Banff/Sunshine 06 Course Diary...

Wednesday 22nd March: Darren's final Update - Well the end has just about arrived, but for some the work lasted right until today. 4 trainees took their level 1 coaching course which specialises in race training techniques and modules. Whilst 1 candidate was unsuccessful Joe W, Louisa and Andrew all passed. Having left last nights party early they deserve a well earned beer tonight.

As for me it's been a pleasure running this course this season in Banff. Naturally there have been highs & lows but everyone is taking home great memories of their time out here. It's a stunningly beautiful place, a great party town and Sunshine's had an excellent (the best for the area) snow year. We've had great support from Ski School, Irwins Mountain Inn, El Toro's and Yamnuska guiding services. As Vinny Jones says in Lock, stock and two smoking barrels ''It's been emotional'' and hanging out with so many snow boarders has had an effect!  Good luck to all for the future, Darren :0)

Tuesday 21st March: Darren's Update - Tonight featured the end of course party at Wild Bills saloon bar and restaurant. Fancy dress was the order of the day and whilst the theme had been a pirate party, we were joined by cowboys, Hawaiian dancers, bunny girls and inflatable guests! The party coincided with the Frostbite festival featuring 4 punk/ metal bands so the place was rocking. We were joined by 7 of the Sunshine instructors who were treated to many a drink from grateful trainees. Mention must go to Murray who, single handed, showed the other 600 people in the crowd how to party hard. Huw complained the music was difficult to head bang to and tried to explain the vagaries between thrash and death metal (there is difference apparently). We were the loudest group in the loudest bar in town and if in doubt a pirate style 'Aaarrggh me hearties' was enough to get the locals joining in the festivities. True to the spirit of the course most went on to a night club to continue into the morning.

Sunday 12th - Friday 17th March: Emma's Update - Over the past week Angela and I were lucky enough to visit the course in Banff, meet the guys out there and to see the course at first hand. It was a nice change for me to get out of head office back in Scotland and onto the slopes while Angela was keen to rope in as many trainees as she could to helping her at various gap & university fairs!  

We have had a fabulous week and want to say a huge thank you to all the guys on the course who were so welcoming and keen to take us out and show us Banff… well the bars anyhow!

We were both impressed with the commitment of the level 2 trainees and the standard of instruction.  Angela claims it is the best skiing she has ever done and I (embarrassingly) began the week as a virtual beginner but was competent enough to be giving black runs a go by the end of the week - definitely an unexpected bonus!  A huge thank you to Darren for a great intro to Banff and to the guys on the course. 

Friday 17th March: Darren's Update - Another day, another assessment as the level 2 skiers got the results of their course - piped Irish music and silly hats in honour of St. Patrick's Day were the order of the day on the hill and helped lighten the tension of waiting for the results….or maybe that was the beer!  A phenomenal and incredible 100% pass rate!  Huge congratulations are in order for big Rob, Joe W, Murray, Peter, Ben B and the twins Ben & Tom. The instruction and assessment phase is now over and everyone can relax and enjoy some free-riding, except for a small number of trainees who will be taking the level 1 Ski Coaching course 20th  - 22nd March.

Thursday 16th March: Darren's Update - The level 2 snowboard assessment concluded today. An excellent 60% pass rate for the group - Level 2 is a big step up from level 1 so congratulations to Ben J, Tom M, Rich, Nick P, Bryan and Tim for all their efforts.

Sunday 12th March: Darren's update - Nick Mapletoft has passed his riding re-test at Lake Louise, well done!! Happily this means 100% success rate for level 1 and everyone will return home as full fledged snowsports instructors.

Thursday 9th March: Darren's update - More excellent news today with two more skiing level 1 passes. Nikki was
struck down with pneumonia for 2 weeks but has fought back and completed the level 1 course in style. Congratulations also to Andrew Wood who is now dual qualified with level 1 qualifications in skiing and snowboarding. After so many wedge turns he's vowing to hang up his skis and get back on a board until futher notice!

