Visibility: Very cloudy.
Snow: 2cm.
Piste Condition: Varied. Mostly hard pack, with slushy conditions further down the slope.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +2 at the base -6 at the Peak.
Crowding: Very Light.
Lift Lines: Very Light.

Tonight was the last night in Whistler for most of the house.  Jono, Steve, Dawn and Pete were to leave the next day, and Max was to leave on Saturday.  Toby had already left on Wednesday.  So, we all decided to go out and have a meal and some drinks.  Other than the people leaving, myself, Bridget, Andy and Will, (along with Carolina, who joined us after the meal) all went out.

The night started off with us going to the Old Spaghetti Factory for some food.  The food here is really cheap, but still really great quality.  I highly recommend that you give the place a visit!  Obviously, we started the drinks in there and carried on drinking after.  Unfortunately, Andy had to leave us as he is under age (19 is the legal age to drink in British Columbia!).

After the Old Spaghetti Factory we headed on off to Citta's for a couple jugs of beer.  Our time here was short lived, as time was pressing on, so we went on to Garfinkles.  As we arrived a number or Carolina's friends joined us.  I do have to say that it was quite a good night in there on a Thursday.  There was a lot of people and the music was good.  Didn't do TOO much 'chatting up' though, but still had a really good time.

It does get a little hazy late on at night/morning.  I do remember being overly loud back at the house, especially after drinking a further 1/2 bottle of vodka...straight.

As has happened the last week or so on the mountain, the conditions in the morning were very icy, hard under foot, and generally ugly.

As my CASI Level 2 course gets closer and closer, I thought that I would continue to work on my carving, switch riding, switch carving, and also for my self my 180's.  So, needless to say, I headed off to the Terrain Garden on Blackcomb.

The day's riding did not start off to well at all.  A crash that I had yesterday (forgot to mention in yesterdays blog) was really hurting today.  My right ankle was in a lot of pain.  Not too much that I couldn't ride though, and to be honest, as the day progressed I started to forget about it.  The carving is going really well.

The intermediate sliding turns, switch, basic carved turns, intermediate carved turns, advanced sliding turns, terrain adaptation and intermediate mogul riding were going really well.  All of these are what a level 2 Instructor is required to teach (along with the level 1 stuff).  This along with the front-side and back-side 180's they were going really good.

On the way down through Sunset Boulevard I was getting set up for a switch back-side 180 when I looked back up the slope and caught a huge fat front edge.  I went flying and landed really badly on my chest and left shoulder.  It knocked the wind right out of me, so much so that I had to sit at the side of the slope for a good ten minutes before setting off again.

It took a couple runs for me to get back into the groove again.  I even had a run through the blue park and the pipe.  These didn't go so well, but when I went back to the Terrain Garden, I was back in form again.  Landing some really high popped 180's that really felt like they floated.  The board is coming around easily, so much easier than it did when beginning.  You really do have to put in the mileage.

 

Visibility: Very cloudy, with some brief periods of sun.
Snow: 3cm.
Piste Condition: Varied. From icy to slushy.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +5 at the base -9 at the Peak.
Crowding: Very Light.
Lift Lines: Very Light.

Again today, I didn't start off to early.  Thank goodness too. On the way down to the Solar coaster chair, where the piste hadn't been bashed, the conditions of the piste was extremely icy, fully of cookies, and generally very ugly to ride.

As my CASI Level 2 is coming up, I don't' really want to push things too much and injure my self.  So I decided to keep my practising going.  Carving down to the Terrain Garden and out again.  The second entrance really is the way to go as it is just so quiet compared to the main entrance.  Today however, I did think that I would try board sliding the box.  Did it for a while, and then moved on.  It wasn't working too great.  The 180's were going fantastic today though.  They really, really were popping off the lip today.  Also, after a shaky start, the backside 180 to switch was coming together.

The only 180 spin not yet 'in the bag' is the switch backside 180.  However, today I threw and landed my first!  Brilliant.  tried it another couple of times, and whilst these were not quite so stylish I did land them.

Later on in the day, I decided to take some runs through the Blue board park.  I don't know what it is, but some spines really intimidate me!  It's a mental block, but I'll get it.  Through the blue park, the big jumps were running really good.  The first jump wasn't going too well for me, but the next three were.  The speed into the jumps was really nice and it wasn't too difficult to reach the transition.

I then went on to the pipe.  The left hand wall was quite icy and the right hand wall was quite slushy.  I rode in and dropped in from the left.  The first couple turns went quite well.  Then it happened.  I rode off the left wall (heal side for me) and up the right wall (toe side) and it happened.  I got completely out of the pipe!  I even caught a little of my toe side edge on the lip, but it was only a small catch and rode it out.  This is the first time in a really big pipe that I've managed to get completely out of the vert! *Whoo Hoo*

Obviously, I had to go back through the park.  Hit the jumps with more speed, but this time I didn't ride them all.  I stopped down near the bottom, as I wanted to ride the big long box.  It had a gap jump up onto the box, but with the way my other box riding has gone today, I was going to give it a try.  OK, so the gap jump was a little bigger than I expected, but I still made it OK and 50-50'd the whole way down and ollied off the end.  Going to have to give this box more attention, and also try boardslide's.  I went through the pipe again, but didn't do so well.  The light at this time of the day had really deteriorated as the clouds had moved in.  It wasn't too easy to see the pipe in this light.

Visibility: Bluebird, later getting cloudy.
Snow: 0cm.
Piste Condition: Varied. From icy to slushy.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +5 at the base -6 at the Peak.
Crowding: Very Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

I didn't start on the mountain too early this morning.  I knew that the weather lately made the conditions of the slopes really icy in the morning.

So, all I really did, in summary was ride loads of switch and ride through the Terrain Garden.  Well, that wasn't really all there was to it.

I rode a number of different carve turns through Easy Out, until I got to Countdown and the second entrance to the Terrain Garden.  As I got to the start of the garden, I found that they really raised up the first box.  So much so, that later in the day I was hitting it so fast that I was jumping onto the box, and having to literally jump off it again.  Then after that there was the jump.  Today I was really pumping off the lip and getting some great air when doing my 180 spin into switch.  They were really working today.  After that there are three rails, a straight rail, a kinked box and a kinked rail.

As always, this then joins into the bottom of the main Terrain Garden, and straight into the rainbow.  Starting to get more speed on the rainbow, and really working the piston legs.  Right after that there is the 4 jumps.  Again, really managing to pump the lip and get the spins in there.  180 into switch, 180 into regular, 180 into switch and 180 into regular.  Occasionally I managed to carve over into the box.  Still not really getting the board slides working though.  Struggling with that.

Then it's down into Sunset Boulevard.  The ally oop on the first part of the cat track wasn't really there as there was a lip on the piste where the piste basher put it in.  However, further down and past the 180 turn, there are a couple jumps.  The first one is fantastic.  You really get some air when you pump it.

Visibility: Cloudy with some sun.
Snow: 3cm.
Piste Condition: Varied. From icy to slushy.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +2 at the base -5 at the Peak.
Crowding: Very Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Visibility: Cloudy with some sun.
Snow: 3cm.
Piste Condition: Varied. From icy to slushy.
Wind: Moderate.
Temperature: +2 at the base -10 at the Peak.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Visibility: Cloudy with periods of sun.
Snow: 0cm.
Piste Condition: Heavy piste.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: 0 at the base -9 at the Peak.
Crowding: Moderate.
Lift Lines: Moderate.

Visibility: Hazy sunshine, wityh few clouds.
Snow: 16cm.
Piste Condition: Heavy powder.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +4 to -1 at the base -4 to -11 at the Peak.
Crowding: Moderate.
Lift Lines: Heavy.

Today, me and Rich headed off to do Spanky's today.  There are three main way's down Spanky's and we did all three.

First of all, we rode down 'Garnet Bowl' and into the 'Sapphire Bowl' via the low chute.  This chute was not a good way into the chute.  It was extremely rocky and extremely narrow, resulting in us having to shimmy down rather than ride.  Once we were into the chutes they were really nice and tight, fluffy and narrow.  This really makes you bank in those turns quickly.

Next time around, we did the run that I did yesterday.  Through the Garnet Bowl and down into the 'Diamond Bowl' and out through the 'Mid-Bowl Roll'.  The last time through we went high along the ridge to the left and entered via 'Spanky's Chute'.  Oh my dear god!  The condition it was in was so steep and dangerous that we both contemplated backing out.  The chute was only about a board and a half wide and steep as hell.  It took a lot of courage buy Rich headed off first and wasn't able to even put in a single turn until way down.  So, I had to follow.  I rode on in and on my very first turn I almost lost it.  The back end of the board dug into the snow and almost flipped me over backward.  Thankfully I managed to just catch it and chicken out of the turn.  After breathing a very big sigh I rode on and started to bang in those turns.  Once in to the Ruby bowl it really is a nice ride.  We rode on over to 'Midway Rock' and down the bowl.  I hung over to the left and rode through the trees at the bottom under the cliffs.  Man what a joy ride!

