A Day in Vancouver

I spent a Sunday in the big city recently. Mostly in Chinatown for the Lunar New Year Parade. I can't remember the last time I watched a parade. Good times downtown!

Crossing the inlet

Chris and Drill Guy

Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Biggest cucumber ever

Year of the Snake

Sabrina getting into it

Thanks Chinatown

Oh yeah, this guy. Lonsdale Quay Market.

28th L.B.S.

This past weekend saw the running of the 28th Annual Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom. Every edition is special, but this year's was truly legendary. Here's just one feel good moment.

Photo: www.danopendygrasse.com

I left my camera in the valley (not on purpose) all weekend, but my brother took lots of photos and posted some beauties here. Thanks again Mt. Baker!

Carolyn & Shandy

Happy times in Pemberton!

Doug

This is a goat named Doug I recently met at the top of a mountain.

Darren Proctor Memorial Avalanche Olympics

This past weekend a group of friends and family of Darren Proctor gathered in Whistler to commemorate his passing 10 years ago. Part 1 was the Avalanche Olympics on Tricouni Mountain Saturday morning. This consisted of timed beacon searches run in 3 man heats. The top 3 made it to the final where they each had to find 2 beacons. Winner take all - $500. The weather threatened for a while, but in the end the clouds parted and gave us some love. Thanks Proctor!

Akasha checks in. Stu photo.

Kevin, Mel & Darren getting busy at the grill with Cam.

Vanessa Stark digging for cash! Stu photo.


The finalists - Abby, Dave B & Helen. Stu photo.

Stu tabulating.

Fastest of the day - Abby! Stu photo.

After catching the end of the Grillers game (they won) everyone met down at Whistler Creek to spread Darren's remaining ashes. Then it was off to Creekbread for eats and awards.

C.S.M.

A drink for our brother Prox.

Creekbread Mob.

BJ and Age.

Chris Miron & Dave B.

Steve Sherlock of course.

Wes, Seb & Tosh in the house.

Stu & Abby.

It's hard to believe it has been 10 years since Proctor passed on. Great to see everyone. Thanks to Stu for spearheading the 1st annual Avalanche Olympics. The plan is to make it an annual event in December. Watch for it next season.

Olympics

The Olympics just wrapped up today with Canada winning the gold medal in Men's Hockey versus the U.S.A. What a way to finish! My brother was at the game through some good fortune (and witchcraft I'm pretty sure.) He's the luckiest guy on the planet I know on this day. He got to witness in person one of the most exciting hockey games of all time. I watched from Pemberton in a room full of old and new friends from both sides of the border (and a Swede.) After the game we visited another home full of new and old friends where we watched the closing ceremonies and shared a fantastic meal.

All in all it was a wonderful Sunday where I got to reflect on the Olympics I had been dreading. I had some pretty big reservations about the games coming to town over the last few years. A big inconvenience was how I perceived it for the most part. Then, when it finally hit two weeks ago and was on... it all worked. Obviously there were bugs to work out at first and things to streamline, but once the whole operation started to chug along it was hard to hate on it. I always thought I'd be out of town during the games, but found myself at home the last 2 weeks. I never went to any of the events, but spent some time in Whistler enjoying the whole atmosphere of the thing and catching up with visiting friends. It was a party. And a good one. The press seemed to focus on the negatives at the start of it all (and it was bit of a rocky ride). When the Canadians started climbing the podium to accept medals everyone got behind them, including me. I had lots of friends and family directly involved with the games. I haven't been able to get any of their reviews yet, but I'm pretty sure no one has any regrets. I'm just so glad we won that game!

GT 2010

This past weekend Trout Lake played host to the 5th Annual Greg Todds Memorial. It's a gathering of Greg's friends and family to remember our buddy and play in the snow together. It's also one of the few snow "events" of the season where you can get a little recharge for your soul. The fastest time of the day went to Young Dave and Skye Sheele won the "Asian Canadian Downhill". Somehow I wound up with the "Hard Charger Award" for trying to find some untracked snow down a stack of pillows up top. After a day of racing in the clearcut it was back to town for a fundraising auction and a whole bunch of good times at the town hall in Trout Lake.

This year's edition was, uh... challenging.

Gary Van Os keeping it all in order.

Stu Andrews loves the mic. All day long.

Young Dave keeping it real.

Gary "Tuttle" Hall and Al Clark.

Tuttle drawing the heats.

Colin Adair & Devun Walsh made it out too.

Hardingham as usual.

Taylor Pearcey with hugs for everyone.

Terje and a slew of shreds were all in the race.

Young Dave does it again.

Al Clark threading the trees.

No caption could do this photo justice.

Noah taking it a little further.

Young Dave accepts his cup .

Skye Sheele takes the Asian Canadian Downhill for 2010.

B getting used to the Hard Charger.

Me and the some Trout Lake bros. Al Clark, Mark Friesen and Skye Sheele.

Gigi took the helmet for some laps.

B checks out Super Dave's Tucker.

Jonas Guinn found his own parking spot... don't ask.

Stu reminding everyone why we're all there. G.T.!!!

See you in T.L. next year.

Video from Transworld