Wednesday 8th March: Darren's Update - We live in a technological age and anyone with a laptop, the right software and some skill can become an evil genius. So it was when I overheard someone saying they had video evidence of Liam practising 360s that a plan was hatched. The evil genius with video editing software will remain nameless but his initials are Nick Pain!! This gave the weekly get together at Brunos a distinctly hi-tech flavour and needless to say that after the video was shown, Liam was awarded wipeout(s) of the week. To be fair he did land one! Donkey of the week goes to Ben Perry. For some reason Ben was using his bed as a trampoline and on executing his dismount landed on a discarded ski boot and twisted an ankle.

Monday 27th February - Monday 6th March: Darren's update - The snow has been superb so apologies for the gap since the last entry.

However, fresh powder shouldn't be missed! The course has settled in a familiar routine by now. We have two skiing groups and two snowboarding groups split into those pushing for level 2 and those in lessons for general improvement. The split primarily revolved around those with the ability and desire to work in the snowsports industry and those that deemed the extra cost and effort a little beyond their means.

The results from the various exams are now in. We've achieved 100% pass rate in the ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) exam for those that took part. This focused on personal development and leadership skills. 29 traniees passed the Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid Course, whilst 21 passed the Recreational Avalanche Course. Both these courses were run by the Yamnuska Guiding company.

We seem to be rushing headlong towards the end of the course and some are planning to stay on after the finish to meet friends or family or just generally 'shred it'. The remaining time will be spent in nervous anticipation of level 2, striving to improve riding skills and generally having a great time until it's time to pack up and return to dear old
blighty. However, we're expecting a late winter storm over the next couple of days, so our prayers to the snow gods will be answered and the focus will be on fresh lines!

Friday 24th - Sunday 26th February: Darren's update - Our final four snowboarders have been taking their level 1 exams over the weekend. Everyone enjoyed the course and saw an improvement in their riding. Unfortunately Nick M felt he didn't perform his best under the spotlight and failed to reach the required riding standard but did pass his teaching assessment. Congratulations to Janet, Huw and James who passed both phases of the course.

Tuesday 21st February: Darren's Update - Classroom theory is one thing but practical training is vital, so today the trainees ventured beyond the ski area boundary. There the guys and girls could conduct snow pack analysis and practise rescue techniques. Avalanche beacons were buried by the instructors in scenarios with increasing difficulty. Trainees had to locate single then multiple buried
'victims' as quickly as possible. The first 15mins provides the best chance of finding someone alive, so everyone worked in teams to locate, probe for and dig out the simulated victims. The skills learned could one day save someone's life, perhaps even their own!

The evening was spent in the more mellow surroundings of Bruno's bar. Much to his embarrassment, Bryan aka the septic vortex, was awarded wipeout of the week. You may recall our pro rider was hurt warming up in the COP terrain park but provided the course with great entertainment as he relocated his shoulder back into its socket!! In a boost for women's equality Nikki received donkey of the week award for losing a set of avalanche probes, but at least she was carrying them for the guys. However, the age of chivalry isn't dead as the course will share the cost of replacing the lost gear.

Victim located!		Murray's beacon search!
Paul with Doug		Paul's beacon search

Monday 20th February: Darren's update - Today was the first of 2 days avalanche awareness training. Trainees were taught all things theoretical concerning terrain assessment, formation of the snow pack, what to do if caught in an avalanche and rescue techniques if you witness others getting buried.

Thursday 16th - Friday 18th February: Darren's update - Well it was inevitable but Thursday and Friday gave us a taste of true Canadian arctic weather. The temperature dropped to -31C which meant it was a wee bit chilly waiting for the morning bus and a wee bit nippy on the way back from the pub! Daytime temperatures reached a balmy -25C but the hardy folk who braved going up the hill on Friday were rewarded with a temperature inversion at Sunshine and a high of -14C, probably the warmest place in Alberta. Despite precautions such as face masks, one or two noses suffered from frost nip, but no permanent damage was done.

