Europe just rocks!!!!!

So it has been 11 days and counting with a bad cold, so on Thursday I had my first experience with the CH health system. I was having major sinus issues and was worried, so I found a MD that spoke enligh and headed off to the clinic. After a little check the MD asked for a chest X-ray, which was quick...and I mean I was in an out of the doctor with meds in no more than 30 minutes...not bad. After a day or two on the meds I was already feeling better, so it was off to the slopes for the weekend ritual. I hooked up with Ripz and Michel at Lavaux on a grey and not very nice day. We decided that Leysin was the pick of the day because snow was rolling in and G3 may actually close. Leysin is a cool spot, but the conditions were very EC....icey, grey, and not much snow.....but we had a good day anyways...how can you have a bad one...we are in the ALPS!!!
Michel:

Me:

So with the conditions not being that great we decided for an early end to the day.....all was not lost I had a nice cafe and soup at the base.
Cheers!

"No soup for you"......but there was!

Saturday night I chilled in Carouge and relaxed. Things were shaping up for the next day so I wanted to get some rest. I spoke with Rob and it was on for Sunday.Rob picked me up in Carouge Sunday morning to pouring rain....the outlook was not good. It was 3c and we weren't sure if the snow had come....but it did!!! We headed up to Les Contamines which is only about 1hr away. Upon arrival the temp had dropped and the snow had come.
First Gondie up!

By the first turn I knew today was going to rock...the snow had come and the pow was finally in Europe! 20cm was on the ground and it was SNOWING.
Ohhhh...this is what snow looks like ;-)

We were stoked, but the vis was marginal at times. Let's go there!

At times the vis was ZERO...and I mean ZERO..I couldn't see 3 feet in front of myself, but luckily this was not a glacier with big holes in it. After a no vis run god looked down and said "let there be light!"
Rob enjoying life:

Rob sheddin the pow:

The days was great and so was lunch. Rob and I grabbed some chairs and enjoyed the "spots" of sun. Life is good!

Shot of the day:

After a few more runs we called it a day, but it looked like the snow is still coming......WHOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I say this almost every weekend, but this place rocks. I am in love with skiing and the Alps. I am so lucky to live this life.

I love skiing! Feb 2nd G3000

So it was back to the stomping grounds with TeleAl (Al), Ripzalot (Jay), and new addition Tom (Tom). I had been battling a cold all week but that was not going to stop me from getting my weekly CH ski recharge. After a very mellow Friday night were I got my skis mounted (fixation sur le ski SVP?) and watched The Godfather I woke to a somewhat cloudy day in Geneva...but I knew that the sun would be out up high. After meeting up with Jay and Tom at the Lavaux rest stop we headed up to Leysin to grab Al and off to G3. upon arrival it was another horrible day ;-)

It had not snowed for a week plus, but we were able to find the goods...again...this place rocks!

After the first lap on the right side of the Combe we headed left the second lap and the snow was much better.
Line off the top....nice and exposed on the left side to a 500M cliff...sorry Mom ;-)

The "crew":

TeleAl killing it in the soft areas!

After the 2nd lap we were stoked on the snow so it was time for a little different line. Al and I decided we would check out this couloir...as you can see a little rocky! Al showing his skills:

This was my first day out on the Axxun BC, so I was stoked..I love them! EC in CH!

On the 3rd lap it was time to test the skis in the air:

Favorite one of the day...nice work on the camera Jay!

The end of the day we were all exhausted and stoked from the great snow and sunshine. People are always complaining at work that there is no snow...I keep telling them there is NONE ;-) I arrived home that night thinking about how much being outside and skiing means to me..and how lucky I am to be here...I love life again....I never hated it, but I am in such a good 'place' mentally, physically, and emotional right now...I haven't been in this 'place' in such a long time. Thanks again everyone for the support! Talking about people who really supported me......here is my best friend and brother-from-another-mother Jay..... enjoying life again too! I miss you kid!

Jay killing it EC style!

Ski pics to come but music is missing too! Feb 3rd 2007

KRS Life Interlude: The words that resonate are bolded and in Red
With every breath I breathe I choose life for the children
With every breath I breathe I choose a wife and good livin
With every single breath that I ingest I am giving
A smidgen to make life-changin decisions, listen
My mission with precision will position our children
by the millions to start buildin our culture for the billions
and trillions of people comin after us
If they doubt, they won't be as fast as us
Cause in our time we kick a new power rhyme
We keep renewin your mind, cause soon you will find
That every single breath that I breathe keeps us conscious
Enough to perceive and achieve if you believe
But oxygen comes from the trees
Without air for four minutes forget it you catchin some Z's
So which is really conscious, us or nature?
Maybe the trees wish to elevate the paper
And maybe this was just the fall
To forget that nature thinks, we doin nothin at all
And this is the way of the world
The world meanin the conscious nature and the earth that swirls
Like buffalo girls we go 'round the outside
G is controversial but G never lied
In the forest, the mountains and the hills I reside
You gotta follow the purpose you feel inside

With every single breath I choose
With every single breath I move
With every single breath I prove
With every single breath I use
With every single breath I snooze
With every single breath I cruise
With every single breath I choose life
Not strife
Or strain, some like that I came, to rearrange the game
Others blame and remain the same
Same same, but me the plan is plain
We gotta think more humane...