We then headed on over to the Secret Bowl with the intention of looking at 'Teetering'.  We rode on over and it hadn't been touched, so we decided to give it a miss.  Instead we decided to hit 'Pakalolo's Pillow'.  I rode in first, but to be honest it wasn't up to much as at the bottom it was full of moguls.  I tried to get some video of Rich coming down, but he didn't manage to get much either.

We then went on over to the Crystal Chair.  We decided to hit 'Fraggle Rock'.  The rock was actually really quite nice and very interesting.  However, after the rock we headed into some trees for a bit of a tree run.  Not 100% sure of where, but where ever it was I wish we didn't.  We got separated in an area that was not good.  I ended up having to ride down into this area that ended up at the top of all round cliff's.  The cliff's weren't too tall, only about 20-25ft, but at the bottom of every possible way down there were trees very, very close by.  I managed to pick a way down and slid it on my ass.  Only trouble was, that there was another set of cliff's, virtually the same again.  Well, I was already in there and just went for it.  Almost made the landing and ride out, but flopped down as I leaned back too much (better that that speeding into a tree!).  I had a shout for Rich and a quick check.  It did take me a long time and I thought that it would be best if I headed on down to the Excelerator Chair to see if he was there (we previously decided to head here anyway).  When I arrived I found a very relieved Rich, in the process of writing an urgent message on the notice board for me.  As I said he was very relieved, as if I was in trouble it would have taken a good 40-50 minutes to get back around to roughly where I was.

We ended the day on a more subdued note.  Some Terrain Garden to close out the day

Visibility: Very cloudy with poor visibility.  Snow storms.
Snow: 14cm.
Piste Condition: Heavy powder.
Wind: Moderate to strong.
Temperature: +2 at the base -8 at the Peak.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

I called Rich last night to see if he wanted to go out riding.  His back was giving him trouble so we decided to meet up at lunch time.

I headed on straight over to Blackcomb and decided to tick some more rides in the book off my list.  I headed straight up the Glacier Chair and rode on over to Spanky Ladder.  After a short traverse and a steep but short hike I was up at the top of the Spanky's Ladder Bootpack.  I had a look down and decided to ride over what looked like an easy way down the piste, especially as I haven't rode in this area before.

I rode down the 'Garnet Bowl' and into the 'Diamond Bowl' and then down the 'Mid-Bowl Gully'.  These runs were really steep but so full of powder that they were fantastic.  This then leads into the run out on the Blackcomb Glacier run out.  I had such a good time that I decided to give it another go.

This time I rode into the 'Garnet Bowl', over 'Spanky's Shoulder' and into the Ruby Bowl.  Again, the snow was in fantastic condition.  So deep and fluffy.

It was now about lunchtime and I met Rich in the 'Rendezvous'.  We decided to hit the park for a while.  On the way down 'Countdown' we discovered this great big tree root that had loads of snow on it.  After a little work it was ready to ride.  I must admit that it was too much for me, and let Rich have it while I volunteered to be camera man.  I got this fantastic photo, and need to upload it.

We spent most of the afternoon going around the park and riding a lot of carved lines.

Visibility: Cloudy with very OK visibility.
Snow: 20cm.  However, with the high temperature it was heavy and wet.
Piste Condition: Heavy powder.
Wind: Light to Moderate.
Temperature: +6 at the base -2 at the Peak.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Sorry.  I simply just haven't had any time over the last three/four days to post any real Whistler blog and snowboarding information.  I've really been going at the riding and partying hard over this period.  I hope to catch up with all of the blog information soon.

Visibility: Cloudy with very poor visibility.
Snow: 18cm over night, 4cm through the day.  However, with the high temperature it was heavy and wet.
Piste Condition: Heavy powder.
Wind: Moderate.
Temperature: +3 at the base -5 at the Peak.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Today is Angela and Steff's last day in Whistler.  They were not going out riding today, but they were planning to do a Zip-Trek later in the day.

As I headed out, I received the text message that we needed to be at the Deer Lodge at 13:45.  So, that did not leave me too much time on the mountain if I wanted to go home and get changed.  The conditions of the mountain was not very good.  The snow was extremely heavy and choppy, and my knee wasn't feeling to great.  So I rode around for a while, practising ollies and nollies.  I also rode around the terrain garden for a while.

All too soon however, it was time to go down the slopes.  I tried to inject some speed, however the conditions just were not letting me.

Visibility: Cloudy with very poor visibility.
Snow: 0cm.
Piste Condition: Packed piste with some lite powder.
Wind: Light to strong.
Temperature: +4 at the base -6 at the Peak.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

I just received today, that my CASI Level 2 snowboard instructor course has been confirmed.  Whoo Hoo!  This is brilliant news, and I'm so happy to get on the course!

This notice is to confirm your registration for the LEVEL II course being held at WHISTLER from 3/4/2006.

Registration will be on the first day of the course at whistler village resort at 8:30:00.  The course will start immediately following the registration, so be prepared to go on snow.

Please go to the following link to review the course outline and description.  http://www.casi-acms.com/english/courses/course_descriptions_instruct.html

***Please note that helmets are now mandatory on all Level Instructor 2, 3 and 4 Instructor courses and all Coaching courses***

Please note the following if you have solely registered for a RETEST:

LEVEL 2 INSTRUCTOR:

• Level 2 RIDING reevaluations are held on the first day of any given level 2 course.
• Level 2 TEACHING reevaluations are held on the last day of any given level 2 course.

After last night, I was feeling quite hung over this morning.  Also, arranged to meet Angela and Steff early.  Ugh!  Thankfully, it was their last day and I was video man for a day.

The day started off with a quick coffee at the Roundhouse on Whistler.  Boy, did I need that.  It then got under way.  I spent most of the day videoing both Angela and Steff.  With the hangover it did take me until close to lunch to feel better and start to give them some guidance on their riding.

The weather wasn't great today, and it really played on their riding.  However, it did manage to persuade them to give the jumps in the park a go, and also to persuade Steff to give the box a go.

His first attempt and second, didn't get him onto the box.  However, with some perseverance he got it, and rode the whole thing and rode off the end.  Excellent!

Next up was the small jumps in the Whistler Board park.  First time around, I got them to just go over the jump and not get any air.  Then after that they were ready for the jump.  They both hiked up repeatedly until they got some air.  I managed to get some good photos showing them both getting air.  Excellent!

The end of the day, we went to the Amsterdam bar and played cards for a few hours!

Visibility: Blue bird.
Snow: 0cm.
Piste Condition: Packed piste.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: From -6 to +10 at the base and from -3 to -12 at the Peak.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Tonight, Pete Tong is in Whistler, at Garfinkles.  I got my ticket a few day's ago along with Rich and was really looking forward to it.  Unfortunately, when Angela and Steff tried to get tickets they were sold out.  There was a chance that they could get some later that night though, but there was only 40 available.

We arranged to meet up at Tappleys at 20:30 for some food and beer.  I also called Rich and arranged for him to join. We got some foor and started the beer.  At just after 21:00 Steff wen't to try and get tickets, but there was apparently a huge line all waiting to try and get tickets.  This was a shame, as it would have been good if we could have all gone.

So, it came to 22:45 and me and Rich had to make a move and leave poor Angela and Steff at Tappleys.  They however went on off to the GLC for cocktails, while me and Rich headed to Pete Tong.

When we arrived there was still a large line of people trying to get tickets.  As we already had ours we got straight in.  As soon as we arrived it was easy to see that it really was sold out.  It was packed in there.  So, we hit the bar and had a wander around.  Lot's of nice ladies around, and I did get chatting to one or two.

Pete Tong came on stage about 23:30, and immediatley the music took a step up and was much better.  All night he really played somke good tunes and it all went down really well.  It turned out that Rich is a little bit of a light-weight when it comes to drinking, for about 00:40, he was quite trashed and had to appologise and leave as he was too drunk.  I didn't stay much past 02:10, as I had to get the bus back to Creekside.

I do have to say that it really was a good night!  Pity my blog (and time) can't do justice.

Once again I arranged to meet Angela and Steff early at the bottom of the Excalibur gondola.  Today however, I wanted to take them over to Whistler, and we took the 'Whistler Village Gondola', with the intention of getting breakfast at the Roundhouse.  It was such a blue bird day, we had coffee on the decking and soaked up the sun before starting out.

