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Published: April 25th 2009
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Early morning groomer.
Half an hour 'till the lifts open on a bluebird day. Time to enjoy the silence. So after 97 days officially on the snow, the season has come to a slushy end. And it's absolutely flown by.
In the past few weeks we've had the Mt Washington Invitational, a one off event where invited riders and skiers from around the region hit a huge purpose built jump as the sun set.
We've had the obligatory dressing up days - "Tight and Bright"; "Moustache and Jeans" (no doubt those pics are on Facebook somewhere. Oh joy.)
We've been Cross country skiing, taking in the beauty of Strathcona National Park.
And we've pinched ourselves each day, amazed that we were actually being payed to be here.
One particular highlight of the season, for me personally, was the CSF (Canadian Snowboard Federation) Freestyle Coaching Course.
I already have a basic Park Instructor cert, but that just means I'm qualified to take a beginner into the freestyle park and show them the basics. This course on the other hand is designed to push the rider, to take them out of their comfort zone, and that's what I really needed. Some of the jumps here are bloody big and frankly scare the crap out of me.
First Run!
Mike and Tom enjoy the privilege that is first run at 8.30 each morning. Time to enjoy those freshly groomed runs! But they are a big part of snowboarding, and as a snowboard instructor I have to be able to hit them comfortably.
So for three days myself and my fellow "park rats" were assessed in terms of our riding and our experience in the park, and then given particular tricks to teach. Sure I'd done a few spins here and there - the odd 180 off a cat track when the snow's nice and soft. But now I was to teach a front side 360 off a large kicker in the park.
At first I just couldn't imagine spinning off these jumps. At 38 my bones have gone from being soft rubber to being crumbly like old wood. It wasn't really the spinning part that I was nervous of, it was more the speed needed to make the landing. But amazingly, as the size of the jumps increased, so did my confidence. So on the final day, with the encouragement of my fellow riders fading behind me, I straight lined into a large jump named "Marge".
With the fabric of my jacket flapping in the wind, I set my heel edge, bent my legs and launched myself
Baked!
I wait eagerly to see if the latest batch of cookies are given the thumbs up by the missis... into the air. After spinning through the air for 25 feet I planted both feet firmly on the down slope and rode off, checking myself. Incredibly, I'd landed my first ever big 360 and ridden away unscathed. And I can honestly say it's both the scariest, and the most thrilling thing I've ever done.
I've since been back to the park a number of times and each time going that little bit bigger, but I've only done that front side 360 off Marge twice since the course. I know I can do it, but it still scares the crap out of me. I really wouldn't like to get it wrong knowing I'm made entirely of driftwood.
Another highlight of the past few weeks was Jake.
Jake was a 15 year old kid from the mainland who'd come over to the mountain with his grandparents. They'd all enrolled on "Ski Week" (which is basically the closest thing our small mountain has to a package holiday), and for a set price you get accommodation, a lift pass for the week, a two hour lesson each day, and two evening meals. And Jake, the poor kid, had me as his
Nordic Sking.
Getting lost as we explore the Strathcona National Park. This run looks a bit familiar however... instructor.
Jake was a pretty good rider to start with, but as the week went on we both found things he had trouble with, and slowly but surely my mate Jake began to relax. His riding improved, he went into the terrain park for the first time, and at last, his teenage hunch disappeared and a big metallic smile appeared on his face. By the last day we were pretty much riding everything the mountain had to offer.
After having so many one hour lessons with strangers, it was a joy to spend a whole week with one person and watch his riding improve. He gave me the biggest buzz when he said he couldn't wait to get home and show his mates his new found skills. I love this job!
And now it's all come to an end.
On the last day of the season I took a six year old out for an hour, watching amazed as he followed me over every bump, jump and tree run. And in the afternoon I took a family of seven who had never snowboarded before, and watched with in awe as all three generations, from little Alice
Sushimon jam night.
A few of the guys entertain us as we tuck into some sushi at a local eatery. who was five, right through to sixty four year old "Grammy", whooped and cheered throughout the lesson.
I'll miss teaching people how to snowboard. Sure there were the bad days, the days when I found myself closing my eyes and biting my lip in frustration. But for every overweight teenager who refused to get up on his own, there was the sixty four year old Grandmother who wanted to snowboard with her grandchild; for every Korean who couldn't speak English and turned up wearing jeans there was a kid like Jake; and for every rainy, crowded afternoon teaching hundreds of school kids, there was the midweek, blue sky powder day when the crowds were at work and the mountain was ours.
So here I am, sat in the living room of our mountain top home watching the snow slowly melt from the trees. The lifts have closed, the crowds have gone back to their normal lives, and most of the other instructors have returned to their own countries.
And now the mountain is silent.
Andrea is worried that now everyone has gone the cougars will come down from the trees, and the bears will emerge from
Winding down.
Enjoying a small beer after work. hibernation. And yeah, it does feel a bit like we're the last people on earth. But there is something wonderful about the solitude. We are alone on our own mountain, surrounded by miles of forest. We go for walks in the evening and build rock sculptures as the sun sets. It is stunning.
Over the next couple of weeks Andrea and I will travel around Vancouver Island - do some surfing in Tofino, maybe do some Kayaking in the Pacific and see if we can spot some whales. And then we'll head back over to the mainland to begin a month long tour of British Columbia. But for the next few days at least, we are in our own world.
And I'll savour every second.
Paul.
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