I've got a carrot in my facsinator... darlingk!

So today was the annual staff memorial day ski race. Now I will admit it, I am not a fabulous skier and even after 3 months down here I am no where near hot dogging it down the slopes just yet. But my boss convinced me to go in today's race which is more of a laugh then anything, but still involves going down a ski course (the Rosi Racecourse) one at time, through 12 gates with everyone watching. How it works is that you do the course twice and you have to try and do it in the same time. You are in a team of 2, and so the difference in your two runs are added together to get your final score. This is my kind of race - they don't call me slow and steady smith for nothing!

I went with Haig, our wonderful sticks/tripod carrier who is a fanatstic skier. And when I say went, I mean I entered him and I last night at 4.55pm (the shut off for entry forms was 5pm) and told him this morning. His reaction was - we don't have to actually ski together do we?! After from being completely offended, i laughed and then told him he had to wear a dress too in the 'racing theme'. Me on the otherhand, resurrected the old hot pink one piece and added a fascinator to the outfit. The funniest part was that I made it down the run safely and poor old Haig stacked it - so I don't think I will be drinking from the cup tonight!

So the results still aren't in just yet, but I am not holding my breath. But as you can see from the pics it was a really fun day with everyone dressing up and the Ouzo was flowing straight from the bottle to the lips at the starting line!

Sim x

Cabin Fever – CURED!

So after moaning about suffering from a severe case of cabin fever after being in the village, living on top of people 24/7 for 3 months, I finally escaped and feel 1,000% better. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t love this place because I absolutely do but when you know every person you pass on the street, including their family lineage, then it becomes a bit much. Beside, my house has turned into a junkyard thanks to the two lifties and ski patroller I live with. I now refer to it as the 'bog of eternal stench'. But I can’t get into just how bad it is just now as I might cry and spiral back into my bout of cabin fever.

So when I escaped, I jumped in the car and drove to Canberra. Who thought Canberra would be an oasis of entertainment and a shopping mecca. How my perspectives have changed! I briefly saw my Mum who was taking her class to Questacon and then I shopped until I literally dropped, mostly due to being weighted down by bags and credit card receipts! What can I say, I had three months shopping down time to catch up on.

Then it was back to my gorgeous hotel room (courtesy of my boss who had been witnessing my downwards spiral due to lack of sleep and household hygiene) and after swan diving onto my big queen bed like a true princess, I ordered room service and watched TV (something I hadn’t done in ages) and ate my citrus cheese cake whilst painting my toe nails. It will go down in history as the best, most self-indulgent day I have had all year.

The next day, after doing the walk of shame by myself to the breakfast buffet – ALONE – I met up with my gorgeous Aunt who drove down to see me and had lunch and another round of shopping.

So am back now, staring out at the slopes, feel like my old self again. And the best news… I am moving into the flat next-door with the stunning Fifi my partner in crime in absolutely everything in a few nights. Amen, the accommodation god hasn’t forgotten me after all!

Sim x

Reliving the World Cup – Germany 2006

True to her word, the darling Michelle posted the pics of our beloved blow up Roo who fearlessly followed us around Munich for our World Cup antics (R.I.P.), on facebook following the recent spotting of my roo’s relative on the slopes here in Thredbo the other day. So, I thought I should share these with you because he was one of the best travel companions I have had, he didn’t whinge once and was always pumped for a good time (OK, lame joke alert!).

This Roo knew how to have a good time, and sure he may have drunk too much at the Australia vs. Brazil game but he bounced back (lame joke two, one more and I will quit writing altogether, I promise). And then he was there with a broom, ready to right his wrongs. But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and he became more than a little deflated when Australia didn’t make it past those nasty, cheating Italians (OK – I am out).

So rest in peace Roo – Shell, Ray and I will never forget you.
Sim xxx

Famous Faces from the Slopes

Just a quick one today, but I have had numerous celebrity sightings on the slopes lately which I thought I should share with you. The first is the gorgeous, Sally Stanton from Saturday Disney who I have had the pleasure to work with in the past. Sally is former snow reporter herself and was so lovely in sharing all her best kept secrets about what to expect down here before I, rather hesitantly, packed my bags and headed for the hills in May this year (wow – has it really been that long?!).

Now, yesterday I walked past Andrew O’Keefe of Deal or No Deal fame in the village but my highlight would have to be when Charlie from Hi-5 skied up to me when I was doing a report up at Karel’s to say she always watches my reports before skiing straight off again! By the time I realised who it was she was gone, but I was chuffed nonetheless.

Now I also have to mention spotting Cate Blanchett at Thredboland last week, dropping her kids off before hitting the slopes herself. I just adore Cate and can’t believe how stunning she looked, even with a beanie on and sans make-up. It’s just not fair! Unfortunately, my inner groupie was suppressed long enough to prevent me from running up, gushing about how much I admire her and asking for a photo and makign a right idiot of myself.

