Things are getting better

16/07/2010
Wow what a difference a couple of days can make, its the end of the week, and after being Kindergarden koo, I have had 2 days teaching snowboarding, and not even beginner group lessons! Check this out.
So on Thursday morning, I got to the locker room and checked out the register and I was reporting into the Winter Garden at 10am! There are 2 meeting points for lessons the Alpine Medow (beginner lessons) and the Winter Garden (Level 3 lessons and above). So meeting at the Winter Garden was an awesome start because I would be getting higher end lessons where I wouldn’t have to teach beginner progression.
I managed to get 4 hrs teaching private lessons. I was lucky with my 10am as it was meant for someone else, but because the instructor was on schedule @ 9am at the Medow he couldn’t make it up in time. All 4 lessons were with kids and 3 were very similar, it seems very common that kids turn much better one way than the other, so I spent those lessons working on making their other turns better. The most memorable lesson was with an absolute ripper, he was 8 and his name was Lochlin. He was from Auckland and rides the dome there a couple of times a week. It was so much fun teaching him because we just rode around and I helped with his riding technique. It was unfortunate because he wanted a freestyle lesson, however I wasn’t sure I was allowed to take him in the park. Turns out I could have an I wished I did. Toward the end of the lesson I told him to book a freestyle lesson, and because I wasn’t sure if i was allowed to take him in the park I didnt say to book it with me. Turns out later that afternoon he did indeed book a freestyle lesson and Stuart took him out to the park. Stuey came back from the lesson and couldn’t believe how good he was. “He’s going to go pro” were the words that came out of his mouth. Apparantly the kid was doing high end tricks on the box in the park like nose presses and change ups, things I cant even do! I was slightly gutted I didnt take him around doing that stuff, but I got another lesson for the snowschool, even though I could have got a request lesson and got a fun lesson with a cool kid with commission.
Its all good though! I had another kid called Jordan who was like a sponge, his toe edge turns weren’t as good as his heel edge, so we worked on that, and then he came back for another lesson today. I took him out, and I missed out on another request! I just cant seem to sell myself!! Oh well! It was good taking him out twice and I could really see the difference in his riding!! So much fun!
This afternoon I had a private with 2 kids who were the children of the Manager of Mt Ruapehu, I didnt know this and just went about teaching them and they did REALLY well and had such a good time. I was stoked.
The teaching has been going well and things in the locker room are getting better for sure. I guess when I am visibly happier, I radiate that and just talk to more of the staff and have more fun with it.
Last night there was a staff dodgeball event! It was awesome! All of the staff from Mt Ruapehu (Turoa and Whackapapa) came together to do battle! Our team – the dodgy basterds – got through to the semi’s before being knocked out by another snowschool team. Turoa snowschool dominated and Chris’ team ended up winning it thanks to some Heroics from John/Joe Lang (not sure on his first name). It was a great night, we went out to the Keg for a boogie after to some crazy drum and bass – called it quits at about midnight!
Just heading off to footie but thought I would post up some good news. Other bits are my board is stuck at Auckland customs and im going through more shipping dramas and my knee really isn’t doing well. I am really having to nurse it! I might have to see a physio tomo.
Peace and love peeps