Dublin Airport, January 2005
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.
Click each photo to enlarge |
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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"...
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Ellmau, Austria, January 2005
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...
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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.
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Ellmau, Austria, January 2005
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.
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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.
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Ellmau, Austria, January 2005
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.
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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!
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Ellmau, Austria, January 2005
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 ...
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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!
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Next morning Roger got up early and got ready to go. But even courageous bears like Roger can get nervous before big runs,
so Roger had a (large) cup of camomile tea to calm his stomach.
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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...?
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McBear and Roger sat down and had a look at the skiers and snowboarders. Roger was terribly disappointed.
McBear tried to give him a bit of consolation.
- Don't worry, Roger, if you had attended the world cup, you would have beaten them all!
- That's exactly what I mean! But now I won't have that pleasure.
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