2009 Canadian K2 Championships, Vernon, B.C.

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J1 Canadian National Championships at Whistler

Our WMSC club hosted the J1 (15, 16 yrs.) National Championships a week ago with very good conditions, save one morning when it was pretty wet. At this level the athletes were quite privileged to race on the same tracks and safety conditions as the big show in 2010. It was an important test for the Weasel Workers and Vanoc Vollies to ensure that things ran smoothly and they did not disappoint. I was shooting the Super G at Coaches corner when Daniel came down Afterburner (the Sewer) and was only 8/10 sec. back at the interval. Somehow he got the skis flapping sideways at the 90º right hander and his left thumb got cleanly sliced on his right ski edge and he DNF'ed right there. Thanks to the First Aid folks for the quick help and he couldn't have picked a better spot to crash with 5 of you there! He was back in the GS the next day after getting repairs at the clinic. Of course I got the photos to show what happened and if you want to see some DNA on the snow just ask!
Here's a shot of Mike Turnbull from Ontario who was overall J1 Men's winner and pocketed $1500 for top dog. For more photos click on the link above.

Speed Skiing and Islands in the Sky

Last week we went to Apex Resort to take in the Apex Gunbarrel Downhill and Super G races. My brother Barry and his wife Fran also attended with some friends, Tom, Florence and the host Randy Davis who set us up in a luxe condo c/w hot tub, natural skating 1 km path outside the door, etc. They had a son Philip who is a second year FIS racer and is 5 months older than Daniel. It was a friendly family duel although for speed Phil certainly has the edge weighing in at about 180 vs Daniel at maybe 155 ib. The score was Phil 3, Daniel 1. See the photos in the title link.
The weather was clear and pretty cold, perfect for speed skiing races. Our congrats to Arnie Ericksen and the Race Organizing Committee and the Mt Washington Marmots for putting on a great race and training week. It was Daniel's first Downhill experience and he did pretty good considering he started last and second last in 2 of 4 races. As a result he received a "Most Improved" award for going from 80th to 26th position in Saturdays Super G.


What about Islands in the Sky? Check out my first few photos of an strange atmospheric condition that one could view from the top of Beaconsfield (Apex) Mountain. Can anyone explain how this phenomenon happens? It was around -20 C at the bottom of the mountain and sunny and cold on top. I can equate it to the shimmering blacktop one may see on the summertime desert highways but these visions were definitely more unusual!

Whistler Nordic World Cup 2009

In mid January I got an assignment to go up there. The event was the 2009 FIS Nordic World Cup Festival with Ski Jumping, Cross Country and Combined disciplines. Since Nordic is relatively new to me I was excited to get to see the events, shoot a few photos and learn a little about the sports. Great athletes! The Italian skier Pietro P, Cottrer (no. 1, see photo), winner of the 30 km Pursuit race was quoted as saying the course was too easy but then he may be a master of the psych out!

Tripping at Panorama and Mt. Mackenzie

I went on a road trip just before Christmas to see Daniel's first FIS race held at Panorama Resort near Invermere, B.C. I also met up with my brother Barry and wife Fran from Calgary to ski Mt. Mackenzie at Revelstoke. It's a mountain with great potential and lots of vertical. As the temperature was hovering around -30 C at both areas we had to watch out for frostbite. It was the same at Panorama a day later and the GS race on the 20th was postponed a day. We both had boys in the races with Barry and Fran supporting Philip and myself, Daniel. Daniel managed a best result of 29th in the Slalom (out of 132 and I think he should be ok with that as his first race in the bigger leagues.

My congratulations to Gordon Bagan, Race Chair of the BC Miele Cup and the entire Race Organizing Committee (ROC) on pulling off a great event under very cold conditions. It has been awhile since I was at Panorama and the scenery still struck me as breathtaking or maybe it was the altitude! Here are some snaps.

Peak 2 Peak at 20 Below

We rode on the newest, longest, highest, quietest ski lift on the planet.
Here are some snaps taken last weekend.

Alpine Canada Annual Fundraiser

The venue this year was in Yaletown, Vancouver at 2 neighbors, Yaletown Brewhouse and Milestones. Please see the photos for an idea of what it was like.

Native Art

A while ago I had a photo session with the well known native artist, Norman Tait and family.
I was able to get permission to photograph his Grandfather's (Oyea) totem, which he restored, at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. I highly recommend a visit there soon.

Nice View!

Sometimes in the course of a building project I find myself in forbidden places. It's kind of hard on the camera gear, climbing up a construction crane but once on top it's a great view. There I met Gary the crane operator who really likes his job. Thanks, Gary.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Biking

As we could not make it to the Rich Juryn bike trail
dedication day recently, we thought we would go out there today. Rolled into the parking lot and got out of the Jeep to ask a hiker where the Rich Juryn trail was. Through force of habit locked the doors with my remote. Walked over 100 feet to the trail map and was studying it when "honk ... honk ... honk!" pierced the serene air. Tried to ignore it as I thought, "This will be over when some alarm resets in a minute or so!" Then I realized it was my Jeep as Clare tried to open the door without me deactivating the alarm. Fumbled around for the remote and not having deactivated it much before, proceeded to press the wrong button a few times. There were two or three other parties around. In a moment of utter frustration I muttered ##@!*$%# which seemed to set off the teens and the Dad parked next to us to the same *##$%@# as the sister shut the door on her older brother's arm. Clare in the meantime is glaring at me. OK, I shouted to all within earshot ... "I am so sorry ... let's everyone enjoy this great day."

A woman got out of the same car as the hiker was at and I looked over ... Cindy! ... "Hi Bob", she says with a familiar look. It was Brian, Cindy and their new baby girl, Chloe. "I am sooo terribly embarrassed and sorry ... blah, blah, blah!" I pleaded. Brian says "Forget it." Cindy, was on the CFMI Rock 101 Ski Team with Rich, Jill, and us back in the really great party days. Cindy and Brian just got married last winter. We had to talk for quite a few minutes before heading off on our bikes. Turned out to be a great day although we will have to bike the Rich Juryn trail another day!