CASI Level 1 success
Rob and Jaron have done it again, more CASI Level 1 success this week. Congratulations to you all.
Now onto the Level 2… 🙂 🙂
Level 2 success
Wooooowhooooo
Massive congratulations to all the crew who passed the CSIA Level 2 exam yesterday. Rock stars 🙂
TEAM AUSTRALIA wins the Olympic Amazing Race
Massive congratulations to Team Australia for winning the Olympic Amazing Race. In a very close race, they managed to beat the UK by a few points by tactfully planning their race course plan.
1st Place – Team Australia – Kate, Billy, Tom and Scott
2nd Place – United Kingdom – Steph, Aron, Alex and Ross
3rd Place – Norway – Cabrina, Ben, Henry and Owen
Best dressed – Jack Rathie representing Team Argentina
Notable mention – Euan Smillie who rocked the kilt in honor of his homeland Scotland – remember folks it was below 0 degrees, dumping snow and the guy wore the kilt in traditional fashion… bare legs and all. Now that’s dedication
Thanks to all that participated. The next assignment is being carefully planned
Thank God I’m on YES!
Awesome POW day today… the line ups prove this… are you freaking out… never fear when your with YES… LIFT LINE PRIORITY! Boom 🙂
YES Olympic Amazing race – 15 Feb 2014
The first YES Olympic amazing race took place yesterday with a fantastic turn out by all the representing countries.
We have such an awesome group of clients from around the world, it was great to see everyone proudly flying their colours… or their kilts 🙂
Olympic countries where Canada, South Korea, Cezch Replublic, Australia, Britian, Argentina, Scotland, Norway, USA to name a few.
The winning team will be announced tonight at our apres function and they each will receive a fresh tracks pass … perfect timing with the 50cm expected over the next few days.
Thanks to everyone for coming out and to Wazza for making it happen.
Apres 31 Jan 2014
And just when you thought no one was looking!
Last nights end of week apres was another great one full of laughs, snorts and lots of wise cracks! I felt alot of love in the room (as you can see from the insert photo) its great to see everyone who arrived as strangers only a few weeks ago are now …CLOSE!
Alex won the award for most improved skier and probably more so that Barry didn't loose him all week… WINNING!
To view all the photos, visit our facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152277799319101.1073741836.42421939100&type=3&uploaded=33
Cheers
Europe 2014 – Courchevel – And that’s a wrap!!!
The final day of Euro 2014 brought bright blue skies. The group met up top of the Saulire for the group photo minus our fallen comarde. You are missed Mr. Johnson. After the photo shoot, the groups dispersed in various directions. Linc's group headed to Mont Vallon and some great off piste before heading up to the Saulire chutes. Then it was off to watch the polo before a great lunch at La Soucoupe.
Linda blasting down the coulior.
Saulire and its chutes and couloirs
Polo on the snow in Courchevel
Meanwhile Meesh headed over to the Creux Noirs and found some fresh powder for Puffs to play in. Then it was over to 1650 via the Chanrossa to play in the Chapelets area. After a quick foray into the trees, literally for some, it was off to check out the polo and La Casserole for a long lunch. Dick headed straight to 1650 and cruised around the area before also checking out the polo. Then it was off to La Casserole to lunch before heading back to the hotel.
Erin heading out into the untracked
Leslie enjoying fresh tracks on Friday with her Monday Mojo
After a quick shower and refreshment, the crew met up for the wrap-up function which continued through dinner and into the night. Special prizes were handed out and the Dingster was recognized for having done 20 years of YES, and for surviving three weeks with the PowderPuffs. Another fantastic Euro trip that is over much to soon. A big thanks to everyone who participated in the adventure and look forward to many more.
Dingster, 20 years of YES.
Soaring above the Courchevel slopes
Meesh final day freshies
Europe 2014 – Courchevel : Trees, Rocks and La Folie Douce
NOTE: To protect the egos and well being of some YESturians, the indenties of certain individuals have been changed.
Thursday morning brought overcast skies as Meesh's group was the first out the door with guide Marie. The script for the day wrote itrself with calamity after calamity on the hill. Marie led us over to 1650 and some nice gulleys with soft snow and trees. The trees is where 'Laura' decided to set the tone for the day. After skiing the upper section of trees wonderfully, she decided to lock in on one particular evergreen and quickly found out that trees don't move. Price of that lesson was one ski and a faceful of snow. The rest of the day was spent trying to break the record for most falls in a day. Later as we were skiing in the La Tania area, 'Donald' decided a rock would make a more challenging target. After a last second evasive manouver, the result was one 'Donald' sized imprint in the snow. His arm had driven right through the snow and his whole body was flush with the top layer of the snow. After a great deal of effort, we managed to extract him from his predicament, not before taking a photo of course. If you thought the carnage ended there you'd be wrong because 'Kellly' had other ideas. Always playing the one upmanship, she also decided to challenge a tree to a game of chicken. The end result was spectacular as you can see in the photo below.
