After 10 weeks of sub zero temperatures, actually sub -10c to -20c most of the time, it has been good and bad to see the change with warmer weather arriving. Sunshine is here and spring is coming, most of the locals are celebrating at the receding snowlines as they look forward to the summer. It has come pretty quickly and is sad to see the snow melt away as some of our favourite runs become unskiable and we realise our time in the mountains is coming to an end – we have had such an amazing time, a little different to what we had planned but we will finish the season having all learnt so much and not just about the skiing.
Last week the boys participated in their first competition – Dexter in a snowboarding and rail competition in the board park, Archie in a freestyle skiing moguls and jumps. Both competed with enthusiasm and amazing skill at their young age, no medals but a determination to compete again…. They are awesome at both skiing and snowboarding, skills for life although this might be the last time I am faster than them on ski’s, they can already outrun me on a board…. Silverstar really is an amazing family resort, great range of runs for all abilities, friendly lifty’s – unsurprisingly most of them now know Dexter and Archie – most likely due to Dexter’s constant questions all season about where they are from and why they are here. People keep asking if we’ll be back, I’m sure we will but there are also so many other resorts across Canada that we need to check out for future holidays.
With a little over 2 weeks left in the mountains we will make the most of the ability to be outside without 20 layers on, playing in the sunshine, afternoon drinks in the sunshine, early mornings with the ice, skiing in slush in the afternoons, growing more freckles, tubing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling. There is a mountain festival this weekend with boardercross, big jumps, beer gardens, fat biking, slow tubing, fireworks, scavenger hunts which is set to be fun.
Three months in the mountains has been amazing, definitely not easy but not for the reasons we expected, we have got closer as a family, worked through how to become teachers (just), how to do school work when you are not in school, cooked and eaten together every day (this is a positive and a negative experience depending on the day), the boys are playing well together – and also well practiced in fighting each other…. We are missing our friends but love, and couldn’t live without, facetime. We are certainly building memories for life.
So what’s next? My mum and dad are with us for the last two weeks here and then we head to Vancouver to meet Kelly, Andy, Ella and George for some exploring around Vancouver Island and Whistler (where Archie is determined to see the bears come out of hibernation). Then off to LA for quick swing by Dinesh and Nicky’s before we head to Mexico. First stop Mexico City and then heading to Pacific Coast to start working our way west to east. We are all ready for sunshine and beaches, I know you must be excited to see the change in snow photos to beaches…..
Hey Louisa! HOLAAA
As much as your absence is heartfelt here in the team, it is such an amazing visual to see you having fun with your family and spending quality time, thats forever cherishable. Don't injure yourself and come back soon.