Group bonding session on Saturday night! In true Kiwi style, most of us watched the rugby while the other losers went to the World Bar (jokes). Admittedly Judie and I needed the rules explained to us-its such a better game when you understand it! And a new love for Dan Carter has been found-No.10 if you were wondering. The All Blacks won and we moved on to The World Bar to celebrate our victory.
What better cure for jetlag, than a hangover? I think Tom and John were the hardcore partygoers, getting back at around 4AM. The sensible ones caught the 10pm bus. Needless to say very few people made it to breakfast-or so I'm told! Sunday night was unsurprisingly an early night, especially considering the emphasis on not missing the bus up the slopes!
Emma & Judie
View from the Plane of Queenstown
Sat 14th / Sun 15th July
The first few days have been spent relaxing, and checking out New Zealand with some visits to Queenstown's finest establishments....Fergburger, The World Bar, The Police Station (James), Betty's.
A Luge-fest took place after Sunday's introduction, with lots of us heading up the gondola (from which the views are unbelievable). Essentially the Luge is a plastic tray with wheels. The advanced track was filled with the Grey Peak Leaders Jackets. The boys took it slightly too seriously, with some major road-rage going on! Much fun was had-with the promise of returning.
Ayla
Steve and his group
Breakfast is served!!
Ben and his group
Mon 16th July
We have all survived the first day- boarders a little bruised- no names, Judie. We started off just finding our legs-some have been on the slopes already some of us haven't been on snow for a few months or more.
Just before lunch we started some work on our "basic position" and keeping our skis parallel. After a hard mornings skiing, a well deserved lunch break took place-chips and pasta all the way! An hour later we were back on the chairlift, soaking up the sun and preparing for another few hours.
Back at the hotel we were greeted by toast, hot chocolate and a hot-tub to revive, then bowling and, dare I say it, homework.
Judie
Bowling
New Zealand 07 Group
Toby meeting his guys
Mon 16th July
We went bowling cos there's a bowling alley attached to the hotel. Dahj's many year of practice was very obvious [Dahj note: 193!!!], though there was some tough competition. Not from me, but perhaps by the end of the course I'll be able to knock down more than 4!
Emma
Tuesday 17th July
We got some footage of ourselves today, and watched it back. We don't quite look like instructors yet.
Today the evening ski/board tuning classes started. The hotel has set up a tuning room for us so we can perform ski-surgery! Dahj has been teaching the groups how to repair, sharpen and wax. All very handy, but perhaps even more handy is the use of the finger skateboard kept in his tool kit.
Emma
Andy getting some early season footage
Wednesday 18th July
We had a revision evening class with Ben and Tony, just going over the theory of Basic Position and manoevures over the last few days. After dinner we began the ILM.
Emma
Jack getting some board performance
Tuning
Thursday 19th July
Today and tomorrow we are up at the Remarks, catching some rays, as its a sunny day again! We began to start getting into lesson plans. On the way back we had a hobbit-like French bus driver- he was weird! He kept talking to himself, and I'm sure at one point he said "Am I asleep?". He also tried to use Hattie as a brush to get the snow out of the trunk.
It's now Thursday evening. Woo! Weekend tomorrow! I think we are all looking forward to it. The course has been harder work than anyone was expecting. I think most people have seemed to disappear by 9 some nights!
We don't look like intructors yet. It's so hard to change well learned habits; one ski, poles balancing on hands, boots undone, coin between your butt cheeks!, etc etc. We're getting there.
Emma
"Imagine a coin between your butt-cheeks"
Thursday 19th July
It's getting near the end of the first week now. We've spent the first three days working on our riding. This seemed to go pretty well, with all of us having lots to work on (gotta get that front knee over my bindings on the toe-side turns!). Going back to me I was saying it went well, there was the regrettable incidents of John and Judy, but I'll let them talk about that. We went for our first trip to the Remarkables today. Steve gave us all a beginner lesson on the practice slope and talked us through what he was doing, and more importantly why! We also learnt noes-rolls. I'm off to do some homewor and pray for some of the white stuff. See ya later.... How many ski instructors does it take to screw in a light bulb? 10- 1 to screw it in and 9 to say "nice turns!". Thanks for that one Steve.