Most of today, I took them down around 'Ego Bowl', 'Enchanted Forest', 'Upper Olympic' and 'It Happens'.  Today I worked on improving Steff's body position and him completing his turns.  For Angela we progressed onto Basic Carved turns.  Even more progress was achieved today, which made everyone feel really good.  I used a lot of the toolbox extras to help them both work on areas where they needed improvement.  We even played some games such as 'Top Gun', which they really liked.

After lunch, we warmed up on the same runs again and then headed on over to the Harmony Express.  My intention was to expose them to a lot more of the mountain, and get them to try some of the blue runs.  After this, I wanted to take them on over to the Peak chair too.  The seeing more of the mountain appealed to them both.

The only trouble with the Harmony ridge is that the run into the easy blues, is that the only real easy way is down 'Pika's Traverse'.  This was really busy today, and with it being narrow, it really intimidated Angela.  Also, as a beginner, traversing around a trail on one edge really takes it out of you.  So, once we got onto 'Harmony Piste' they were both quite tired.  So, instead of taking the lift back up again and over to the Peak Chair, we decided to take 'Sidewinder' out.

We took 'Sidewinder' down and past the Emerald Chair and onto 'Upper Olympic'.  We decided to take the run all of the way down to the Village, and took 'Upper Fantastic' and 'Lower Fantastic'.  Steff was making some really good progress this afternoon.  He was directly linking turns together and completing the turns.  He also really started to get sorted his balance and not bend in the waste, and instead in the knees.  Angela was also really getting the carves working well.

We closed off the day with hitting the GLC and having a couple beers, and a couple snacks.

Visibility: Blue bird.
Snow: 0cm.
Piste Condition: Packed piste.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: From -5 to +6 at the base and from -4 to -14 at the Peak.
Crowding: Moderate.
Lift Lines: Light.

I got a message last night, that Angela, a friend from Birmingham was in Whistler with her boyfriend (Steff).  I managed to arrange that we would meet up this morning at 08:30 at the Excalibur Gondola in Whistler Blackcomb.

We all arrived at the same time and I got introduced to Steff and caught up with Angela.  It turned out that both Angela and Steff had only done a little snowboarding.  They also hadn't had breakfast.  So I took them around to the boloungerie, for Pain au Chocolate and coffee.

After breakfast we headed on up the gondola, up Excelerator and onto Jersey Cream.  This was a great opportunity for me to put into practise my Level 1 Instructor training, and get ready for my Level 2!

Both Angela and Steff initially had trouble linking turns together and achieving the correct balanced body position, but after a short time it was all looking good.  The morning was quite difficult for Angela as the boots she had were giving her a lot of trouble.  So, at lunch time we headed on down to the shop and got her, and also Steff a new pair of boots.  These seemed to work a hell of a lot better, as in the afternoon they both really made a lot of good progress.

We spent most of the day going down 'Easy Out', 'Buzz Cut', and 'Honeycomb'.  I even took them through the bottom part of the Terrain Garden at the end of the day, and out via 'Sunset Boulevard'.  This run out wasn't a good idea as it was tight and quite intimidating.  By now also, the bad boots from this morning had done their damage and Angela was particularly suffering.  So both Angela and Steff took the 'Wizard Express' download while I cruised down to the bottom.

At the bottom we went into Merlin's and had some beer and a little food.

Visibility: Mostly sunny with some cloudy patches.
Snow: 0cm.
Piste Condition: Packed piste with some powder stashes.
Wind: Moderate to light.
Temperature: +6 at the base to -9 at the Peak.
Crowding: Moderate.
Lift Lines: moderate.

Really fealt quite summery today.  Conditions below mid-station were really slushy!  Let's hope that the temperature drops soon!

I started off heading over to Blackcomb this morning, with the intention of doing some of the runs detailed in the Ski & Snowboard guide to Whistler Blackcomb.  However, on the way up 'Jersey Cream', it was obvious that all of the steeps had already been tracked out and mogulled.  So, instead I decided to go hit the Terrain Garden.

My first, second and third run into the terrain garden produced some great 180's.  Easily some of the best that I have done so far.  I really managed to pop off the lip, and really get the legs to spin the board.  They were so smooth and effortless.  Fantastic.  On the run out of the park, there was a tree that you could use as a rail.  However, it had been taken out.  Which is a hell of a shame.  So, instead of taking Sunset Boulevard, I simply use the run down to Solar Coaster to really put in some high speed carving.  It's been a while since I really let the speed go, so it was a nice refreshing change.

After doing the terrain garden for a while, I thought that I would go over to the Flute Bowl and give that a go as the weather was nice and bright.  So, at about lunch time, I rocketed down to the Blackcomb base and took the Whistler Village Gondola over into Whistler mountain.

To get over to harmony from the gondola, isn't a direct route.  So, I headed on down through the trees between 'Ratfink' and 'Green Acres'.  Man were they sweet.  They were so fast and easy to ride.  I then took the Emerald chair and headed on over the 'G.S.' down to Harmony Express.  Straight off the express I rode down 'Burnt Stew', and into the 'Flute Hike'.

Half an hour later of some serious hiking I was at the top of the 'Flute North Bowl'.  Looking over the cornice was quite daunting.  It was quite a drop, some 10-12ft, however the landing did look soft.  I put my board on and rode into the drop with some speed.  The landing was indeed soft, and I stuck the landing really, really well and rode it straight out into some big sweet powder carves.  The run down to the hike out was also really great.  Loads of light tracked powder.

After sticking such a landing so well, I just had to go back and give it another go.  After all, it was a great landing and ride out.  I did contemplate going for some lunch, but decided not to and skip lunch.

After yet another half hour hike I was again at the drop in point.  This time I didn't wait around and really went for it.  I was actually really, really disappointed that I didn't make the landing so well this time.  I also didn't do so well on the run to the hike out either.  I was tired.  Looking back, it was a bad idea to skip lunch, as it was more that I was tired that I didn't do so well.  My own fault.

It was now really late, and I managed to get a Harmony Express chair at 15:49.  Well after normal closing time of 15:30.  I headed on over to the 'Saddle' and rode that down.  By now though, my left knee was really starting to feel the strain.  So the speed was not all that great.  At least, not to start with   I simply charged all the way down the mountain as fast as my knee would allow.

These great days simple just keep coming!

Rich pointed me in the direction of something that I wish I had when I arrived at Whistler.  The Ski and Snowboard Guide to Whistler Blackcomb: Advanced/Expert Edition (Paperback) book.  It's basically a pocket photo book guide to the entire area that details over 120+ runs that are not included on the trail map.

I've ridden a very large percentage of both mountains, and a lot of the trails mentioned in the book.  However, there is still some that I haven't ridden yet.  Best of all, it will allow me to not only find and ride these trails, but make my blog reporting so much more accurate.  For example, all of this time I haven't been riding the Bagel Bowl, I have instead been riding on the following runs: 'Monday's', 'Cockalorum' and 'Stefan's Chute'.  Well, I never!  Also, the second entrance into the 'Big Easy Terrain Garden' is called 'Countdown'!

The only small niggle that I have about the book, but it is fully understandable, is that it only details runs that are within the ski boundary area.  I know of quite a lot of great off piste runs.

I arranged with Rich the last time we rode together, that we would meet up and go riding on Friday (today).  He called me last night to confirm, so I got ready.

Getting up at 06:00 is quite a struggle when you are on an extended vacation   However I made it, and also Andy made it up too.  Myself and Andy took the bus over to Blackcomb and the Whistler Village Gondola, where we met Rich.  The breakfast at the roundhouse really is worth it.  We got off to reasonably early start and rode the lovely groomed runs down the 'Ego Bowl'.  That was until they opened up the Harmony chair, which opened quite early.

Myself and Rich did loads today, too much to mention it all.  So, I've only really blogged the highlights.

Andy has been having trouble with his ankle so declined to join myself and Rich, when we suggested that we were going to do a wind-lip drop on the Harmony Ridge.  Me and Rich rode the ridge and turned into what is known as 'Horseshoe 4'.  Oh my god!  The wind-lip drop was huge.  It was about 12ft.  I must admit that I seriously gave thought to saying no and chickening out.  Thankfully I didn't though.  I took Rich's camera and tried to video his drop in which was bigger than mine.  Must admit that I didn't do a good job as the camera confounded me a little.  Still got a good photo and some good video.

My drop into 'Horseshoe 4' really was scary.  I rode forward and did the drop!  Eek!  It was a hell of a fall, and I did chicken it a bit and landed practically on a 90 degree stop.  Thankfully the landing was full of powder.  I bounced straight up from the landing and put in some huge powder turns.  Rich was waiting further down the slope, and I just had to do it.  I gave him a huge powder dusting

We ran down the Harmony Piste and got the lift again.  We decided to give it another go.  After all, the adrenalin of the last few day's has really been pumping so why not take advantage of it?

