09/10 Banff 11 week instructor course diary – week 1
If you’re reading this, there’s a reasonable chance (I’d guess) that you’re going through thoughts of “shall I, shan’t I” and looking through a list of snowboard/ski instructor companies and courses, as I was during last summer. I’m going to cut to the chase a bit, and say that if you’re thinking of doing it, stop faffing around, do a good amount of research as to what the courses offer (I made a spread sheet with pros and cons which is unusually organised for me) and get something booked. NONSTOP ended up at the top of my list no matter which way I looked at it from (especially when you take into account the credits for extra activities which are included, and the genuine and infectious enthusiasm of all the NONSTOP employees).
Anyway, I digress. Here’s a brief account of the first week, and as I said, “a bit more before”.
The bit more is due to it seeming a bit rude to not get out here to Banff on Boxing day, nearly a couple of weeks before the course started to find my boarding legs. Luckily, they were where I’d left them, just above my feet and below my @rse.
Coming from grey and dank England, the first thing that struck me was that it’s a bit chilly here. The second though, is just how friendly genuine and helpful the locals are (ay). I nearly forgot to add how friendly and helpful Emily and Georgie from NONSTOP are too. After not even a fortnight I appear to almost have taken the fact that we all know they’ll be there for us to sort out any problems, no matter how big or small for granted, as well as give us all the information and advice that only experienced seasonaires can. Thanks guys!
So, to day 1. Thursday January 7th.
Breakfast with lots of new faces who arrived yesterday, then a very informative talk with some absolutely top tips from “Junior” from Ultimate, a shop in town. You might think you know enough about snowboard boots, but amongst other gems, I’d not heard of trick ways of doing up laces…all good stuff. We then met our instructors in the lobby and walked into town to the “Ultimate” shop for an equipment talk and a chance to look around. All the staff there know their onions and (predictably!) will help in any way they can. There was a tour of the town after, though since I’d been around for a while, and had a rest (hangover) day on Wednesday, I skipped off to catch the last bus to Lake Louise.
Friday January 8th.
After finding our way round Sunshine and Lake Louise for a couple of weeks and making new friends as they’ve come in in dribs and drabs, (Kiwi doesn’t stand for Keen individual without intelligence after all! 
) we’ve finally had our first day proper of the NONSTOP course, which has started with a day of getting to know Sunshine (with, indeed, an abundance of sunshine). I’ve been smiling my head nearly right off all day. The groups have been split into ability/experience (our group is 8 strong), so we’re all riding at somewhere close to the same speed. Our instructor is Brian. He’s quite simply the best boarder I’ve ridden with. Watching him carve and jump so effortlessly made me laugh so much a couple of times I nearly crashed. He’s so good, it’s literally funny. Having him come blasting past laughing and whooping has been a pleasure. I already feel like my boarding has improved more in just one day than it has in the last couple of weeks with just a day of “cruising” round Sunshine by simply watching him, aided by some casual coaching before the real lessons start next week. We hit pretty much every lift by the time we headed down to the bar for a well earned pint or two. What a mega day!
Saturday January 9th.
After a French bread and cerial breakfast, we were on the bus again, this time for Lake Louise. The morning was spent cruising around the resort, again watching Brian spin and butter his way past the lot of us. Lunch was followed by a proper treat. A pommel lift ride (not my favourite to be honest!), followed by a fifteen minute high altitude hike up to the ridge of one of the powder bowls, which had us all breathing pretty hard! What a treat though. Even in flat light, the views were spectacular. We dropped into the bowl and I did my best impression of an out of control gymnastic tumbler on magic mushrooms. Even though we’ve had no fresh snow for a good few days, there was still a good deal of sweet powder up there. Fantastic! After some more powder hunting, and a load more riding, we again retired to the bar to finish off the day with a beer or two. The last two days have been the best boarding I’ve done to date. Woopee!! Happy days!
So, back to the hotel for dinner and a shower, then off to the Rose and Crown for a season kick off party (or a drinking extravaganza for some of us!). Thanks again to Emily and Georgie for organising a great night.
Sunday January 10th.
Oh dear. It’s Banff Hangover day.
A very late breakfast of omelette and hash browns in Melissa’s followed by a mega clothes washing session at the launderette where my head was spinning as much as the machines. Not good, but well deserved I guess… The best thing by far today was signing up for extra activities throughout the course. I’ve chosen Avalanche training, a trip to see some hockey, and the thing I’ve been thinking about for a good while, cat boarding at Fernie! I can’t wait!!
Right, time for an early night, we’re back to Sunshine tomorrow and I want to be fresh!
Ciao for now! Dave.
