Lowri Davies

I wrote this a few weeks ago, but for some reason it didn’t publish – but such a memorable experience can’t just be left unmentioned so here we are a little late…

I was once again lucky enough to spent Christmas snowboarding in Sun Peaks with the Laws family.

This year we were joined by the Sladden family and 80′s kayaking legend Fred Wondre.

The mothers of the two families had done a fantastic job of co-ordinating a joint Christmas dinner that would allow everyone still enjoy most of Christmas day out on the hills. For our part, we went exploring out the back of the resort and enjoyed stunning views and untouched powder.

By early afternoon, we were back home to news that the oven timer hadn’t worked and the turkey was yet to cook. No worries though, as Mummy Laws set to it. No sooner had she taken the turkey from the oven, when suddenly darkness descended and all power went out. The Sladdens arrived moments later with the news that the power cut was resort-wide. We donned our head-torches, while the younger Sladdens got out their flashlights.

The power cut lasted all evening and well into the night. We sent Will to cook the vegetables and gravy out on the gas BBQ in the sub-zero temperatures while I entertained the kids (or they entertained me?) with torch-lit Junior Monopoly. We ate our Christmas dinner by atmospheric candle-light, marvelling at what a tasty delight had been created without power. Then just when we thought things had got random enough, 66-year-old Fred suddenly stood upon his chair, leapt across the breakfast bar and produced two bizarre but tasty and extremely alcoholic desserts.

Boxing Day arrived with surprisingly little in the way of sore heads and we once again headed out onto the hills. We were keen to go back along the ridge we’d explored the day before and soon we had Chris and Peter eager for the adventure too. As we left the resort boundary, we noted that the avalanche danger had been increased from “slight” to “moderate”. The snow did have a bit more of a wind-crust than the day before and the deep powder proved to be hard work for the older gentlemen on longer, slimmer skiis. I think Peter summed up his feeling on the expedition with the phrase “For me I think the enjoyment will mainly be in retrospect”. Personally, knowing what to expect a little more, I found myself enjoying it much more.

By the 27th, it was time to go home – something that I would have been much more sad about had I have not been given a comfy bed and waited on hand and foot in Air Canada’s “executive class”.  Certainly a very pleasant way to travel, but not one I will be getting used to… I’m sure for my next flight I will be crammed into a bright orange seat having paid more to take my kayak and kit bag than for my own airfare!

I am extremely grateful to Jackie and Peter Laws for once again giving me a fantastic Christmas to remember…

And because no skiing holiday with me would be complete without this photo…

Luckily, we also caught Will sliding on his ass too…