Sweet As... Rye Pale Ale

I learnt several months ago of the Crazy Mountain Homebrew Pro-Am. With a deep repertoire of homebrew beers, I made sure to put some aside to enter and I even deliberately brewed a couple more to enter.  Having made 11 batches of beer out in Colorado, I submitted 6 of those that I thought were worth  entering. Some supportive friends who are big fans of my brewing immediately suggesting that I would certainly win, so I did feel a little confident. I know my beers taste good, and others seem to think so too, so I did hope to place at least. Eventually I learned that out of the top five beers at the end of the judging, three were mine! So it was my Rye Pale Ale that took it out. A sweet malty amber in colour ale, well hopped, with a decent bitterness and spicy floral aroma, which I matched with the addition of rye.

Crazy Mountain Brewery in full swing

It was still surprising when I received a phone call one morning from Crazy Mountain and the lady announced I was the winner. I'm not going to write what my response was but it was along the like of "very fantastic". So I headed immediately to the brewery to hand over the recipe and headed back a few days later to brew the beer with the head brewer as an upscaled 2,500 liter batch. Like I did while interning in NZ, I just talked the poor brewers head off, asking question, telling stories and trying to pick up as much as I could.

My girlfriend, friends, colleagues and even my bosses

As announced by an article and ad in the newspaper, a special beer release party was to be held a few weeks later, when the beer was ready to drink. I was to drink as much of my beer as I pleased, for free even! Due to my recent snowboarding injury I employed my friends to fetch refills of my jug which was well shared among the group. I enjoyed the fame on the night of appraise and still get the odd random acknowledgement. It was a fantastic night with a great showing of friends, work colleagues, and many valley locals. The beer has been very well recieved and I am happy with how the upscaled version turned out. It will remain on tab at the Crazy Mountian Brewery and hopefully distributed to  few pubs around the valley.

The accident

Nice and warm all wrapped up for the ride down

Two weeks ago we had a run of some of best powder days of the season. Coming late in the season we just kept having storms sit over us and it just snowed and snowed and snowed. So I thought I would end the season with a bang! With perfect timing of the storm allowing me to ride everyday, with some evening shifts at work or complete days off, I was having the time of my life. We were riding hard, pushing our abilities and really throwing down. Videographic evidence to come, once we are done editing our seasons worth of GoPro filming. At this point in the season of 70 plus days riding we knew where the good spots were to make the most of this fresh snow. This being a good thing as at our resort, Beaver Creek with skier and rider numbers in the thousands. When there is fresh snow, about an hour later its gone.

That morning and the mornings prior we had been running the lines of our lives. A 20 foot cliff was intimidating, but after days of building up to it, all I had to do was point my board for it and it was done. I headed back that route on the day of the incident and after two runs, my friend claimed he was too hung over to drop cliffs today so suggested we head to the safety and serenity of the trees. So we headed to my newly discovered tree run accessed only by a backcounty gate, meaning we were leaving the boundaries of the ski field. But with the most tree-mendous rewards. This snow was bottomless, feet upon feet stacked up in tight to moderately spaced Spruce trees. These were the turns of the season. With a fantastic filming opportunity, I followed tight behind Phil who had the camera pointed back upon himself, hoping to get me trailing behind. I did follow close for about half the run, until I came to a dramatic halt. At decent speed a simple toe turn following in Phil's trail sent me tumbling, luckily hitting a tight gap between two trees a bit too tight for my board to fit causing a rather strenuous belt and tug to my leg and ankle. I rolled myself upright to some deep grunts and breaths, knowing immediately it didn't feel good.

