Retallack Legends – 2

Posted on September 20, 2014September 24, 2014 by Smoke

Or you can call it by it’s even better title: Double Heli Day!

That’s right, today we’re doing a double lap of Reco with the heli. It’s already here, may as well. Dude and I didn’t get to ride the first bird, though. We hiked up before everyone while the rest of the crew got to the choppa.

It was actually quite relaxing.

Not for very long though. With a tight schedule on this, one of the last days of summer, we were very busy in a very short period of time.

Unloading guests and rigging bikes has to go smoothly and safely, and with fast turnaround times we were hopping.

The best part is that we got to have one inspection lap so that we could shred it hard on round two.

It was a pretty nice day to be in the alpine, yet again.

OK, it’s time for a postcard shot photo dump. This isn’t even half of the group out today.

While our “Legends” (and I am using that term loosely) were having photo orgasms at the top with Blake Jorgenson, the rest of us were off the front looking for more vert. We needed to get back to the LZ for another lap.

Just an aside here… If you want to know what makes a successful freeride athlete, it’s not just raw talent or looking pretty or a determination to push the envelope (all very useful attributes, though). Nope, it’s a willingness to do the same 20 feet of trail over and over and over again until you get the shot. I should probably spend more time doing that sort of thing, but I really just want to ride more. So now you know…

We took a short breather for a little group shot anyway.

We also had a little time at lunch to scope out this stepdown in the area. Nice riding, buds.

OK, time for the second bump, which is personal best #8 in a season for me, and #9 for my bike.

After this mornings workout, getting everyone up for round two was a piece of cake. The second run down the ridge was just amazing.

Some more postcard shots.

You know what? We still weren’t done. We got to the bottom just in time to hook back up with a couple of keeners with Mike’s group for a full T2B on the Kessel Run.

Which just happened to end at a fire in the pump track with cold beers and hot nachos.

Whattya think? Having fun yet?

PS — Happy Birthday Wade! Sorry we weren’t hanging on the peak together today, hope you had a good’r…

Nice Present – 2

Posted on July 12, 2014July 21, 2014 by Smoke

At Retallack, we have to be very cognizant of the many rare and threatened species around. This family of Blue Grouse doesn’t really count, but I’m still not going to run them over. There’s four of the little blighters in there if you look closely.

We started the day off with a couple of laps on Idaho Peak. Not much to take pics of, so I didn’t. We smashed a couple of laps off with the gang and went back to the lodge for lunch.

Today we also had Gen and Vince join us. With the edge off from a couple of days of shredding, and the mercury topping 34C this afternoon, we slowed the pace a little for some BF/GF laps. Here’s Gen and Vince carving a berm on the Kessel Run.

Ryan is still sending it (Syd surprised me with how fast she’s riding and I accidentally chopped her head off… I’ll have to see if I can get a couples shot of them tomorrow on Powerslave).

Here’s the girls carving some more Kootenay brown pow.

And here’s Ryan sending the Lillyhammer large once again. That boy has a serious whip.

Awwww yeah! It’s somebody’s birthday!

Freshie!

Posted on August 16, 2008 by Smoke

And now the conclusion to yesterday’s cliffhanger. Barb had gone in for a regular check as she was now 10 days or so overdue. Which is a long time. Seeing as there were absolutely no signs of her beginning labour, I fugured we were still a few days away from any action.

Well, my phone rang in the middle of the second run saying otherwise. I guess the doctor wanted to talk about hurrying things along, and someone sounded a little anxious. I shortly found myself unshowered and unfed, but wearing this badass teal ensemble.

Barb had an old friend to keep her company too.

She was definitely a bit nervous about the impending situation. Who wouldn’t be?

Barb, our awesome midwife, was on hand to explain things. The doc came by to reinforce it. As things weren’t even close to happening naturally, and with Barb’s size and what appeared to be a big baby, it looked like a C-section was the best course of action. We were all ready to try the natural route, but our chances of succeeding weren’t great, so we opted for the surgery. It’s a mild disappointment, but really…it’s about the baby not us.

So off to the OR we went, at just after midnite. Have a look at my Mom. See how youthful she looks? Next time you see here she’ll be a grannie.

Well, it didn’t take very long. Lacking in romance perhaps, but highly efficient. As I expected, we got a girl.

8 lbs, 14oz, and about 21″ long. Also, she shares a birthday with Madonna.

Barbara Anna, meet Anna Siobhan (you pronounce it Shivon. It’s gaelic, and as most gaels are completely illiterate you are allowed to get creative with the spelling).