Verbier: as training neared its end, freestyle and freeride lessons beckoned
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:00 am

The first week of the trainees’ BASI Level 2 assessment has flown by, just one more week to go.  While the guys rest up for the weekend, here’s a look back at the off-piste day they enjoyed at the end of their training.  The snow had fallen thickly, enabling some awesome tree skiing:

With snow up the waist in places, it was inevitable that there’d be falls – fortunately the landings were soft.

There was even time for the occasional jump, with the trainees being led by Rasmus from European Snowsport.  Only one brave soul watched Rasmus’ attempted corked backflip with handplant:

and then followed it with an attempted backflip of his own…

but everyone had a go at something, and all had a good time.

What not to (mountain) wear #7
Posted on February 3, 2012 at 8:47 am

Step one: take one perfectly average looking ski outfit.  Step two: add one straggly, vivid red, wilting mohican and glue it to your helmet.  If you have followed those first two steps, take a look at yourself and then throw the ruined helmet into the bin; do not, under any circumstances, wear it onto the mountain.  Wannabe punk fail.

Banff F.T.T.P & Q.R.S & AST1 !!
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 4:11 am

This week the Peak Leaders Banff trainees have been honing their technique & teaching skills.  For the skiers it has been F.T.T.P (fast track to parallel) and for the snowboarders it has been  Q.R.S (quick ride system).

Working on posture – “Am I in centred on my skis?”

Snowploughs as far as the eye can see…..
With both the Level 1 ski and snowboard exams starting next Tuesday everyone is on top of their game and all the hours of training are about to pay off!

Kenji using Andrea to demonstrate on the need to have a strong body position

On Saturday and Sunday the guys on the Big Banff programme had AST1 (avalanche safety training) after a day of theory the Sunday was all about transceiver and probe training and how to dig a snow pit and test the snow structure for stability.

Transceiver search
We have had new snow almost every day and to ski and ride fresh powder has been amazing.

Cameron riding in the powder

Billy J “twinkle in his eyes”  and Andy “anyone coming for a drink” have been this weeks leaders on the Banff apres ski tour. Come to think of it Andy is always the leader of the apres ski tour!
Not only known for their nocturnal habits Andy and Billy J can also ski and ride with style and nothing phases them….. as you can see from them dropping in on the Eagles Gully trail.

Bring on the Level 1!!

What not to (mountain) wear #6
Posted on January 29, 2012 at 9:00 am

There’s nothing wrong with a bright pink ski outfit on the right person, although it’s perhaps not for everyone.  However, add four-inch leather tassels all over the back of the arms, legs and shoulders and it surely shouldn’t be for anyone.  The only rodeo on the mountain should be in the snowpark.  Cowgirl fail.

What not to (mountain) wear #5
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 8:52 am

Helmet and sunglasses combo?  Unlikely to be a fashion success.  Try to style it out as Tom Cruise in Top Gun by matching white helmet to aviator sunglasses?  Chances of fashion success rapidly receding.  Complete outfit with patchwork quilt trousers?  1980s fashion fail.

Banff week 2 – the big chill
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 3:57 am

After the warm weather on week 1 of the course. Mother nature came back with vengeance……. with day time temps of -31 for 3 days running.

In fact for 2 days Sunshine Village could not run the lifts for 2 of the days as it was just toooooo cold.

Most of the team stayed indoors. However, Tony, Natasha and Andrea braved the cold and went to Lake Louise and enjoyed some awesome snow. With wind chill the temp was -47 at the top of the gondola!

Look into my eyes….. it’s cold out there.

With Sunshine Village shivering in the big chill several of the group went to Norquay and had a deserted hill all to themselves

Thursday was 1st Aid training and after a day of learning everything from dealing with a heart attack to someone who has had a stroke the guys all successfully passed the exam.

Billy Bob about to begin CPR practice

Banffs top ski shop- Soul, Ski & Bike ran a ski and board tuning clinic on Thursday night and the guys learnt how to p-tex, edge and wax skis and boards….. no blaming equipment when falling over from now on!

wax on wax off

Friday morning was SNOWPLOUGHING with Kenji for the skiers….. amazing how difficult it is to do a snowplough with the correct technique and make it look natural (Kenji has no problems with either).

snowplough, snowplough, snowplough

Its the weekend……. late breakfast, perfect snow, time to catch some air …….

Cam grabbing it

Emily going loooong

Old skool trick but Andy is going big

What not to (mountain) wear #4
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 9:13 am

It doesn’t matter that it’s apres and you’re not actually skiing.  You’re still on the mountain.  And you shouldn’t be wearing anything like this in public.  Ever.  You know who you are.

Fat skis, steep lines
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 9:54 pm

This weekend the Peak Leaders trainees in Verbier had a rare treat – an entire weekend of free-time, without any addtional training, first aid or avalanche courses to attend.  But that doesn’t necessarily mean rest: with Verbier enjoying its best snow for at least a decade, the mountain beckoned.

Some of the trainees banded together, kitted themselves out with transceivers, probes and shovels, and went up for a full day of itinerary runs and powder.  Here’s the group on the first mountain of the day, full of energy.

And here’s one from the end of the day.  At least one of the group showing the effect of hitting challenging run after run.

There was some hiking…

But not too much, and only for powder reward:

Verbier is famous for its accessible powder runs, and this weekend lived up to its billing.  To finish, here’s a few other shots of the guys having fun that day.

Banff 2012 week 1
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 5:13 am

The Peak Leaders Banff 2012 group arrived to find Banff and Alberta having a mini heat wave…… day time temperatures in Banff were above freezing….unheard of for January.

Banff 2012 crew

This seasons base is the Rundlestone Lodge Hotel with its huge rooms, swimming pool and hot tub and breakfasts and dinners of Canadian size portions. No slumming it for the Peak Leaders trainees!

The group is made up of people from all over the UK and Andrea our USA import (she is getting to grips with the Glaswegian and West Country accents!)

The legend that is Sunshine Village Ski Trainer Kenji is training the Peak Leaders ski instructor trainees again this season and has been working his magic, already transforming some ‘interesting’ skiing styles.

Kenji wearing his new Zaini beanie

Rob was having some equipment issues on the 1st day….(Kenji thought it was down to ‘operator error’) but Rob has now mastered the art of skiing with a ski attached to each boot.

Grace has fallen in love with moguls….. not!

The snowboard trainees are in rotating each week for the first 4 weeks with different trainers. Each trainer will be working on different aspects of riding.

Umm….. what was that the trainer wanted us to do?   Cameron loved riding black diamonds switch all afternoon.

Billy J dropping in

The snow has been either been powder or groomed light & grippy snow…. perfect to get the body back into either skiing or riding mode.

On the apres ski front Andy has been leading the charge to the Dancing Sasquath. Throwing down some very bizarre moves on the dance floor (please see below)

“Look at my guns”

This season the guys who signed up for Peak Leaders Big Banff get the Big 3 lift pass which includes Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Norquay ski areas.

Sunshine Village living up to its name

So this week we had a tour around…. Thursday Sunshine, Friday Lake Louise and Saturday Norquay….. variety is the spice of life!

Perfect snow

The temperature is dropping and more snow is forecast, bring on week 2.

What not to (mountain) wear #3
Posted on January 14, 2012 at 9:13 am

Wearing gloves, yes.  Wearing sunglasses, yes.  Wearing a hat, yes.

Wearing a baby on my back?  No, no no.  Not cool or sensible.  Safety fail.