Allee

The locals in Invermere are pretty hot under the collar on this one, but from what I've read the first stages of planning consent have already gone through. Should be a nice resort if they get it off the ground.

I hiked the Queen Charlotte Track in New Zealand a few years ago. At 35 I was the youngest, my good friend Lyn at 51 was the second youngest, everyone else was in their 60's (most of them were retired). What an inspiring bunch of people. They all worked full time on the farm or played tennis five days a week or volunteered in faraway places, and were all as fit as fiddles. They could also drink like fish (the bar bills each night were unreal). A few years prior I'd hiked around the Tarawera crater (Tarawera was one the world's biggest volcanic explosions, and created a 17km chasm and a huge lake in the middle of New Zealand) and my guide was a Maori (native) man called Charlie, who was 74, and kicked my butt all over the mountain. The Ulysses Club in NZ, a group of ragey old bikers that terrorise the population with beer and bike runs, have as their patch "Grow Old Disgracefully" and they do! I shared a lift last year with a guy who would have been 60 if he was a day, on skis, and when he got off I watched him run down the hill. He was the most beautiful skier I'd ever seen, and I would have sworn only half his age from the way he moved. It certainly makes you think ... when I get old, I want to be just like that!

I've had awesome conditions in Banff in mid May. From mid April, you can head up to Sunshine, board all day on good snow, catch the free concert (some top Canadian bands), sit in the sunshine and drink tequila. Catch the gondola back down cos you're too trashed to board down the ski out! Life don't get much better.

C, you should have ridden it at WCS. Except as I remember it, we couldn't prise that Madd 170 offa your feet ...:) Your RT will sulk if you're not careful.

It's wide when you're used to a 19cm waist on a SL board! Kind of like trying to steer a Mack truck after learning to drive in a Ferrari! And I am just a skinny girl ... I'm sure Shred gave it a much better workout (although Steph was seen to punt it around the hill ...)

It's a big fatboy. I rode it for a morning at Stratton and it was way too much grunt for my poor little 150lb girl legs. I think the waist measure on it is 23? Steph rode it as well, I think her impression was much the same... It bites a carve like you wouldn't believe. though ... most of the time I was struggling to pull it out.

D-Sub, you're very persuasive. :) Neil, that's pretty tough on Nakiska! I know some people here who say the same thing, but I'm not good enough, or even really inclined, to ride bumps, and I've had some fabulous days at Nakiska just crusing the blues. The grooming is exemplary. And I've never been there when the weather's been bad either ... strange ... Different strokes for different folks. But I would like to hear what you think of Taynton.

Neil, traffic choked is all relative. I come from Auckland and I love Calgary traffic - but then, I don't have to travel on any of the "bad" routes to get to work. Compared to some of the cities I've been in (Athens and Lima, Peru, both of which I thought I was going to die in), I don't complain about Calgary's traffic! (Looks like you're going to luck in at Panorama too ... more snow in the forecast there. I really hope that the conditions are good for your vacation as it's a great hill when there's snow ... I'm guessin' you'll be over the back in Taynton :) ) D-Sub, I had one of those married things ... left him in New Zealand ... don't miss him either!

than Calgary in the winter. D-Sub, I moved here for the same reasons you moved to Bend, and I have yet to regret it. If you're really keen there are 8 excellent hills in what I consider "day trip" territory (4 hrs drive) but four of them are within 2 hours. The city itself has a thriving economy, and a pleasant environment even in the winter ... we get the "chinooks" frequently so it can go from -30 to 0 literally in a day. It doesn't seem to stay really cold for long stretches like so many other places here. Long hot summers, lots of green space, mountains on the doorstep, fantastic national parks within easy driving. What else could you want? People think I'm mad for leaving New Zealand, but I'm in no hurry to go home. :)

Sunshine's a really nice crusing hill.I love that at the end of the day, you can ride all the way up to the top of Continental Divide, and then go without stopping until you hit the carpark about 20 mins later. Luv that ski-out. And the snow there is always incredible, being all natural and pretty high up (7400 ft at the village). I've been there in mid May when it's been as good as February, and the hill has been empty. I'm picking she'll be jumping this weekend though ... Louise is still my fave, but further to drive, and they're not having the best season this year.