As we got there and I got ready to take better footage this time, other people joined us.  These guys were a pain to be honest.  They simply put their board over the edge and slid on their arse over the edge and side slipped down the slope!  What the hell is that about!  Geeze!  After a bit of a wimpy moment from Rich, who wasn't confident about this jump.  He was kacking him self a bit...even he doesn't know why, as he'd already done the drop.  The weather was a big factor though.  The cloud had moved in and it was very difficult if not impossible to see the landing.  He did it anyway, and stuck the landing and rode it out.  Not without hitting a large hidden rock on the way.  He thought that he had really f'd his board but it was nothing.

My second drop in didn't go too well.  The visibility was really bad when I rode into the drop and I couldn't see a thing and panicked a little.  I made the stupid mistake of trying to grab the wind lip, but I was already going way fast over the lip and on my way.  Needless to say, my drop in was not pretty, and I had to bounce up from the landing again, put in some more huge powder turns and make my way down the slopes.

With the visibility so bad we headed on over to the Emerald chair area to do some tree runs.  We hit the trees between 'Ratfink' and 'Green Acres'.  The runs in here were great.  So powder filled and open.

We headed on back over to the Harmony chair, with the hope that the visibility would improve.  To get there from the top of Emerald, we took the 'G.S.' run, and turned left onto the cat track, which I think is called 'Lower Ratfink'?  There is a great drop off this cat track into some nice powder.  So, this was too good an opportunity to miss.  So what did we do.  Well, I ollied off and got some huge long air and pulled a 'mute' grab.  Rich on the other hand pulled out a front-side 360.  He did over rotate and bailed the landing, but it was good.

We wanted to get some coffee/hot chocolate and headed on up to the Harmony Tea Hut.  However they didn't do coffee, and Rich really wanted a coffee.  So, we headed on over the 'Saddle', down past the Peak chair and into 'Franz's Meadow'.  I took Rich over and up high in the meadow, with the intention of having a loop at 'Goats Trail'.  We were too low however.  Instead we took the tree runs down through this area under the cliffs and joined 'Highway 89'.  This is actually another great tree run.  We went down and had lunch at the 'Ravens Nest'.

After lunch we headed on back up and back into the tree runs between 'Ratfink' and 'Green Acres'.    I got some great follow camera footage of Rich in here.  He was really pleased with it, and so was I.

Once again we headed on over to the Harmony Chair.  Again we took the 'Lower Ratfink' cat track and jumped off.  I again pulled a mute grab, but not as big as the first one.  I did land it, but then took a big wobble and crashed into a huge plume of powder.  This stopped Rich for a bit before he rode into the jump.  Rich again did the 360, again over rotated, but this time stuck the landing.  We was out of control on the decent into the bowl and the rise up the other side and crashed out.

We headed on back over to the Harmony Ridge, with the intention of doing McConkeys (a.k.a 'Horseshoe 3').  We rode over and had a look.  It was a bigger drop than Horseshoe 4, but we thought that we would give it a go.  Rich went first, this time not taking him time.  I videoed the whole thing and caught the good landing he had.  The only trouble was that the landing was massively hard, and there was no powder in the landing.  So, I decided not to give it a go.  Instead I went down the easier side drop of only a little drop.

By now, my left knee was really starting to hurt.  It isn't getting any better, if anything a little worse.  Also, Rich's knees were also really hurting him, so we decided to call it a day.  We rode down 'Sidewinder' onto 'Upper Olympic', into 'Lower Fantastic' and back to Blackcomb base.  On the way however, I really put in some great carving turns.  The snow up on Upper Olympic was really quite hard, but the further down you went, it really got soft and slushy.  It also made it easy, despite my knee, to hold the carves at really high speed.  A great end to a great day.

Visibility: Cloudy with OK visibility until mid afternoon, then bright with sunny patches.
Snow: 4cm.
Piste Condition: Choppy powder.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: -1 at the base to -9 at the Peak.
Crowding: Light to Moderate.
Lift Lines: Light to moderate.

Snowing quite heavy in the morning.

I got up early today and headed on over to Blackcomb with the intention of doing more park riding in the terrain garden.  The weather report said 9cm of new snow, but I didn't believe them until I had made it to the top of 'Jersey Cream'.  From what I could see of the lines and the other riders, I could see that there was indeed plenty of new powder.  So, I decided that it was the right time to go a little extreme.

I headed on over to 7'th Heaven, and hung a left at the top of the lift.  It was my intention to give 'Big Bang' a look.  The last time I looked at it, it was a complete mogul mess.  Thankfully today it was really great.

I dropped in, and was actually surprised by just how steep it was.  Among some of the steepest terrain that I've ridden for a long time.  I put in a few turns, and traversed over into 'Couloir Extreme' to have a look.  It didn't look that bad.  Man the powder here was so deep and in great condition.  You could feel under neath and on the occasional mogul that it was still very icy under foot.  The turns I put in were huge and fantastic.  Huge spray, so much so, that on my heal side turn, the snow kicked up so much that I couldn't see into making the toes side turn, but I just did it anyway.  I recommend that anyone who is up to the extreme steeps, give this run a go.  I carried on over onto 'Quasar', and it was still so powder filled.  I went on over and dropped down the 'Staircase'.  Again, really full of powder and really nice.  It did get quite mogully near the bottom was was worth every turn.

I got the Jersey Cream Express again, with the intention of doing the same run again.  This time however I dropped in right at the top, the 'Couloir Extreme'.  This entrance was way more knarly, but just as worth it as the first run.  This time I put in a few 'lush' turns and traversed over as high as I could into the 'Jersey Cream Bowl' area.  This part of the mountain had very few tracks in it, and no under powder moguls.  So, needless to say, once again I made some huge carved powder turns and really stormed the piste.  This time, I came down and through 'The  Bite'.  This was quite tight but again still really full of powder.

You'll never guess what, I went to do it again.  However, I was feeling much more adventurous.  Since I started on the 'Big Bang' and moved left to the 'Couloir Extreme', I decided to head on further to the left.  So, I carried on down the ridge for a bit, which by the way is super dangerous.  I dropped in about 15m further down the ridge.  Where I dropped in was apparently called 'Hawaii-5-O', well according to some guys on the lift.  Now, this drop is was very, very much more hazardous than the others.  I recommend you have a strong belief in your riding to do this drop-in.  After a few turns, I made my way over into the 'Couloir Extreme' and traversed along just as my last run.  This run wasn't quite as good this time.  By now, these runs had been ridden a lot and was really quite choppy.  The same run out ensued.

Since this area was all trekked out, I decided to go back to my original plan and hit the terrain garden.  Same runs as yesterday.  Today, everything was going well on the jumps and rails.  Once again I was getting faster and faster on the rails, and I was really starting to 'pop' the 180's.  It's so much easier when you pop some air (Ollie) off to the top of the jump and then initiate the rotation.  The difference today compared to yesterday, was that there was a tree rail just off 'Sunset Boulevard'.  It was a tree sticking out 90 degrees from the slop about 2m, with a drop of about 1m.  Today, I managed to ride the whole thing a couple of times and stuck the landings each time.  Well worth it.

So, I did the terrain garden run about 3 times before charging down the mountain to the Whistler base just after 12:00.  My intention was to get the 'Whistler Village Gondola' over to Whistler mountain and ride back to Creekside.  However, just before I got to the front of the line, one of the gondolas came off the rails at the bottom and the lift was stopped.  I waited about 10 minutes, but there was no sign of it going to start and the lifties said they needed an engineer to have a look.  So didn't bother to wait, and got the bus back home.

So, why the early end to the day you ask?  Well, this afternoon, myself and about 4 other of the house guests are going to go Bungee jumping.  I'll let you know how that goes later.

Visibility: Cloudy with OK to zero visibility.
Snow: 9cm.
Piste Condition: Heavy choppy powder.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: -1 at the base to -9 at the Peak.
Crowding: Light to Moderate.
Lift Lines: Light to moderate.

Started snowing late morning, and is still snowing.

Today, myself, Steve, Jono, Andy and Toby all went to the Whistler Bungee to do a jump.  We were picked up just after 15:00 and driven to the bungee location.  The drive was fine, until we pulled off Route 99.  The road down to the bridge/river was extremely pot holed and the taxi was really bumpy.

When we arrived we could see that the bridge was really quite high.  Which was confirmed even more as we got onto the bridge.  There was a huge drop down into the river gully.  The actual bungee was a 160ft jump.  When we arrived there were already people doing the jump.  We watched someone go and it really looked quite scary.

