, I jetted sideways through a small gap in two trees and jumped off a small cliff of maybe 4 feet. Basically I was praying there was enough snow coverage on the landing to make this maneouver pay off.
It was the face-shot to end all face-shots. Imagine jumping into a pool of down feathers--you feel the soft, silky white slip underneath your skis, and as you plunge downward a feeling of total weightlessness envelops you. As you descend, this soft blanket covers your head and for a moment everything is dark. Time and space pause allow you to better savor the moment, this single second that fulfills your deepest desires and reaffirms that powder-fever which brought you to Whistler in the first place. Then from the darkness you emerge, reborn. Speeding forwards into the light, golden-silver fluff flying from your jacket and helmet, a breathless whoop escapes your lips and you continue onward, exhilarated as never before.
All that before work.
Best wishes to all for the new year--I hope it treats everyone spectacularly well.
Happy New Year!!
1 comment:
Slanted!
Paul, Mads, Meg and I are sending you greetings from Mexico. Wish you were here but glad that you are having a good time on the slopes "emerging from the darkness reborn"! Come visit us in Campbell River sometime fu.
Mark
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