Day 6 - NZ

Mikey says...
Back at Cardrona today. Getting harder and harder to get up in the morning!

Warmed up on the easy slopes then I tried one of the faster ones. Was going alright. Then I got off the lift. Thats when it got painful. Landed heavily on my buttocks. Was feeling very tender, and my butt wasn't too good either. But no! I must soldier on! So back I went up the lift. Very comfortable lift this one, padded seats, very nice on the old tush. But I stacked it again (there were a couple of successful runs in between though) and of course landed on my rump. OUCH!

Went for a break in the cafe at about 1pm and read my harry potter book.

Left about 3pm and then realised I had no idea what I did with my gloves. Suspect they're still up at Cardrona car park, or up at the big snow store in the sky.

On a side note. There was a guy who was hurt pretty bad yesterday up at the top of the lifts. A lifty told me he fractured one of the vertebrae in his neck. And that was just getting off the lift. Don't think his friends will ever let him live that one down.

Lessons Learnt

• Wear underpants made out of bubblewrap


• Take gloves off IN the car

Mikey Out


Cookie says...
Second day at Cardrona and another bluebird special. Wind picked up later which actually blew people around like a donut. Funniest thing we saw today was a kid who came rushing into the base buildings kicking his skis off, throwing his poles down and then screaming 'I'm busting!!!' and made a B line for the loos.

Bumped into the Kenmore crew again today so while Mikey was busy tenderising his rump, we cruised the other runs. Took them out to Captains Basin which they loved, plenty of room to go wide and long. Moguls didn't stop us either. We're meeting up with them later tonight for some pool and beer.

No bizzare parking attempts on the way down however we did see some tourists taking photos of a fire truck leaving QT in a hurry... because they don't have them in Japan?

Lessons Learnt

• I can do two things at once (go fast down a slope while videoing the experience)


• Buy Mikey gloves with a leash attatched to his neck


• Buy shares in bubblewrap undies

Day 5 - NZ - Meet Adrian

Mikey, Adrian and I chairpooling

Adrian is another male homosapian from Australia who lives in Melbourne and works for Ford as an automotive designer. He uses Alias to model and style vehicles and if you've seen a Typhoon on the road then you've seen some of his handywork. He enjoys documentaries, likes wildlife and travelling.

Adrian impersonating a seagull

Day 5 - NZ

Mikey says...
At Cardrona today. About an hour drive from our hotel. First run was painfull as i landed on my butt right under the ski lifts. Right cheek was reasonably tender for the rest of the day. After that though i was cutting sic! Well I think I was anyway.

After getting my confidence up I tried a more challenging slope with a few humps and bumps in it. I mean it can't be that hard, I'd seen all the kids do it as I was going up the lift. Result: Multiple stacks and ego shattered.

Returned to easier slope where I was a lot more comfortable and confident. Maybe a bit too confident. Here's the result of me taking a turn harder than what I should've...

Going, going... gone...

On the way down we saw japanese drifting gone wrong.
It was fun to take photos of the japanese and beat them at their own game!

Lessons Learnt

• Don't drift down unpaved roads

Mikey Out


Cookie says...

It's a hard life waking up to this view each morning but someone has to do it!

Change of venue today (and underwear), Cardrona here we come. It was a refreshing change (both - refer first sentence). Picked up Adrian on the way along with some breakfast (bacon and egg quiche and a croissant). Made good time to get there and started the green run with Mikey before Adrian and I headed over to the runs hanging off White Star Express. Had several very quick runs and we were loving it. The boarder cross track is good fun, unless you're Mikey. Made a few passes at the jumps in terrain park then headed over the backside to Captains Basin.

After a black diamond run complete with a boarders worst enemy (moguls - large snow mounds designed for skiers) and a few other quick runs we headed back to White Star et el. Stopped for lunch along with the other half of the snowriders and headed out for some photos.

Mikey is concentration personified

I found some chewing gum under my board and tried to remove it

Bumped into the Kenmore crew at Fergburger tonight. Might see them at Cardies tomorrow.

Lessons Learnt

• Avoid getting ice on your camera


• Mikey is going faster than before which makes it hard to get photos of him, especially when he didn't understand the concept of leap frog photography (photographer gets in place and subject makes a pass - repeate this process several times)


• Adrian is a better photographer than Mikey