So that’s all my celebrity spotting for now. Stay tuned for more stars of the slopes.

Sim x

Rip Curl Pro Freeride Comp

I have just a had a few big days at work covering the Rip Curl Pro Freeride Comp here in Thredbo. Despite the crap weather, and I mean crap (which is bad coming from the keyboard fo a snow reporter), the event was a 'great success' and with $25,000 worth of cash and prizes there was huge international and local interest with the likes of Andy Finch, Chris Booth, Andrea Berchtold and Russ Holt competing - not that I knew who they were.

But all SERIOUSNESS aside, I was left to report on an event I knew very little about so I did some 'research' and 2 minutes before the comp plonked down in the snow next to a bunch of boarders to pick their brains about what the hell a sitchback 9 was? After a crash course in freeride and slopestyle moves I was starting to question my sources... 'was there really a move called the truck driver? And was I prepared to say that on national and cable TV and try and sound convincing?'.

My answer came (as a big fat no), when I was told one of the riders just pulled off a 'PHat Kanga-Wallaby something, something'. Yep, this was never going to work - these guys were clearly having a lend! So I decided to join in and inspired by Roy and HG's 'battered sav' commentary of the Olympic gymnastics I decided to make up my own, so next season look out for the 'Greasy DimSim Reverse 9'!

So two days later and many reports later I am much more informed in the art of slopestyle and freeride and can pick a fake trick name from a mile away. Yep, who said blondes weren't SMRT?!

So there were some pretty cool tricks to come out of the event and a whole heap of drinking to happen afetrwards. I am still recovering - seriously. My other lesson learnt was that if anyone offers you a shot of Glecier Ice, walk... nay run... far, far away preferably in a 'Backside Pluto-pup Tuck' position.

Lots of Love,

Simone x

Sunrise in the Snowies

I have finally come to terms with the early morning starts here at work as a snow reporter. After two months you’d certainly hope so, but I never professed to be an early morning person. OK, maybe that’s a slight fib and in fact in my job interview when asked whether I was an early morning person I smiled sweetly and said, ‘of course!’. Well, the job interview was at 7.30am in the city so surely that proved I was a morning person because not only was I on time, could string a sentence together and was looking presentable, except for that pillow-case crease mark running down my left cheek, but I was obviosuly convincing enough to get the job! So what more screams ‘morning person’ than all those things, oh and maybe a gym bag to prove I’d already squished in a gym session’ at some crazy hour. But the truth of the matter was that not only did my alarm not go off that morning (clearly not a user error!), leaving me running ridiculously late but then I had to get a lift to the train station from my mother (god love her, who drove me in her pyjamas like only a mother would), so I didn’t miss the train altogether!

So you get the idea of how much of a morning person I am NOT, right? Right. So starting work at 5.30am four times a week has been challenging to say the least, especially when you are on local radio and national TV starting from 6am. Well, this is why this picture is so special as I snapped it at work of the sun rising over the snowie mountains just as a crow flew past (also photographic evidence of my being a morning person now). It’s so wonderful to be up at this crazy hour of the day and get to witness the start of a new day – wow was I missing out before. I never thought I’d say that.

Anyway, I miss you all heaps and am coming back for a few days to Sydney soon so hope to catch up then.

Sim x

Why Mountain Men and Me Don't Mix

So I have avoided talking about my personal life on this blog for a long time. And when I say 'personal life' I really mean love life. But after a few big nights out and my very dear friend and regular confidante, Rachel, begging me to write something about it on my blog, here goes...

I have discovered that mountain men and I don't mix. Mainly because there are far too many of them to choose from and I have a hard time making decisions at the best of time. So my latest story happened to a very good 'friend of mine' who happened to have a party pash with a hot italian stallion ski instructor, only to do the same thing a few nights later (no, she really isn't a tart!) only to find out that not only do the two guys know each other but they live together. But wait, it gets better... they share a room together! So despite the abumdance of mountain men, I... I mean my friend, kisses two guys who live in the one room.

And if that's not bad enough, she then has to throw a coat over her head and run out of a night club when she spots one of them a few nights later due to 1. pure embarassment and 2. because she was with another guy! What a shocker. So that's why mountain men and I don't mix.

The attached picture is from my night out last night to a party at the Eagles Nest restuarant at the top of the mountain. It was a great night but my head still hurts today as I sit here at work. And it's really not surprising just check out the calibre of photos to come from last night. And for the record, that's not me in the pic. It's 'my friend'.

Lots of Love, Sim x

What does your beanie say about you?

One thing I have discovered as I sit here and day dream out the office window at the skiers and boarders on Friday Flat is that you can read lot into what people wear, especially on their heads. After hours of contemplation, this is what I have come up with. I warn you now, this is deep beyond belief and may make you think twice before you reach for a beanie…

HEADBAND – GIRLS
I have nice hair, I want you to see my nice hair because it took me two hours to straighten my nice hair to make it look nice. If it rains and my hair goes frizzy I will just die!