Gaz
Thursday 19th July
The Remarkables has been made up to be quite a resort... except the incredibly 'hairy' road (Dahj talk..). Hairy enough for Myles to be laughing hilariously and throwing his arms up and down, not to mention the wacky French bus driver...As the skiing was concerned it was our first day on learning how to present a lesson, although to be teaching a beginners lesson, we have to be able to ski at beginners level spot on, so when there's a group of first time skiers across from you, and they look over to see that another beginners group is doing the same, only that they advancing faster, then our ego's have just got the boost of this week. Dahj was doing his thing, following people around, getting snaps of us in bad postures, showing off and other stuff that Dahj does... His tuning clinic was great,and who'd of thought he'd have so much joy in his expression explaining how if you put magazines up to create a quarter-pipe then you can do flips and back sides on a miniature skateboard, yeah, Dahj is just a wicked guide.
Sam
Nose rolls
Friday 20th July
Although the last few days have been challenging, they have been so fun. There's a six person chair at Coronet Peak which we have found is ace for playing chinese whispers on.
I think the only person who hasn't had a great few days is John who had a collision and was concussed. He was back in the hotel again that evening and seemed much better, but can't board for a few days. Today all he had for company was FamilyGuy- Could have been worst I suppose!
Kieron and Olly got their bags back, Olly was a bit disappointed his guitar hasn't turned up yet, but 4 out of 5 isn't bad, no?
Emma
Boarding
Chinese whispers on the chair lift
Friday 20th July
Its been a great time, and the fun is only just begining. Amazing crew, getting along great, and going off, like dogs in a hubcap factory.... Like a frog in a sock....Like prawns in the sun. Well not quite like that, but you get the picture.
We've been really busy this week....begining the ILM course, some night sessions to go over the manual, and some tuning clinics on how to keep our gear in shape....and the training will take some getting used to too! I think this weekend will be welcomed, with a chance to sleep in, bungy jump, shop, and of course have a couple of well deserved drinks.
Dahj
Fri 20th July / Sat 21st July
Been up at the Remarks again today - the road seems to get scarier every time. It doesn't even have rails to stop buses falling off the side!
Tody's (AKA The Tobatron) group spent the day learning how to ski in a straight line-It takes a lot of skill to "wedge" as its known here. As most of us haven't needed to snowplough for years-we were pretty crap at it and took to the beginner slope for practice. We learnt how to teach beginners, by practicing on each other.
Friday night was time to celebrate the survival of the first week and have a stiff drink after the scary bus ride down from Remarks.
Saturday was time to sleep and recover from Friday nights best efforts!! Ayla
Nick, Gaz, Kieron, Madie
Cat, Suzie, Emma
Sunday 22nd July
Standing with my toes reluctantly poking over the edge of the 134m high platform was probably not the best time to be wondering if the elastic cord attached to my ankles was strong enough to keep me from hurtling to oblivion, but it was the only thing on my mind right then. But all the other Peak Leaders who had come for the bungy had survived the death-defying leap of the Nevis Highwire Bungy ( one of the highest in the world) -so no turning back now.
Suzie, Judie, Emma, Nick at the bungy
Suzie strapping in
To a tune of "The Killers" playing on the stereo, I dove into the air, plunging head first for 8 freefall seconds, before the cord snapped me back up again, buzzing, on the biggest high ever. Words can't really describe the feeling, but listening to "The Killers" will never be the same again. i'm glad I took the plunge, and I think that Gaz, Ross, Nick, Ross and Judy would all agree that if your in Queenstown, you have to give this a go!
Suzie
Ross on his way out
Gaz taking the leap
Gaz taking the leap
Nick
Tuesday 24th July
Team James-Olly-Joe-Dahj Left Arm-Dahj Right Arm-Freddy, win the first Coronet Alpine Bowling Invitational. Honourable mention to Jack G, for 4 strikes in a row!