Saturday saw rising temperatures and a course outing to Calgary. A genuine yellow school bus was our transportation and first stop was Canada Olympic Park (COP). Our 2 pro snowboarders took their gear to assess the COP pipe and park whilst the remainder of us had the Olympic museum, Winterfest attractions and other Olympic facilities from the 1988 games to amuse ourselves with. 6 members of the course took the once in a lifetime opportunity to take a ride down the Olympic bobsleigh run. Rest assured there was a professional driver and brakeman, with the lucky victims (I mean passengers) taking seats 2 and 3. Speeds topped 120 kmph and was quite a ride by all accounts!

Next stop was the Chinook shopping mall with over 300 shops to choose from, enough for even die hard shopaholics. From there it was on to the Saddledome for the main event, a major league ice hockey game between the Calgary
Hitmen and the Saskatoon Blades. An integral part of the hockey experience is beer and violence (on the rink, not in the crowd!!) with all the razzmatazz thrown in. The Hitmen outplayed the visitors but conceded weak goals on power plays which meant the score was 3-3 at full time. Not liking ties in Canada this one went to overtime but the Blades scored a quick sudden death winner leaving the home crowd deflated. The bus ride home consisted of a medley of songs of dubious quality, I'm sure Freddie Mercury was turning in his grave with the course rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Calgary day trip		Calgary Olympic Park
face off!		legalised violance!

Wednesday 15th February: Darren's Update - Today a small team of 6 braved an early 7am departure and visited
Kicking Horse in beautiful British Columbia. This resort has a reputation as a hardcore hill with alot of extreme terrain. Indeed upon arrival a local informed us there were 4 types of run at Kicking Horse; steep, very steep, extremely steep and you've got to be kidding!!

We started conservatively by taking the free snow guide tour which pointed out the various areas on offer. Then we ramped up the 'Knar' factor throughout the day, pausing only for a great lunch at the 7700ft Eagles Eye resturant. I can vouch that the black runs were as serious as double diamonds at other hills and I wouldn't recommend the double blacks without the protection of deep powder! Having split up after lunch everyone pushed their own limits and had a blinding day. We made it back to the bus unscathed to fight another day. With perfect conditions Kicking Horse would
rival any ski area in the world.

Tuesday 14th February: Darren's Update - Another Tuesday, another night at Bruno's! Being Valentines night Murray made a special effort and got his kilt on which I'm sure all the ladies loved, and yes like a true Scot no underwear was worn. Having just completed the first aid course Murray was well aware of the signs of frostbite in his nether regions!

Marc, aka the 'silver fox', aka 'The Welsh Pirate' had the distinction of being awarded both wipe-out and donkey of the week award. Having returned from a night on the town, with his partner in crime Bryan, and feeling the need to
check the hotel had not being overrun by terrorists, the boys burst into the corridor performing combat rolls to confuse potential snipers. Marc's roll had a lot of forward momentum and he made rather heavy contact with the wall.
All was well until the morning when Marc discovered he couldn't walk.  Precautionary x-rays at the hospital confirmed the leg was not broken, just badly swollen. Marc continues to improve rapidly but may have a new nickname - Pikey, stupid boy!!

Saturday 11th - Sunday 12th February: Darren's Update - This weekend saw the completion of Peak Leaders second skier level 1 course. After Ben Russell's pass the remaining 6 trainees had to endure a further 2 days of teaching and skiing assessment. The Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA) had set up the course specifically for
Peak Leaders and the assessor was the Alberta Coordinator himself, Don Kjorven. Don is at the top of his sport as a level 4 instructor but was impressed by the standard he saw and I know he enjoyed the course. Everyone
passed so congratulations to Mark Dixon, Andrew Hedges, Paul, Tom, Ben Perry and Joe Reeder.

