MasterCyl

Lazed around the hotel for the afternoon before heading out the Coronet Peak for some night skiing. It was great, absolutley great, breifly met up with Mim and her crew before hitting the slopes with James and Emma. Unfortunately they were pretty sore and headed back on the 7pm bus. Unable to find the others I bean running the mountain on my own and it was great. Did some basic work on the learner slope, and then managed decided to try a short blue run. Coupla stacks later I made it to the bottom, once I got a taste for a steeper better run there was no going back.

Once comfortable with the little blue run, I went to the top of the mountain… alone. It was a tough run a realy long intermediate blue run. I did it slowly carefully avoiding the open edge running into the unlit black runs. Made it down with only a few issues and one massive slide over an icy section where I could get any grip. Otherwise a very rewarding run and am very happy I managed to give it ago.

As my bus left after the others I caught them at the bottom and saw them off the mountain. Had a chat to the outdoor DJ before finishing with a few more runs and as my last bus was due, jumped on and headed home, felt very tired at this point.

Got back and found Franger to be unwell, watched a few movies, ate a massive tub of strawberry yogurt then went to bed.

Hit up the the Shotover for some wild fun and wasn’t dissapointed.

We started the day on the Shotover Jet, I didn’t bring a beanie or sunnies and my cheeks froze as the icy wind rushed pasted us racing through the Shotover Canyon Narrowly missing  rocks, trees, and debris in the river, all while spinning 360′s and sliding all over the place.

Afterwards grabbed a "Big Al" Fergberger for lunch and needless to say I didn’t need dinner, the thing was a big as my head.

Will update this with a pics during the next post session to indicate the szie of the Big Al.

Another 6:30AM start, for Josh, James and myself, but much rejoicing was had with more familiar faces.

Lucky for us as our groups were being sorted I found a short young blonde lady, by pure chance I saw Mim (a very good friend of my girlfriend) in the other group a few requests later and she was able to join us for the days lessons. The early morning lesson really let us capitalise on the previous days efforts we were now turning and really making headway down the mountain. It was also great to chat to Mim and catch up.

During lunch I managed to catch up with Mim’s crew, Kirsten, Helena, Jo, and a few other’s I didn’t really know. Was a good time of laughter and fun. But as time marched on our next lesson beckoned. This became my undoing.

The previous instructor after examining my style recommended I change to "Goofy" footing on the snow board, meaning the lead foot down the mountain would now change from my left to my right. I really strugled with the change and managed a fair few decent stacks leaving my ass sore and my hand a little tender from a complete forward rolling stack. Licking my wounds I left the mountain on the last bus, but not before arranging to meet with Mim/Kirsten and crew at Winnies Gourmet Pizza place.

We had MANY drinks and the pizza was fantastic, the other notable thing about Winnies is periodically the roof opens up to reveal the night sky and cool the place down, it’s a hot bar. As Mim and crew walked in I grabbed Mim randomly and pulled her to one side worrying her friends until they realised it was me. So we partied on through the night with Mim and Kirsten as their other friends were tired and left shortly after arriving. Kirsten let me send two SMS’s to Vikki, the first contact I had made since I left. Shortly after this a number of inappropriate messages were sent to Kirsten’s new suitor finshing with a laugh and a much needed save of face on her part. Thats brings me to now, a little tipsy and alot tired. Peace Out.

Woke up early, and as Franger has pointed out 6:30AM is NOT a holiday wake up time especially in 4 degrees weather. Grabbed a Snowboard and sucked up some humbleness.

Snowboarding while simple in nature hurts a bit, specifically the buttocks. We had a quick ride before our first lesson and managed to stumble to the bottom of the beginners slope. Our instructor Phil was good and we progressed well. It seems the basics are the key, but getting them right requires a mix of confidence and skill/practice. Franger… well… Franer sucked at snowboarding, seems the whole fixed feet thing jst threw him. At the end of the day he declined his second lesson and went home early and hs regrets regarding his decision, oh well. The rest of progress steadily to the point where we could turn poorly but could end up roughly where we wanted to be. This was a trying but good day.

Finshed with a Ski Express night where whilst there were many prizes to be won we lacked the luck to win any of them. Capping the night with some indian and another round of poker, we went to bed all groaning with each injury we had earned during the day.