Fernie 11 Week Ski Instructor Course ‘06 – Week 11

By Menno Blaisse (Dutchy)

NONSTOP\’s Dutch Ambassador writes….

Off we went into our final two weeks in Fernie but first we had the best activities coming up.

Personally I was really looking forward to the Banff trip. The plan was to train (in Banff) for the Level 2 course that would start on Monday right after. Plan failed! Instead of skiing, I, amongst others, went snowbiking. Greatest fun!

Lake Louise and Sunshine are great resorts, but Fernie is still home for me! As we’ve turned into locals in Fernie, it was weird to feel like tourists again in Banff. Although the nightlife was off the hook!

Monday some of us started their level 2 course, so did I. Although, in a serious week of focus and concentration, we were all getting excited about the famous and fantabulous ‘Hot Dog Day’. The main idea of that day was to look as ridiculous as possible.

I was a little scratchy about the whole thing, till everybody in Fernie got into their 70’s feeling. The whole NONSTOP crew dressed up like Starsky and Hutch. It was hilarious! Imagine an entire mountain full of hippies coming down the hill, old school style except for one little group of fanatic snowplowers doing the same run all day (us).

The day was concluded with killer parties all over town.

That weekend, people who signed up for it, could finally experience what it feels like to sleep in snow caves.

Guided by our own ‘Dangerous Dave’, people went up the hill, got to build bunkers in the snow and slept overnight in a cave at the (by ideal standards)perfect temperature of minus 4 degrees Celsius. Yes people actually volunteered!

It was too cold to hold for me, but since I\’ve heard the stories and saw the beautiful pictures, I regretted not sharing that extreme experience.

As I stand in front of my house, (Kens Up) knowing that I’m a fully certified Level 2 instructor, I’m thinking about the awesome 11 weeks that have passed as the snow melts away in the sun.

Off to Amsterdam it is!

THANK YOU NONSTOP