They Are Coming Thick and Fast Now... Also I Get My Heart Broken...

13/2/11

1953 (local time)

Well Hello There! Its been a long time in between drinks! I’m currently babysitting 2 sleeping children so it seemed like a great idea to catch up on the trusty blog to chat to all my lovely friends and family!

What is news! Well! Today was the first day of Yeti Club in Zurs, so it was pretty full on! At the moment we have 20 kid and I have 2 staff working for me! Today was mega hectic but there is nothing that the Flack Attack couldn’t handle!

For the past 3 weeks, I have just been resting! (and doing a bit of skiing) Yeah that’s right, my leg is still a bit sore from my off piste crash, so im just taking it easy until it is fully recovered! Hopefully in 6 weeks ill be at 100%.

When I do go skiing, I have been trying my luck in the Snow Park! So I’m trying to pop up onto a box, and grind it sideways! But my problem is, that I hit it just WAY to fast! And end up almost clearing the box and landing on my hip from 6 feet up! Not all that fun!

Before I continue with my life, I am going to ask about all of you! What the bloody hell, is going on in Australia! We have Floods on one side, and Fires on the other side! Lets just hope that everyone is safe... Woah, this is getting way to deep!

Lets get onto my personal life, that’s right im going to open up! Ill be honest, I need my several life coaches the other night, as I got my heart broken at least 3 times! How is this possible you may ask! Well, firstly I have a heart like Phar Lap, so there is a lot of heart to break, and secondly the people that know me well will know that I am some what of a Chick Magnet, so the girls just flock to me, and sometimes it can be hard not to fall for them! But like time and time again, I have learnt my lesson... and that is that in general all women are trouble, and its best not to be around them.

Shall we move on! So, in my times of rest I have taken to a certain series! PRISON BREAK!!!! Potentially the best bloody show out there! I know it finished a while ago, but it has kept me company whilst I haven’t been skiing! I even got one of the bosses to bring me out the 3^rd season, because we don’t have internet at our flat! BONUS!

What else can I tell you all... oh that’s right DAHAB!

Its back on the cards, I got offered my job back out there, at the end of April when my contract for Powder Byrne finishes, so it will be from Snow to Sand in under a week! I cant wait to get back into the water! Its really depressing not being able to go for a swim! But, some even better news, is that my parents are trying to organise a trip to come and see me around June/July which would be amazing! Also, about what is happening in Cairo and Alexandria has not affected Dahab what so ever! I just spoke to my Egyptian friend who I worked with Ahmed, and he said nothing has changed in Dahab at all! So stress less those people that are worried about me heading back to Egypt (if that is actually anyone, apart from my mother). Ok, well I don’t really have any more news for you!... BUT if I do, you will be the first to hear about it!

Take care al!

Lots of love! Steve

One of the 100 Antony Gromley's that are scattered around the Arlberg Region

Pretty much defacing a Gromly!

Wednesday Just gone Apre Ski From left: Me, Andrew, Alice, Nat and Adam

Nat Pulling a SICK grab!

Adam following suit!

The Red Building in the mid ground, is the Arlberghaus, one of our main hotels!

Zurs!

Bit more of Zurs that we found whilst going off piste!

A Quiet gluvine with the Ski Total guys!

Giving it the pose!

The first couple i guided, after 3 weeks of skiing!

Hows that view!

Amazing, looking out over Red 10

Beautiful blue sky!

Everything is white!

Hope you enjoyed it guys!

Chat soon!

The Aussie Is Down...

23/1/11

1843 (local time)

This blog kinda brings us into the new year! For the past month I have had a ball, being skiing most days, tried some snowboarding (ill get to that later) and just meeting a whole bunch of new people.

Right so shall I bring you up to speed! As of late I have been doing non-stop skiing, that is up until now! I have recently got an injury... That’s right the super human Steve Flack has gained an injury, how is this possible!

Well, it was a Sunday the 23^rd of January, and after all day skiing with Tom Binns, on the final run home we decided to do a bit of choppy off-piste, that he had done before. Anyway, I sent myself down and didn’t turn correctly and stacked it... Well it felt as if one of my ski’s smacked me in the back of my leg, which it may have, but where it hurt my boot was covering the injury, which means that the only way I could have hurt myself was if my binding didn’t release early enough and I managed to put my leg at a super backward position which resulted in my pulling/ripping 2 maybe 3 muscles in my calf. Not ideal! So here I am now, with no shortage of ice on my calf trying to make it recover as quick as possible.

What sucks the most is that this week that I have hurt myself in, was one of the weeks where I could have skied almost every single day, because the resort manager isn’t here to tell us to work... Shattered!

No worries though, I consider myself lucky as I have been sending myself down some pretty steep runs and pulling out ok. I might as well add, that when I went off-piste in Grindy, I did end up in a river... but enough about that! It’s kind of embarrassing.