We had to go and sign a waiver and pay the $100 cost.  The others went along the top of the valley to have a watch while I went along the bridge and had a closer look.  The girl in front of us was wearing a hat and it came off when she bounced.  Everyone including our selves were all chest harnessed, rather than foot harnessed.  Which was OK.

We all let Steve go first, as he did actually put the leg work in and get the thing booked.  Then it was me.  5-4-3-2-1 and I really jumped off.  I do have to say, that your heart probably skips a beat when you first get to free fall and see just how far the bottom is.  I kept my eyes open all the way, whist shouting "Och Ayeee".  I managed to also do a flip in the air before getting to the bottom, and before bouncing back up again.  I bounced so far, it was like having another go.  By now I was really relaxed, and just put my hands behind my head, while I bounced around.  When finished, a rope is lowered down to you, which you hook on, and you are then pulled back up.

It is such an adrenalin rush...More after the jump than before it.  I really wanted to give it another go, but knew that I have plenty of time in the season to do it again.  The second jump is only about $45 too!

Next up was Jono, then Andy and lastly was Toby.  Both Andy and Toby jumped backward.  It looked good, but next time I want to be harnessed by the feet.

I've put together some of the footage taken, and you can find the video here: http://www.internetwideworld.com/Website/Videos/Bungee_20060316.wmv

I thought that I would head on over to Blackcomb again today, and hit the terrain garden.  I was really glad that I did too.  It again was in excellent condition and really quite empty.  The second entry to the park with the separate rails and jumps is definite the way to go.

The day didn't start off too good.  For what ever reason, when I woke up this morning I had a really painful muscle twitch in my right side.  Still sore now, but have some 'deep heat' on it now.  It's didn't make the start of the day go so well, however I did manage to forget it through the day.

It all starts off for me by riding switch all of the way down to the turn off to the second entrance.  Really getting quite confident in switch and getting faster too.  Before getting on into the second entrance, there is a really nice cat track that you can jump off.  If you ollie the take off you really get some great air time.  Once into the second entrance, it all starts off with a box rail.  First thing in the morning I decided to hike this box for a bit.  Why you ask?  Well, I wanted to try and learn how to board-slide the box, instead of doing it 50-50.  After a second attempt I managed to get on and ride the box board-slide.  However, it did take me a few attempts to get off the box properly, instead of landing at the end at 90 degrees.  Still, I have now managed to add another 'trick' to my snowboarding arsenal.

After that there is a nice medium sized kicker.  Every time through the garden I managed to do a 180 into switch.  Some OK, others were actually really good.  After that there is a thin rail, a kinked box and a kinked rail.  Each and every run through this section, I managed to go faster and faster off these.  Getting better at riding rails too!  It makes me feel good!

After that I join the regular terrain garden.  It starts off with a rainbow box, which is actually not that easy to ride, as the entrance and exit to the rail was quite poor.

Then it is on to my favourite part of the garden.  The four medium sized jumps in a row.  Start off in regular, do a front-side 180, switch into the second and a switch front-side 180 into regular, and repeat over the next two jumps.  Really enjoying landing these jumps, and I'm starting to land them perfectly (well, as close as!).

On the way out of the garden, I hang an immediate left turn into 'Sunset Boulevard'.  It's a narrow cat track that does a 180 turn and eventually ends up at the 'Solar Coaster'.  On the way down for the first part of this run, on the left there are many opportunities to do some ally-oop's.  By the end of the day, I was hitting the whole run faster and faster, and as such really hitting the ally-oop.  I think that on average I managed to hit about 7-8 ally-oops on this section.  Some good, some not so good, some really good   The remainder of this cat track, I rode in switch.  It's really tight and windy, with some difficult areas.  Really good for the switch riding.

So, in all, apart from the really bad weather, it's been another good day.

Visibility: Cloudy with OK to zero visibility.
Snow: 3cm over night, and 5cm through yesterday.
Piste Condition: Light by choppy powder.
Wind: Moderate increasing to strong.
Temperature: -1 at the base to -11 at the Peak.
Crowding: Moderate.
Lift Lines: Moderate.

It was snowing all day today.  Light most of the day but increasing to heavy in the late afternoon.

I did 'eeny-meany-miney-moe' and ended up on Blackcomb today.  I decided that I wanted to give the pipe some goes today.  Unfortunately the weather was not great.  The run down to the pipe does mean that I could also ride through the park.  Three spines in a go, two left and one right.  Then a set of 4 big jumps, of which all are bigger than those in the Whistler park.  You really get booted over these jumps quite high.  The only trouble was that today the visibility in the morning was really bad.  So, I couldn't really see the run in, the lip or the landing very well.  So, needless to say I failed to land about 1/5 of each of the jumps.

When I got to the pipe, the visibility was so bad that I couldn't even see the other side of the pipe when riding it!!!  The first run through the pipe was OK.  It's really quite icy, especially the first hit on the right.  A first for me was that I actually did a moving drop in to the pipe.  Really went at it with speed and each time through I tried to drop it higher and higher.  The second run through was terrible, however each time through I really got better and better. 

After lunch I went through the park and pipe again and was in the lift line for Solar Coaster when I met Rich.  Rich is a friend of April's that I have met a couple times in the pub.  So we teamed up and went riding together.  Rich knew this second entry into the Terrain Garden so we went down to that.  Wow!  It is a much better way into the Terrain Garden, as it's empty, has not crowding, had some really nice rails and a couple jumps.  You then join the bottom of the terrain garden.  It's been a while since I've been through the terrain garden, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the 4 rollers at the bottom have been turned into jumps.  The first time I went through with Rich I straight aired them, only to really find that each one had a very short transition.  So I overshot each and every one!

We went through the place again, this time we resolved to do some spins.  Rich was practising his 360's and I went to practise my 180's.  Man, these jumps in the terrain garden are so perfect for 180's.  I landed each and every one, really speedily.  Going to go back.  Actually, we did, a couple more times

We then headed on over to the Crystal chair, and down 'Ridge Runner' as there was loads of jibbing opportunities that Rich knew about.

By now it was getting late on, so we headed on over and got an extremely late 'Glacier Express'.  The list is supposed to close at 15:30, but we managed to get on it at 15:47.  Cool.  We headed on over to the left and rode down to the Crystal Lodge.  We were very lucky here too, and the people in the Crystal Lodge allowed us to get a very late coffee and hot chocolate.  It was so late that everything was all packed up and they were mopping the floor!  We rode down 'Ridge Runner' again, and took as many jibbing opportunities as we could.  We then simple just went straight down the slopes to the base, doing as much switch as we could.

Another good day!

Visibility: Cloudy with poor to zero visibility until late in the day when it was sunny.
Snow: 4cm.
Piste Condition: Packed piste.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: -3 at the base to -9 at the Peak.
Crowding: Moderate.
Lift Lines: Heavy.

Got some bad news yesterday.  The CASI Level 2 course that I registered for the other day, is full :-(  There is also a long waiting list.  So, the possibilities of me getting onto the course is rather poor.

I must admit that I am really quite disappointed.  Would have liked to try it out!  There is a slim possibility, but unlikely.

Visibility: Cloudy with poor visibility until late in the day when it was sunny.
Snow: 0cm.
Piste Condition: Packed piste.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: -4 at the base to -11 at the Peak.
Crowding: Moderate to heavy.
Lift Lines: Heavy.

This morning myself, Pete and April headed out, and we were later joined by Steve and went to ride in the park.  This was April's last day on the slopes so we wanted to make sure that she tried some things that she hadn't done yet.

It was basically the same run through the park as I have been doing for a couple days.  Ride switch down to the park, thin rail, kinked box, quarter pipe, big jump, two small jumps, three big jumps, spine, ride through the trees and then switch down to the lift again.

For my self, I really am getting more confident on the thin rails, and the kinked box.  Going to have to push my self and try some kinked thin rails.  There is also a double box with a drop in the middle in the park that I am going to have to try!  On the quarter pipe, I have managed to make myself not look down when doing the ally-oop.  The big kickers were also running really good today.  So much so, that I over shot the landing a couple times.  Luckily this didn't cause too many problems, but it did aggravate my left knee and ankle problems.  Also managed to pull almost all of the simple grabs.  Doing the tail grab isn't too easy as you really have to bone the front leg.  The 180's were also doing really well today too.  Both the front side 180's were going really well.