HEADBAND – BOYS
One of two scenarios: I have big ears and nice hair, or I think that I am cool enough to pull-off girls’ headwear without looking like a chump.

BEANIE WITH POM POMS
I had such a good childhood that I want to dress like I did when I was 5 years old. Anyone for a cordial?

BEANIE WITH EAR-FLAPS
If I wasn’t wearing a beanie I would probably be wearing a trucker cap or an akubra – now watch me crush an empty beer can on my forehead.

BEANIES WITH A VISOR
I am hoping everyone will follow suit, making this the fashion item of the season - if only I could see where I was going.

FUR HAT
I didn’t have enough money for a trip to St Anton’s in Austria and in my tantrum-like state when my sugar daddy said we were only going to the Australian ski fields I forgot to pack my Prada beanie so this dead possum on the side of the road was all I could find to keep my head warm.

HOODIE
You can find me at the terrain park 24/7 and chances are my pants will be sitting awkwardly around my waist showing just a hint of boxer and an inch of butt crack to entice the ‘ledies’.

POINTED BEANIE
No, I don’t think I am Noddy, I just couldn’t find a mirror to check my beanie fit when I bought it, or it was a gift from my girlfriend who is skiing with me now.

NO BEANIE
I have never been skiing or boarding before. You will find me at Friday Flat, on my butt and freezing cold.

HELMET
My mother/father/girlfriend/wife said I couldn’t go riding without it.

FUNNY HAT
If I am over the age of 10, I must be working with kids, on a bux weekend to the slopes or the world’s biggest attention seeker.

And for the record, I am a proud owner of just about every single type of beanie described above – except for the Fur Hat as that’s just ridiculous. So what does that say about me? If I was being objective, I’d say that maybe it means that I am indecisive and haven’t found my niche on the slopes but truthfully it means I am ‘huge girl’ who likes to shop and colour co-ordinate at all times.

Sim x

Crazy Weather on the Slopes

The weather over the last few days on the slopes has been crazy, almost as crazy as my love life but that’s a whole other story that I am not going to share with you right now.

The last three days, gale force winds have swept through the mountains, pretty much sweeping away everything else with it. I thought our roof was going to blow off the other night with winds measuring 140km and with most chairlifts being put on windhold.

However, there was one day between all of this crazy weather where the sun came out in full force and shone down on us – as in the picture. Only problem is that it was so hard packed that I picked up a nice momento from the slopes at the bottom of my stock!

And on other pressing news, I have finally bit the bullet and joined facebook much to my own disgust. I have held out this long but could no longer stand my friends constantly send those e-mail reminders to join. So see you on Facebook, unless of course you have more will power and haven’t succumb yet!

Simone x

Snow shoeing – one snowy step at a time

My folks recently came down to visit me in Thredbo. I think it was also just a really good excuse for a weekend away but that’s fine with me – it was great to see them and to dine out for a change. My meagre budget usually limits me to one night at the pizzeria or kebab shop per week! Nay, make that per fortnight!

So Mum and Dad had never skied in their life which left me wondering what we were going to do for three days in al Alpine resort. You have to hit the slopes in some capacity if you come all the way to the snow. So I strapped my thinking cap on and enrolled us into snow shoeing.

It was such a magic, blue sky day and we had a blast. Sadly Mum got sick and had to pull out but Dad and I unleashed our inner Antarctic explorer and strapped on our snow shoes which I was relieved to find our much more fancy than the tennis racquet-looking contraptions from once upon a time. We had a blast and I cannot stop recommending it to everyone down here.

I think the best part was going backcountry and being away from the hoards of skiers and boarders. There was not a soul around and we could see all the way to Mount Kosciusko. It was easy to become snap happy – it was so picturesque.

The brochure claimed that if you can walk, you can snow shoe. There’s really not much more to it than that!

Simone x

Record Breaking Flare Run

Last Monday, we broke an Australian record. It was the 10th anniversary of the Thredbo road collapse and to pay tribute to the 18 people who passed away on July 30 1997 we held a flare run in Thredbo.

The previous Australian record was 745 skiers here in Thredbo on the 1st anniversary, but this year we were hoping to break this. The World Record is held in Switzerland with 1,321 riders doing a flare run on 1st January 2000 to kick-off the millennium.

So how many skiers and boarders registered for Thredbo’s 10th Anniversary flare run? 1,400! Sadly on 1,269 of these riders turned up on the night despite it being a gorgeous, clear full moon night. So although we just missed out on the World Record, we smashed the Australian record! Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine we would get that many riders.

I was working on the night, giving ‘on the spot’ radio reports from the chairlift so was unable to go in the flare run but I did get a great view of it from the pub (with a drink in hand of course) and it was unreal – just check out the picture our resort photographer took – an unreal spectacle and a fitting tribute to those that passed away but loved the mountain and Thredbo.

Congrats to all involved.

Simone x