This year we were going to Ellmau in Austria to snowboard. Before departure Roger enjoyed the comfortable surroundings in the Business Lounge in Dublin Airport.

Ellmau, Austria, January 2005

Due to bad weather we didn't get to do any snowboarding the first couple of days. On the third morning we had run out of patience and were grumpy and we insisted on being taken to the slopes to have our photos taken, weather permitting or not!

Frances mumbled something that sounded like "Leave me alone"...

Ellmau is a village with a lovely little church. We stayed at Hotel Christoph. Roger's concern was of course that it was only a 4 star hotel, but as they explained at the travel agency, Crystal: They simply didn't have better hotels in all of Ellmau.

Roger decided to show mercy...

Ellmau, Austria, January 2005

Angus, Pinbear, Kevin and Snowbear were all new to snowboarding, but McBear taught us the basics of how to steer the boards. Pinbear and Snowbear shared a small snowboard, well, to them it was very large ...

Frances had made a fine hat for McBear to keep his ears warm.

Then, on the fourth day the weather finally cleared up and we had blue skies. We went up the mountain, Hartkaiser. From here we could see the majestic Wilder Kaiser Range towering skyhigh. This year, Roger had got a brand new snow board: Slimmer and therefore faster.
- And of course much more difficult to master, he pointed out.

Ellmau, Austria, January 2005

As per usual, Roger didn't mind a bit of show off - but of course, as he explained, he was teaching us how to tackle the steep slopes down Hartkaiser.
- Why don't you teach us vertically snowboarding from the cliff over there? Angus proposed...
- ANGUS! McBear immediately gave out.

Due to his figure, Angus couldn't stand nor sit upright on the snowboard, so instead he was lying on his stomach. Pinbear and Snowbear enjoyed the ride downwards sitting on Angus' back like riding on a horse.
- Yehaaaa! we were yelling and shouting.

Ellmau, Austria, January 2005

Snowboarding can be difficult as Kevin experienced once he went downhill and crashed into McBear. McBear gave out to Kevin for not adhering to the rules.
- What rules? Kevin asked.
- Well, you know ... snowboarding rules ... eh, you know ... RULES!

Last year, Roger had conquered the world famous Hahnenkamm black piste, and he had decided to join the world cup in 2005. Now, he was concentrating on hard training all day to get ready ...

Ellmau, Austria, January 2005

At bed time Roger was exhausted, but he was very content with his progress and selfconfident as usual.
- Tomorrow I shall show the world a true star among snowboarders!

Ellmau, Austria, January 2005

McBear followed Roger to a place, where Roger had seen a big sign for snowboarders. But when they got there, nobody had turned up.
- This is strange, Roger said.
- But, Roger, are you sure the world cup is to be held in Ellmau?
- In Ellmau... ? Roger started thinking. Maybe it was actually Garmish-Partenkirchen or was it Val d'Isere...?