Day 55

Today was the big day for our friend Cynthia in the Olympics!! We all sported our Team Columbia t-shirts and gathered around at the hostel to see her compete in the women's downhill skiing. We were all a bit bummed out when she wasn't able to finish her first round because she missed a gate... but she competes again on friday in the Giant Slalom which we're looking forward to watching as well.

Day 54

Work work work-- almost forgot to take a picture today! But snapped this outside Cookie just before my quick 2.5 hour shift. I'll never complain about being sent home early- and it was just in time to watch one of the local girls (Fanny Smith) compete in the women's ski cross in the olympics. She made it to the semi finals and the small final in the end.

Day 53

Today was the most beautiful day we've had in months! Jamie and I decided to walk up to Villars to do some shopping and it was warm enough (around +10 celcius... give or take some) to walk in just sweaters. You cannot complain about sunshine and mountains :)

Day 52

Today was a pretty sad day for me... lost a member of my skating family which was hard enough before you add in the "being away from home" factor. We'll sure miss you Mrs O...

Day 51

POWDER DAY!! First morning off in a week and lucky enough it snowed around 15-20cm. You can't really tell how high off this roller I am... but it felt pretty big. Good thing I've got a new helmet to protect the noggin :) (it also looks like I'm about to take this kid's head off haha)

Day 50

It's nice to have fun people around to keep you company while you work! Kid and Kat having a few drinks-- my view from inside reception.

Day 49

Another beautiful sunset over the dents du midi on my way to work. The sun is beginning to set later now that we're getting closer to spring it's nice to have a bit more daylight.

Day 48

Anna and Tom at the opening of the new Moonboot Lounge in Villars. We made it up just in time for a quick drink at the swanky new bar before their midnight closing. The nicest part about the place is you have to be 21 to get in (compared to 16/18 in the other bars around here).

Day 47

Kid on one of the kickers they finally built in the park at bretaye-- snapped this just before he got the good air but he's gotten some great jumps with his new skate banana board.

Day 46

Mom-- I finally got a helmet. You're welcome :)

Day 45

Simply put... Tom's car wouldn't start after work and we ended up trying to push start it down the road without success. Flat batteries in the middle of winter are so inconvenient.

Day 44

Went up for a ski with Shannon and Karl and went looking for what little powder was left over... I ended up in a run off ditch that was taller than me!!

Day 43

Our friend Jodie was in town for a few days, and with Shannon finally being back (and my having a night off) we had a little get together for wine and cheese appetizers at Shannon and Karl's apartment.

Day 42

As the sun rose over the Grand Mouvran and Petite Mouvran... through the trees walking down Rue du Villars. I had to stop and take this, what a view.

Day 41

Had another big snow... this is what the trees looked like from outside our window. Made for a powder day the next day!

Day 40

Ended up in France on a whim today... got through a morning of work at the hostel and headed on a mission for some ski touring skis for karl (and on a look for me). Went to Chamonix to show Chad around-- we did a bit of shopping and found these monstrous gloves in the patagonia shop.

Day 39

A day spent hungover with kraft mac n cheese and US weekly... got another care package from mom and dad and couldn't have come on a better day. I needed that box of cheesey goodness!

Day 38

On our way out the door to work... my fellow bartenders at Cookie, Elizabeth and Michael. Lucky duck Michael got the night off last minute.

Day 37

Woke up to a foot of fresh powder and bluebird skies this morning. We were up on the telecabine before the sun even rose over the mountains-- and the colors were incredible. This is the view of the Grand Mouvran. After 5ish hours of powder riding, we ended up back at the boy's house (in Bois-Gentil) where the kid rode the powder off their roof!

Day 36

We haven't had wireless for a few weeks now, and with George being back we are all able to get on the internet our laptops again. (Sorry the rest of the picture is so dark) but it feels good to get back in touch with everyone again!

Day 35

We took Chad up to Bretaye and Barboleuse in the resort today to ride what little powder was leftover (and show him around). These are the old telecabines (gondolas) in Barboleuse. They are the ones we use most because they are just up the road from home and our half of the resort tends to be a bit less crowded. (It was also another bluebird day-- amazing!)

Day 34

George and I went into the valley to do some shopping and pick up Jasmin's (george's daughter) snowboarding coach, Chad. These are the ugly swiss trees that we have to stare at while we wait for trains to arrive in the valley...

Day 33

So George has finally arrived and brought the snow with him. We went up for a ski in the resort today and sure enough, he and I somehow managed to get ourselves stuck in waist deep powder. We tried to skate out but ended up having to just accept defeat and take off our boards to walk back to the piste. At least the powder was pretty epic!

Day 32

Jack and Jason cooked a gourmet dinner for us tonight... Lasagna, rocket salad, and home made croutons. It was so delicious! Here are the chefs plating our meal.