Thursday 26th July
The boarders experienced their first bit of good powder today, much of which was experienced on their heads. The powder was contrasted by the sheet ice on the lower mountain. It was overall a good well-rounded day, with lots of practice on demos and teaching in the afternoon. The powder was a nice change to the hardpack recently.
We're all praying for more powder, especially Gaz who had his first experience of riding in powder today.
Ah....James
Guest Services
He also showed that he is willing to do silly things for beer, as he managed to fit his entire pudding in his mouth without choking. Will keep everyone updaed on what else he does, I think the next involves no clothes.
In the afternoon, we had presention with a woman named Michelle, on Guest Services. Liam
Friday 27th July
Another week of training has come to an end. Today was another day at The Remarkables, and Toby and Bens groups hiked up to the top of the famous Alta Chutes. A little bit of fresh snow helped make it worth every step.
Dahj
Olly
From the top
Saturday 28th July
First aid today, with most of us still feeling quite fragile from a combination of the queenstown cough and the night before. None of us had high expectations of 8hours of first aid. Everyone figured it would be a little boring, but infact it was a really good day, thanks mostly to David out tutor who had plenty of stories to tell.
The day started off with the hymlic manourver, which made everyone feel a bit sick. We learnt CPR and how to treat a variety of broken bones, cuts, burns and poisonings.
First Aid
First Aid
As you can see from the photos we spent half the day on the floor being patients and having mock seizures. It was a really fun day. The highlight was when David decided to test a defibrulator on Ross. Joe didn't realise it was a demo machine and when Ross jumped, Joe freaked out. Tom
23rd - 28th July
Toby's group had Gavin instructing them for 4 days as the Tobe-a-tron was doing exams of his own. We were introduced to "beer fines", for eg. falling over, being late, moaning or silly coments, etc etc. Each one was a beer for the "kitty" (if Gavin fell he had to buy 8!). So it started off well, with only a few fines. That was until we had to learn to ski on one ski. James managed to rack up 5 in one run. Then on the last run of the last day with Gavin, he fell. It made our day. 38 beers among 9 people wasn't bad.
!
Friday night (for most) was quiet, as the First Aid was on Staurday, starting at 8AM! We all had a laugh, despite the serious of it all, and all passed. We hit town as officially trained First-Aiders. Ayla
Tom, Sam, John, Gaz, Nick
Cat, Suzie, Emma
Hi Mum
Tuesday 31st July
Nick, Gaz, Ross, Jack, Allen, Nick. Winners of this weeks tounament.
Winners, this time
Friday 3rd August
This week we've been maily working on our teaching for the upcoming CSI exams, next week! As all of us have found out, getting our teaching right is very hard, especially when the rest of the group is pretending to be ten year olds. Most of us have now got our general riding up to CSI standard, except in my case where my switch riding is rather poor!
We have one really exciting thing on the horizon, in the form of heli-skiing/boarding. I'm not sure what people are more excited about; the skiing/boarding or going for a ride in a helicopter?!
Liam
The boarders above the clouds!
Sam and Dahj
Bens crew
Jack
Friday 3rd August
OK, so the CSI is now imminant and people are revising hard. No joke, reception and the bar have been taken over by Peak Leaders people, oh, and the hot tub! I hadn't been in the hot tub the whole time I've been here, but Ayla said it was good for revising so we had to try it out on friday night. It's all good fun.
Cat, Judie, Emma
Hustlers
The weekend would not be complete without a poker evening. I made a $1.60 profit, and Liam won his lunch....Also Dumb and Dumber deserve honourable mention for their "blind" poker playing- suffice to say they were soon out.
Actually, this weekend there was more happening than I realised, Liam and brewing skittles vodka for the last two weeks so we managed to stomach that on friday too (Liam note- the next will taste better).
Emma, Liam, Wee Jack
Saturday 4th / Sunday 5th August
Activities this weekend have been varied. The hardcore people have been skiing/boarding - practising demos or converting the unconverted to the darkside..." welcome to the darkside, we have cookies". Some went night skiing on Saturday night as well, and we went to see the Simpsons movie. The bus was 10 mins late to leave, but Sam still managed to miss it. Maybe we should call him the "White Rabbit" from Alice in Wonderland.