Skategoat, if you'd waited one more weekend ... Sunshine got nearly 70cm over the last weekend and today is bluebird but still a bit cold. Nakiska got 54 cm, although Louise only got 30-something. I'm thinking that with the temps due to come back to the +ves later this week, that I NEED to be out there this weekend. Sunshine Coast, here I come (and I have a free day on my Sunshine card too ... PRIMO!!) All smiley now!! :p

Barry, I have an Ernie on my team!!! Too funny.

Definitely 10 pin. And I definitely need more beer. Or if it's a bad night, more tequila. Thank God that we start at 6.30 and happy hour lasts until 7.

I'm with Maciek. Bowling is cool. I bowl league every Friday (strictly beer league ... 160 average).

Big White has been done to death on a couple of previous threads ... do a search on the forum and you should find them pretty quick.

Now that I think about it, I think I have a pair of those at home. They're really old but they might be the same. Let me check tonight and I'll let you know.

Scott, it sounds like you're having a really good time and progressing along quite well. But when you get your alpine gear, I'd suggest travelling that weekend and getting a lesson from a good instructor who knows what they're doing. Before you do ANYTHING else. I know from experience that you can spend hours, days, months, hacking around by yourself and getting more and more frustrated and no better. Or you can spend a bit of dosh and a couple of hours with an instructor, and be ahead of the game. I've boarded on and off (very on and off - like 5 days a year, and then three years off) for about six years, and only ever on alpine gear. After moving to Canada and getting 10 days in my first season, and 15 last season, I considered I was finally getting better, but couldn't get the carve thing happening all that well. I got Raichle boots to replace my ski boots at the end of last season, and for the last 3 days I was just at sixes and sevens trying to get the hang of them. I went to Stratton for the girls session at the beginning of Jan and spent about 1 1/2 hrs with Eric Brammer over 2 days. And that was all it took to take me from screaming frustration to actually carving turns with style. What I learnt in those 2 days has made all the difference to the three days of riding that I've done since, and I feel that as a result I've improved probably 100% from where I was at the end of last season. I kmow that lots of people will probably back me up on this one. Do it. And soon.

And if so, are any of the locals going to take video? Because I would LOVE to see it.

I've weight trained for 17 years (six as a competitive bodybuilder) and I've never been so fit and athletic as I was when I was kickboxing for 2 years. It's fun too, I'd still be doing it if I didn't have cortisone in both elbows as a result.

there's a few of us girls here, and we all find the guys are great. Good luck with the carve, happy trails!

"To me that philosophy is not compatible with using a pair of snowblades to hack your way down the hill and declaring yourself expert." Hee hee. The only thing I'm expert on with snowblades ... is falling on my ass. But it's still fun. :)

I love my blades. They might look silly, but they are the best thing for if you just want to switch your brain off and go play. And I have ALWAYS wanted to try a snowbike. And one of those lie down frontwards polystyrene skeleton things - they have them for sale in the local ski shop for $59.00 and they look like a BLAST. I might have to buy one so I can race the local kids down the ridge at the back of the park. Theye're all toys. Who cares how ya look as long as ya havin' fun.:p

I'd never skied until this weekend, I always figured that a snowboard had to be easier to learn than all them sticks and poles (wrong!!!). But I went for my first lesson on a blue/green run under lights at Kimberley last weekend, and I had a a total blast. To the point that I might even do it again. I can't see that I'll be retiring the board any time soon, but ... Is that wrong?

... at least you can always have fun in the hot pools. Where are you staying? I stayed at Taynton Lodge last time, it was pretty nice ... be interesting to see what you think of your digs. I'd like to get to Panorama this season.

I'm disgusted.