Sick Day

 

 

So I'm in the market for new skis.  And I was totally stoked to be demo'ing a pair of "Sick Days" by Line. The reviews I have been reading about them are mixed, but the name and the graphics were so darn cool that I thought I'd try 'em out.

 

Seriously SICK skis, no doubt!

 

After about the eighth run today however, I wasn't all that stoked anymore. The skis are wickedly solid, and LONG, and I just couldn't manage them like I want to be able to manage skis in the steep-ish, deep-ish, bumpy-ish terrain.

 

Not wanting to call it quits due to equipment, I decided to stop in at the Salomon test center at Sunshine Village, and let me tell you, my afternoon was far more productive. I proceeded to try three more sets of skis - lighter fatties, true all-mountains, and finally, the glorious free-riders I think I've been searching for! I have one more set to demo tomorrow, and if I am not completely blown away by them, I will be buying the ones that I skied all over Lookout Mountain on. Yeah!!

 

 

 

At the end of what was yet another stellar day on the slopes, we stopped in at the lounge for a beer. By the time we finished up, it was almost dusk (today is the Winter Solstice!) and ours were the only sets of skis left on any of the racks at the Village. Needless to say, the ski-out was an exercise in skiing by feel.... LOL!!

 

Here's to the days now getting more hours of sunshine!

 

Cheers!

 

Oh, Christmas Tree!!

Happy Holid.....   Season's Gree....   Oh, to hell with it....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Yes it's real!!

Ha! There are so many goofy, political-correctness issues floating around anymore, about what to say at this time of the year.... and I just don't get it. I am not religious in the least, not a believer in ANYTHING (except living life, being good to others, and being true to one's self).... and I am perfectly okay with using "Christ" in a phrase that has been a fun, cheery, celebratory way to greet friends and family, for hundreds and hundreds of years.

So there you have it. Eight more days, and it will be CHRISTMAS. I wish everybody health and happiness, and love and laughs. Travel safe and enjoy spending time with your very important peeps!

Cheers!

Winter is here to stay!

So we might as well make the best of it, right!!?  Which means:  Skiing! Yeah!!

This weekend we spent two days on the slopes, in bone-chilling temps.... but the skiing was fantastic and it was so great to be outside in the mountains!

-25C at Norquay

Chris and I both demo'd some fat, free-ride skiis - way too much fun!! Chris rode the Rossignol Soul 7's and is totally in love with them.... I was on Rossi's Saffron 7's but wasn't completely smitten.... so I will need to keep researching.

It was a -20C, calm, blue-sky day at Sunshine - there's Mt Assiniboine!

 

Of course there were beer breaks!

Skiied til the chairs quit running! Woot!

Even though my toesies were freezing for most of it, it was awesome to check out some new downhill gear. Plus the cold kept the crowds away! And, the most ironic part about the whole deep-freeze weekend - I moderately frost-bit my earlobes while sitting in the hottub one evening! Tsk.

 

Can't wait to get out again!!

 

Cheers!

 



What SUP??!

As you may already know, my Sista and her hubby opened up a standup paddleboard shop in Mesa, back in July. It has been a huge success, and now not only do I have a 'second home' in Arizona (haha!), I also have unlimited access to another fun form of desert recreation!

Yesterday, while the kids were manning the store, a friend of Heather's took me out to Saguaro Lake and we paddled for a few hours. The landscape was beautiful and it was such a great way to spend an afternoon!

Soon, it's back to the frozen north for me. And while it has been a fantastic little break from winter, I must say I'm looking forward to getting home to all that fresh pow in the Rockies!

Cheers!

Good times in the desert!

S-A.... T-U-R.... D-A-Y.... night! Oh boooooy!!

Saturday started out pretty mellow.... I hung out with Heather and Court at their SUP shop....  Check it out at NoSnow Stand Up Paddleboards ....

 

 

Important piece of sporting equipment....

That's my dream board on the bottom!

But then at about 4 o'clock, the shenanigans began.

We loaded up the bicycles and met up with a group of the Fetters' friends, and peddled from one pub to another to another - watching the college football game, and of course consuming copious amounts of beer (and in my case, rum).



Ten adults + beach cruiser bikes + ASU football game = TROUBLE!!

 

First stop.

Third stop.

My ride!

Not my ride!

By the fifth stop, handstands seemed like a good idea....

The evening ended moderately early, and we mostly ended up unscathed.... It was a ton of fun and lots of laughs were had!

Today, I'm going paddling for the afternoon, which I am totally excited about! It is beautiful here and I can't wait to get out on the water!

Cheers!