Aussie's and Hockey

If you have a chance, bring some Aussie's to a hockey game. They're fantastic! The staff here in our accommodations went down to a Vernon Viper's hockey game (Junior A hockey) last night and it was great fun. The resort organized the buses and tickets for the staff and it only cost $5 each. Everyone was really into the game with cheering, yelling, and other entertaining, hockey-related things. It was a really one-sided game with Vernon winning 8-4 but there was lots of action, 3 fights (which the Aussie's loved since they're used to Aussie-rules football.....look it up, crazy game), and of course beer. Good fun was had by all.

As for snow, we got another 8cm last night and there's flurries for the next few days. We still need another 50cm or so though so we need a big dumper. None of the lifties are working until we get more snow so......I'm kinda bored. I tried expanding my questionably-legal computer abilities by trying to hack into the various secured wireless networks around the resort but I decided that wasn't a good idea. We only have one accessable wireless connection for the whole staff accommodation which is only accessable in one side of one room. So I was motivated by necessity really. We're getting our own dedicated wireless connection.....soon we've been told but we're at the bottom of a very very slow moving list. Only 2 IT guys for the whole resort. I've volunteered my help since I don't have anything to do but I doubt anything will come of that.

On that note, anyone have any ideas for stuff to keep me busy and out of trouble until we get snow and get open?

I finally got some decent pictures!

1. Here is my lift control console and some people I trained yesterday:2. Here is me in my Uniform (I'm not wearing my radio)! The back just has the Silverstar logo

3. Here is Aggie in her Uniform and office!
4. Aggie and I in her office (Aggie pointing out the window to where she has seen all the deer...pictures doesn't really show where she's pointing but you get the idea).That's about it for now. As before, send all the snow storms over here!

Cheers,
Mike and Agata

Snow?

Ok......really......What does Toronto, or even Southern Ontario need with all that snow? We have very little snow (nope, aren't open yet) and we can do plenty with it! Send it all over here. A little aggravating but not much we can do about it. I'm still training people so at least I'm working. I'm off today and tomorrow, then I work 1/2 day Friday to train some latecomers.

I'm going to bring my camera so I can get a picture of my lift and all it's fun and games and me in my uniform. The lift won't be MY lift but identical to mine. It's wierd though, after riding the Poma lift at Mount Tri-Town for most of my life, it's odd to come here and see the "Poma" lifts here are the giant 6 person detachable chair lifts. Leitner-Poma made most of the lifts here...

The other lifties here are getting antsy since most of them aren't working. They came here all the way from Austraila/New Zealand/UK and are quickly running out of money. In addition, they are getting bored. There isnt' much here to do than watch TV, sleep, eat, and go to the bar (which has gotten a few people fired). We really need to get skiing/riding. The snow will come. The winter has just shifted forward a bit. Last year, they closed in April and they had more snow than they had all season. They close regardless of conditions here (which is ridiculous) because people just stop coming (apparently, I don't believe it though). Sure the season's pass people will come but they dont' make money off them. Sigh.

Oh, for all who need to know, here is the address for me and Aggie

C/O Silver Lode Inn

P.O. Box 3005

Silver Star Mountain V1B3M1 B.C. Canada

Well, hope to hear from you all soon.

Cheers Mate,
Agata and Mike

I am the trainer and they are the trainees

Finally got some snow, which made everyone happy. We still need more but at least everything isn't ice and dirt....

I'm still doing lots of training, but I'm the trainer. I am training the other lifties on the high-speed detachable quads, the same one that I'll be in charge of when we open. I just found out today that I'll be responsible for the Powder Gultch high-speed quad chair (which I already knew) AND the Home-Run T-Bar. I will work 10-hour days Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday then I'm off for three days. The consistency is nice since I can plan around things.

I also took my first walk UP the hill today after work. After I closed down the bottom (loading side) of the lift I had to walk up to the next lift to get picked up by snowmobile.....that is a long, and hard hard walk; especially when you're wearing huge snow boots and in full gear.

Agata bought her first set of skis/poles/boots today! She has Head Every One skis with Nordica boots. She also got a custom foot-bed for her boots (orthotics for ski boots). I am thinking of doing the same thing since everyone here swears by them.

I have more pictures! I still have to get one of me in my full uniform. This is a nice one of the mountains from the village on a sunny day. I like the clouds below...
Here is one of me!

and another one of mountains. I like Mountains! That's the old Summit Chair (2 person chairlift).


