Certified! (August 12th, 2006)

At around 3:30pm, August 11th, I became officially certified to teach snowboarding. I didn't pass with flying colors, but I made it through (unfortunately not everyone in our group did). This is exam is easier than our next one (the Stage One exam), but it's a similar format so at least we now know what to expect in September.

I celebrated the occasion by taking today off. It's the first time I haven't been on the mountain in nearly two weeks. It's a short-lived break though, we start training again on Sunday (for three days) followed by a two day avalanche course. There are rumors that we might be doing our heli-ski trip next too. They're definitely keeping our schedule full.

Of course I also celebrated by going out last night. Winny's (one of the bars) extended happy hour prices to everyone that passed the exam; there were a good 100 skiers and boarders packed in there. You aren't expected to tip bartenders in New Zealand so at $2.50NZ a beer (about $1.60 US) you can have a good night out at an extremely reasonable rate.

No one from our course was up on the mountain today, we've had a fun time hanging out in the lodge together. A bunch of us our about to head down to the local cinema. Movies don't make it down here all that quickly so we have no idea what's playing, but I'm really going for the popcorn. :)