Well the last 6 weeks have come and gone so fast and Whistler Mountain has come to a close. As the season has been winding down there has still been many things to see and explore before our time in Whistler was complete.
Late March came around and The store where I was working had done quite well for itself in the way of tips. So we had organised a staff ski day where finally all of the crew from Coast Blackcomb Suites Ski Rental were able to venture out onto the mountain together. However recent events which unfortunately saw Charlie get fired was disappointing but events during the day did not disappoint. We started the day around 1130 at Merlins bar and headed up Blackcomb Mountain for the aim to have a cheeky beverage at every hut/food outlet on the Mountain. The weather had also been kind to us with a few centimeters of snow overnight and continually snowing throughout the day. We completed several runs, several beers and finished the day with one last beer at Rendezvous Restaurant. This is where the day became extra funny with Charlie who had just been fired that morning from WB, stealing one of the Canadian flags from the outside of Rendezvous and skiing down the Mountain waving the flag like a man possessed. We then stopped to have a good laugh when a ski patrol officer came and took the flag from Charlie and asked for his ski pass, Charlie then proceeded to tell the man he had already been fired and quickly skied off into the distance. Funny thing was Charlie being Charlie failed to negate the ski run not seeing the cat track and completely crashing and the ski patrol officer catching up to him. Typical of Charlie's day. The night then cracked on with many more drinks and laughs. But what was to follow the next day would cure my hangover, maybe...
Maddie had kindly, what I presumed, organised something romantic for 430pm the day after the ski day. In my mind I thought great, I can getting pretty drunk and hungover and still be good for 430. How wrong was I. Maddie had had a pretty good day skiing with friends and returned around 130pm to wake me up and get me ready for whatever we were about to do. I dragged myself out of bed, showered and prepared myself for a romantic afternoon. Just before the taxi arrived to take us to our destination, Maddie decides to let me in on her little secret of what "we" were about do be doing for the afternoon. "We" weren't doing anything, I, yes that's right just me, was going to be taking part in the Skeleton at the Whistler sliding centre. Wow I was excited, yet a little nervous as my hangover was still lingering and I was not to sure how my stomach would hold on the 4+ G's through the last corner. However I pressed on with my excitement and arrived at the sliding centre ready to embark on travelling at over 100km/hr down the sled track, head first, not too far from the ice whizzing past my eyes. We sat through a small briefing of all the safety aspects before heading up to the skeleton start point. I was now buzzing with excitement. Watching others get pushed down the start track got my heart racing and it was now my turn. I laid down onto the sled, faced down the ice and 3, 2, 1, away I went from the start gate. The first corners were pretty easy, nice cruise speed and then whoooooooosh, a steep gradient after one of the corners sent the sled hurtling down the ice and just over 100km/hr. My heart was racing, the G forces pushing me into the corner. Zzzzzzzziiiiinnngggg around the last corner past everyone watching was all a blur before hitting the finishing line like a pinball until the sled came to a stop. Wow, what a rush and best of all I still had another run to go. 2 Runs so much fun. I can definitely see how the pro's get into this sport. It is amazing.
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| Skeleton Run 1 |
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| Skeleton Run 2 |
March was pretty much over and it was time to start saying goodbye to people and thinking about planning our further adventures post whistler. Our great friends Tom and Emily were leaving whistler earlier than expected to travel across the states on Route 66 before heading back to the Mother Land, England. We had one last night out, helped them pack up their apartment and say a sad farewell to an amazing couple and great friends. During this time Maddie and I had taken a quick trip to Vancouver to apply for our Brazilian visas in preparation for August and September. We arrived at the consulate and boom, I had not read the full text on the website for the paperwork required and forgotten a couple of important pieces for the application. Man I was so angry at myself. A wasted trip and a couple of hundred dollars for accommodation etc, I was pissed off to say the least, especially at myself. We headed back to Whistler and lucky enough got our shit sorted and headed back down to Vancouver 1 week later for a successful drop off of the paper work and an eager wait confirmation of Visa approval. One awesome find on our little trip back to whistler was a tiny little german restaurant in the middle of Chinatown, weird I know, called Besties. It was so delicious.
The end of March saw the end of fresh tracks so Maddie and I headed up Whistler for one last breakfast and an early morning board. Was a great day and the weather was amazing.
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| Fresh Tracks Last day |
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| Beautiful day |
The start of April saw WB getting prepared for the WSSF (Whistler Ski and Snowboard Festival). These 12 days are packed with music, stalls and some of the best skiers and snowboarders competing for over $50,000 in prize money in several events including slopestyle and big air. During this period of time the weather also starting warming up and the snow was starting to melt. As the weather was changing so was the attire on the slopes from full winter gear including goggles to hoodies, t-shirts and glasses with the added addition of the famous goggle/snow tan on the face. The 12 days of the WSSF were amazing and we got the opportunity to see some amazing riders doing some extraordinary tricks. These guys blew my mind and what they can do on ski's and snowboards. The height and speed they do these tricks tells me that are not only great at what they do but have no fear for what they are doing. I scare myself going over a small jump sometimes. What a pussy I am.
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| Max Parrot on Slopestyle |
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| The Bonk |
The last week of the season entailed saying our final goodbyes, packing up the apartment, as well as dad and his wife Fiona arriving on Saturday the 19th of April. We enjoyed the last couple of days showing them the sights of Whistler before heading off to Banff again to visit with them. One last Sunday drinks with the gang as well as a couple of weeks earlier final week dinners ended our time in Whistler and an amazing 6 months of our lives. We have had such an incredible time and met some life long friends of who, without them we would not have enjoyed this experience so much.
So to Tom Stonnel, Emily Watkins, Tom P-C, Rachel Rowney, Henry P-C, Lucas R, Lauren E, Josh and Teniel Harries, and Charmaine Dachs our Brio Gang you guys rocked our world. To Charlie Cld, Matt Roberts, Kat Bouch and Pete Arnesen you guys made work so amazingly awesome. To everyone else who we rode with, had a beer with we could not have done it without any of you. Whistler and friends we thank you. And for now we are on our huge 5 month adventure, so keep your eyes peeled for us on facebook.
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| Emily and Maddie X-Country skiing |
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| The Coast Gang |
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| A beautiful Spring Day |
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| Last drinks in Whistler |
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| Last Drinks |
Stay Safe everyone
Peace Out Andy and Maddie
