The Full Basin (not half full or half empty)

When I went out yesterday I thought I would be back before 10:30. I rode Gunbarrel as the fastest way to the snow. Did a couple on an uncrowded (early tracks) and beautifully groomed Merritts but once the wind (around 70kph) started the Cruiser chairs swinging, I thought I had better get out of there in case the chair was closed.

On Antons I met up with Deb and after a few on 'variable' snow we decided to brave Sponars. With a reported wind chill of -16C it was cool but I was dressed for it. Yes, I had put the fleece liner back in my shell. The Thredbo web site at 8am said Exhibition was 'groomed'. It consisted of frozen moguls with ruts frozen into them. Survival skiing at best. After some more on Antons including a run down the big jumps course, I thought I would see if Black Sallees was open for coffee.

The Thredbo web site had also said Conrod Straight was groomed. It wasn't. It had straight ski ruts frozen into the uneven surface, obviously from another time when the snow was soft and slow but that didn't help us on the very fast, frozen base.

Black Sallees was closed. Deb had mentioned something about downloading and then uploading to the Basin. I suggested that there was another way. I was more than surprised when Deb said she would follow me out of the resort to get to the Basin without downloading. We rode Sponars and then we walked. At one point Deb asked if I really knew where I was going. This stunned me just a little when she had already followed me a distance beyond the resort into the blizzard. But not to fear, indeed I knew exactly where I was and before long we had crossed upper summer drift and were skiing down to Merritts Bridge. A short walk to the Basin and voila, coffee was at hand.

After a run in the Basin post coffee, we downloaded and imagine my surprise when I realised it was almost 12:30 and yet the snow had been pretty awful.

Today was Ski Patrol Race Day. Set up in the Basin where the Memorial Race had been held on Tuesday in rain. The vis today was at times quite atrocious and the reported wind chill was around -13C. Again I dressed for the occasion (the cold that is not the race).

Whilst waiting for the course to be set up I did a couple on the Rim Run. Many laughed, knowing I had to traverse a good deal of vegetation. They laughed even harder when I told them of the freshies I was getting. Dry wind blown up to 10cms deep between long fingers of frozen bubbled latte (that's what the ice sheets looked like to me).

Fog and snow blew in and out and the race went ahead with several other distractions in the Basin. For starters there was a bishop at the bottom of the Basin T-bar and many a fancy dress (last night was the liftees party). Then out of the mist came the 'snow dancers'. Not a dream and at that stage the beer hadn't even arrived.

The race course was short. I think 8 gates in all but was well enough above the tree line so Brett could complete several safe runs without breaking any bones ;-)

There was no qualifying timed run so I dropped my plan to improve on my last year's qualifier with the second fastest time but then, Jock did say that this year was the first time he had seen me go through all the gates ;-)

The main event was not the race, not even the raising of money for the Ski Patrol, it was the sausage sangers at the bottom of the course ;-) OK, it really was about raising money and having some fun and I'm sure everyone enjoyed it.

Lower Sundance and High Noon on Tuesday afternoon

That standard photo from Merritts bridge yesterday

A quiet and deserted Basin first thing this morning

But soon it turned into the big event - men's boarding
women's alpine

Women's tele. How about the new race crew colours - pink and brown

Then out of the mist, the ladies brought some colour - snow dancing

Meanwhile, back on course, it was serious racing in men's alpine division
I was already eliminated by Butch in my first run

Ultimate winner in men's alpine was Duncan
no one actually saw him shoulder charge Butch

Jock the snag master - cooked to perfection once again

Then this afternoon it snowed
check that first photo again

It is still snowing lightly as I complete this report. Snow is sitting in the trees and on the roof tops. It is cold and there is no wind in the village.

What will tomorrow bring?

Word has it that Sunday will the end of in-resort skiing & boarding except for the Basin.

PS: Just noticed this is my 777th report. Must be lucky for some? Consequently I will spare you a 'grump' ;-)