The Canadian Experience with Zak Lovell: Closing Weekend Opens Doors

Time goes by so fast! It's been a whirlwind since the last weekend at Panorama. There's been lots of leaving parties and end of season celebrations to keep me busy. Plus extra events held at the resort, and more recently my new job all this week!

Last Weekend of the Ski Season:
Last day at work! It was a super cruisey day, our job was to build and run a duel slalom race as part of the end of season activities. It closed at 1pm so people could concentrate and prepare for the slush cup starting at 2pm! Which meant we were free to enjoy the mountain. Me and Sylvie were hooked up by our boss Jason with some Fisher RC 4 racing skis from one of the demo tents. He's also sponsored by them so was pumped to let us give them a go. The difference is incredible. The amount of angulation, speed and edge grip you have.. it blew my mind. We were tearing it up! In my 'got-to-go-fast' outfit it must have looked so funny. However it felt fantastic. We even raced down the slalom course! Then, after having returned my uniform (so sad) we headed straight over to support our friends in the slush cup!

Got to have a first and last day selfie with my favourite Swiss colleague!

'GTG Fa$t' - by Invermere Thrift Store, NY

Slush Cup? A competition to clear this big pool at the end of small run-up filled with rubber ducks and beach balls. Hilarious! Everyone dresses up and there are 3 categories for award: crowd favourite, best costume, and biggest splash! My instructor friend took home best costume award with her massive unicorn floatie.. you'll see.. It must have been freezing! There was a big crowd, music, commentary and all round a good time. The party didn't stop there as we went to a 'kegger' at Micks. This included the following: kegs of beer, burgers and no peer pressure at all to do keg stands.
And that was just Saturday

Go Ditte!

Sunday was less jam packed on paper but not at the time! I stayed home on the last day Pano was open to the public to Skype family and sort stuff out for my the first day of mynew job as a barista at Gerrys Gelati! A pretty little icecream/coffee shop. 1pm until close. I was excited. My family was excited. Not only would there be no unemployed phase but I would come home knowing new baking recipes pies for waffles, cookies soups and (most importantly to my dad) how to make a good coffee. It's so fun! So much to take in at first but I'm getting into it and all the staff are so cool. Plus testing out all the produce to practise my coffee making and to become a connoisseur of gelato is an integral ( and amazing ) part of my job! I know my Grandpa would be so jealous!

As soon as I finished I raced home to grab booze and headed straight for the Ski School Staff party at my supervisors house up the road. The party was well under way and everyone was in high, merry spirits. I soon caught up and arrived just in time to see my 60+ year old supervisors 'street' alternative persona, and then the director spitting bars on the mic! These guys are the best to work with. Next on the agenda was Rookie and Pro instructors of the year. A peer awarded award (English yay!) for people to vote for who they think did an awesome job this season. First was rookies of the year... Ben the snowboarder picked up rookie because everyone knows how much he LOVES to teach on skis after getting his level 1 like me. Then snowboard rookie.. "now we had to call him to make sure he'd actually turn up in time for the awards. He's been eating icream all day.." It was ME!
I was so happy and lost for words. I love my job and for the people around me to think highly of me is an awesome feeling. I even got a free branded travel mug as a trophy! Josh then got Snowboard Pro (best mentor ever!) and Kennedy Pro Ski (he is the epitome of a ski instructor.)

Monday: the piste was open one last time for staff on Monday as well as a final appreciation BBQ. More burgers yay! It was fun but depressing to be honest. One last ride with everyone. Last being the sad part. I then cleared out my locker and loaded myself up like a mule to lug all my gear back to the Rack Shack (Zak Shack now I guess!) fortunately my season long buttering of the bus drivers came in handy. Byron took my picture and even dropped me off home. Like, right out side my house. What a legend. But that's not all, Jodh hosted a BBQ and bonfire evening at his awesome house in the woods. More burgers! It was so fun and chilled. He has so many fun toys! Air rifle target practise, golfing, slack lining, ladder ball and marshmallow roasting. But most of all I was happy to see his dog again.

Tuesday: cleaning in the am. Solid social calendar in the pm. Slack lining with Dom. Seeing my favourite german colleagues for the last time at the station pub , saying good by to Ditte and Geoff before their long road trip. All made possible by the uncontrollable draw to my smartie ice cream in the freezer. No kidding. We ate so much of that. Oh yeah! And then I went for a movie night at my friend.

Wednesday-Friday: solid work at the Cafe! Plus a load of my friends came in for breakfast before their bus the the airport to see me which was lovely.