Banff 11-week instructor course diary – week 11

Here’s the latest update from Banff’s NONSTOPers. This week James McKenzie shares stories from their Revelstoke outing.

Leaving on Friday afternoon, 13 hopeful skiers and snowboarders got on the 55 seater to go to Revelstoke in search of the much sought after, extremely scarce animal: Powder!

Escorted by those incredibly responsible instructors Johnny and Brian, the expectant NONSTOPers immediately got their license to drink beer on the bus and the party began!

The bus passed through some rain on the way to Revelstoke, to a groan from the group. But, as Johnny pointed out : “Raining down in town, it’ll be snowing up top.” Really?!

After an interesting night out in the thriving industrial town of Revelstoke, with a German-Indian Curry House (!?), Saturday morning dawned with some really excited snowboarders/skiers. It had been raining all night and we couldn’t wait to get up the mountain. We got on the local free bus and hit the slopes.

There were, apparently, pistes on the mountain. You wouldn’t really know it though: Revelstoke has some awesome glades and tree runs prepared for skiers and snowboarders, to the extent that they have trees prepped as rails!

All you could hear was the laughs, shouts and screams all the way down the mountain, as the NONSTOPers discovered the joy of powder in tree runs. Oh! And you could follow Johnny by his singing and his tracks straight-lining through the trees! Sick!

It snowed all day! We found rails, drop-ins, jumps, bumps and insane bowls. We got lost, we got tired and we got slightly inebriated (helped by Canada winning the Hockey!).

Respect to Dave, who popped a 360 of a kicker and hurt his shins badly enough he couldn’t ski on Sunday. Also to Gavin, who rode so hard he broke his board and doesn’t remember how!

Everybody agreed: The best riding, whether on skis or board, of the whole trip. Everybody finished on a massive high!

Check out James’ original report, with pictures

Check out the other Banff 11 week instructor course diaries here.

More info on Banff ski instructor courses here.

More info on Banff snowboard instructor courses here.