Right, so ill tell you a little bit about my snowboard experience. I got up nice and early to start my snowboarding experience! Got myself a board and some boots and went on the magic carpet... I only lasted 2, 20 second  runs on the magic carpet before I got extremely bored. So I headed up my first chair lift. Never had a lesson, and never been shown how to get on a chair lift with a snowboard on was a very interesting experience. But I managed and got down. At the top of the 2 man chair in Zurs, I sent myself down my first blue run. It was sketchy, but I got down. I went up the two man chair again, and went down the blue again.

Enough with that I thought, its time for a red run! In Switzerland and Austria the runs from easiest to hardest are in this order, Blue, Red, Black. The way they get harder is that the blue’s are quite wide, not very steep, and very well groomed. Red’s are a little steeper and narrower. Whilst blacks are generally very steep, narrow and not groomed all that often, so they can be quite a few moguls.

So I crossed the bridge and set myself up for my first red!

I was flying down the mountain until I got a bit twisted up, and tripped my heel edge and smashed my head so hard on the ice, goggles flew off and everything!

I shook myself down, and continued! After continuous wipe outs my body was in so much pain that I couldn’t even board down the mountain! Instead I had to walk down! Not good!

The next day, I couldn’t walk! Every part on my body was aching!

But I’m not going to give up, when my leg gets better, I’ll be set to be carving the shiz-nit out of the mountain!

So until next time my dear friends!

Byeeee!!!

Steve xxx

Anyway, i have dropped in a few photos from Grindy so Enjoy they my lovely little lemon drops! next blog is in the making and hopefully more photos there too!!! xx

Sasha's Party (one of the Aussie Instructors)

Im just wearing the "Trevor the Traversing Mask"

Hanging out with the Yeti Kids in Grindy!

CHECK OUT THAT BACKGROUND!

Sasha and Myself just keepin it real!

Sasha with the yetis!

Standard Steve Pose! Hows that mountain! Amazing ey!

Bloody freezing to death!

Tommy the 3rd Gear Pritchard in the mid-ground!

Thats right! IM IN THE ALPS!

A beautiful scene!

Im bloody lucky! what a view!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Started this on 18^th of December Finished it on the 3^rd of January 2011

Phew, I am absolutely buggered! The last time I felt like this was after a 4 hour windsurf session! But this is a little bit different! Instead we did a 4 and a half hour ski session! After doing my very first red run, first time skiing in Flims and even first time sending myself off a jump! I am absolutely buggered!

So I went for my first ski when I was in Zurs, Austria on the 16^th and had an absolute nightmare! Couldn’t turn right, couldn’t stop and totally out of control. But, by the next day I was ripping it up on blues with no dramas. I had an absolute ball!

Lets fast forward too my time in Klosters, Switzerland and more importantly Christmas and New Years. So the reason I found myself in Klosters is because of Powder Byrne, we arrived a few days before Christmas to set up, but when the 25^th ticked around I got onto the skype/phone to my parents who were to be honest had a few beers/wines and I’m sure that Uncle Steve (uncle) wouldn’t deny it. I opened my prezzies to find some fantastic Marino Wool socks but more importantly received a Forerunner Watch... which is almost perfect for Skiing and Windsurfing, pretty much just a GPS on your wrist! Its fantastic, so on Christmas day I took it for a ski, Marty (my Assistant) had a few bits a bobs to do regarding the work that was starting the next day, but we smashed it out! And straight away hit the slopes!

So myself, Sam Village and Marty Crowe headed up the Gotschna and pretty much stayed up there all day! According to the watch (sponsored by Garmin) we skied 42 Kilometres (including lifts, Not Major Ones Though) so a fair amount of skiing was had! When we got home we enjoyed a quiet few beers and then hit the hay getting ready for our first proper day at work.

On hind sight, even though I wasn’t with family eating sea food on shorts and a t-shirt instead I was having potentially my best day of skiing with guys that ill hopefully be seeing again in my travels, it was defiantly one of my favourite Christmases I’ve had.

Boxing Day was a different story though, it was pretty full power work, which was a bit rubbish, as honestly I would have much preferred to have been getting into trouble with the Levy’s in Bendigo! But not too worry you can’t have everything! The week in Klosters was fantastic, good company, good families and good kids! Was good fun!

Eventually New Years ticked along and we were absolutely buggered, but we pulled ourselves together and made it out to the local pub for a quiet one! When the clocks ticked 12! We ran outside and I saw some of the most amazing fireworks ever! I understand the Sydney tried pretty hard for 2000, but the Swiss defiantly know how to ‘pack’ some fireworks. It was a great show! We had a pretty early night, I was back in bed by 2am!