Quote of the day - "I thought of it, I processed it in my mind, and it came out wrong" - Wee Jack Emma, Liam, Wee Jack
Tuesday 7th August
CSI!!!!!
The first day of CSI seemed to go well for all from what I can gather. Most of the snowboarders ended up in the same group, except John and Kieron. The snow on Coronet Peak was really good which helped everything, especially Judy, who made numerous turns down Exchange. The skiers also had a good day by all accounts, despite the weather at the Remarks not being as good.
We are all hoping that the CSI continues like it is (easy!) , so we all pass and can be very merry on shandys on Fridays celebrations.
Liam
Thursday 9th August
One day to go. Everything is going smoothly, and everyone is still happy with how things are going for them. Tomorrow is the teaching section of the exams, and then the CSI will be done and dusted!
Dahj
Weekend 11th 12th August
With the CSI over Friday night was a heavy one for most, so Saturday was a fairly quiet one for most of us. There was some good snow at Remarks though so some headed up the hill to enjoy the powder. Another decided on an outing. The fun included surviving Kieron's driving, picking up some hitchers, puzzling world and for a brave few (Sam, Cate, Susie and Judie), skydiving! A wicked weekend all round.
Judie
As the other guys were skydiving, myself (Liam)m Kieron, Emma, Maddy and Wee Jack had to entertain ourselves for a couple of hours. Just over the road from the skydiving we found mini-golf and a shooting range. Kieron won the mini-golf followed by Wee Jack, Maddy and me and Emma joint Fourth (not last).
Fresh Tracks
Then we went a fired some small bore rifles. Kieron was clearly better than Jack and myself, who had more success hitting the pegs holding the targets up, than the target.
We met back up with the skydivers and had lunch, then went to puzzling world, which was awesome. We got lost and frustrated in the two story maze. The rest of the place wa confusing and made my head hurt trying to work it all out.
The highlight of the day had to be Emmas driving. First confusing the brake and accelerator pedal, and then not being able to find the brake. We all were a litle scared, but made it home. Liam
Remarks powder day
Sam and Kieron
Samtaking the leap
Emma
The crew
The crew
Sam Skydiving
A puzzling room
Thursday 16th August
Today the boarders had a day of purely freestyle, and the skiers did an avalanche awareness course. We had an introduction last night by Matt, who began to teach us how to make the right decisions when we're in the back-country.
The avi course covered things like; using a transeiver, probe and shovel, testing snowpack, choosing safe lines to ascend slopes, and reading the weather for signs of safe or un-safe slopes.
The rest had a day in the park, hitting kickers and boxes!
Tomorrow, its visa-versa!!
See below for a short video of the snowboarders in action.
Myles in the park
Cate checking the snowpack for stability
Jack on the hunt for a transceiver
The snowboarders in action
Saturday 18th August
Heli Day!!!!
An awesome day was had by all. 4 drops, and a big lunch in between. Clickhere to see more photos
[Note:A few more heli pics added ]
A video of ride up, from finish, to start. Check out the little figures at the top!
Thursday 23rd August
Well another weeek of training nearly finished, now focused squarely on the Stage 1 exams. We are now stepping it up, and skiing and boarding, talking and walking like instructors! Only one more week before it all kicks off.
The ILM presentations have begun, and we are demostrating a huge understanding of the course content, and leadership qualities. The presentations have been very thorough and entertaining. Dahj
The boarders pracising teaching
Nick, Ross and Jack
"The Exchange"
Last week re-cap ( Thurs 16th till Thurs 23rd )
We've been busy working hard...On Thursday the skiers did An Avalanche awareness course. It was awesome, and I don't know about the others, but I have a new appreciation for snow....yes, really, a new appreciation for snow. The highlight of the day was probably learning how to use transceivers. Never go into the backcountry with a deaf person cos you have to follow the beeps of the transceiver. Actually another tip, don't go into the back country with me - you'll be more screwed than if your with a deaf person (it took me 15 mins to find a transceiver Sam buried, and he wouldn't even help me).