All through the day we took April through the park and I finally managed to persuade her to try the little jumps.  She did give them a go after a little persuasion and did really well.  It took her a couple of goes, but she did actually land the think.  Good on girl!  After a couple more runs through the park, we managed to persuade her to try the big jumps.  Again, full credit she gave them a go.  Unfortunately she didn't manage to land one, but I'm sure that if she gives it some more goes that she will land them.  Another time through the I even managed to persuade her to give the easy box a go.  The first time, she didn't make the box.  After all it is very intimidating the first time you give it a go.  So, next time through she gave it another go.  This time she made the box...only trouble was that it was obvious that she tried to put an edge in and you can't do that on the box.  So, she fell on the box.  Landed on the box with her arse, with the board off the edge.  She slid along the box and off the end in this fashion   Still, very much kudos to you April!

We ended the day with taking April to do a wind-lip drop.  I had spied this newly formed wind-lip a couple days before, that is between 'Pony Trail' and 'Bear Paw' and knew that it would be good and soft, perfect for April to give it a try.  The drop was between 4-8ft, depending on where you did the drop.  I went off first, but didn't stick the landing.  The landing was so soft that I simply sank and bailed the landing.  Next up was Pete who did the drop with a bit of style and stuck the landing.  Next up was Steve who spooned spread the landing.  It was now April's turn.  Again, she really gave it a go.  By now I had managed to hike back up, and gave it another go.  Once again I didn't stick the landing...Damn!  Steve and Pete also gave it another go.  I hiked up for a third go and spoon spread the landing again.  *Arg*

Our run down to the bottom of the gondola was really good and fast.  The conditions of the piste was really nice.  Did the last kilometre without putting in any unnecessary turns, and really flew down the slope.  Nice.

Visibility: Sunny.
Snow: 0cm.
Piste Condition: Bashed piste.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: -5 at the base to -9 at the Peak.
Crowding: Heavy.
Lift Lines: Heavy.

Visibility: Summy with some occasional light cloud.
Snow: 0cm.
Piste Condition: Choppy piste.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: -4 at the base to -10 at the Peak.
Crowding: Heavy.
Lift Lines: Heavy.

It's the start of 'Spring Break' here in North America.  Hence for a while it's going to be very busy as all of the students/kids are on holiday.

After my sucess with my CASI Level 1, I've decided to go for my level 2 Snowboard Instructor certification.

I've registered to take the course on April 3 - April 6.  Wish me luck!

The day for me was practically the same as yesterday.  Except it was bigger and better.

I headed on over to Harmony straight away, but didn't really enjoy it too much.  I rode the usual 'Little Whistler' on to 'Back Bowl' over the drop jump that I found and back to the Harmony chair via the 'G.S.'.  However, the drop jump had now filled in so much with snow, that it was no longer a jump!  Boo!  How disappointing.  It was also very, very choppy and full of moguls.

So instead, I rode over into the 'Glacier Bowl' and on down onto the Peak chair.  I didn't want to go all the way down to the bottom of the mountain today, so I simply rode the choppy bagel bowl, and down 'Highway 86' to Big Red again.

I decided to ride the park again today.  The rail, the kinked box, the quarter pipe with tap up, the big jump, the two little jumps, the three big jumps and the spine at the bottom.  The first run through was great. Had a fantastic front-side 180 into switch and switch front-side 180 into regular on the little jumps.  Looks like the practise is starting to really pay off.  Then on the three big jumps, really flew over them, pulled a different grab on each and stomped the landings!  One of the best runs I've had through the park.  It was only bettered as the day went on.

I bailed the 180 into switch only a couple times, but it really was starting to get it dialled.  It was a shame that half way through my day, that they closed off the kinked box.

I just kept going round and round the park, time after time.  Riding switch down to the park and out of the bottom to the lift.  Early in the day the switch riding was very much easier as there wasn't much chop or moguls around.  So I compensated by just going faster and faster.  Later in the afternoon, it really did get choppy, but I tried to keep the speed up and keep it going.

Going to keep this good form going for a while longer, a few days or so, to really get this front-side 180 thing solid.  Then, I need to start work on getting the backside 180's working.

Visibility: Cloudy with sunny spells.
Snow: 3cm.
Piste Condition: Choppy powder.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: -4 at the base to -14 at the Peak.
Crowding: Moderate.
Lift Lines: Moderate.

I thought that I would have a look at the locational statistics for my Web site.  Below is what I have so far!  Are you one of the locations?  If so, let me know, I'm interested to hear from you!  Leave a comment by clicking here!

Date Range: 15/11/2005 - 8/3/2006
Country/Region/City	Visits	P/Visit
Canada-Vancouver	112	10.23
United Kingdom-London	67	3.58
United Kingdom-West Langdon	48	4.98
Canada-Tsawwassen	23	14
United Kingdom-Milton Keynes	20	9.15
United States-Morristown	17	2.53
United Kingdom-Guildford	16	2.38
United Kingdom-Langdon	15	7.73
United Kingdom-Watford	12	1.42
United Kingdom-Leeds	12	1.92
(not set)-(not set)	11	4.27
United Kingdom-Elmers End	9	7.33
United Kingdom-Aston	8	6
United Kingdom-Slough	8	3.25
United Kingdom-Gurnard	7	3.86
United Kingdom-Huddersfield	7	3.71
United Kingdom-Millwall	5	2.2
United Kingdom-Winchester	5	2.6
United Kingdom-Stoke	5	3.6
United Kingdom-Wyrardisbury	5	2
United Kingdom-Gosport	5	2.4
United Kingdom-Woking	4	2
United Kingdom-Bletchley	4	1.75
Switzerland-Schübelbach	4	5.25
United Kingdom-Plymouth	4	1
United Kingdom-Birmingham	4	4.25
United States-Cary	3	2
Canada-Victoria	3	1
United Kingdom-Stevenage	3	4.33
Switzerland-Eschenbach	3	5.67
United Kingdom-West End	3	3.67
United Kingdom-Esher	3	5.67
United Kingdom-Glasgow	3	9.33
United Kingdom-Limehouse	3	3.67
United Kingdom-Edinburgh	3	2
Netherlands-Woerden	3	5.33
United Kingdom-Sheffield	2	1
United States-Hacienda Heights	2	1
Switzerland-Mühlehorn	2	9
United Kingdom-Cambridge	2	1
Switzerland-Weisstannen	2	3
United Kingdom-Upminster	2	2
United States-Saint Paul	2	36
United Kingdom-British	2	1
United Kingdom-Ealing	2	1
United Kingdom-Bristol	2	2
United States-Los Angeles	2	1.5
United Kingdom-Dudley	2	1
United States-Gig Harbor	2	1
Switzerland-Wald	2	9.5
United States-Glastonbury	2	1
United Kingdom-Welling	2	1
Switzerland-Bellaluna	2	2.5
United Kingdom-Northolt	1	1
United States-San Francisco	1	1
United Kingdom-Streatham	1	1
United Kingdom-Ropley	1	1
United States-Westerville	1	2
United States-Portland	1	1
United States-Bettendorf	1	1
United States-Suncook	1	1
United States-Pasadena	1	4
United Kingdom-Saint Helens	1	1
Spain-Barcelona	1	2
Italy-Rome	1	1
United States-Boulder	1	1
United States-Molalla	1	1
United Kingdom-West Dulwich	1	1
United Kingdom-Middlesbrough	1	1
United Kingdom-Letchworth	1	4
United States-Raritan	1	1
United States-Newport	1	2
United States-Seattle	1	1
United States-Union	1	1
United Kingdom-Litherland	1	1
United Kingdom-Camberley	1	5
United Kingdom-Preston	1	1
United Kingdom-Gateshead	1	1
United Kingdom-Liverpool	1	1
Canada-Nelson	1	1
United Kingdom-Crewe	1	2
United Kingdom-Manchester	1	1
United Kingdom-Catford	1	7
Indonesia-Denpasar	1	1
Canada-Airdrie	1	1
United Kingdom-Bolton	1	2
Canada-Woodbridge	1	1
United Kingdom-Bow	1	1
United States-Park City	1	1
United Kingdom-Lancaster	1	9
United Kingdom-Leigh	1	2
United States-Vacaville	1	1
United States-Seattle	1	1
United Kingdom-Saint Mary Bourne	1	1
United Kingdom-Lincoln	1	2
United Kingdom-Scunthorpe	1	1
United Kingdom-Chobham	1	1
United Kingdom-Mangotsfield	1	3
Finland-Kokkola	1	5
United States-Woodside	1	1
United Kingdom-New Malden	1	27
United Kingdom-Salford	1	1
United Kingdom-Upton	1	3
United Kingdom-Gotham	1	1
United Kingdom-Dundee	1	1
United Kingdom-Bracknell	1	1
Israel-Gevim	1	1
United States-Reston	1	1
Canada-Richmond	1	6
United Kingdom-Shooters Hill	1	1
Canada-Montréal	1	1
Hong Kong-Pak Sha Tsuen	1	1
United Kingdom-Misterton	1	4
United States-Elk Grove Village	1	2
United States-Denton	1	1
United Kingdom-Worcester	1	1
United States-Millburn	1	1
Switzerland-Le Grand-Saconnex	1	8
United States-Falls Church	1	3
United States-Hayward	1	1
United Kingdom-Aberdare	1	1
Japan-Yosida	1	32
United Kingdom-Sutton Coldfield	1	1
Switzerland-Glarus	1	9
Switzerland-Ebnat	1	5
United Kingdom-Baxterley	1	3
United Kingdom-Heanor	1	1
United Kingdom-Bickley	1	1
United States-Secaucus	1	1
United States-Brea	1	3
France-Giron	1	2
United Kingdom-Nottingham	1	1
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United States-Long Island City	1	1
United Kingdom-Cheam	1	1
United Kingdom-Dagenham	1	1
United States-Camden	1	5
United Kingdom-Romford	1	4
United States-Tyler	1	1
United Kingdom-Staines	1	1
Taiwan-Hsinchu	1	2
United States-Southfield	1	1
United Kingdom-Send	1	4
United States-Denver	1	1
United States-Napa	1	1
United Kingdom-Brentford	1	1
United Kingdom-Halesowen	1	2
United States-Des Moines	1	2
United States-Rockville	1	1
United States-Westfield	1	3
United Kingdom-Barking	1	1
United Kingdom-Bagshot	1	3
Poland-Poznan	1	2
Japan-Musashino	1	1
United Kingdom-East Ham	1	1
United States-Erie	1	1
United States-Weehawken	1	1
Philippines-Palanas	1	1
United Kingdom-North Woolwich	1	2
United Kingdom-Hatfield	1	3
United Kingdom-Ashton-under-Lyne	1	1
United Kingdom-Snowshill	1	3
Canada-Sydney	1	1
United States-Keller	1	1
United Kingdom-Southall	1	1

