Banff 11-week instructor course diary – Week 9
Here are the some of NONSTOP Banff’s edited highlights from Gavin Morton, with no gossip included whatsoever…
On the hill
Monday morning started slowly as a number of the group were suffering from helping Canada celebrate their well deserved ice hockey gold medal and doing such an excellent job of hosting the 2010 winter Olympics. Johnny had his snowboard group in a spin all week with notable achievements from Matt Pratt landing his first 360 on the Standish run and Martin hitting his first 720 (360 in the air and the remaining 360 on his stomach). Johnny will be thrilled to learn that Martin’s dedication to rotating and spinning had him practicing energetically until the early hours of Friday morning on Hoodoos’ dance floor.
Josh opened his medium kicker account at Norquay on Wednesday and Gavin T left a Gavin T shaped imprint on a large kicker landing at Lake Louise. Brendan’s incredible rubber body continued to defy both the laws of gravity and human anatomy by remaining in one piece despite some serious punishment after going for 5s off pretty much every jump on the mountain. Goth Andy’s highlight of the week was Brian taking him up the Poma. Andy reciprocated by performing a textbook Tomahawk in the Lake Louise back bowls, and then after a liquid lunch with Colorado, fell before hitting the lip of a gentle carve out and climaxed by setting the Lake Louise record for the slowest attempt at a medium kicker.
The snowboard group continue to miss Andy M as a result of him preferring to spend quality time in Banff hospital’s Orthopaedics section as opposed to on the hill. The group riding has certainly slowed down in his absence.
Eva ‘the carving machine’ Crosby demonstrated her obstacle avoidance is below Level 2 standard after being squarely hit by a snowball from a snowboarding group and failing to dodge a rock which has left her skis resembling the shape of her native Swedish coastline. After both events she was feeling rough…rough…rough.
As a result of the Wednesday snowboard video analysis session, the technique of traversing the piste on the edge of a board has now been renamed doing a ‘Euro Chris’ after his magnificent display. On the same session Sam elected to ‘Euro Chris’ over moguls and showed us some Level 2 above standard rag dolling whereas Nick C decided to see if there really was a surprise in the woods, today.
Snowboard instructor Brian gave his group a lesson in terrain management by riding into a sign that was in the middle of a flat groomed section, the only obstacle within sight, and being a green run marker – it was basically unavoidable.
Dave, with a broken knee, came for a final lunch on the hill before heading back to the UK early and, as a result, managed to clock more time on the hill in the week than the combined efforts of Ant, Kate and Gemma.
Off the hill
Monday night was the hockey match Canada has been waiting to see all year – street hockey with the skiers taking on the snowboarders in the Voyager Inns car park for a coveted prize of a beer. Chris for the snowboarders and Ed ‘Luongo’ for the skiers both put their bodies on the line goaltending. Mark (snowboard instructor ) managed to hit Mark (ski instructor) in the eye with the puck as the snowboarders cruised to a convincing 10 – 9 victory. Ash’s handbag, lipstick, toys and dummy haven’t been seen since. Other weekly extra-curricular sporting activity highlights for the week included the ongoing Gavin M and Ant squash championship at the gym, the indoor football with the 11 week NONSTOP 5 a side team beating the 3 week NONSTOP team and a team of lift staff from Sunshine. On a more obscure sporting theme Ste showed us his prowess in big game hunting by successfully trapping one of Banff’s larger inhabitants on the Hoodoos dance floor.
Ninja Chris utilised his Shaolin monk skills by frequently disappearing from the Voy at night and only re-appearing at breakfast. His roommate Army James demonstrated that hand / eye coordination wasn’t a requisite for a successful 22 year career in the military by playing two games of table football, not managing to score one goal out of a possible sixteen and twice having to walking around the table in the Devil’s Gap with his trousers around his ankles.
Biggles and Badger continued their season long quest for 30 Jaggers in an evening by trying to consume 20 in a very appropriately named ‘power hour’ at the Voy. After such focused training Biggles was later seen only briefly in the Devil’s Gap and then returned to the Voy to redecorate his bathroom. It was the first time Biggles hadn’t been seen smiling all season; we only hope all of this committed effort will pay off by the end of the season with him reaching his target.
Finally there were a couple of strong performances put in week 9 for the much vaunted Non-Stop end of season awards. Kate and Gemma are strong contenders for the Rip Van Winkle award for helping a number of the Voyager’s residents enjoy a good night’s sleep on Wednesday after visiting Hoodoos. Competition also heated up between Ant and Gavin S for the Kofi Annan sponsored International Peacekeeper of the Season award.
Fernie weekend
As if that wasn’t enough – half the group travelled to Fernie for a weekend of fancy dress, socialising and Cat skiing. George did a great job at the hot springs stop off by hiring a 1920s all-in-one bathing costume. Around 10 other fashion divas followed his lead and a number of local heads were turned as the party arrived in the hot pool dressed as a Grecian wrestling team, but with much better physiques. After a particularly testosterone fuelled entrance, the team were quick to perform some Olympic standard synchronised swimming, a scene from Dirty Dancing and Andy F posing for the next Dale Winton calendar.
Stuuie, our very own Dian Fossey, could have taken a trip to Rwanda for the price of his gorilla suit, however his return on investment was incredibly. Badger, dressed as Nacho Libre, did a good job in entertaining the children the hill while Stuuie was being photographed by most of Fernie’s older female population.
Ski instructors Mark and Mike enjoyed a couple of leisurely evening drinks in Royals with the group. Mark failed to use his race coaching background by going off a little too quickly and having to spend some quality time on the walk back resting his head on the pavement and reminding himself, and the rest of the party, what it was that he had, had to drink. On the same walk back Gavin S also got himself into a bit of a spin and was limping the following morning after coming off second best to a two foot high chain fence – seven times.
The Cat skiing on Sunday more than lived up to its expectations with a day of fresh tracks, deep powder, well spaced trees and nobody else around for miles upon miles. It really was a highlight of the Non-Stop experience so far.
Final word
It is genuinely difficult to surmise the NONSTOP experience as it is continues to exceed all expectations in terms of improving your ability on the hill, fantastic group banter and the uniquely warm Canadian hospitality. Emily and the teaching faculty deserve recognition for doing such a sterling job of looking after the group and keeping everybody challenged, safe and feeling that they are part of a very special community.
So what can top week 9? Activities on the agenda for week 10 include more 1:1 private lessons, outdoor camping in Golden, two birthdays, a trip to the Calgary Olympic Park (halfpipe riding), a forecast of snow and final Level 2 prep. Given the current form of the group, there should be little to report in next week’s blog.
Gavin M