Friday was a freestyle day-we split into groups according to ability and confidence. We learnt to ski switch, do ollies, did some jumps and started learning how to do rails - by riding a bamboo cane! I still have the bruises from falling off it! Some of the guys in the advanced group were doing 360s over the jumps, and grabs. I was impressed! Oooh, and Wee Jack had a groovy wipe-out. He was going over the jump, caught the tip of his ski while in the air, and face-planted. We made sure he was OK before we laughed.
Saturday was heli-day! The alarms went off early, as Dahj said we were leaving at 8. He was wrong. An hour wrong. A few went back to bed or to watch TV. So the bus arrived and took us to a carpark in the middle of nowhere. Middle Of Nowhere doesn't have toilets, though fortunately plenty of woods. The majority of Heli-guides arrived in choppers (I hear that's the only way to travel these days), and we practised with some transceivers again.
The two choppers began shipping people out to the mountains. I'd never been in a helicopter before, and it was insane but very cool. We crossed the lake and out into powder land!
The pilot landed on a ridge and we all got out to the "safe position", all touching a backpack. Cate and I decided it was like The Portkeys from Harry Potter. We put our skis and boards on and dropped in. It was amazing. I had never skied real powder before. I was expecting to just faceplant, but no! wooo! We did two runs before lunch, then two after.
There were mixed activities on Saturday night - I went to see Breach (recommend it) but many went to Buffalo and Winnies, no names Mentioned. Many returned in the early hours the next morning.
Sunday was a quiet day, recovering and ILMing. We had Fergburger for breakfast, as the cereal says "What better way to start the day", followed by a visit to the fudge shop, a frequent haunt of ours.
Monday again, and back to the hard work. But the sun is shining and we were still smiling. On Wednesday we had a visit from some other trainees, who we thrashed in bowling. Suffice to say ZI wasn't playing, and Dahj will testify to my bowling technique, which sometimes goes backwards rather than forwards! Emma
Top of the world
Strong edge turns
Friday 24th/Saturday 25th August
So another week over and less than a week before the Exams! We had Tim training us this week. The A team as we are now know were hard-core, and stayed up the hill after 4 on a Friday!
The night was spent in the usual way- with the normal routine of Buff, Surreal's upstair "chillout" zone, and Winnies (which happened to be Baywatch night). We stumbled across Ben and Gavin and spent some time discussing our skiing - which probably wasn't the best time, all things considered!
Saturday was an adrenalin filled day for many. Ski-Nick and John went skydiving, and loads people went Jet-Boating on the Shotover River. There were smiles all round. Most went to bed earlyish, as our week is running from Sunday to Thursday this week, so we can have a day of rest before the Stage 1 starts on Saturday.
Ayla
The Shotover Jet Boat Ride
Friday 31st August
We had a BBQ and beers at Coronet Peak today, to coincide with the end of the coaching through our usual trainers. Now we're in the hands of the NZSIA/SBINZ, and will be followed by exams at the end of the week! The trainers have been great, and have put their heart and soul into progressing our skiing/riding, and teaching skills.
Tuesday 4th/Wednesday 5th September
POWDER DAY!...Oh, and the first day of the boarders exams. Today was just crazy;about a foot of fresh snow across the whole mountain, just when we thought we wouldn't get any more before the end.
Most of us reckon that it was the best two days of the season!
Saturday 8th September
Well we come to the end of the training, and it's been amazing! Everyone has had an incredible time, and will have made life-long friends. Most of the crew are off to jobs in the USA next season, and the few others are off to Uni.
Some of us are hitting Cairns tomorrow, for the Aus extra two weeks, so that's all very exciting too. Stay tuned for photos of Aus, which I'll put up here in a couple of weeks. Thanks to everyone!
Cheers,
Dahj
Here's a taste of some of the Australia photos.... go HERE for loads more.....