Visits is the number of visits to my site from the country/region/city. P/Visit is pageviews divided by number of visits.

After all of the powder and all the effort I put in yesterday, I thought that I would start a little later than usual.  So, I got up an hour later!

As soon as I got to the top of 'Big Red', I decided to head for the Peak chair as it was open.  There was quite a large line waiting for the lift, and it took about 20 minutes to get onto the chair.  I was worth it though.  I headed on straight down 'Upper Peak to Creek', and pulled off to the left as usual and did a drop jump (nothing big, only about 6-8 ft) into the Bagel Bowl.  There was some avalanche debris but it was soft and easily ridden.  Man that bowl gets loads of powder, and yet people just don't really ride it that much!

As usual I crossed straight over the 'Upper Peak to Creek' cat track and into my favourite Gladded Gully.  It was so full of snow and so fast, it was brilliant.  I'm glad that only a small few number of people either know about it or ride it!  As usual I got out of the gully before it got too knarly.  Took a bit of a hike as there simply was loads of snow.  I rode down the rest of peak to creek, and it was quite difficult as it was really choppy.

Got back up to the top again via the gondola and big red.  Even though it was just before 11:00 and after yesterday's run through the park and starting to enjoy it, I thought that I would give it another go.  Ended up that I sessioned the park for the rest of the day, all the way until 16:00!

I was really getting into it too.  I started off by riding switch down to the park through the chop and moguls.  Then hit a thin 2m rail and a kinked box.  Getting the hang of the kinked box, so may step it up and try more of these!  After that there is a quarter pipe with a tap-up bar.  Got some really good alley-oop's going and even on occasion managed to tap the bar both with the nose and tail of the board.  Did have some trouble a couple of times, where I found that I was looking down and also bending at the waist.  Worked on that and got it sorted.

After that there was a nice big jump.  Yesterday, when i couldn't see it, the run in was difficult.  Today, with the poor light it was just as bad.  It was also quite choppy.  More times than not I made the transition, along with making a simple grab.

Right after that is a set of two small jumps.  On each run, I rode straight from one into the next.  On this I started off with a front side 180 into switch.  I must admit that this didn't go too well, and struggled with it a fair bit.  I did manage some sweet rotations though.  Carrying on in switch to the second jump, I did half cap's (switch front side 180 into regular).  These are really starting to come along.  All I need to do now with this is increase the speed and the size of the jump.

Following this was three large jumps in a row.  The first jump really surprised me, or more that I really surprised myself.  On the first time I really hit it with speed, even though I haven't done this jump for a very long time.  Hence I went much larger than I expected and landed way down the transition, and the transition was not in a very good state.  All other times after that I took a small speed check and hit the transition really well.  Only managed to do a couple straight grabs on this jump.  The next jump, after yesterday, I knew how to take.  I took a number of different grabs on this and the next jump all day.  Both front and back hand middle of toe edge and heal edge.  I even managed a couple nose and tail grabs.  Something new that I thought I would try, as I was feeling comfortable, was a 'tweak' with some 'bone'.  These were much easier to do when doing nose and tail grabs.  Slammed on time when trying to do a stale fish.  So will save that for another time.

At the bottom of the park, after the three jumps is a spine.  It's difficult to get a lot of speed for it, but on occasion I was getting right to the top and stomping the landing.

Getting out of the park, I cut off to the left and through the trees to get on over to the 'Jolly Green Giant' run.  From here to the lift, I rode switch again in the heavy chop and larger moguls.  For me at the moment it is still quite difficult to ride switch in these conditions.

All day I've been really trying to push it a bit, and as such I took quite a few slams.  Mostly trying to ride switch in the moguls, and trying to do the 180's.  As such I've managed to tweak a few 'niggles.  My left ankle, left knee and upper left arm join the list along with my neck (which has been ongoing for quite some time).  During the day I could feel that they were a little strained, but by the end of the day, and this evening they are really starting to ache.  Don't think that its going to stop me riding, I think that it's just the fatigue and loads of mogul riding that I've been doing lately.

Visibility: Varied.  From OK to poor and back again all day.  Even got sunshine on the last run!
Snow: 6cm over night.  14cm during the previous day.
Piste Condition: Powder.
Wind: Moderate.
Temperature: -7 at the base to -18 at the Peak.
Crowding: Moderate.
Lift Lines: Moderate.

I decided to start off a little late this morning, and didn't get up the mountain until just after 09:30.  As soon as I got up, it was obvious that the conditions were not all that nice.  The wind was really strong and it was a complete white out.

As soon as I got up to the top, I noticed that the Harmony chair was open.  Given that the conditions and visibility was bad, I thought that I would go back to my previous haunts of the 'Little Whistler' on to 'Back Bowl' over the drop jump that I found and back to the Harmony chair via the 'G.S.'.

I was really having a good time on this, and really pushing the riding in zero visibility and in mogul fields.  I had one really big crash though.  I managed to miss time the riding around a mogul and caught a big heal edge.  I did a big crash on my neck, and could hear it crunch, and flipped over another time before stopping.  Thankfully it didn't hurt too much, and I got straight up, shook off the excess snow and carried on.  Did this run for a couple more times, before *gasp* they closed the Harmony chair (and also the Peak Chair) due to the really high winds.

So, I headed on over to the Emerald chair and sessioned loads of the runs over there.  I did about half of the runs in switch, which was quite a challenge given how choppy and powdery it was.  For the first time since getting back to Whistler I actually stopped for lunch.  I was really hungry so just had to.  Must be all of the energy I've been burning lately.

The weather was getting worse and worse as the wind picked up.  The upside of this was that not only was the piste getting quieter and quieter, but also the conditions of the slope was getting better and better with all the powder!  I really must admit that I thrive on such conditions and would prefer these to a long period of sun!

Near the end of the day I thought about heading on back down the slopes.  However, on the way up Emerald chair I spied the park and decided to give it a go.  I did this about 5-6 times.  The first thing was a quarter pipe with a tap up.  Was really getting that ally-oop working on that.  After that was a jump.  However, it was really difficult to see the run in, and I did crash out once.  However I was getting better and bigger at it.  After that were two small kickers, on which I eventually managed to get a 180 to switch and a switch 180 on the two kickers working.  It did take a couple runs to get them working, but it did happen.  Cool.

It really was late in the day now, so I headed on down the piste.  I took the different run out today, as I too the off piste run down under the gondola.  Very challenging and interesting.  I did loose it and hit a tree at speed.  However, it was small and bent over when I hit it.  No damage done...to me anyway.

Visibility: Zero visibility!
Snow: 0cm over night.  However, it was snowing heavily all day!
Piste Condition: Powder.
Wind: Strong increasing to gale force.
Temperature: 0 at the base to -10.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Was suffering a bit from yesterdays runs.  So, what I did was loads of mogul runs?!?!  Even threw a few in switch when they weren't too big.  I rode the peak, down into the gladded gully, twice.  Did more of the Harmony run.  Except this time on the drop jump there was a wind lip not far after the landing, so it added an extra level of difficulty.  Bailed the first try, but every one after that was great, and felt better and better.  Even threw in a grab or two!

