Just another Saturday in Euroland....

After another hectic week (I know I aways say this but it's true!) I chilled in on Friday night and was up pre-sunrise to get some fresh in either CH or F. After Jay cancelled at the last minute (hope your feeling better bro)I decided I would take the short trip to F. Jay said the radar looked good for Cham or Flaine, so I headed to the Grand Massif!
Ride:

The trip was quick (45) and I was in the parking lot by myself in Sameon. I was one of the first people on the lift and had my own personal gondi...a little stretching:

There was a little inversion happening, but it was a bluebird day!


I had the helmet rocking and the old school SPYs in effect!

It snowed about 10-15cm but is was dust on crust. Anything that had been skied had been soft and then refrozen....but after a little looking around I found some great pockets!

My line (with the roll over this one was fun...I ended up launching some of the rocks later in the day):

It was actually very relaxing to ski alone today....the sky was blue, the temp was perfect, and it gave me time to chill....and enjoy the Alps!

I explored the ski area a little more this trip. There is SOOOOO much here to ski...hopefully one more dump in the forecast and I will get some this year...if not "I will see you next year Grand Massif!"...I may even ride this crazy lift!

I ended the day by skiing some groomers...which were actually really good! (Mom and Dad this place is on the list for you guys)...and a little sunning and a beer:

After my "close call" last week this was good to get back in the mtns and have a good day....still very happy, still having the time of my life, still G...more to come...off to the Candide Invitational!!!!

Some vid from Eberg!!!

Engelberg Diaries
Thanks Lars!!!!

Engelberg: The Angels were watching....

Jay and I left on Thursday night for Eberg. It had been snowing there for 3 days and FINALLY Europe was getting some SNOW...yes SNOW!150CM+ The vid says it all (along with an INSANE TR from Ripz/Jay!..click HERE) We met up with Gregor (yes another) and Lars in Eberg...the trip was SICK! Here are few of the best G pics.





At the end of the third day Jay and I saw an avi that took a girls life...RIP...postive vibes to family and friends. The trip ended on a little down note, but it makes you live everyday for everything it has. +G+E+O+

3 new countries in 3 months......33% to my goal! Turkey..Istanbul!

So #7) Visit 10 new countries (this post is filled with links so check them out)on the 2007 Goals is 33% of the way there. Karen was going to be in Turkey so this was a great opportunity to get #3! I left on Friday and arrived in Istanbul in the early evening. We were staying in Sultan Ahmet so I grabbed a cab and headed. The ride was a little hectic with Mario Andretti as the driver (he locked up the brakes twice) but I arrived in one piece.
After some chilling we headed into the city for a cocktail and some dinner. We had a drink the top of the Marmara Hotel and then headed to find a dining establishment that a friend rec'd. After a LONG search we found Lebi Derya in a small ally.

From the outside you would think this was a dive, but after a little elavator ride we were blessed with a great table and view from the roof of the city.

Dinner was good and we headed back to the hotel for some rest. We woke the next day to find the weather a nice and sunny 12c and headed to see the sites. Here are the highlights!
Sultan Ahmed Mosque





Sophia Mosque

Basilica Cistern



Good luck!

Chilling in Istanbul!


Cats too! (Hi M-pants)

After a little site seeing we headed to the Grand Bazaar This was touristy, but we walked and found some cool areas...this place sold everything even guns....that was kind of scary....saw lots of white guys there?? This I bought some bread from this guy....off his head!


We walked a ton and had a keebab at a very local place. After some food we started walking again and saw the Muslims getting ready for prayer. Wudu I believe.

In the same area a lady sold food to feed the pigeons:

Traffic:

More walking..over onto the Golden Horn: Mad fishing!

We walked through fish markets, industial areas, you name it....very cool! On our travels we ran into a hooka bar near a mosque and endulged in a little tea and some apple water pipe (and backgammon too...KK beat me ;-):

That night we headed to a another local rec from a friend and had some great mezze and fish. Our waiter rocked and was very chill...no menu only food and Raki We headed to a club after, but it was filled with Joeys, so we headed back to the hotel. Sunday KK was feeling a little ill, so we chilled and changed hotels to the Hilton (thanks AG)

KK was feeling a little better in the afternoon so we headed to do some shopping and just chill. The day ended with use having some food at a cool place in Sultan Ahmet (food was okay but the location kicked ASS!)

Walk home:

We got up the next day knowing "THE MAN" was calling so I jumped a flight and KK went off to focus groups. Overall Istanbul is cool...I would head back. I am off to ski in 100CM of POW POW this weekend in Eberg so more of G's travels to come.... all I can say is that I am blessed.....

...post in the making....but I was in Turkey...promise!

Here is the teaser....there is an epic post in the making!

Istanbul to come..but last Sunday..The Self Explanatory Blog..

G3:

Ski Ski G:

Jay:

Avi:

Nice Day!

Lunch!

Good ending!

Time to go:

As always a great day with friends in CH!

Ski Area???? Let me think....hmmmm?

Looking back at the posts in the Snow for the Euro's thread it looks like it is just a roll of the dice this season in Euroland. Today makes 5 pow weekends in a row, and I think this one may be on top of the list. Conti (in storm), G3 (2 days after), Courmayeur(in storm), La Clusaz(in/out of storm), Ischgl (day after), and now Grand Massif(day after). To keep this a quick update. I arrived at 8:30 in fog, but clearing. My back is finally sorting itself out (Thanks Pierre...my Osteopath) so I was stoked to get outside. I skied in the fog for 2 runs, both of which were is smoke (cold light snow..add this one to the Gregor dictionary for those playing along)....I would say 20CM plus on top of....I am not sure what (this is reffering to the snow conditions....under neither the snow there was a layer of ice due to the recent warm weahter). I arrived on the Sameon's side and had never been to the area (I was skiing alone too, so the first few were a crap shoot....at around 10 it cleared:

To this!

I decided that it was going to be better up high, so I headed to Flaine:

Nice lines in here (sorry Mom ;-)

I tracked out run after run of untouched...30 to faceshot in some places....it was sick!

Tons of competition too!

I picked around all day finding little lines all over.....I figured out the check list I need to follow.
Go to an area with gaper/joeys (EC term)...CHECK!
Go on change over day............................CHECK!
Make harcore skiers think it is going to suck.CHECK! (thanks TGR:wink: )
This line I skied 5 times in a row with 200M of open bowl and a traverse to get to this. 15 minute lap. It had some sharks in it....but it was a blast.


So that being said, there was still tons to get tracked out in the AM...so I will head back to Gaperland!
In closing, the moral of this update is that Euroland, even in a poopie winter, is still killer! Ohhh I almost forgot...let's count: Zermatt 1...G3 2...Verbier 3.... Chamrousse 4....Avoriaz (PDS)5.....Chamonix 6....Val D'Isere 7...Leysin 8.....Les Contimiens 9....Courmayeur 10....La Clusaz 11.....Ischgl 12.....Grand Massif 13...Not bad ;-)