Ski patroller did well to get me down the black diamonds in the sled

Now, unfortunately separated from my riding buddies I gathered myself and attempted to put weight on my right leg. It didn't really like me doing that, so the problem now was that I was halfway down a very steep and long run deep in the trees in the back country. So still strapped into my board I bum-slid for a while. I decided to call my friends and let them know whats up and take a second to try to warm myself up. I continued to bum slide but ended up falling into a tree well, a deep pocket of powder around the base of a tree. Unstrapped and climbed out and continued to crawl or where it was steep enough I bodyslid on my board. After about 25 minutes, I made it to the gully track which leads back to a main run. I sat on the board and bobsledded out of the gully. I crawled up to the side of the main run and sat there waiting for my friends to rendezvous and work out a plan. Luckily, after only a few minutes I spotted a ski patroller and called him over. He promptly radioed for a sled to come collect me. My friends finally caught me back up and promptly got out the GoPro camera to record my rescue.

Getting dropped of at the medical centre

I got some immediate treatment at the Beaver Creek Medical Centre and was given some cruches and a boot to stabilise my ankle. The prognosis was that I had a spiral fracture of my right fibula. I have seen an orthopedic doctor and the recovery should be reasonably speedy with no surgery needed. Two weeks on now I can put weight one the foot and move about without the cruthes, but I still use them most of the time. 

A visit from the Connecticutters

Thomas, Amy, Alex, Zach, Nicole and Tom at BC

When I went home for Christmas this year, I tried to talk my family members into coming out to Colorado to visit us. I talked everybody's ear off about how awesome Beaver Creek is and how being an employee there I can get crazy deals on everything. I exaggerated a bit and said I got lift tickets to give away but instead I had $50 tickets, originally $129 for a days pass, that I got discounts on the shuttle from the airport to the mountains, a complete lie and how I could get them rooms at the hotel that I work out, bit of a lie also, and that Thomas could get everyone free rentals, which he did. But in the end it worked, and to my surprise a bunch of my cousins and siblings came out during the busiest time of our season: Spring Break. 

Amy, Jodi, James and AJ

My cousin Jodi, her boyfriend AJ, and AJ's sister Tina and her boyfriend James came first on Thursday March 7th. They opted to stay in this amazing condo. We took advantage of that and crashed in their loft a few times. We got them rentals and passes then headed up the mountain. We defiantly had fun drinking and riding with them. 

My sister Nicole, her husband Tom and our cousins Alex and Zach were scheduled to arrive into Denver at midnight on Friday. A massive snowstorm was expected for that night, and while Thomas and the boys were dancing out on Jodi's balcony in the snow, I was anxious that the 3 hour drive over the Vail Pass was going to be treacherous for my family. It took them nearly 5 hours, but they got here in one piece! But most importantly Beaver Creek got dumped on! 

Nicole skiing at the top of the mountain

The newly arrived family had a serious sleep in while Thomas and Matt had been out on the mountain for several hours already riding the best powder of the season at that point.  Thomas had some exciting and dramatic videos Matt filmed on his iphone of him jumping off cliffs into billows of powder to show everyone to get them amped for some riding. So a late start it was once equipment and lunch were sorted. Tom and my cousins have skied before, so Thomas took off with them to show them some more adventrous terrain, and I instead decided to try to teach my sister Nicole how to ski. Neither of us had skied in legitamitely 20 years, when we had a horrible experience with our family in Vermont, but I figured, I spend enough days at Ski School working with the 3-6 year olds, and if the 3 year olds can ski, then Nicole can, and I'm sure I could teach her. It sort of worked, and I was impressed at how awesome she was! After one practice run on the bunny slope, we headed straight to the very top of the mountain! 

                            

 Not wanting to ski again on Sunday, Nicole and I opted to try snowshoeing! We headed for the  Nordic Center in the village and took the chairlift to the snowshoe trails. The guy at the rental shop gave us a map, and showed us a two mile route to walk to the "best views ever." Once we were up there, we started walking, wasted much time taking pictures and playing the snow, and then decided we'd rather walk over to a lodge to get a drink. Sounded better to us! 

Can't beat an awesome view and a drink!! 