Now I’m in Grindelwald working out here as a Yeti Assistant! First day was today, and honestly don’t like it! Grindelwald is positioned in a Valley with five dominating mountains surrounding the place, the mountains are: Wetterhorn, Schrekhorn, Eiger, Monk, Jungfrau. So because the younger kids don’t go up the mountains we only get 1 hour of sun, which isn’t ideal, but tomorrow ill be going up with the kids that can ski, so we will fortunately be higher up which means warmer.

Anywho, I have heaps of photos and even a MOVIE to show you! So please check it out and let me know what ya think! (PHOTOS TO COME, THE LACK OF INTERNET IN ZURS MAKES IT HARD)

Stay Classy guys!

Lots of Love Steve! Xx

And MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Pro's and Con's of the Snow!

12/12/10

1800 (local time)

Welcome to the 12/12! And there is something particularly special about this date... As of this day I have finished my ‘official’ training and I am now in Zurs Austria, sorting out my room. We have moved into a lovely little apartment/flat thing that is located in Lech, which is about 15 minutes from Zurs. I’m fully set up, I’ve been allocated some sick speakers so I’ve been rocking out to some Fugees whilst watching Nitro Circus on 1 of our 3 TV’s Happy Days!

So for the past week, I have been doing my Yeti Manager training for my job at Powder Byrne. We have been situated out in Flims, Switzerland, for 7 days training everyday (almost). We did a team bonding exercise on a high ropes course.

But before we get all caught up with that, I better have a chat about Belfast! Wow, I’ve had great memories from Belfast, and this was just another one for the list. I hung out mostly with Becky, who was a girl I met last year whilst I was travelling around the U.K. We did a whole bunch of stuff, I wandered around the Christmas market in Belfast with her friends, it was fantastic. I experienced my first bit of (proper) snow, it was amazing! But bloody cold and slippery! Anyway, shall we move on!

The ropes course... right, so we partnered up and set off into our teams for the course and headed off!

My partner was my Resort Manager named Gemma or G as I call her, she’s a very bubbly person from South West London (near me) and Frankie who used to play for England when she was younger! I was looking for something a bit more adrenaline packed, but it was still good fun, and I got to know my Resort Manager a lot better!

So I’ll tell you a bit about the company. Powder Byrne is a VERY VERY VERY luxurious family holiday provider that only use 4 or 5 star hotels. Anyway, so my role is a Yeti Manager and a Driver. So a Yeti Manager means that ill be in charge of running 2-3 programs this winter. Yeti’s are kids aged 4 – 9 and ill be dealing mostly with them. The other program I am in charge of is, ‘snoZone’, which is for kids from 10 – 14, so even though im not dealing directly with them, ill still be in charge about what they do and how they get from A to B.

The funniest thing about this job is that I had never seen the snow until last week in Belfast, and now I’m bloody running the whole operation! Potentially a massive clanger on their part! But I reckon ill kill it!

Alright, Pro’s and Con’s about the snow!

Pro - Looks absolutely amazing!

Pro – Any bit of snow can be used as a projectile!

Pro – Unlike Dahab, beers are actually ice cold! And actually nice to drink... bloody Sakara’s.

NEG – It’s farking freezing!

NEG – Its so farking freezing, that my testacies went up inside my body... I think they touched my ribs.

NEG – My ‘outie’ turned into an ‘inie’

So clearly its 3 v 3. But honestly ill think ill stick it out! Looking out my bedroom window during the day looks exactly like a snow ball thing you get as a kid! Its definitely one of the better looking things in life! Probably better than looking out your window in an office job!

Anyway, probably should end it here, as I’ve been getting in trouble for writing too much (sorry for expressing my life Lizzie, GEEZE!)

So ill end it here!

Take care and stay classy guys!

Lots of love!

Steve ‘Yeti Manager.com’

The Team just before the ropes course! aka Team Bonding

Oly De Monfort Appreciation Day! NICE QUIFF!

Accepting my Award? for loudest bloke!

Tom Surrounded By Beers!

Nice Few Ey! out in Flims!

Amazing snow capped trees!

Team Photo!

Dominating the Ropes Course!

Pro Team Photo!

My View outside my bedroom window in Zurs, Austria.

Nice view from the city of Lech, Austria.

G (RM) and Me, first timem on a a chair lift!

Hope you enjoyed the photos dudes! check it out next time!

Leeds! and Touring with Palmer!

26/11/10

1332 (local time)

The next update is written on a train to Belfast! I’ve had a very interesting week! It all started off me leaving London and heading up to Leeds to hang out with my mate from Dahab, John Palmer! On my arrival he had a house party planned for me at another friends of mine, Anna (Steve-O’s Chick) picked us up from Leeds bus station and took us to her student apartment for a house party! Obviously Palmer and I had to be prepared for it, so we picked up 15 bottles of beer aka A Case, and made our way to Anna’s.

