Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Last night's fundraiser for Sheila was one for the books. Entire St James Gate was packed with friends of new and old, great to catch up as it had been years with some people.

When I left over $13k had been raised! Summarizes the community we live in, raise that kind of money for a great cause. The live and silent auctions were hilarious, people just kept bidding higher and higher with the encouraging screams of the crowd, example some guy paid $700 for a keg. Cronic kept the dance floor rocking with Swanne entertaining all on the mike. Picked up a solid package in the silent auction consisting of night's accomodation, F&B g/c's along with Brewster g/c's.

Heard Sheila left the hospital that day as well on her own...heal up girl.  A friend texted her sister informing of the $13k raised at the end of the night. Kathy replied saying that's great $1,300 raised, no  $13k raised. Needless to say Kathy texted crying in joy.
https://webmail.shaw.ca/attach/24HRS_MeetTheRacers_v3.jpg?sid=&mbox=INBOX&uid=4858&number=2&filename=24HRS_MeetTheRacers_v3.jpg



Sunday, January 29, 2012

5hr ride end of January, good job boys!
http://speedtheorycyclingteam.blogspot.com/

Up there with Robbie Reid. Saw him today with Keith as he bought Robbie's disc wheel, he mentioned been out on his cross bike as of late as well. He has the slickest TT frame from China that just arrived...never seen an aero machine like this before. 50 years old, go get em Robbie!
Holy S#@%$%

http://www.weather.com/weather/videos/news-41/top-stories-169/experience-a-motorbike-mountain-ride-25824#loc=41/169/25845

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Up to Norquay Friday morning after Marn taught yoga at the Banff Springs. Thought Wednesday was monumental with Seth, yesterday trumped it. 9 runs down Cascade chair, after each run saying 'again again'....he just loves it!




To the jumps already



Loves his books



Friday, January 27, 2012

A fundraiser for Sheila Nabb will be held at the St. James Gate in Banff this Monday at 7:00pm. There will be a silent auction and donation box, please come and show your support.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Another 3 days OFF work this week, getting use to these long weekends.

Seth had ski lessons with Aidan on Monday at Norquay. We all headed back up there yesterday morning. All of a sudden like a flick of a switch Seth is able to ski on his own. 4 runs on Cascade chair 100% by himself, fully in control being able to stop or slow down when I ask....cannot believe it!! 3 yrs & 2 months old and good to go. Head back up tomorrow morning before work.

Solid skate ski with Colin last night at the Nordic Centre. Headlamps on, 1 minute in took a right into the dark following him for the next 1.5 hrs. Tabernac Colin is all I can say with the pace he sets. So funny says he has not touched a bike since October and will not until late March/April, but will still crack the field. Seems number of guys are riding loads at www.ascentphysio.com/schedule....good on Shane for successfully running the compu trainer classes.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Received a shocking text yesterday saying the women beaten in Mexico is a former colleague at the Rimrock Hotel. Sheila worked for several years in HR with her sister as a Sales Manager.

Thoughts and prayers with her family....

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/alberta/Update+Calgary+woman+beaten+five+star+Mexican+resort+still+coma/6038394/story.html

Monday, January 23, 2012

Sporting the Canadian tuxedo, Barry Blanchard style



Seth and Cooper's band as they called it- harmonica, guitar and bells




Saturday, January 21, 2012

Hard not to get excited for the upcoming season while watching the TDU all week.



Quads like these help win stages

What a pic approaching the line
pics courtesy of cyclingnews.com  & cyclingtipsblog.com


Thursday, January 19, 2012

OMG so sad!

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ap-obit-sarahburke

Had been following her progress since she crashed 9 days ago, just watching her in MSP's Hit List while spinning this week. Such an impressive skier, throwing 900's off tables no problems.

Then see a Canmore girl, Caryle, dies while climbing in Patagonia. Marn had taken several yoga workshops with her, said she was a solid gal.

At least both passed doing what they loved, too young though as both were 29 years old.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Underdog inspiration
 http://www.cyclingnews.com/tourdownunder/stage-2/results

Recovery article
http://pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=10019&status=True&catname=Latest%20News

Enjoying the 3 days OFF work, making the most with the weather and all. At the pool and library time with the kids daily, Marn started her 30 day challenge at http://www.banffyoga.com/, myself sneaking in a run Sunday afternoon with trainer and yoga last few days as well.

