Been a while

 Things that happen when you haven't had a full day of sledding in over a year........, the stoke factor is super, super high, you burn a full tank of gas, you take a ton of pictures, you are sore, and did I mention the stoke factor is really, really high?  

Last week the stars aligned for an all day rip with the boys.  The snow was epic.  

Whole lotta turns like this one throughout the day.  

 And sometimes you make a really sharp turn coming back up hill and shit goes haywire!  

 Boys being boys.  SUch a good day.  

 If there is something better in the sports world, I have yet to find it.  

 Nate with a solid re-entry off a cornice.  

 Pulling mad G's yo...

 Ended up being close to a 50 mile, 9 hour mission.  

The places these things can take you and the fun you have while doing it is indescribable. 

Well done Marco...

Marco officially retired last week in Sun Valley.  I came on the watching Marco scene in 02, of which he had already been on the team for 3 plus years at that point.  Marco, you have a lot to be proud about in life!  We are so proud of you both as family, and as very passionate ski racing fans.  Holy shit........, not only did you ski on the world cup for as long as you did, you won a world cup, had podiums, etc......., But most of all, you were a universally respected, admired, and loved athlete.  You always had time to talk to course workers, kids, etc.  We thank you for given us an opportunity to go to Europe a few times to soak up the world cup culture, to go to two Olympics, to spend 12 outstanding weekends in a lil place called Beaver Creek with our buds, etc.  Nothing but love and respect brother.  Whatever you decide to do next you will be amazing at, your smile and skill as a good human will take you far dawg. 

Adios Marco in the Valley of the Sun

 Chels took Dash on a road trip last week while I stayed home and worked to watch Uncle Marco ski in his official last race, the Super G at Nationals in Sun Valley.  

Clearly, Dash had an appropriate shirt on for the voyage.  

 And, Nowhere Lizdog Kenny showed her wonderful face, missing a hat.  So, she used Dash's!  

Dash and his fav ladies.

Taking the title

 Hannah and Dash chillin at the finish of the Town DH

Marco, standing atop the podium last weekend for the TDH.  Stoked he and Anna made the trip up north to hang with us, ski in the TDH, and have good times.  Hoping it becomes a yearly tradition. 

Never gets old...

 That Granite Hot Springs I tell ya, always serves up a really good time with visitors, buds, etc.  

After Marco finished up his training run at the Kind we headed up to the hot springs for a soak in the sun.  

 Paradise.  

 Marco and Anna looking good on a sled!  

 The sledding fam.. 

Ahhhhh, take me there right now. 

Put on repeat

 If I had a magic wand, it would be to put weekends last the last one on repeat as much as possible!  All the stars aligned just right and it turned out to be easily one of the best weekends of the winter.  Marco and Anna came to visit, the snow was amazing, and awesome times were had.  

Marco motivated for an early morning mission up on the Pass before he had training runs on the King.  Glad he did, it was, kickass and deep.  

Me, as if it was January instead of middle of March.  

 Friday Drew snapped this one of me.  I know, I know, complete role reversal.  Normally I am the one taking the pics and he is the one getting rad!  Wow were the conditions primo that day!  

 Our favorite World Cupper, why???? Well, he keeps things pretty real!  Like, hiking to the top of the Pass and forgetting his goggles.  

 But it made no difference, the ol boy can still make a pair of skis hum like nobody regardless.  Man is it fun to watch.  

Million step march.  Gotta go up to get down as the saying goes! 

All the way around good times

 This work week has been a whole lotta fun when not at work!  Long days, lots of fresh snow, and willing participants added up to good times.  

Leaving the office and getting moments like  this until 730 at night makes me wish Daylight Savings happened the entire year!  Jesse Roy carving a trench in the 40" plus of fresh.  

 

 We needed windshield wipers for our goggles.  It was one continual white room face shot for the entire sled session.  

 In other non deep snow and sledding news........, Dash is now getting up on things on his own, sure the walking scene cant be too far away now.  

 Not really sure there are too many places that you can play with your awesome kid at the park, a block from your office on your lunch break, while your spouse skis untracked powder with zero lift lines and can come down to say hello at the park in between runs.  

Town skiing, down dumps, Snow King, closeness to all the fun stuff truly cant be beat!  

This awesome momma got to make some pow turns this week which she was obviously happy about.