Date: 16th of December 2007

 Hi All,

Definitely “Ground Hog Day”! It seems like only yesterday that I was sitting here in front of the lap top writing daily update number one of forty six from last years camps…how time flies! Well 12 months on, some things don’t change, newly arrived athletes wake up at 4.00am battling jet lag and the time difference.

After the initial wake up by most people during the night we let everyone sleep in until around 8.30. Still half asleep everyone headed downstairs for a late breakfast. Cereals, toast, juice and also a full cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon and the works greeted the crew and while most got stuck in there were a few who just couldn’t get their head around eating at 3.30am (Australian time).

After brekky everyone headed back upstairs to finish unpacking and getting their rooms sorted. The anticipation was building with everyone itching to get out on the snow and just before 11.00am the crew headed out for their first runs at Silver Star.

The free riders and mogul groups joined forces today to begin their first day of on snow training. The day was designed to keep the kids relaxed and slowly work them into the rhythm of camp life. Most of the crew have not skied Silverstar before, so the day was a good opportunity to explore and get to know each other a little better. It was also a good opportunity for Chris and Ridley to get to know everyone and their backgrounds. They began with a couple of relaxing runs down Whisky Jack down to the sixer.  The lifties must have been playing funny buggers as the lift continued to stop multiple times on the way up. By the time we got 2 runs in it was time for lunch.

The afternoon was a little more structured with the group assembling on snow right on 1 pm. Kate was lagging a little behind, possibly spending a little too much time inside admiring her new skis. Brodie and Conrad were keen as mustard to get into it again and did not hold back the whole afternoon. We made our way over to the back side of the mountain. A little patchy, we managed to get about 3 or 4 runs in. The girls were right into it as-well and performed really well in the tough conditions. Tomorrow will be fully structured with the groups meeting at 8.45 for a warm up and stretch. They will ride together for the morning and split into Moguls and Freeride for the afternoon. Where the drills will begin, well for the bumpers anyway…

Today the boarders headed out in the morning for an hour to get their feet back and learn their way around the resort. They spent the whole morning hitting the whiskey jack rollers getting used to their equipment again but some really struggled with the cold temperatures – well compared to home anyway!

After some warm soup for lunch and the addition of some more layers the group headed out again for an afternoon of full training session. Kane and Jack were quick to show off their jibbing skills landing all four 180s (frontside, backside and switch frontside/backside) as well as 3 out of 4 360s with switch backside 360s proving to be hard on their first day back.  Jay was quick to get his skills up to where they were last season trying to keep with the boys, but the cold hand just about got the better of him. Oli and Nath were carving up a storm and getting some nice pop off the cat tracks and the two Cozzella boys who have had more time off snow than the rest of the group also did a few nice ollies off the rollers and cat tracks. Look out for Rowan in the next few weeks, he was most improved today and is looking like a contender for most improved boarder on the camp.

The first of the Vernon shuttles headed off the mountain at 3.45pm for the short 20 minute drive down to town. Chris piloted the van with 10 or so people eager to check out the local mall. An hour later and packing loads of supplies (mostly soft drink and lollies) they headed back up the mountain.

They arrived back right at 6.00pm, just in time for dinner. Emma had whipped her a very tasty Sunday Roast. Today it was roast chicken plus roast veggies including potatoes and pumpkin, carrot, corn and broccoli cheese. There was very little left on the plates to scrape into the bin with the exception of the occasional piece of broccoli so I’d say dinner # 2 was a winner!  Dessert for those who had room was a choice of good old vanilla or chocolate ice cream.

The first of our activities was a pretty low key village / resort tour. Min, Beggsy and Chris took the entire group for a walk through the village pointing out all the key areas of interest, places to go and things to see. When they got back some settled in and watched a DVD while others sat in the hall and talked – very civilized start to the camp! Some people called home and spoke to family while some chose to resist the urge to call home (much to m any parents angst!)

Most people started to slow down around 9.00pm as the effects of jet lag once again snuck up on them. Many of them headed off to bed to early to catch on some much needed sleep but several die hards lasted the distance until bed time.
 We welcome Jamie who arrived today. I headed down to Kelowna this morning to meet Jamie’s flight that was supposed to arrive at 10.45am. Well two missed connections and 5 hours later Jamie finally landed in Kelowna, all be it missing one bag… you got to love Air Canada!!!!

Pinky makes his inaugural appearance on this year camp. Pinky is awarded daily to the athlete /s who manage to say or do something stupid and there is usually no lack of candidates. Pinky is a very old school pink helmet that has been with the camps for well over a decade. The daily recipient must pose for a photo with Pinky and we then post the shot on the web. We kick off this year with an absolute ripper.  Well it was actually yesterday at Vancouver Airport where Brodie decided to put his ski bag through the international baggage check without any of the airline checkin staff realizing. Well the bag disappeared into the bowels of Vancouver airport and as expected did not arrive on his flight. Luckily it was on the next flight an hour later. Very pinky worthy!!

Tomorrow is the first day of training so check back tomorrow for the latest pics and movies but in the meantime please check out some of the footage from today.

Until Tomorrow

Stowie