Was laughing with Dave on how many guys are in / about to upgrade to Cat 2 for the Banff Bike Fest, ask the organizer if we can have a team of 10 as there may be literally that many guys applicable....some may be riding Independant perhaps?
Starting to set goals with Dave for what my season will entail,would love to race loads but have to face reality with work and family. Looks like an epic Banff Fondo Race in the works with a beauty start going up and around Surprise Corner....talk about blowing up the field 2 minutes in.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

Kye Petersen's winning run, huge exposure up top. Only 6yrs old when his legendary father died in Chamonix, 21 yrs old and killing it for years now.
http://www.biglines.com/video/fwt-revelstoke-2012-kye-petersen-finals-run

The venue

Had a boarding category as well


Last week received Attack of La Nina and The Way I See It from www.skimovie.com. Wicked videos to keep me entertained on the trainer downstairs.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

My my, throw a log on the fire for this upcoming week. You knew it was coming with the 'winter' we have had so far.
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/ab-49_metric_e.html

Have 3 days OFF work Mon-Wed, what to do? Looks like days spent at the Springs Hotel swimming, library time, gymnastics...anything inside with the boys.

Friday, January 13, 2012

What happens when you leave a 15 month old for 1 minute




Woke up Wednesday morning to -19. After prolonging a trip to Calgary for some time, this was a good day for a Superstore/Costco run.

Best vino deal out there at Superstore Liquor store. Sebeka Cabernet Pinotage for $7.79 / bottle, sells for $15.99 in Banff - sorry Banff stores.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

A solid day....

Drop Seth off at playschool at 9am, home to prep dinner and take care of some errands.

Pick Seth up and head to Norquay while meeting up with Marn's mom Christie and Jack. They take Seth out for a few runs while Rory keeps busy running around the lodge and on the toboggan.  Had my first real turns of the year with Jack on the North American chair. 2 lucky guys we were as they just opened the 'avalanche slope' run as we arrived....few cms of wind blown goodness.

Head home, help put the kids down for naps then head out for a ski on Cascade road immediately after...wolf down some pancakes on the way out. Threw in some Dave prescribed Fartleks to keep things entertaining. Love his January program he has set up, 5 different activities on the go while dipping into different zones as the month goes on. As they say variety is the spice of life...no becoming stagnant here with one discipline. Sure some beauty scenery way out there, especially being late in the day just making the parking lot with a tad of light left.

Head home, 10 minutes later Marn is out the door for a yoga class. Her classes have been positive, reassuring feedback from students while gaining her confidence back after 2 years off teaching....so proud of her!



Making a mess as usual


Growing into a long, lean boy


Watched www.ridethedividemovie.com on a spin. Epic beyond words, Banff to USA/Mexico border in one go with 200k of climbing.
Looks like http://ryansdream.com/ is psyched for it.

Speaking of long races, Dallas's latest go for this summer  www.dalrock.blogspot.com.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Several weeks ago my boss said I needed to dip into all my vacation days, how about 5 days OFF coming up I asked, sure she replies.

Staying in town with no big plans, just relaxing. Seth is back in playschool tomorrow morning which he is very excited for.

Spur of the moment yesterday afternoon, Marn's mom offered to watch the boys for several hours. We headed out for a ski to Cascade Fire road, Marn was having a blast out there, just flying. Surprisingly $ conditions out there considering the rain on Wednesday, heard Spray Trail is an ice rink now though. Warmer weather this week than all last April, +6 today...crazy.

Marn took Seth to Norquay this morning, plenty of friends and family on a Monday up there with ski lessons in full swing.

Friday, January 6, 2012

More biglines.com video's.

Canmore local now globetrotting skier
http://biglines.com/video/best-time-your-life-tour-2011

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Seth and friend Aidan signed up for Santa's Helpers ski lessons at Norquay this week, 3 days with 1hr/day. Ended up being just them & the instructor which was perfect. Gorgeous day up there with loads of local families, felt like April weather.



Rory cruising

Later that day with Aidan across the street 



I got out for a solo skate ski in the afternoon while everyone had naps. Made it to Goat creek parking lot on the Spray trail and back, sure able to cover a lot more ground not pulling kids.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Race cut short due to 46 degree weather melting the asphalt. Deja vu of the Stampede road race 3 yrs ago with high 30 temps, literally sinking into the asphalt some sections leaving muck on our tires.

http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2012/01/bay-crits-stage-2/

Wow 17 yr old high school student winning against the big boys. Wish I was down there enjoying that weather. Though it feels like that here almost with the +4 expected. Calgary 9-12 degrees next few days, it is January no?

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Play safe out there

This fatality combined with the incident outside Pemberton earlier in the week makes for scary news and dangerous backcountry conditions.

http://www.canadianmountainholidays.com/