 We showed my family around to our favorite spots and our favorite bars, and on Sunday I brought them into Vail at night. Although everything was closed, we did get to see the streets lit up with lights and alive with tourists, and while we were gone, Thomas stoked a fire, and had made us a fantastic dinner which was awaiting us when we got home. Everyone kept saying that we need to make a family trip to Beaver Creek a annual tradition, but Alex also did ask if Thomas and I could move to the Italian Alps next year so he could come visit! We'll see! 

Love my family and Beaver Creek

Splendido at the Chateau

Quite a few months ago now, Amy and I were treated to a fantastic dinning experience at the ritzy Beaver Creek restaurant, Splendido at the Chateau. A great gift idea from the Australian Deverson family. A $200 vouchers saw us through a full four course dinner and it was the best either of us have ever experienced. It was a gloriously upscale place with a live piano player in the bar, formal service and topped with snowflakes falling outside our window side table. 

We each enjoyed a local beer and enjoyed some bread, butter, olives and some crazy long cheese cracker type things to start. I quickly became worried I was going to be full as I refused to leave any of the bread uneaten, only for it then to be refilled!

Pork Belly

As our entrees, which in America actually means your main dish, but not as I write here. I had a lobster bisque and Amy had the pork belly. My soup was delicious and to my surprise a fantastic portion which I end up leaving a few drops to ensure room for my remaining courses. Amy's pork belly was succulent, crisp but tender, beautifully presented and delectable to eat. 

 

Our mains raised the bar even further with myself enjoying some beautiful cuts of Rockey Mountain Rainbow Trout around spinach and mushrooms with a creamy sauce with trout rue. The bright orange eggs were a first for me and added a nice texture and burst of flavour. Along with a side of the crispiest and fanciest potatoes ever. Amy had a huge cut of the most amazing New York strip steak, but the bone marrow on the side was too much for Amy, but I enjoyed trying the unique and surly healthy side, after all it does make all the good stuff to keep us healthy and all.

 

 We were really going all out and had just enough room for a small desert each, but with their small size represented no shortage or flavour, texture and presentation. Amy had a set of lemon sorbet, mousse and jelly, where I had a rich, smooth and gratefully small portion of chocolate cake/mousse with sorbet, nuts and tiny meringues. Best meal of our life, and a fantastic evening all thanks to our amazing family down under. A million thanks!

What a beautiful young couple. All in love and junk!!!

Winter X Games: Aspen

With  the gathering of the best snowboarders and skiiers from around the world competing in all manor of events: -half pipe, big air, slopestyle as well as snowmobiling events it really was a no brainier that we should make the trip back out to Aspen and hang out in the snow watch the pros do their thing. Amy and myself along with our friends Phil and Matt grabbed a hotel room in Gleenwood Springs a wee ways down the road from Aspen. As Aspen doesn't necessarily cater for such budget accommodation that we were looking for, and with a bus running to the games meant we could get around and have a couple of beers along the way. 

Half pipe to the left and big air landing to the right.

Big air skier

We saw three days worth of the free event, paying particular attention to the Big Air snowboarders who preform the most amazing tricks involving 4 spins 2 to 3 flips and throw in some grabs along with making the landing. It is surprising only one riders was taken away on a stretcher! The games had a fantastic atmosphere being part of the 40,000 people in attendance each day, but the strict alcohol ban didn't prevent us smuggling in a couple of cans a beer to stay warm and cheerful. 

Everyone having standing issues

The biggest problem for at least myself during the event was standing on the packed snow surface. Safely standing was enough of a problem made worse when we would try move about. My excuse is that my poor old pair of shoes have endured a tough life and with zero grip left on the bottom made worse by being worn to work in the tech shop and subsequently picking up and fantastic waxed surface any snowboards base would dream of. Point of my story, I fell often.

We headed into Aspen town itself on the Saturday night and got a good feel of the idyllic resort town in full swing. We frequented a few local drinking establishments and headed back on an adventure of a bus ride early in the morning that accidentally went a bit long that we anticipated. Noticing the bus was quiet empty we queried the bus driver as to when was our stop to find out we had missed it. His directions were to get off at the next stop and walk down the road. Whoops. Turns out the weather  also decided to get warm and the snow storm from Aspen now at our lower elevation turned into rain. It really felt like a long 2.3miles at 1am in the morning!

