THAT Was A Ski Season

But it’s all over now…

Just a few random things to note about the past few months:

  • 1st chair of the season, and waist deep in the sun
  • More deep days than I can ever remember in the Okanagan
  • Apex Rocks!
  • Retro is fun, but let’s face it…old skis suck
  • It skis deeper than it looks
  • Who does this snow report?
  • Heaven is actually a place on Earth, but it just happens to be outta bounds

Yeah, I know.  You probably don’t know half of what I’m on about.  Hey, maybe check out these pics and see if you can figure some of it out.  Maybe by the time you do, I’ll have some more sick bike riding shots for you.

Cat Sass 2012 – 3

Last day, and I think the girls might be a bit tired.  Good thing we’re doing some dynamic and airtime skills then.

I haven’t been doing much in the way of air this year anyway, so it was pretty good practice.  The girls were dropping like it’s hot all morning. 

Had to head up for an afternoon session on Paddy Kay’s new jump line.  First, time for a group shot.

The new trail is pretty raw at this point.  You can see what it’s going to become though.  It’s sort of like if Dirt Merchant was as long as A-Line.  It’s just a bit soft right now, but after a winter of snow compaction, it’s gonna be rock hard.

Still, it’s great fun already.

It’s also not a bad place to do some coaching with the Women’s Whip-Off World Champion.

That bit of inspiration did not go to waste.

All that sessioning got me so hungry, I could eat a bug.

Good thing there was this giant slab of tuna instead.

Damn nice way to end it.  We fired down the Lodge Trail one more time, and had this waiting for us at the end.

As always, I’m stoked to be allowed on this weekend, and I’m proud to say that I can ride like a girl.  Next year, co-ed!

PS – Happy Birthday, Mom!

Cat Sass 2012 – 2

I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning.

Yup, it’s heli time in the Kootenays, and we are hangin’ loose.

Me, Mary-Kat and Galena got up on the first round.  Ran into Ramin and crew already up there.   They took 3 and a half hours to get up from town.  We took about 8 minutes.

It was a nice morning to hang around in the alpine, too.

Take a good look around, there’s plenty to look at.

As we flew up, we had to take a bit of time for portraits.  So sit back, there’s a pile of ‘em here…

That was the set from the top, now we’re about a half click down.

…and here’s the end of the alpine.  It’s all in the woods after here.

Now that I’ve done this ride a few times, the hike a bike sections seem pretty short.  Not everyone agrees, though.  Funny how you seem to question taking a DH bike at this point, but nobody mentions that at the bottom.  From this point, it’s pretty solid descending to the end.

Like this gnarly little rock section.  Spent a bit of time here with the girls, and they nailed it.

We also spent a bit of time on these tailings piles.  This was a difficult section for a few of the ladies that were here last time, but they had it dialled this year. Although Sarah did manage a spill, but then again it’s only her second day out this year and her first time on Powerslave.  Galena on the other hand, SENT it.

What a day.  I think we must have had some angels watching over us.

Even a little bit of the God Light for the last part of the ride. 

Another solid Retallack day.