Brooklyn gave me a heads-up that Olivia was still in Hawaii. A disaster was averted when Soldis’ grandma showed up with her jacket…. Pheww! Finley has a bright new yellow jacket and yellow helmet. Riddley got new goggles for Christmas too. The boisterous gang was out the door at 9:00am sharp. It was a wee bit chilly (-9C) but Ullr was again kind to us with patches of blue sky. Good job by everyone carrying their own equipment without any difficulties. Kids have got lining up at the gondola down pat… and all got skis on by themselves at Raven’s Nest! Our drill for the day was to hold the one pole as if we were riding our bikes. Thank you Axel for lending a pole to Soldis.
We skied behind Raven’s Nest and dropped onto Expressway. Great balance if poles were held with both hands out front. We picked up the pace and did a behind-and-below at the entrance to Dave Murray. I made those that didn’t perform the task properly climb back up and go behind me. Beckett took the class on a speedy run to the Beaver Bench. It was so well hidden in snow, he missed it and stopped at the Garbanzo exit… missing our chance to do some frog hops. :) We headed up the chair and regrouped at the top of Lower Whiskey Jack. It was a little more challenging climbing the left side bank and dropping onto the run through the chopped powder. No problem though if we push the pole into the turn squishing those bananas in our boots. Nice work at a quicker pace to Emerald and good queuing to load chairs.
Regrouping at the light board, I suggested a new challenge: Roundhouse Roll. No hesitation by the team to try something steeper. Beckett and Maleah were off like a shot when I told them there were some nice rollers to the second entrance through the trees. Soldis and Riddley had good face plants in the soft snow. With everybody gathered at the entrance, I showed how to ski across the hill and… 1-2-turn… 1-2- turn, got the camera out then let them all go. I needed 360 vision to keep the kids in frame… we’ll all do better next time!
Back on Upper Whiskey Jack, the side slipping drill was pretty easy after that challenge. Making a left turn at the Chickpea we bounced in and out of the chopped powder on the side of Banana Peel, then skated the road to Orange Peel (holding our poles behind our backs)… a stance and balance drill. All tucked to the entrance of Dave Murray by Pony Trail then through some more chopped powder onto the flats above Bear Cub… more stance and balance work. 360s on the snow getting much better: an edging drill!. Bear Cub jumps at the dog leg were pretty much smoothed out, so just Big-S turns to the ski rack at Raven’s Nest.
Thanks to the lifties being “responsible adults” getting our classes down for 11:15 lunch in the minions building! It was pretty crowded but fed, watered and out the door at 12:00, we were. (Today’s swamp water was orange juice and lemonade).
Our well oiled machine was up the gondola and Red in short order. We did a speedy ski to the Chickpea then did some more wall climbing on Lower Whiskey Jack and regrouped at Emerald. Good work on the speed there, Finley. We skied Olympic and I had the kids exchanging the lead at slow signs to the mid-station Village gondola. I broke out the Swedish Fish on the ride up. Again, excellent job leaving the gondola and putting skis on by the Olympic rings.
A bit of duct tape making a loop on the pole to get little mitts and gloves through.
Roundhouse Roll round two: much better… no splats! Axel was a bit spooked but used side slipping to get himself out of trouble. Good work young guy! We then did “hockey stop” turns to Papoose the into the “shrubbery” above Franz’s and Jimmy’s Joker. No splats through the chicane and dips. Well done all! As we skied the road to the Tree Fort, I pointed out the “Deidre Drop” and the steep pitch next to the Tree Fort. We’ll be doing both of those soon! Kids weren’t complaining about fatigue, their confidence was high … so dropped off the edge of Bear Cub into the Toilet Bowl. A black diamond run!! 1-2 turn.. 1-2 turn to the dog leg at the bottom of Dave Murray… then with the sun on the road back to the gondola I told them all to just play with turns. A great end to challenge packed day.
Next week’s theme is Super Heroes. I’m working on an outfit. There will be no pink tutu for the boys this week. I‘ll save that one for another day… and we’re going to start skiing with two poles. Whoohoo!!!!