With no time to pause, the course went straight into 2 days of First Aid training from Yamnuska Mountain Adventure company. Day 1 consisted of theoretical classroom and CPR training whilst day 2 took the trainees outside for practical mountain first aid training. Having sat an exam the successful candidates gained certificates in First Aid.

Joe Williamson's Skiers Update…

So I guess I've drawn the short straw of writing the diary about the Skier's Level 1 Instructor's Course so here goes…

Seven skiers were put through into the course which started last Wednesday.  We all scrambled out of bed for the 7.53 bus to the hill, which we caught with the boarders who were going up for the final day of their Level 1 course.  Most people were pretty upbeat, with all the skiers wishing the best for the boarders, mainly hoping to get some reassuring words in return. 

Actually, the apprehension was unwarranted as the three instructors taking the course were (like all the instructors on the hill), positive and confident about our skiing.  Straight away they broke down the Peak Leaders into 2 pairs and 1 three.

Louisa and I were in a nice group of good skiers, but had the head instructor for the course, Ben.  We had been told that he was really tough and only passed completely perfect level 1 skiers, which made us especially nervous.

The first two days were basically ski improvement, with a video session at the end of the first.  Ben was really good, and very clear as to what our problems were and how to fix them, which was exactly what we wanted.

The nerves kicked in again on the Friday morning, when we switched instructors to begin the teaching practice, and start the assessments.  We practised how to teach all the basics… mobility, sliding, snowplough, snowplough turns and then basic parallel.

The assessment day arrived as a busy Sunshine Saturday, which made things quite interesting.  We each did our teaching practical's, trying to avoid the busy slopes but keep the terrain suitable for our classes.  After an early lunch, all the skiers on the course met up for the ski offs.  We all lined up for snowploughs, a free ski run and basic parallel demos.  The instructors stood together at the bottom judging us and noting down all our marks.  This was the most pressured part of the course, with everyone feeling the nerves.

After that came drinks time… and a little relaxation before getting the results.  The instructors took their time, especially over twin Ben.  He had missed a day, as he was recovering from Bronchitis, and although his skiing was good enough, instructor Ben was unsure about letting him pass having missed a day.

The results were given in the Chimney Corner of Sunshine Inn, and unfortunately, twin Ben, although he passed his teaching portion, was failed on his skiing.  All the other Peak Leaders guys passed and are now CSIA Level 1 instructors!  Even though Ben didn't get it, he will be allowed to take the skiing portion over 2 days with the other skiers taking the course next week, so it wasn't too much of a downer.

So obviously the Saturday night saw some celebratory drinking…

Tuesday 7th February: Darren's Update - With much to celebrate, including the back to back birthdays of Huw and Chris, the course met up at Bruno's for the weekly review of the course. Tuesday is a busy night with live singing acts so the only way to communicate effectively was for me to get on the mike. So it was that the assembled crowd were treated to tales of daring do as prizes were awarded for wipe-out and donkey of the week.

The wipe-out award was hotly contested with Jojo nominated for landing on his head rather than his board. The clear winner, however, was Ben. He was coming down the outside of the half-pipe and decided to cut in at the bottom
corner. He didn't bargain on Joe W. actually being in the half-pipe and trying to exit at the same point! A Peak Leaders collision ensued, luckily without injury. So for lack of half-pipe etiquette Ben was awarded the 'neck brace of shame'.

There was only one nomination for donkey of the week, big Rob. His crime.....well the course has to keep some things confidential!!  Remember Rob - never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Rob was awarded the 'hat of shame'.

The only thing left to do was to honour Bruno, a legendary Swiss mountain guide of the 1930's who became a local, by drinking from the 'ski of justice'. So began another quiet night in Banff, right Huw!!

Wednesday 1st February: Darren's Update - Good news today with the first major course success. Our 17 fast tracked snowboarders have all passed their level 1 assessments and can officially call themselves Snowboard Instructors. Their exploits on the hill are only likely to be surpassed by the celebrations!  Congratulations to Liam, CJ, Ian, Ed, Ross, Rich, Rob, Ben, Tom, Bryan, Chris, Nick, Tim, Adam, Marc, Jo Jo and Andrew.

off to be assessed		assessment in progress
awaiting the verdict		Marc (the pirate) celebrates!