Straight away Palmer and I got involved knocking back the beers! Eventually her friends started arriving, and we found out that the party was in fact a continued birthday party! No drama’s, beers were drunk and eventually the chat got very poor, so we picked up our jackets and thought it was a good idea to find the local bar or club where everyone was going, after about 30 minutes of walking, we stopped at a burger shop, got some food, and went back to Anna’s and crashed!

The next morning was very interesting, we stumbled down stairs and it looked as if a bomb had hit the place! There were smashed glasses everywhere, empty bottles scattered over the floor, and the stench of alcohol made you want to bring up yesterdays burgers! It wasn’t a pretty sight. Eventually we convinced Anna to drive us home, back to Palmers!

As soon as we got back, Palmer wacked on the stove and cook us some well deserved (and well needed) bacon and eggs! That sorted us right out!

We weren’t at Palmer’s for long until we were meeting John Newby. Newby worked out for Vass a few years back, but I met him when he came out on holiday with his girlfriend. Anyway, back to the story, so we got some stuff together and headed out to Newby’s, I knew straight away we were in for a messy couple of nights! I’m not going to get into intricate details, but I probably wont be going back their any time soon! J

Righteo, so after Newby’s, Palmer and I went back to his place to relax for a couple of days until we flew out to Dublin. I had a few things to do because I found out that I got a job out in Austria for a winter season, but ill get to that in a minute.

So Wednesday came along quite quickly, and the next thing I know, is that I’m on a flight to Dublin, to hang out with Palmer’s girlfriend. I wasn’t going to be able to tolerate being the 3^rd wheel for more than two days, so on the Friday I had book a train up to Belfast to see a few old friends that I met out there last year. So that brings me to where I am now, stuck on a train to Belfast.

But... before I do, I might as well add, that Palmer and I didn’t just sit around and do nothing with our time in Dublin... No! We were tourists and we did touristy stuff... So we went to the Jameson’s distillery of Whisky, I ended up being a taster, and had to do several shots of different whisky’s so inevitability I was slightly tipsy when I left the distillery! Luckily it made it super warm, so Palmer and I decided to go to the Kilmainham Gaol, if you knew your trivia, you would know that I did visit this Gaol last year... and ill be honest, I think it should have stayed that way... it was way to cold and boring to do it, but we both had a fun time! Anyway I think its time I shall move on!

I’ll tell you a bit about job this winter. So most of you know, that I’ve never seen the snow before so a winter season would be the best way to see the snow and potentially earn some much needed pounds. So I went to an interview with a company called Powder Byrne on the 12^th of November. I thought the role was for a drivers position, but I was much mistaken, it was for a ski guiding position, so when I was asked ‘where would you put his ski’s if a guest has a potentially broken leg’ I had no idea what to say! Anyway, I must have impressed them somehow as I was called back for another interview. So I obliged and went along. I had done a bit of study on job interview questions, and had memorised the company’s philosophy, I was set!

Ill cut a long story short and say to you, that I DID get a job out in Austria this coming winter season, and I’m a Kids Club Manager, more specifically I am the ‘Yeti Manager’ from ages 4 – 9 I’m not all that sure of my rolls at the moment, as I haven’t seen my job description yet, but from what I gather is that my roll ensures that the kids are safe, and are kept happy whilst their parents are having fun on the slopes. I’m super happy, as it will be my first opportunity to see the snow!

So now, my plans have changed, ill be flying out to Switzerland for a week’s training in Flims, and then out to Austria to a place called Zurs where I will be working from the 11^th of December until the 20^th of April!

I can’t wait!

I might add in here that I have to thank all the people that have let me crash at their house whilst I sort my life out!

A big thankyou goes to Lizzie and Lionel (once again) as they have almost been my personal assistants for collecting mail, sending it off, helping me out with contracts, the list never ends! So a big thanks goes out to them!

Another thankyou is to John, Margret and Patrick Palmer who let me stay at their beautiful old house, that was built in the 1900’s (I think). Thanks again mate! You’re a bloody legend!

Anyway, that almost wraps it up!

Looking forward to hitting Belfast only 1 and a bit hours to go!

Take care!

Steve xx

Check Out The Photos. 'they are a bit mixed, but enjoy'

The Kilmainham Gaol

Palmer, Ciara and Myself! At the bar in Jameson Distillery

Palmer, Ciara and me again!

Me and the Tour Guide... Legend

Newby, riding the stupid kids bike!

Sending some Whiskey

Me and Palmer at the Marrying spot!

Another classic joke from the Tour Guide!

Waiting at the Distillery 

Ciara, Palmer and Me at the Bus Station!

Some Horse Faced Woman!

The Crew!

CHAT SOON! DUDES!