That's about it for now, and pray for snow.

Mike

It has begun...

The snow has come. It is snowing, has been snowing, and will keep snowing for a few days. Then next week, it is supposed to snow some more. Thank you....Snow Gods. Please keep blessing us with your bounty.

I did more hands-on training today with the detachable and fixed quad. THe detachable is quite complicated but I really like it. There are a lot of safety switches, startup sequences, etc... but when you get the hang of it.....it's great, quite easy.

The fixed grip is easy to operate. There aren't much things to do but actually loading people is hard!! You know when you load onto a non-detachable quad chairlift and the liftie kinda slows the chair for you....yeah, that's hard. Those chairs are heavy and moving pretty quick. It damn near put me on my ass a few times. Even then I could only muster enough to slow it a bit. I'll need a bit more practice. Luckily I'm the lead on a detachable quad. I am now training others on the detachable quads for the next few days until opening (hopefully next Thursday).

Agata is training people as well in the seasons pass and daily ticket office. She meets so many people that way. I've met so many new people through her. Aussie's, Kiwies (New Zealand), UK, US, Japan........ I met most of them tonight at the staff night of a great bar here (Bistro really) called The Den. They had a special, $7.50 for dinner and a pint. Live band too. Great food, good beer, good music....Quite fun.

Well, that's about it for now. I have to work tomorrow and Brondwyn needs to use my computer (a fellow liftie).

Cheers Mate.

praying to the snow gods

We were supposed to open this Saturday but that has been pushed back. There is not enough snow and it isn't cold enough. So the tentative opening date is November 27th. We need snow and cold. Last season they didn't open until December 1st but the whole season was fantastic once it opened. I'm not worried.....just a little antsy. I wanna ski.

Oh oh oh.......Agata bought her first set of skis/boots/poles. She's so excited. She got wikid Head skis, comfy Nordica boots, and nice poles. Just need snow.

I finished my training today. We had our lift evacuation where we lowered people off the chairlifts using ropes and wee chairs, as well has fireman's nets and ladders so they can jump/climb off the lift. It was great fun because I was one of the people to be lowered down from the lift (30ft up). After I got my snowmobile training so I can ride to my lift in the morning and back to the village at night. Yeah, kinda lame since I've been riding ski-doos since......6 years old? Dad, is that about right? But it's still necessary for insurance reasons.

After, not much happened. I went to the pub tonight with my new buddy Jake from Austrailia (Dickie Beach, north of Brisbane). He's a liftie too. Here are some pictures. That's Jake...

Here are the beer choices at Long John's Pub (great place).My favorite is 1516....
Here's Dennis, one of the owners/operators of Long John's Pub.
Now that I've figured out how to post pictures on this thing, there will be more. Including myself in my awesome uniform.

Well, that's all for now. I'll post again soon, hopefully when there's a pantload of snow.

Mike

Day 1: training....day 1

I started my training today. It was all in-class stuff with everyone else. It's an interesting bunch of characters but they are all friendly and it's going to be great.
We met the maintenance crew, the post-RCMP security personnel, Human resources people, and Guest Services people. I also watched the cheesy 1980's era training video...funny stuff.
Since we're pretty well the first or second person the skiers will be seeing when they get here we have to make a good impression. Smiley faces and such. But I think I can do it.

It has snowed here but it got warm today and it turned soggy. But it will be getting colder now and there is supposed to be snow by the end of the week. I like snow.... Oh, Agata is here and she said from her workdesk window she saw two deer prancing about on the hill...and no she didn't shoot them.

Well we're all heading out to the pub....right next door to our place. I think I will do JUUUUUSTTT fine here.

Toodles for now.

Mike and Agata

We have arrived

Well, we're all here. Myself and Agata have moved into our place here at Silverstar Resort. We're living at Silverlode Inn, which is a hotel specifically for staff. They've redone the whole place really well. We have the following at our disposal:

Bar
Hot Tub
Games room
washer/dryers
Plenty of eating places

Those are pretty well the highlights. Our room is shared by another couple and we have a kitchenette, bathroom, fireplace, TV...quite nice.

They have snow, and more is coming. I have my training tomorrow and Agata is already working. This is going to be great. The people I've met so far are fantastic, friendly, and a lot of fun.

Just thought I'd post something to get started. I'll put in more detail etc.... as I think of them and as everyone asks me questions.

Cheers,