Sunday 29th January: Liam Barry's Update - The plan for the day consisted of another rearranged lessons for the skiers as their level one exams start on Thursday and a scheduled day off for the snowboarders. This didn't stop 6 of the boarders ripping up the hill from 9 till 12 as a last play before the serious stuff next week. Rest of the day was spent relaxing with a nice hot tub, then lunch followed by some light reading of the CASI snowboard hand book. 

Saturday 28th January: Liam Barry's Update - Due to the closure of sunshine earlier in the week the whole course had rearranged lessons today, which for the snowboarders at least was more of the same, teaching practice and fun. As normal on the weekend, because of the influx of locals onto the mountain, mountain knowledge and ski school elements of the course came into play: a; knowing where to find the quiet slopes and b; being able to jump lift queues.

Friday 27th January: Liam Barry's Update - 14 members of the die hard's on the course got up at the crack of dawn this morning for the 7:53 bus itching to get back on the slopes. The conditions when we arrived were some of the best since we got here, laying down new lines at 9am in fresh powder reminded us all why we came on this course in the first place. Back in lessons we did a mixture of teaching practice for the level one exam's with some fun runs mixed in. The day was rolling without incident until a tree run off goat's eye where one of our American friends decided to live up to their reputation of being dumb ass's by taking a leap of faith off a drop onto what he thought was a powder blanket. After landing on a rock and 10 minutes recomposing himself the day continued.

Wednesday 25th January:  Liam Barry's Update - Lake Louise reminded me of a typical European resort with all the runs piste bashed to hell (i.e. riding on ice) until we hit the back side of the mountain where we found some of the narliest runs we had ever ridden. Even that wasn't enough for some, they decided to take a hike or two to find some fresh lines. We found plenty to entertain us for the day and increase the craving for sunshine to reopen.

Tuesday 24th January: Liam Barry's Update - During the high winds at sunshine two of the gondola cars had collided and dropped off the gondola cable, sunshine was closed for another day.

Monday 23rd January: Liam Barry's Update - With 17 of the 21 snowboarders expecting a final week of training towards their level 1 snowboarding instructor exams at the weekend and the rest of the group, another great week on the snow everyone was up early for the 8:33am shuttle to sunshine. Upon arrival news that the gondola was closed due to high winds reached us.

A day in the pub resulted from the hill closure, which was compensation. The Silver Fox was one of 3 trainees to give their 10 minute ILM speech that night at 6:30pm. I am under the understanding that the silver fox and friends finally departed from the pub at 6:20pm and it has to be said that if the ILM had a prize for funniest speech we have a winner. I guess I have to mention that for his drunken speech the Silver Fox has to be a nomination for the 'Donkey of the Week' Award.

Friday 20th January: Darren's Update - End of the second week and the feedback from the instructors of all the groups has been very positive so far, so much so that many snowboarders will be taking their level 1 assessment at the end of the third week!  Off of the snow, a few of the older members of the group have decided that the word 'awesome' is overused in the skiing and boarding world, and that saying it should be a finable offence.

Thursday 19th January: Darren's Update - Back to lessons and one of the skiing groups were able to be taken to the infamous Delirium Dive.  Despite its reputation the group were up to the challenge and concluded that the only 'brown trouser' moment was the walk along the ridge to access the skiable terrain. All equipped with shovels and avalanche beacons just in case, we made our way in. The metal staircase to the 'easiest' section was into the teeth of an icy gale. Progress was slow but soon we were ready to drop in. The snow was variable with powder and crusty wind-slab, as is often the case off-piste. The group skied each pitch one at a time with Dan leading the way, falling would not have been good, but all showed good technique and control. Soon we were grouped at the bottom, looking back and admiring our line looking forward to the next time we'd face Delirium Dive.

