Dublin, January 2004

In January 2004, we went to the Holiday & Leisure Fair in Dublin to get inspiration for the coming year. Well, we didn't really need the inspiration as we'd be going to Austria already next week...

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Last year we did the slopes of Kitzbüheler Horn. This year Roger was more ambitious and wanted to snowboard down the world famous Hahnenkamm. Some of the slopes on Route 21 are marked as black: Extreme difficulty! When we got to the top of Hahnenkamm, Roger could see, that some of the slopes were actually very, very steep!
- You're nuts, McBear pointed out, if you really intend to do it.
Roger had gone quiet...

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Accidentally, we ran into an instructor from The Red Devil's skischool, an experienced Canadian instructor, Katie, who was willing to teach Roger during the week. Roger asked her not to tell anybody, that he was actually on a course. Katie promised not to say a word...

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Next morning McBear took Erasmus and Honiebear up to the Kitzbüheler Köpfhorn. McBear told them about the slopes, that he and Roger had done last year.

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Tom and Roger had gone all the way up to Kitzbüheler Horn. The slopes here were also steep, and Tom had difficulties getting on to the board as it was constantly sliding downhill.
- Wait 'till you see Hahnenkamm, Roger said.

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Erasmus and Honiebear didn't have their own snowboards, but McBear and Roger solved this by using their own boards as sleds, and they all had great fun.

Kitzbühel, January 2004

We stayed at the Edelweiss Hotel. McBear and Roger discovered this fine bear, and McBear was hoping to hear news about TARK - Toy Animals Right's of Kitzbühel - and how they were doing since McBear had written the draft for their constitution one year ago. Unfortunately, the bear was a piece of decoration, and not a real TA.

Kitzbühel, January 2004

One evening we - that is McBear, Tom, Erasmus and Honiebear - had dug an igloo deep into the snow behind the hotel. Then we called upon Roger, but poor Roger couldn't find us, and we'd all giggle.

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Next day we all went up the Hahnenkamm again. Olivia enjoyed the lovely sunshine. She had got a snowboard, that was particular long.

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Roger and Tom borrowed Olivia's snowboard and used it as a sled with Honiebear standing up front. Roger then pushed them and got onto the board himself and downhill they went laughing and yelling...

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Suddenly, the board ditched into a hole, and - BANG - they all tumbled and rolled and landed in the deep snow.

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Roger and McBear sat down at the top of Hahnenkamm. Roger was thinking of his big run tomorrow.
- Do bears reincarnate? Roger asked, being philosophical - and a bit worried.
- Well, it's not really necessary. If owners take good care of their bears, the bears can go hundreds of years and can last many owners. But don't worry, Roger, your spirit will last for ever - nobody will forget you!
Roger felt much better.

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Next morning, McBear and Roger got up early and went up the Hahnekamm. Katie had trained Roger well, and he felt ready...

But there was no time to admire the famous Wilder Kaiser range in the horizon.

Kitzbühel, January 2004

Then ... down he went!!! The snow splashed up in large cascades as Roger raced downhill; left sliding, right sliding, left sliding constantly, until suddenly... he reached the bottom of the piste!
- I did it! I did it! I'm a master snowboarder!!! Next year, I'm going for the World Cup!