|
7 riders on plates + 2 coaches + 4 days. Here is my report, along with some commentary courtesy of Günther, my split-personality alter-ego. |
|
|
Sun Peaks is a miniature version
of Whistler, but without the crowds, the sketchy weather, or the
iffy grooming. Ja - vee tink it's more like Sölden, und less
like Verbier.
Another bonus: To
compete with Whistler, Sun Peaks is pushing over-the-top customer
service everywhere in the resort, so the groomers gave us whatever
we asked for and did not require bribes of any kind - Ja! if vee
vant extra über-grooming any vhere else, vee have to bend
over backvards! - und forvards! Ach!
Alpine coach Mark Harris digs back
into his closet - way back, for an outfit to match the
Donek topsheet, and comes up with this retro gem, which lasts
about one run before starting to tear apart. Actually, it's beyond
retro - it's retrograde. It also does wonders for the Snowperformance
marketing visibility - Ach! Vee tink dat is current style in Austria
- dier idea of fashion ist alvays "retrograde"! Dat
lederhosen vould blend right in!
Mark Harris speaks softly and with few words, much like the protagonist in a gothic comic book, but gives you exactly the information you need, and nothing more. Arnold Schwarzenegger earned about $21,000 per word in Terminator 2, but Mark's priceless advice does one better - Ja! can vee rent out Mark by zie minute? ... Ach! Vee don't mean it like dat! vee know vhat your dirty mind is tinking!
Plus, he can take an alpine board into the pipe and work it.
To the right is Sean Cassidy, pro-gold-deluxe limited-edition alpine coach - Ja! dat guy ist carving rocket scientist. He teaches zie unified field theory auf carving. Just call him Werner von Cassidy.
To the left is Marty, a camper who spent 50% of the time doing some assistant coaching - Vee tink Marty ist die vunderkind auf carving!
So we actually got 2.5 coaches - Ja! vee had 7 carvers auf
plates, und 2,5 coaches. Hmmm .. dat vould be ... 2,8 carvers
per coach! - dat's da vay to go baby!
full-res
Peter is doing the
"quiet upper body" drill - Ja! mit none of dat evil
counter-rotation!
The camp was Lisa's first time
on plates. In total, there were 3 beginner carvers, and they all
went up the learning curve quickly - Ja. Dey carven sie up in
no time!
We got video analysis
at the end of every day, and then gathered for dinner du jour.
The village caters to the international crowd, and features The
Stromböck, a German speaking hotel and restaurant, as well
as other Euro-friendly establishments - Ja! don't even try hitting
on doz St. Pauli Girl vaitresses - dey not dat easy! leave doz
to a pro - like Günther!
Sun Peaks has three mountains,
two with the best morning snow, and one with a different sun exposure
that gets the best texture in the afternoon. It's win-win. Like
everywhere else in the Pacific North West, conditions were freakishly
warm in late March, but the camp was able to juggle among the
various mountains and find the best terrain.
The first two days
consist of drills to help rebalance everyone's chi, in preparation
for the gate training on the last two days.
Meanwhile, Gavin coaches the skiers,
and provides unlimited amusement for the carvers - Ja! vee got
to practice some of dat conversational Scottish! - "If it's
naut Scottish, it's crrrrap!"
At lunch, there's
no dress code - it's strictly come-as-you-are. The village is
small enough to get to know people, and Canadians are disarmingly
friendly, in a Dudley Do-Right sort of way - Ach! except doz customs
officers, eh? - vee still valking funny! Ach!
Then, back to business. The last
two days we get to be legends in our own mind on the race course
- Ja! dey set up PGS. Vee rippen sie up!
Meanwhile, we confirm
our long-held belief that resorts fill marketing PR with sweet
shots of carvers laying it down, even though hardly anyone carves
- Ja! dis is vhut vee call "carve-porn"!
Snowperformance is full service,
and that means demo gear and a tuning clinic. Peter and Sean debate
the relative merits of base edge angle - Ach! dat Sean Cassidy
ist ATM machine auf tuning - In goes zie bier, out comes zie advice.
 |
|
- Ja! Vee vant von of doz FC II 179! Dat von has cruise control! |
Back to The Carver's Almanac
