It’s a sad, sad commentary that the Freshies haven’t posted a darned thing to this blog since January 3rd…what is UP with that?? Last year you couldn't shake a stick without hitting a blogger…but alas, thus far no “Kiwi tip of the week”, no insights to the local N. Conway ski/après ski scene. Dare I say…no fun?!?! No, No, NO! We’ve been having so much fun, we just haven’t had time to blog!

Several of us (Tiny Boarder, Spider Pig, Lucky Jeans, Danger Boy Kiwi and Freshies wannabe - 2B) had a fantastic week in Canada for a ski vacation. We stayed in Canmore, AB and skied Sunshine, Lake Louise and Kicking Horse in BC. In the interest of keeping this entry short, (even though I fear it won't be!!) I will limit this to a “Best of the Canadian Rockies” list. The opinions here are expressly my own so to those that were there, please feel free to add your own comments and your own “Best of” should you not agree.
Best Food – nachos at Kicking Horse. I know nachos are hard to screw up, but they are also very hard to make really, really good. The ones at KH were all about the chips. (a close second was Tiny Boarders Beet Risotto…yum-my!! I love beets. I love risotto, how can you go wrong?)

Best Rentals/Sports Shop – Sport Experts in Canmore (or as Spider Pig liked to abbreviate it, S.EXperts). These guys were awesome! I rented skis all week and they were totally knowledgeable, nice and funny! They even had me and Kiwi buying “Superfeet” for our boots and so far, they are working pretty well. Oh, and I got a fabulous deal on Rossi Voodoo’s – and with the Canadian exchange rate, I couldn’t pass it up!

Best skiing - hands down, for me, Kicking Horse on our 1st day there. Lots of snow, lots of steeps and a rating system in which their blues are closer to double-blacks back home. This ‘aint no place for sissies!! The mountain is also absolutely gorgeous with seriously breathtaking vistas.

Best après ski drink – Glüwein at The Fairmont, Lake Louise. Such a warm and comforting drink and you get to overlook Lake Louise. This was beautiful in winter; I can only imaging it in the fall. They also had wonderful service as Lucky Jeans can attest when they accommodated a “special delivery” for her. (OK - so the pix isn't the Gluwein, but don't teh boys look tough??)

Best port-a-potty - You may ask why this is even a category, but as luck (or not so much) would have it, Lucky Jeans has to pee – A LOT - in the morning, so we saw our share of bathroom stops. The best was somewhere past Banff Nat’l Park off of CAD 1. Totally cute little log cabin outhouses…seriously, they were cute!

Best après ski song – Anything by KC and the Sunshine Band!! At least I and some older gentlemen at Kicking Horse thought so.

Best song for the ride to the slopes – ‘Lollipop' by Mika. Thanks to Kiwi for introducing us to the new Freshies ride to the slopes anthem! "Suck too hard on a lillipop and love's gonna get you down"!

Best way to relax after a hard day of skiing – Banff Hot Springs. Ahhhh, what a lovely way to soothe the muscles.

Best Canadian Microbrew – I’m going with Rutting Elk from the Grizzly Paw Brewery in Canmore. I didn’t know what “rutting” meant, so 2B informed me that “rutting” basically meant “horny”. At least that’s what I got out of his explanation. (He also taught me another word on the lift at Wildcat that sort of had something to do with his shoulder injury…but I digress)

Best renditon of "The "Walton's" theme song - Spider Pig's uncanny "trumpeting" ability far surpasses any I have heard.

Best attempt at a part in a Warren Miller movie - There are actually two, both by, surprise, surprise, Danger Boy - and we have the video to back it up. The 1st was Danger Boy's "attempt" to jump a rock that ended up in a scary looking face-plant. The 2nd was an "attempt" to jump off of the headwall at the top of the Paradise Lift at Lake Louise. Neither one was particularly pretty...but were quite fun to watch!

Best Quotes - There were a lot; I will limit it to two:
From the guy at S.EXperts when asked if he could repair a core shot -”I’m really good with carnage”.
From me, Speed Racer, after Lucky Jeans had to make an impromptu “wilderness” bathroom break – “The party pants will catch the drip”.

And with that I’ll leave you all with a real quote.
“Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh” – W.H. Auden

Here’s to lot’s more laughs for the rest of the Freshies season!!!