Thursday - Day 11 - Another Race Day!

First, I'd just like to thank the Fairmont at Whistler for offering the pay per use of their spa area option to sore-legged skiers. Supposed to be $30 per use, but a few of us flashed our blue jackets, and bragged just a liiiittle about what a great race we put on today, and boom! 10bucks each. 3 outdoor hot tubs, two outdoor pools, an indoor hot tub, a swim through from inside to outside, gorgeous locker rooms, with robes, towels, toiletries, etc for all - just beautiful!

Only one problem...I kind of lost track of time, and by the time I got all dried and dressed, and back to reality, having caught a short route bus to the Athletes' Village, where I would normally pick up my long route bus, the last bus had left. Late, dark, out of town, no one around, transit only running locally now...not good. So, I asked the driver of the big Greycoach going to Squamish, at least an hour south of here, loaded with workers who have been put up on a small cruise ship in their harbour, if he'd mind dropping me at Black Tusk Village, and very kindly he agreed -- IF I would tell him where to stop on the dark and desolate highway. I wasn't so sure of that at all, as the busses that I had been riding had mostly been driving in fog, rain, and the windows were covered in slush. But, in the end, I recognized the turnoff, and he pulled off and dropped me off - now THAT was a dark walk in to Black Tusk - but, I was sure to shuffle my feet as I walked - wouldn't want to startle any nocturnal predators!

Sidebar: The most used expression I'm hearing in Whistler: "No worries!" The place is crawling with wayward 20something male Auzzies! They come to board and ski, and often never go back home. They say "No worries" in response to every "Thank you" that comes their way.

And...did you know...that the ratio of males to females in this town is 6:1? Interesting...

Down to business...today, up at a 5am for the 5:45 bus, to arrive at the hill for 6:30, have brekky and meet with my Crew at 7:00. We uploaded at 8am, and were in place by 8:30 for a 9:45 start. I must say, I'm actually making some improvement in skiing down the race course into position - and remember staying out of the lines? Well, not so much anymore - if we have to cross the course, we do - not supposed to linger, but you have to turn where you have to turn. It's so hard and smooth now, that you really have to lean into the hill, and slide right up on your edges - fun, and challenging actually.

Today's event was the Ladies' Super Combined. This means they complete a Downhill race in the morning - long, very fast, tuck position, gates very far apart, and not too many of them. In the afternoon, when the sun came round...mmmm...the same athletes raced a Slalom run. This race starts much further down the hill, has lots of gates very close together, and the racers whack them out of the way, as they round each one. It's much tougher to judge clear passage of the racers skis through the gates of a Slalom race due to the incredible speed of their turns. There were no major mishaps, but unfortunately, the favourite, Lindsey Vonn, from the States, wiped out, and so didn't finish.

Race over, sun still shining, 2pm - I can get two hours of skiing in - conditions were incredible again today, but the really great thing, is that I turned a corner in my skiing. I could see everything, there was no fog, no wet snow, no deep powder, just nice crisp winter air, glistening snow, and hills, hills, hills, as far as the eye could see.

Laundry night tonight, so must - ah, who am I kidding? It's Weasel House time!

Then really - it is laundry night.

(Reminder for me to comment on the Ski Room tomorrow.)