Have you been watching the winter Olympics?  I’ve been glued to them.  To see the best in the world of my favorite sport, snowboarding, is so inspiring!  I am mesmerized by Shaun White.  I relish in the fact he was a Big Bear kid and Bear Mtn/Snow Summit is what our gold medalist calls his “home mountain”  So had I been born 15 years later, or the sport evolved 15 years earlier I’d had traded in my photography career for one in professional snowboarding.  What would I medal in?  Snowboard Cross!!!!  Only unlike Lindsey Jacob-Ellis I wouldn’t feel the need to do a grab on my last jump to the finish line and crash-haha!  I know that was 4 years ago but that still frustrates me.  What a dumb, ego charged poor decision that was!  My forte is speed.  Mix that with some big jumps and the adrenaline of 3 other riders posting up and I would be charged up to pursue a gold medal.

One of my clients recently compared me to Lindsay Vonn, said I remind her of Lindsay every time she sees her… I will take that HUGE compliment!!!  Although I’ve never been on skis a day in my life I could actually feel her level of pressure and overwhelming joy as she won the downhill.  It’s so fun to watch people’s dreams come true.  In a small way we get to be a part of that!

And then there’s curling.  Does anyone really understand this ’sport’?  I may sound ignorant, but I don’t get it!  It’s so bizarre.  Archaic.  And although it is said that it takes extreme athleticism it just doesn’t look so.  Call me crazy, I just can’t get on board that train!

Also as I watch the 2010 winter games I can’t help but reflect upon my time I spent in Whistler a few years ago.  I have been dying to go back ever since!  I am a much better rider now and can only imagine how much more I would enjoy Whistler/Blackcomb.  Did you know that top to bottom of Whistler mtn is a full 7 miles of runs?  Yup.  I know this first hand, it’s nuts to just keep going and going and going…. and you’re nowhere close to the end.  I went big on this snow trip, actually helicoptered in.  The view from Vancouver to Whistler mtn was breaktaking, I’ll never forget it.  In fact, the fond memories encouraged me to dig up some of the shots I took on that trip, thought I’d share a few with you.  If you like snowboarding/skiing you simply must make the pilgrimage to Whistler in your lifetime.  I can’t wait to go back there, SOON.