Access to Delerium Dive		Pete, Murray, Joe, Ben & Rob prepare to Dive!
Heading down		Falling is not a good idea!
Did we just ski that?!		delerium dive complete

Wednesday 18th January: Darren's Update - Despite the previous night's excesses many still made it up to Sunshine on this day off from lessons to take advantage of even more fresh snow that had fallen overnight.  Ben (one half of the spandex twins) made an attempt at winning this week's wipeout of the week award with a failed attempt at landing a 15 ft cliff jump.

Tuesday 17th January: Darren's update - Sickness really hit the numbers hard today including course leader Darren, who was so ill that he didn't even make it to the weekly Tuesday night sesh in Bruno's where the first 'Donkey' and 'Wipeout' of the week awards were presented by Richard in Darren's absence.  Although there was no specific category for it, Mark was given an honourable mention for setting a new world record in the 100m dash. As this was a Tuesday, the merriment continued long into the early hours, and a good evening was had by all well enough to attend!

Monday 16th January: Darren's Update - Following a well deserved rest at the weekend most skiers and boarders returned to Sunshine refreshed and raring to go for the 2nd week of the course.  Unfortunately, a stomach bug seemed to be doing the rounds and had laid some riders low for the day.  Mark (the Silver Fox) was determined that he wasn't going to miss the day's boarding and admirably made it up to Sunshine's day lodge to meet for his lesson. However, it soon became apparent from his regular rapid departures to the toilet that he was in no fit state to be riding and would be in danger of causing spontaneous avalanche release if allowed onto the snow.

Sunday 15th January: Darren's Update - Another rest day and the hard pace of the course is already taking its toll with only 3 of the Peak Leaders massive making it up the mountain!  No evening occurrences to report as we're all good boys and girls and don't go out on a school night!!!!!!!!

Saturday 14th January: Darren's Update - Rest day and following the previous night's fun and games many opt to have a break from skiing and riding, particularly as half the population of Calgary and their dogs were expected to hit the mountain to take advantage of the large snowfall during the week.  The evening was relatively quite with many still recovering from the previous evening and also coming to terms with the reality of having to budget for 11 weeks!!  A few did however make it to the Pump & Tap for a few pints and to say hello to Dave the doorman as he always has such a happy smiley face.

Friday 6th to Friday 13th January: Entry by Ben Belcher

6th Jan - Our large party of skiers and boarders arrived at Irwin's in Banff early in the evening with everybody anxious to discover who/what they would be sharing their hotel room with for the next 11 weeks.  Whether by intention or not it seemed that the skiers and boarders had been kept separate, probably a good thing.

7th Jan - Day spent getting important stuff like lift tickets sorted and locating the only cash machine in Banff that worked with Visa cards, Rock 'n Roll!   Evening spent in the Pump & Tap 'English' Pub (which is really a Canadian Bar with a few Premiership football shirts on the wall), getting to know fellow course members and also Banff's friendliest doorman Dave.

8th Jan - First day on the mountain!!!  Most people up early despite a bit of a heavy night, in order get an early bus up to Sunshine and discover the resort. Afternoon was spent in the company of the Sunshine 'snow guides' who gave us a tour of the mountain.  Curiously one of the guides seemed to have forgotten his skis and brought his bike instead!

9th Jan - Lessons started today. For some it was the first step in achieving a qualification that would enable them to start their career as a snowsport instructor, for many it was the first step in achieving a qualification that would impress the birds back home. Skiers were assessed in the morning by our instructors Kenji and Misayo, and split into 2 groups dependent on what skills needed to be honed.  The larger snowboarder group was split into 3 groups, dependent on various snowboarding skills such as bagginess of pants, ability to say 'Awesome' and the knack of looking permanently stoned.

