We are those guys - Whistler Dec 23

 

Two Evenings

 In spite of Mother Natures attempts to ruin the ski season I managed to get out last week on Tuesday and Thursday evening.   Only 1 chair and 3 trails were open both days.   Tuesdays run was Tranquility and on Thursday it was Smart Alec.   There was lots of man made snow on Thursday mounded up and a blast to ski over and around.  I had a run where I put together a bunch of really nice turns popping off the top of the mounds.   Tuesday I hooked up with Tyler and Patrick then on Thursday it was Patrick , Daryl , Todd and Karl...always great to hook up with friends on the hill.  

Blue - Day 1

 

Went out to Blue Wednesday.

Dropped off my "rock" skies for a tune up  then picked up the 5X7.   Skied the one and only open run Smart Alec for a couple of hours then went back to the shop and sent my POW skies in for a tune up then proceeded to ski for another couple of hours while they were being done.   

Conditions were less then ideal but I didn't care.   They were making snow ,   there were icy patches ,  wet patched and mounds from being skied out ...it was great,  a great workout on the legs.   Now that the season has started its all about keeping the ski legs under me.   

And so it begins

 Started the 2023-2024 season off at Whistler last week skiing Dec 7, 8 and 9.    They are lacking snow but it was still a great trip lucking out on the 3rd day with a pretty heavy snowfall that lasted the entire day.  There was no Alpine or the lower section open so it was  mid mountain piste all the way.  Only a small fraction of runs were open we mostly skied the closed ones ( its OK to do that at Whistler ) .  POW Saturday was nothing short of spectacular what was hard somewhat icy piste turned into soft snow. 

 

 

Videos from my trip to Europe - January 2023

Click here for Switzerland ... directs you to YouTube 

Click here for Italy ... directs you to YouTube 

Whistler 22-23 Stats

 

Monday with Patrick at Blue

 Very good conditions today and not so busy especially because its March Break.   Did 3 solid hours of skiing today loving every minute.   Would have stayed longer but I had to work at 4.  

Thursday Eve at Blue

 The evening skiing is quickly coming to a close so I made an effort to head over to Blue last night hooking up with Tyler as well as doing one run with Lisa , Clair and kids.   Only skied a couple pf hours ,  conditions were fast ,  a little hard piste in places but overall pretty good. 

Whistler February 28 through March 5

 2nd trip to Whistler this year is behind me.   We had amazing conditions top to bottom with colder temperatures making for some really good snow.   Skied with so many friends.  On the first day there was a random meeting with Greg Diamond at the top of 7th Heaven.   Skied with Denies Row,  Doug, Chris, Scott and Emily and met Jason for the first time.   We were staying a little off piste at the Woods.  It was a 5 min bus ride to the Whistler Gondola so no big deal.   There was a fantastic Ski out that ended on the opposite side of the road where we were staying... a great place.   Shot some great video and as is usual Patrick captured the week in photos.  

Wednesday February 23

Meet up with Tyler for a few hours at Blue.    A few cms of snow was laying on top of some nicely groomed trails making for really good conditions.   Used my powder skies ,  totally love these guys as long as there is a wee bit of snow.  They have so much more edge reminding me of the skies back when I started skiing 50 years ago.   The skies push back a little and its easy to catch an edge but overall these are my go to Skies.  

Nice Sunday afternoon / evening.

 

It was another warm weekend ,  snow was so so!   Best run was in the Orchard , 2 nd from last South it had some nice snow on the South side of the run.  Best part of the evening was no one there ... rarely waited more the a few minutes and had lots of solo chair rides up.   There isn't a whole lot of base they may have trouble keeping things going through March ... hope winter shows up soon.  

Skiing in the dark!

 From time to time heading to Blue I will forget to bring something.   Twice in the last decade or two it was the boot making a return to home.   Last night I was out and brought my day goggles ... the ones for bright sunny slopes!    Needless to say I had a tough time skiing and tried to keep as close to the lights as possible.  Hooked up with Tyler last night.   

Europe Instagram Videos

Where did the Snow go?

 Hit Blue for the first time in the new year skiing with Stephan Miklos.   Mother nature has not been very kind.  The base is the smallest  I have ever skied on kudos to the groomers to keep the arty going.   

Boxing Day Blue

 Its been snowing and it was time for my "powder" skis.   Headed to Blue at 3 starting at 4 for a 2.5 hours.  It was a little busy but not as bad as what I was expecting.   Hit the North Glades at Orchard before dark,  shin deep pow!

Europe

 4 days on Piste the first week of January skiing the Dolomites in Italy and the Engadine Valley.