Oh, so that's what they mean by powder
Mar. 30th, 2009 01:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jawnbcWeekend at Big White was, for the most part, os-some. The rest was fine too. No major complaints and I'll spare you most of the whinges.
I had to travel on public transport, so I only got to VANOC at 16h45--15 minutes before departure. Checked-in, completed liability waiver, and my pals had my seat saves on the bus. I knew the faces of about half the people and was surprised at the number who remembered me. Pretty soon we were on the bus for the 5 hour drive to the Okanagan.
We stopped for dinner in Chilliwack. Several of us got hard nipples when we seemed to be stopping near a Wendy's, only for the drive to continue down thestrip mall purgatory road to the A&W/McDo/DirtyBird nexus. So McDo it was. *burp* And then we were off.
Shortly after I arrived in BC the Coquihalla Highway was opened. It's an os-some, amazing highway over the Coast Mountains (about 1800m I believe) into the interior of the province. We stopped just past the summit for a bio break, then were off again. By this time about 75% of the bus was pissed. Only one dickhead amongst them all, but if it weren't for noise cancelling headphones I'd've gone postal. But I'm old and boring...and smart: I sat near the front.
About 1.5 hours to go the bus broke down. So we arrived at 01h30, and fell into bed. Tabarnac de Christ de cave!
Saturday
Fatigued is not the way for me to go snowboarding, so I slept in a bit, I was on the lifts at 10h though. Overnight about 5cm of fresh snow had fallen, which continued late into Saturday night. So the conditions were great, even when the visibility was challenging. Snowboarding on light fluffy fresh powder is very different from the snow we get out here on the coast. I adapted quickly and went about exploring the mountain.
A bunch of us met up for lunch, then I did a couple more runs. I was in the hot tub with happy rubber legs by 15h. A mellow arvo, then an overpriced so-so dinner at a "fondue" restaurant. Which means one type of fondue (cheese), and not of the highest quality. I went for steak anyway to avoid the bloating. But the company was aces. They all toddled off to partay heartay: I went to the hotel, watched Joannie Rochette win the first ladies figure skating world championship medal (medaille d'argent!) in 21 years. OMFG Kim Yu-Na (Korea) was incredible! Asleep by 23h30
Sunday
I set my alarm for 7h30, hoping for a quick brekkie and fresh tracks. However a howling gale was blowing, so I leisurely made my way to the café for a soy latte and a muffin. I had booked a lesson for 10h ($28.60 for a 2 hour group lesson) and had planned on a solid hour of boarding before. The idea of being on the lift in the wind scared me enough to wait until 9h30. I also bought a neoprene face mask--smart buy! I wasn't too cold on the lift, though there were bits were I had to put my (gloved) hand over my (wrapped, tuqued, helmeted and goggled) face because of the -25C wind chill. Took a leisurely green run down to the village for my lesson.
I was the only person in my level (4, blue for babies), so the affable Duncan of Cambridge (UK, not ON) took me off to learn how snowboard down steep blue runs without injuring--or soiling--one's self. Oh, and that very nice at the bottom, but wicked scary steep run we saw on the lift on Saturday? That was where we started. But he was good, and he said my basic form was solid, and surprisingly quickly he had sorted out my turning issues. We then started working on carving turns, but my legs were rubbery: having got a private lesson I wrapped it up after 1:10. Good instructor.
I adjourned for a coffee and cookie, then went back up to practice what I learnt. Took another hour exploring a new side of the mountain and really had a blast. Would've been more fun with someone else, but c'est la vie. I then boarded down to the lodge to soak in the hot tub for an hour.
Speaking of which, what is it with str8 Canadians and Americans and men in Speedos™? I mean really, get over it: I've got meat and two veg, so what? Avert your eyes if it's an issue...
After a shower and tasty lunch (butter chicken wrap, yum!) we were back on the bus. This time no breakdowns and people were much mellower. We got back to VANOC at 21h30 and I was kissing![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
querrelle by 22h. Noice. Even noicer to sleep with him in my arms again.
Even though I'm not a fan of bus trips per sé, I'd go back to Big White in a heartbeat. For me it trumps Whistler: nicer snow, no lift lines, less expensive and much more mellow.
