No Standing Only Dancing: I saw the sun.....

.......well it was only once this week but it was pretty spectacular!

I spent the last week up at Mt Buller coaching TBR and the Australian Aerial Development Team. While we were blessed with some pretty sick precipitation around the Victorian Alps this week, less could be said for the foul winds that plagued Mt Buller.

Nonetheless, Mt Buller inhabitants manned-up and took on the storms (even if it was just for the morning).

the girls managing to chat in howling winds

The development team is a group of now 8 girls who are all in training to become world class, kick ass aerialists! If you don't know what that is check out Kirsty Marshall or Jacqui Cooper (just to name a few) and then get back to me!

Working with the VIS, the girls pump out 4 training sessions a day on their ski camps including weights, cardio, skiing and tramp. Yes, yes I do have some new role models. Having started with the program at all different times, the ladies skiing experience varies but one thing can be said for sure- they know how to shred.

Myself and the aerialist in training were fairly resilient all week and we only snuck into Koflers once- I call that focus!

In between skiing, praying for sun and snow simultaneously and trying not to let the bad weather lure me to the pub, I managed to take out my Helix's out for a little ski adventure with Watkin McClennan. We found no sun, but there was some nice mellow ski touring, a lot of rain and a few airborne moments.

yes,yes I do have a new jacket, I'm riding for SOS and lovin' it- where else am I going to get kick-ass anoraks like this?

And so the week went on. Sunless......

watching the sunrise from the judges stand

.....however, later in the week things changed. I woke to a big surprise. I'm just going to put it this way- if I had the bladder strength of a 5 year old, I would have pee-ed my pants in excitement. Not only was it sunny- it was one of the best views from Chamois I have seen, complete with it's very own inversion cloud and tinges of pink.

the bluff covered in cloud

Ok....it only lasted the morning... However the opening of Wood Run and Bull Run chair distracted us from the lack of sun and Hog's Back is almost ready to go.

Hog's back- just waiting for some ski lovin'

Me and Emma- excited about how Sun Valley is shaping up

Then, I learnt how to mount skis (and cause havoc in tune shops) and despite the crazy weekend weather we had another amazing Chicks with Stix Freeride Session. Stoked!- the bad weather was almost forgotten.

happy skis overlooking the Sun Valley tundra

Sadly, today was my last session with the girls, starting with some ice-filled chairlift rides and finishing with a feast at the Hoohah, I seriously can't complain.