http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , Canada , British Columbia , Fernie en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:25:44 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:25:44 UTC Once again I need to be beaten for slacking off again in terms of Blog updates. Anne and I are still in Fernie but sadly today is our last day Tomorrow we leave for 3 months in Scotland prior to heading to the Balkans. Fernie has been our home for the last 18 months and whilst we are sad to go we are excited about our next adventure.We have had a terrific time over the last 3 months since our http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-350097.html We loved Banff but we were excited to continue on our roadtrip so after getting a quick coffee in the morning we continued on our way to Fernie. The drive was nice lots of different scenery compared to what we have seen so far there was ofcourse mountains but there were lots of farm land and a couple of massive lakes. But the highlight would of had to of been driving up to a grey wolf standing http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-338716.html Hi to all.It seems like it's been forever since we last made an update. Apologies to all who like to see what we are up to. We have had a lot of lazy summer days here. High temperatures for the last 2 months but that's all about to change Summer here lasts only about 2 months before cooler temperatures set in. Anne has continued to slave away at the Salvation Army and both of us have been hitt http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-312988.html YipeePhotos finally Feast yer peepersWell well. Its been a very very long time since Ive posted. But here they are here I am and wow am I having a really great time. Such a great time Im actually out of time.. but I should have just enough to outline our route.From Penticton where my last pictured post was sent in we rode North to Kelowna and then back south through Penticton to Osoy http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-312237.html Another day in paradise. We started out from a drizzly Castlegar on the 1st day of their Sunfest and headed up to Nelson hippyski town which is actually pretty neat...lots of cool shops read 'outdoor gear' and cafes. From there we went along the shores of Kootenay Lake and Samuel had his first ferry ride. The road was very windy but lots of very nice houses to gawk at. At Gray Creek we a http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-284580.html The last time I posted Anne and I were happily skiing our asses off and enjoying Christmas. Wow. That was a long time ago Now it's Spring and all the snow has disappeared from town and is starting to leave the mountains. It's bittersweet no more skiing but now I get to start enjoying the beautiful trails again on my runs. Bitumen can get so boring. Also I'd like to officially state that I http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-280083.html What a season we had Fernie. We had over 10 metres of snow It was unreal with so many powder days and heaps of them over 30cm. One week in early February everyday was a powder day with one of them being 44cmhellipout of control Mind you on that same day it was pretty cold nearly 40 C with wind chill. Though when there is that much powder I donrsquot think anything would have kept us http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-275243.html Hey y'allI know I know but things have been a little hectic around here these last few weeks. The season went from casually ripping up the slopes and drinking beer to full on revising and practicing. It's been like Snowboard University. I'll even go so far as to say that a little of the same kinda stress from my Uni days was present before exam day but more of that in a bit.So week 8 and we a http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-263317.html Yep we passedOk so how exciting is that we both passed our Level 1rsquos Yay First exam done one more to go.So 2 months since the last blog. I know rubbish but believe me this riding every day is exhausting. It really is You try the equivalent of 7 hours a day in the gym and see if you can stay awake past 9pm I certainly canrsquot Ok so no real excuse but we truly have been busy.In http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-259493.html Hi everyoneFirst of all how shocking that we haven't blogged for so long It is a good idea when you first set one up but finding the time to write them is quite difficult.Well i can say that we are both Level 1 snowboard instructors having passed our 3 day assessment in week 5. Sarah has gone on to study for her Level 2 while I have decided to concentrate on my own riding and to do the 'AMP' c http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-256853.html You know you'd think that the longer I stay here and the more I learn from these pro's the better my riding gets and the more seriously I take this snowboarding lark. But no my friends. It seems that as my riding gets better the more I am expected to ride whilst hindered by big silly outfits and heavy gold chains.Just when we thought we were safe from dressing up and making tits of ourselves on http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-254499.html As I write this I've just received an email from my little sister Helen. My nephew Will was discovered the other day bouncing on the bed with his arms outstretched calling himself Uncle Pauly and pretending to snowboard. He is two years old. I tell you that's enough to weaken the eyes of any super cool season hardened international playboy Snowboard Instructor. I now feel as though I owe it http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-252527.html I PASSEDFive weeks in and the fools have given me a license to teach people how to snowboard YEAH BABY But as rewarding as passing Level 1 is I'm bloody glad it's over. No matter how confident you think your riding and teaching is you just never know. The weather really helped it stopped snowing and the sun has been beating down for the passed few days perfect. So the week went roughly l http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-249436.html What do you mean this isn't a holidayMmm. A month in now and things are getting a little more serious.Over the past few weeks it's all been about improving our riding feeling comfortable down pretty much any terrain because in order to be instructors we naturally need to be a certain standard to teach. And now it's less about the jumps and carving and concentrating more about the teaching http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-247372.html Hi guysIt's been a great week and we are enjoying a relaxing weekend. Thursday was a great day for boarding with fantastic sunny weather but not so much as to melt the snow. We both started the