I had to travel on public transport, so I only got to VANOC at 16h45--15 minutes before departure. Checked-in, completed liability waiver, and my pals had my seat saves on the bus. I knew the faces of about half the people and was surprised at the number who remembered me. Pretty soon we were on the bus for the 5 hour drive to the Okanagan.
We stopped for dinner in Chilliwack. Several of us got hard nipples when we seemed to be stopping near a Wendy's, only for the drive to continue down the
Shortly after I arrived in BC the Coquihalla Highway was opened. It's an os-some, amazing highway over the Coast Mountains (about 1800m I believe) into the interior of the province. We stopped just past the summit for a bio break, then were off again. By this time about 75% of the bus was pissed. Only one dickhead amongst them all, but if it weren't for noise cancelling headphones I'd've gone postal. But I'm old and boring...and smart: I sat near the front.
About 1.5 hours to go the bus broke down. So we arrived at 01h30, and fell into bed. Tabarnac de Christ de cave!
Saturday
Fatigued is not the way for me to go snowboarding, so I slept in a bit, I was on the lifts at 10h though. Overnight about 5cm of fresh snow had fallen, which continued late into Saturday night. So the conditions were great, even when the visibility was challenging. Snowboarding on light fluffy fresh powder is very different from the snow we get out here on the coast. I adapted quickly and went about exploring the mountain.
A bunch of us met up for lunch, then I did a couple more runs. I was in the hot tub with happy rubber legs by 15h. A mellow arvo, then an overpriced so-so dinner at a "fondue" restaurant. Which means one type of fondue (cheese), and not of the highest quality. I went for steak anyway to avoid the bloating. But the company was aces. They all toddled off to partay heartay: I went to the hotel, watched Joannie Rochette win the first ladies figure skating world championship medal (medaille d'argent!) in 21 years. OMFG Kim Yu-Na (Korea) was incredible! Asleep by 23h30
Sunday
I set my alarm for 7h30, hoping for a quick brekkie and fresh tracks. However a howling gale was blowing, so I leisurely made my way to the café for a soy latte and a muffin. I had booked a lesson for 10h ($28.60 for a 2 hour group lesson) and had planned on a solid hour of boarding before. The idea of being on the lift in the wind scared me enough to wait until 9h30. I also bought a neoprene face mask--smart buy! I wasn't too cold on the lift, though there were bits were I had to put my (gloved) hand over my (wrapped, tuqued, helmeted and goggled) face because of the -25C wind chill. Took a leisurely green run down to the village for my lesson.
I was the only person in my level (4, blue for babies), so the affable Duncan of Cambridge (UK, not ON) took me off to learn how snowboard down steep blue runs without injuring--or soiling--one's self. Oh, and that very nice at the bottom, but wicked scary steep run we saw on the lift on Saturday? That was where we started. But he was good, and he said my basic form was solid, and surprisingly quickly he had sorted out my turning issues. We then started working on carving turns, but my legs were rubbery: having got a private lesson I wrapped it up after 1:10. Good instructor.
I adjourned for a coffee and cookie, then went back up to practice what I learnt. Took another hour exploring a new side of the mountain and really had a blast. Would've been more fun with someone else, but c'est la vie. I then boarded down to the lodge to soak in the hot tub for an hour.
Speaking of which, what is it with str8 Canadians and Americans and men in Speedos™? I mean really, get over it: I've got meat and two veg, so what? Avert your eyes if it's an issue...
After a shower and tasty lunch (butter chicken wrap, yum!) we were back on the bus. This time no breakdowns and people were much mellower. We got back to VANOC at 21h30 and I was kissing
querrelle by 22h. Noice. Even noicer to sleep with him in my arms again. Even though I'm not a fan of bus trips per sé, I'd go back to Big White in a heartbeat. For me it trumps Whistler: nicer snow, no lift lines, less expensive and much more mellow.
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no subject
Date: 2009-03-31 12:03 am (UTC)It's JEALOUSY!
Ok, ok, that and the fact that you're packing!
*wink and grin*
no subject
Date: 2009-03-31 02:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-31 04:48 am (UTC)I'm on Outboard btw (jawnbc). Do they always pick expensive to get to/expensive to visit resorts for their annual shindig? I'd love to come, but when the flight alone is over 1k$, just can't justify it.