"Aspen, where the beer flows like wine"

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all!!! It seems like only yesterday that we were welcoming in 2012 on a beach in Kaikoura! How fast this year has gone, but how amazing it has been! I have only worked 5 months out of 2012, and Thomas has worked even less. But in that time, we have spent Christmas 2011 in Australia, finished work in New Zealand and embarked on our South Island road trip, ending up in New Plymouth for 3 weeks before heading to Tahiti and then driving across the USA for a whole month. We have lived in four different cities, been to four different countries, lived on floors, in sheds and have taken advantage of the hospitality of many people. Thomas and I both know how fortunate we are to be able to live our dreams and explore the world, while making new friends and family along the way. Here are a few photos to sum up 2012 :)

SCUBA diving in Cairns while spending Christmas 2011 in Australia with the Deverson/Clark family

New Years day in Kaikoura 2012

Amy on stage at the Buskers Festival in Christchurch,  January 2012

Nugget Point, while staying with Malcolm and Carolyn,  March 2012

Thomas surfing with Hector's dolphins at Porpoise Bay,  March 2012

Stop in Wanaka on our road trip,  March 2012

Top of Avalanche Peak in Arthur's Pass,  March 2012

Adventures around New Plymouth with Kent and Eryn,  April 2012

 A week in Auckland with Tom and Dorothy Deverson,  April 2012

Back to ChCh to visit Charlotte and Elliott (last time we saw Elliott he was only this big!!!) April 2012

Enjoying ourselves with 5 days in Tahiti,  April 2012

California, Big Sur,  April 2012

Grand Canyon National Park,  Thomas' 23rd Birthday,  May 9th 2012

Amy's 23rd Birthday in Connecticut,  June 13th 2012

Thomas and Amy at a Yankee Game in New York City

John and Kel came to visit us in Connecticut in July 2012

Moved to Colorado to work and snowboard at Beaver Creek Ski Resort,  October 2012

When the snow finally came

It had been a dry and unseasonably mild first few months in Avon. With record levels of lack of snow counting back to the existence of the Vail Valley Resorts, aswell on the back of the worst season ever of 2011-12, it was a grim and dreary outlook for the season. The mood about town was of worry and frustration of a potentially worse season than that of last year,  and with day after day of mild temps and sunshine there seemed to be no chance of precipitation on the horizon. All the resorts by this stage were open, but functioning only on man made snow and limited to one or two runs open. This blew down onto tourist numbers with the place just being dead, hotels basically empty and days where I might only send out a handful of rentals. On the back of last season, nobody was heading out here until the snow dramatically improved. And then .....

Its snowing

From skeptical outlooks all of a sudden we were being peltered by snow storm after snow storm. early december till christmas a deluge of snow was being accumulated on the mountains. Corrolating over to snowboarding this mean serious patients and restraint was needed as the fresh fluffy dusting of snow covered a bare rocky mountain surface below. But slowly over the weeks the ski patrol dropped the ropes openning access to the entire mountian and with each oppening a plethora of powder runs of unimaginable propertions were explored and exploited. Best thing yet is only december we still have months more snowboarding and skiing ahead of us.

Stoked for the powder!!!

 Only trouble now is its dried up again. After dealing with temperatures of unimaginable proportions, ranging from daily highs of -10 degrees C to lows of -30 C we were in temperature ranges too cold for snow. Three weeks straight we didn't even get near getting out of below zero temperatures. Now it finally warmed up and it feels like were in the tropics. It been getting to 1 or 2 degrees C around midday and only down to -8 C at night. But still, no snow is in sight!

Gore Range Mountains

But still its can't be a bad day when that is the view we get to look at during a mornings riding down the valley in Vail before heading off to work for the evening. Even if the snow was a bit icy that morning.