day with our private lesson and continued practised what we had learned for the rest of the day. The evening entertainment was tobogganing for Valentine's Day. This meant going down the nursery slope in http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-247034.html Hi again peepsDays seem to be flying by now and blog messages are becoming less frequent. We are into week 4 now and we have another new instructor tall Paul who is tall strangely enough and have a ginger handlebar moustache and a mullet even crazier he is only 22 He is a fab teacher and a great laugh our lessons are interspersed with Jim Carey impressions movie quotes hill billy accents http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-245740.html It's been a while and apologies to all those that are using the blog to keep across our comings and goings. Truthfully Anne and I have settled into our new routines nicely with the pace of Fernie lifestyle exerting it's influence over the speed at which we accomplish activities. It's like our pace is as equally influenced by sub zero temperatures as are water molecules. It's above zero today http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-245302.html Fernie BC What a great powder week http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-245006.html Well it's finally happened and I am in agony.You hear of serious injuries here everyday it's just part of the super hard core extreme sport of snowboarding man. Our instructors are constantly comparing injuries in the bar over pitchers of beer snapped collar bones shattered knees various operations on joints and muscles. And now I can now hold my head high as I impress my instructors with t http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-244232.html Hi guysIt's a poor show but it's been a while since we've written esp. from me adam We finished our week of Pow on good form with instructor Glen with the usual Thirsty Thursday drinks in the resort Griz bar. This was followed by a lift home by Glen in his huge truck doing doughnuts in the car park in the snow The weekend was full with an avalanche safety course the first day being class ba http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-243344.html At last Temperatures are now a positively boiling 16C. For the fist time I walked to the local bar without wearing a face mask.But despite the Caribbean like temperatures the local snowdragon is still spreading deep fluffy snow over the whole area and we're now up to about a metre in our back garden our mini kicker park has well and truly disappearedWeek 2 and my legs are still working. M http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-241892.html Hello allAs you can see from the title the powder has arrived and it just keeps coming. We have a new instructor this week Glenn. And with 2 Adams in my class there are plenty of opporutunities for talking about Adam and Glen as if I was at home. Glenn has a different teaching style to Jay which basically involves finding sheer cliffs covered in powder and shooting down them at speed. This resu http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-240902.html Hi Last night it snowed 30cms so today has been our first big powder day or Pow day as they say here. Yesterday was Australia day and there was a bit of a party on the hill. Lots of people in costume on the slopes and the cardboard derby which was pretty funny to watch. Had a yummy Amarula hot chocolate at the end of the day in the Griz bar and then went for dinner with a bunch of guys to Edge o http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-240120.html Finally A spare few minutes to myselfSorry for the delay in emailing but it's honestly been non stop since I got here.Firstly a massive massive thank you for my bionic watch Canadian cash AMAZINGLY flattering video cheers Andy and especially ESPECIALLY that card. It is quite simply a work of genius and should be in some kind of design book. Seriously the time and effort that has gone http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-240105.html Howdy Sorry we've not written for a couple of days. Last lesson of the week was on Thursday and the weather was as cold as ever. Got another frostbitten nose and got very chilly toes. Have found the wonders of toe warmers which you can stick to your socks to keep your toes cosy they are amazing. Spent half of our lesson learning to ride switch fakie your back foot forwards which is not at al http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-239717.html Hello againToday was the second on the mountain and it was just as fun and just as cold as the first. We are being properly instructed on our technique now that our snow legs are back and we've been taken back to basics. We have been looking at our set up and starting to make adjustments and feel the difference it makes to our riding. I can really see how we are going to move on loads during our http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-238862.html Hi there Sarah here Today was the first day on the mountain and it was ace. The terrain here is really varied and there seems to be loads of places to explore. Great groomed runs for speed sweet tracks between the trees and some seriously steep looking bowls just waiting for the next drop of powder. It was damned cold though about minus 18 up the mountain today and I started losing all feeling http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-238544.html What a week Being unemployed is every so busy But amongst all the riding we managed to squeeze in a little road trip travelling over 1000kms 700m through the beautiful Kootenay and Banff National Parks. It started at 4am last Monday. Yep very early start. Richard had picked up our little car a Neon Chrysler the night before so very sleepily we set off. Rich was concentrating on the da http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-238245.html After a long flight and a 4 hr bus journey we arrived in Fernie to our home for the next 11 and a bit weeks. One thing to mention more than anything is how cold it is here minus 30 degrees is new to us and will be a challenge acclimatisingJan 21st was a relaxing day viewing the lodge walking around town getting our ski passes and meeting new people. We are excited about getting on our boards http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-238237.html Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year. We spent Christmas Eve having a few drinks at the pub after work and then Christmas Day we had a bit of a sleep in and enjoyed opening our pressies from family. Instead of going boarding we hit the hot tub at our place with another couple Emma and Brent. We enjoyed relaxing in there for a few hours drinking our traditional Swedish Christmas Dri http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Fernie/blog-236843.html