Check the YES Improvement facebook site to pick your favourite crash photo.
https://www.facebook.com/Yesimprovement
Erin skiing the trees of Courchevel 1650
Marie turning the Dingster on………his transceiver of course!!
Kim enjoying the powder
The Hardcore PowderPuffs in their natrual environment…..ok, second home.
After that eventful morning, where we actual had some great skiing, it was off to La Folie Douce for lunch. Lunch was fantastic and got very interesting when the cabaret started. Don't see a show like that every day, quite the spectacule. A few more off pistes runs after lunch before we finally made back to the hotel around 4:30, a long but great day skiing.
La Folie Douce for a quiet lunch and a cabaret. Totally normal.
Chris still shreddin' the pow.
Meanwhile Linc's group was heading over to Saint Martin for lunch. After getting lost, finding the path and repeating, they finally made it to the village. A good lunch at the Voute and a good day cruising the groomers. While Linc was cruising around and Meesh was pulling people out of trees, Dick was flogging his group lapping chairs in La Tania and Meribel. After a long lunch and with tired legs they made it back to the hotel with one group member "floating" down the runs. All in all a great day with only one more to go.
Linc's Crew above Saint Martin
The girls with their well earnt prizes
Europe 2014 – Courchevel, Couloirs to Culinary Cuisine
Tuesday brought more clear blue skies. Linc's group was the first out the door as they were being led by Marie. She quickly put them to the test by dropping in under the Saulire tram. After passing the exam she proceeded to drag them all over the 3 Vallees taking them down various steep bits of terrain. They made as far as Val Thorens before stopping for lunch. The way back consisted of more steeps before ending with a run down the Grand Couloir. Smiles all around as they celebrated a great day with some refreshments.
Marie and the Crew
Marie guiding the group down the couloirs
Lino surfing through the powder
Linc's group in one of the 3 Vallees many couloirs
Linc under the Saulire Tram
Meanwhile Dick and Meesh's groups had a later start due to a quick trip to the dentist and the boot shop for some repairs. WIth everyone back on track, it was off to explore the 3 Vallees. After a big previous day, it was a day to cruise the groomers and enjoy the sunshine until the coachs saw some soft snow and changed the plans. Meesh's group made it up the slowest chair in the world to the Col, while Dick's group rode the fastest tram to the top of Cime Caron. Both groups skied down to Les Menuires and headed up and over to Meribel-Monttaret so they could head up and over back to Courchevel. The Hardcore PowderPuffs managed to leave Les Verdons after a "vin chaud" and have their skis be the only ones left on the rack.
Dick's Crew high above Meribel
Leslie charging down the hill
Erin looking ahead to the next powder turn, or spotted a vin chaud ??
Kim skiing the powder with a beautiful backdrop
Last call, last ones out.
It was an off day for dinners at the restaurant, so most of the gang headed over to Les Airelles for a 2 Michelin Star feed with Chef Pierre Gagnaire. A six course meal awaited us with another 5 plates of dessert! It was a fantastic evening and the food was amazing. We were all full as "a snake who just ate a wallaby." A big thank you to all that made the evening one to remember.
1st course: goose fois gras with a milk chocolate and hazelnut voile with black truffle
Wednesday was a day of rest. Some of the crew took advantage to do some shopping while others went for a leisurely ski. Meesh hooked up for a morning ski with Marie and she was eager to show off her mountain. The day started with Couloir Tournier, followed by Grand Couloir and ended with a run down the Dou des Lanches into the forest. A great morning ski has raised the desire to return and explore more of the area. Tomorrow should bring another good day.
Marie in the Grand Couloir
Another happy YES graduate!
One of my favourite parts of the job is receiving emails like the below. Harrison was another awesome instructor student that we loved. See you soon buddy 🙂
Hey Belinda and PJ
Just wanted to say thank you for such an amazing time and experience in Whistler. Definitely not what i expected, much much better, and thats thanks to the effort you guys all put in, so thanks.
Theres a 90% chance ill be back next season to work so a catch up and a beer will be in order for sure (like how i have adopted the canadian "for sure"?)
I hope your wedding all goes to plan and is amazing Belinda!
Thanks again,
Harrison
