Holding Out For A Hero...!

25/2/11

2135 (local time)

Probably the two most busiest weeks of my life... and to think the whole reason to come overseas was to do relaxing work... well no, no, no! I stepped it up, Stephen Flack put his arse into gear and battled his way through constant debacles, issues and complaints to make it through to the end of the 2^nd peak week!

Can I give you some examples of what has happened...

·         Parents: “My child isn’t being pushed hard enough in his group”

·         Me: “Ugh, this is his first time skiing in his life!”

·         Parents: “My child should be going up the button lift!”

·         Me: “Sorry What? (in my head ‘Your child is suffering from a disability that doesn’t allow him to walk?”)

·         Parent, after the winners of all the races: “Umm, Steve, I think my child should have won, because the kid that won didn’t go around one of the gates”

·         Me: “(In my head, F**k off!) Ah, don’t worry it’s all about having fun”

In conclusion, the parents need to chill out, and just relax, they are on holiday, yeah you paid a mother load for it, and expect the best service possible, but there is no need to drill your kids over it! Just take it easy!

It has been a somewhat interesting couple of weeks, it does feel good to be pushed to the limit! But ill be honest, with more responsibility it feels as if I have got dumber? Strange ey! Well work that out?

Anyway, we had a day off on Wednesday, and we were all mega excited as it had been snowing fairly heavily for the past 3 days, and then we were forecasted beautiful blue skies for our day off... so obviously we went to the pub for a few beers on Tuesday night, that meaning that Wednesday was a very tough day for the most of us! But we got up early to get the 6^th or 7^th lift, and got up the top! The first run we did was some sketchy off piste section off the top of Zurs that takes you into Zug... I almost lost a ski, and trashed the other one! So really the morning was a success, that was until we met up with Hugo! Hugo is a park skier from England that spends most of his life out in St. Anton, busting back flips and 1080’s! Pretty radical stuff!

Anyway, so he took us to the place, where we had to walk 15 minutes up this mountain in balls deep powder until we were right to go! We eventually got to the top, and Hugo sent himself off first! Then myself second, now with my injury I was already in pain, but was managing it quite well, because I had popped a couple of Ibuprofen, but as I dropped off this 10ft drop, I hit raw ice and nailed my sore leg once again... unfortunately this was the first bit of the run, so I had to battle my way over the tough off piste with only one working leg! I finally made it with tears in my eyes, and got to the bottom, where I went straight home and fell asleep for 2 hours!

At 8.00pm that night, myself Emma and Nat, headed over to St.Anton to watch the ski show over there with Hugo and some X Game gold medallists! It was amazing, unfortunately it was at night, so the photos weren’t great but check them for yourself!

We saw some sick/awesome tricks including a superman forward a back flip and numerous spins! Amazing really!

After that we made our way home to prepare ourselves for another fun filled day with the kids.

Friday swiftly moved on... it was time for RACE DAY! Throughout the week I had been preparing the greatest CD known to man! Featuring: Kenny Loggins, Fat Boy Slim, MGMT, Bonnie Tyler and many more, I knew we were in for a great day!

And I was right! With just under 50 kids to manage and over 25 parents to give solid great chat too I was peaking at, at least 80%, and they loved it!

When interviewing the kids about how they did, the word of the day was “Good” if it was about how they were feeling, or just generally how they went about the race... the standard answer was “Good”! Kids say the funniest things ey?

Whilst we are on RACE DAY! We also had it last week on the 18^th! I had hired out some fully technical Grand Slalom skis, and with my pure skill, no fear attitude an all out being ‘awesome’ attitude came first out of all the ski guides, parents and kids... Cop that guys... only been skiing for a few months! But to be honest, I don’t think I would have won, if it wasn’t for Nat Bulmer wiping out and finishing the race with two skis in his hands, because he had crashed! Still, a win is a win!

Anyway, that brings me onto next week, we have only like 5 families coming out, and with only 3 kids I have to look after that are all going to be based out on the magic carpet, means that next week is going to be Mega Boring, but let’s look on the bright side, it means that it gives my leg some time to heal I suppose!

So that’s pretty much it for my rambling, I’ll leave it there and till next time lady and gentlemen!

Take care and bush thy hair!

Peace Steve!

G (W.M.D) Just sharing the lift with herself... massive loner!

About to cheat work, and send it on some fresh powder at 2.30pm!

Nat Sent it with me!

After a massive hike, we made it to this sick bit of off piste! 

How is that for a view!

Nat fell off a mountain...Weapon?!

Definite battler!

Hugo about to drop!

At the St.Anton ski show! Emma and Nat!

Emma and I freezing to death!

The A-Team!

Nat, LOVING THE PISTE BASHERS!

Loves it!

Hanging out on one of the 100 Antony Gormley's!

Had to be done!!!

Just hanging out!

G and Nat getting Deep!

Just dressing him up! Standard stuff...

Just a different angle!

The Crew, I was freezing to death!!

G getting focused for the Speed Check!

Putting Turns In? on the speed check?

Standard boys picnic on top of the mountain!

The B-Team!

Clearly having a DNM!


HAVE A SICK TIME! PEACE!

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!