10th Jan - Second day of lessons but more importantly the first Tuesday night before a Wednesday rest day.  This gave the opportunity to indulge in some typically British style binge drinking in 'Brunos' and exchange of a few tall stories related to the previous 2 days skiing/riding. This was only slightly spoilt by the noise coming from the woman with the guitar!  Many of the Peak Leaders party made it to 'Aurora' one of Banff's two nightclubs, unfortunately for us Tuesday night in early January is not this particular club's busiest time and the staff were only just outnumbered by the punters.

11th Jan - Chill out day.  For some it was an opportunity to take a well deserved rest and recover from hangovers, however many skiers and riders still made it up to Sunshine to play in the new snow that had fallen over night.  Brian, one of the two American members of our group, took the opportunity to practice some snowboarding teaching skills on a young English girl out in Banff for a fortnight's holiday. She was obviously grateful since Brian's spadework paid off later that evening with a re-affirmation of the so called 'special' relationship between Britain and the USA!!

12th Jan - More snow fell in Sunshine giving us fantastic conditions.  For skiers this was the first time that we were being filmed whilst making a few turns.  This proved to be an enlightening experience as it enabled Kenji and Mi to show us that we really aren't flexing as much as we think when making those turns.  For Nicki and Louisa it was a good opportunity to check that all their kit looked as good on the snow as it did in the ski wear shop.

13th Jan - Frustrating day for the skiers as much of it was spent relearning the basic snowplough.  The evening was a bit more interesting and unsurprisingly ended in a much livelier Aurora.  It was made notable for the fact that it started off with a visit from a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who gave us a brief chat on the local by-laws and to let us know what sort of behaviour wouldn't be tolerated during our stay. Bets are been taken to see who will cross the line first and have a nocturnal encounter with a mountie!

Darren's notes: As course mentor my job is to ensure the guys achieve as many personal goals as possible. The course is challenging and the pace never lets up. Evening lectures on subjects like leadership and risk assessment are dove-tailed into an already busy schedule. Individuals are tasked to give 10 minute talks, often on their life history and future aims. But there is a saying, 'work hard, play hard' and the course has grasped this concept with both hands. It's about making friends, having fun and working as a team. So far I'm not disappointed!

Tuesday 10th January - POWDER ALERT! A foot of fresh snow ensures a great day on the hill. Temperatures still mild with fresh powder and first tracks everywhere. Awesome.

Monday 9th January - Lessons begin in earnest as the trainees start down the road to becoming snowsport instructors. The pace of the course will be demanding from hereon in.

Sunday 8th January - A day spent at Sunshine village skiing and riding, getting to know the ski area layout and terrain. James got a little too friendly with the terrain and was stunned by a high speed wipeout. A little trip to the local hospital ensued but x-rays revealed James was still in one piece and made a speedy recovery. Some say he only wanted to meet the nurses!

Saturday 7th January - After a late start(!) we familiarised ourselves with Banff in the daylight and noted all the town amenities from museums to night clubs, shops to internet cafes. Bus and lift pass were collected to prepare for first tracks at Sunshine the next day.

Friday 6th January - After an early start our hardy group of skiers and snowboarders set out for the Rockies. Having suffered the endurance sport that is long distance air travel we arrived safely, met our instructors for the course and retired early to bed. Actually there was a push downtown to sample the delights of Banff nightlife and any haziness was blamed on jet lag!

A few words from Stewart Laver welcoming Peak Leaders to Sunshine Village: January 6, 2006

The 2006 Peak Leaders 2006 session at Sunshine Village is underway and we are excited to get started!

Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort and the Bow Valley region offer some of the worlds best outdoor adventures and natural beauty.

In choosing Peak Leaders you have joined a high quality organization that you can count on to ensure your winter experience will be the very best. The Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard School offers internationally certified instructors who are carefully chosen to train you as skiers and snowboarders but also as instructors. You can expect the very best.

Congratulations to all the Peak Leaders participants and get ready for the time of your lives!

Best Regards,
Stewart Laver
Director - Sunshine Village
Ski and Snowboard School