Visibility: Poor to Zero visibility!
Snow: 3cm over night.
Piste Condition: Powder.
Wind: Moderate to strong.
Temperature: -1 at the base to -8.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Visibility: Very cloudy with limited visibility to zero!
Snow: 24cm
Piste Condition: Powder.
Wind: Moderate.
Temperature: 0 at the base to -8.
Crowding: Moderate to light.
Lift Lines: Moderate to light.

As the day wore on, and the conditions were bad, the piste got quieter and quieter!

After the big travel to Whistler, and the two straight days of fresh-tracks, I was really quite tired.  So, today I took it easy and tried to get some sleep.  Must admit, that I was so tired that I managed to get more sleep than I normally do.  Normally I can lie in bed for 12 hours and get about 6 hours sleep.  However, today I was in bed for 12 hours and managed to sleep about 10 hours.  Great!

Visibility: Cloudy with periods of sun.
Snow: 14cm
Piste Condition: Powder.
Wind: Moderate.
Temperature: +2 at the base to -8.
Crowding: Moderate.
Lift Lines: Moderate.

I rode around the mountain for a while today, all over the place.  There was a lot of powder around but it was really mogully and choppy.  I found a new gladded run called 'unsanctioned' which proved to be a bit dangerous.  It's down near the Garbonzo chair.  There was a lot of big holes in the snow, and one of them really caught me out and I slammed onto the other side of the thing!  No damage though.

I eventually ended up over on the Harmony chair.  From there I found this really nice and varied run down, that also included a cool drop jump.  Only about a board and two thirds (so about 250cm) of a drop, but challenging for someone like me.  The run was straight down 'Little Whistler', over 'Pika's Traverse and on to 'Back Bowl' and 'Die hard' ending up on the 'G.S.'. basically, keep to the left of the chair on the way down.  I did this run for practically all of the afternoon.

For the last run, I headed on down over the 'Saddle' and managed to get one of the last chairs on the Peak chair.  I rode on over through the 'bagel bowl' and down through my favourite 'gladded gulley'.  Managed to get out of the gullygully before it gets too knarly, and made it over onto the 'Peak to Creek'.  It was quite mogulled but worth the effort.

Visibility: Everything from blue bird, to zero visibility.
Snow: 4cm.  However, it snowed virtually all day!
Piste Condition: Powder.
Wind: Moderate.
Temperature: +2 at the base to -8.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Moderate.

It snowed through the day, and meant that the people left the mountain early.  However, it was snowing that hard, that every trip around my tracks were covered, and so had fresh tracks each day.

I arranged with Emma and Calvin that again today we were going to make the most of the snow and do another Fresh Tracks.  It was their last day on the snow too, before heading back to the UK.  So once again I had to get up at before 06:00 in the morning.  *ugh*

We got up to the roundhouse and had breakfast.  However, this time we also took some biscuits and muffins to eat later before heading out.

Today our plans were to do some riding on Whistler mountain before heading on over to Blackcomb.  I showed them the Bagel Bowl, with a drop in at the bottom into a fantastic gladded 'gully', which is like an amazing boarder cross track.  However it has a few holes that you have to watch out for, as some of them are huge.  I also showed them a nice tree run down from the top of Emerald which takes you down to Harmony chair.

After that we took Olympic run down to go to Blackcomb mountain.  We headed on straight up to the Glacier Bowl, where we hiked to the top of the ridge.  The ridge looks down over to 7'th heaven and into the bowl.  Calvin took a good line down and got some nice air off the wind lip.

After that we headed on around and actually did 7'th heaven.  Calvin managed to find some sweet lines which involved a few good jumps and drops. We went back up 7'th heaven and this time, I showed them how to get on over to the 'Secret Bowl'.  There was still a lot of powder in here, but it was a bit tracked out.  From here we headed on down Pakalolo.  This wasn't a great idea, as it was complete and utterly mogulled out.  Still we did our best, and headed on over to the left and down some more trees and jumps.

We stopped in the Crystal lodge and had a chick drink and eat our cakes from breakfast this morning.

After that, the only real chair that we haven't done yet was the Crystal Chair.  We headed on up this, and rode switch practically all the way down.  We rode all the way down to the mid station.

We wanted to do the tubing.  It didn't look all that much to be honest.  They didn't look like they were going fast or spinning much.  How wrong I was.  You went so fast that you did catch air, and I spun so fast that I couldn't hold my legs in!  We did that for the full hour, before heading down and heading to the Garibaldi Lift Company for a beer!

Visibility: Cloudy with periods of sun.
Snow: 11cm
Piste Condition: Light powder.
Wind: Moderate.
Temperature: +2 at the base to -8.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Visibility: Cloudy.
Snow: 3cm
Piste Condition: Light powder.
Wind: Moderate to Strong.
Temperature: +2 at the base to -8.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Well, the weatehr reports are back.  I've returned from the UK, and should be here until the end of the season or until the snow run's out.  What ever is sooner.

An old friend, Emma was in Whistler this week with her boyfriend Calvin.  Last night on my long and exhausting travel back to Whistler, I managed to arrange that we would all meet up in the morning and do the Fresh-Tracks option.  I didn't get to bed until after 01:00 and had to get up at 05:40 in order to get ready for the Fresh-Tracks and meet up with Emma and Calvin.  I got the right bus and Emma and Calvin got on the same bus.

We got chatting and catching up on everything since the last time we met up (which was Morzine last winter).  They got their fast tracks tickets, but I already had mine as i bought a load when they were 2-4-1!

The all you can eat breakfast at the roundhouse is really good value, and we all made sure that we had our fill.  Once they opened up the runs, we all headed off and started off with taking some runs down to the Emerald chair.  The conditions of the piste was fantastic and really good.  You could really speed down the slopes and stay in perfect control.

Once the Harmony chair opened up, I took the Emma and Calvin on over to the Flute bowl.  The hike was well worth it as there was so much powder available in the bowl.  After that we did some more runs over the Harmony ridge.  We didn't do lunch, but we did stop at the tea house at the top of the Harmony ridge for a hot chocolate.  This was a really good hot chocolate and I recommend that people give it a try!

Emma and Calvin had to call it an early day as they had a Zip-Trek event to do at 15:15.  So, we headed on down into the village and had another hot chocolate, and I also had a Pan Au Chocolate!

The trip back to Whistler got off to a good start.  My good friend MDO and his partner Sally let me stay over in their house in London.  Therefore it should be a relatively easy task to get to Heathrow airport.

Myself and MDO started the morning off really lazy like.  We went and had some breakfast just down the road, before setting off.  The tube ride was fine and I arrived at the airport with plenty of time to go.  When I arrived they weren't even calling my flight in for check-in.  So I bummed around in the airport for a while.

Eventually they opened up check-in.  Man their was a huge line to get in there.  After an age I managed to get checked in, and went to go through security.  Hmm.  Another huge line.  That was stage one security, there was another huge line to actually go through security.  I got the full treatment by security.  As I was carrying a laptop, I had to prove that it worked.  I had to take off my shoes and my belt.  My bag was given a swab!

I got through that I thought that I had packed up everything and retrieved it all.  I was wrong however.  I somehow didn't pick up my belt, but I didn't even notice that until I was actually on the flight!  Oh well.

I had a mooch around the duty-free, as I wanted to have a look into getting a slimline camera.  None took my fancy so I didn't buy one.  All I did buy was a big bottle of Vodka.

I got onto the flight with BA really easy.  However there was a delay in taking off, so we started off with being about 30 minutes late.  Flight was uneventful, apart from there was lots of turbulence.  I really like turbulence, and yet I do not travel well on road based transport.  Funny that!

As we arrived at Vancouver we went in to the approach and had to abort close to the runway as the aircraft in front had a small 'incident' which meant that the runway needed to be checked for debris.  That added another 40 minutes to the already delayed flight.

When we got off the flight, there was another huge line and delay getting through passport control.  Given that I was tired at this stage it took a real long time to get through.  I really hate lines and wasting my time waiting!

Needless to say, I missed my bus transfer.  However the company, Perimeter is very good about it and put me (and everyone else who were delayed) on the next bus.  I was supposed to get the 19:30 bus, but ended up having to get the 21:00!  The bus was as always uneventful, apart from yet another delay by roadworks.  I didn't manage to get back to the house in Whistler until midnight!  *Ugh*  Should have arrived at 22:30!  All I did was have a quick shower and get my stuff together for the Fresh Tracks tomorrow morning!