One of the great things about Boston is it close proximity to the ski slopes of Massachusetts and the neighbouring States of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.
So in a bold attempt to pull together an Irish team for February's Winter Olympics in Vancouver each weekend of the New Year has been filled with ski trips to Wachusett Mountain in Massachusetts. Sure it's a great wee spot altogether. Here's a cool pic of Marguerite and Jude's skis while sitting on one of those ski lift buggy jobby thingys.
The pre-game excitment was nearly too much for these three happy campers. Claire C, Marguerite and Victoria are all smiles as the 'Simpsons Style' bus took the gang from the Train Station to the ski resort.
When you have not ski-ed in a couple of years it always best to re-fresh one self with a quick lesson. You just don't want to cop an unfortunate one (as Del-Boy would say) through lack of preparation. So while not exactly first-timers, Marguerite and Victoria are well wrapped up as they prepare for their '1st Timer' lesson. These two are gangsters - they could have taken the lesson!
Jude, Victoria, Sang (tutor) and Marguerite enjoy the chilly sunshine on Whachusett Mountain. Sang thought the craic was so good he decided he wanted to join the 'Irish' team, but he was too good folks. The team were thinking of being more 'Cool Runnings' or 'Eddie the Eagle' than 'Franz Klamer' in the auld Olympics.
Jude forgot his specks and ran around squinting like an edgit all day! Meanwhile in the pic below Marguerite finishes her first run of the day - no bother to Marguerite, I say it's no bother to Marguerite, she's some doll that one.
Here enjoying the scenery from the lift thingymabopper are Jude, Marguerite and Victoria. Sub zero temperatures are not enough to stop the fun of skiing - below is Marguerite all 'hopped up' in the freezing temperatures as we near the top of the mountain.
Hey slow down there girl, now don't be going buck mad!!!!! Here's Claire flying down the Mountain showing of her newly gained Snowboarding skills. At this point Claire was in the team, no doubt about it, a nailed on certainty!
Check out this pic taken from the buggy-lift-thingy. It highlights the dangers which lurk around every corner on a mountain. Some poor sucker has just copped an unfortunate one here and lies crumpled on the snow. They should have taken a lesson, I say they should have taken a lesson!!
This dude became known as 'Captain Morgan' for the day. Folk ranging from random skiers to restaurant staff and bus drivers were calling him 'Captain' all day. I wonder why?
Unfortunately one of our groug did in-fact cop an unfortunate one on the slopes today. But who was it? Who could it be? Who has put a dent in the hopes of the Irish Winter Olympic team before the games ahve even started?
Well on the very last run of the day, while attempting a triple-backward-twist-pipe with added back spin, Clarie managed to land in a heap and break her wrist.
However as you can see here Claire has not let this dampen her enthusiasim as she is still determined to make the team which will travel to Vancouver.
Below are some cool videos of the days antics. They include Marguerite's record breaking run which just nailed her spot in the 'Irish' Olympic team, Marguerite copping an unfortunate one when attempting to jump of the buggy-thingy-lift-jobbie and Claire doing likewise.