 |
| Photo courtesy to Glencoe Mountain |
Whilst driving back from Edinburgh the week leading up to the Coe Cup. I observed that the normally rocky and gnarly East side of Glencoe Mountain seemed rounder and less extreme than I had previously remembered. A round bowl like feature with a few scattered black spots had replaced the 15+ foot size rocks that normally protrude from various places. Where have all the rocks gone? I at this point was hoping for the usual conditions of +10 and rain, followed by a Western warm wind that acts like a hair dryer after the warm shower. This may just let the rocks awake from hibernation. Who am I kidding, at 49 degrees the competition face of the Fly paper and Baileys Gully are terrifying enough without any rocks.
Lots of snow may be the talk of the season, but little attention has been publicly mentioned about the incessant and persistent low cloud that has sat on the Western hills for what seems like since November. I have actually adapted a theory that a new generation of bat like skiers have developed in the young children who rip around the hill as if ZERO vis is only a slight hindrance of not being able to recognise your mates on the T-bar.
And this is exactly what the weather had brought to us for the 15th and 16th March, Coe Cup day. Moreover, the "too much snow season" has also brought with it, a strong and consistent air current that "impedes walking".
 |
| Low Vis at the top of the mountain |
As usual, Glencoe Mountain and the excited Coe Cup competitors enjoy a challenge. This year being the most popular, the event was sold out and with a field of 7 other Female Snowboarders and 13 female Skiers, boasting an impressive 60% increase in female competitors from the previous year. Proving that including the event in the Scottish Freeride Series maybe paying off, along with bringing in some International skiers as a Freeride World Tour Qualifier.
The standard of female riding is generally becoming really high, more and more girls with solid stances who hit big booters and pull off sweet tricks are coming out of the woodwork. Even though this is my third year participating in this event I had some tough competition.
So after a crowded and energetic competition briefing and some safety talks, we had the all clear to head up the Access chair to rendezvous at the Spring run to checkout our prospective line choices.
Heading
up the access chair I start to realise "I am totally in the mood for
snowboarding today!" and I’m going to have fun no matter what, as my
Canadian friends would say "Just give er!"However as we queued for the Poma button tow we were informed that the lift status was pretty bleak. Another hindrance from the "too much snow" season, the lifts are being buried in the snow on an all most daily occurrence, much to the despair of hill maintenance crews around Scotland. Still there was sliding to be had and all the competitors started to session the blue beginners slope. Myself and Mr Buwert, challenging ourselves to find patches of grass to ollie over, 180's and riding switch, until enough was enough and like all the other competitors we decided to start hiking up the hill.
At this point I find my good ski buddy and extremist of all extreme parents, Muzzz Small, she had good foresight to attach her skis to her rucksack, and was all smiles. I also found Classy Lass Lesley, who runs the Ski and Boardroom shop next to the base cafe. Both lassies bubbling with banter and Coe Style. On our hike, we meet many fellow Coe Cuper’s in a similar way of walking like Frodo and Sam’s journey to Mordor, but they were in a slightly more perilous and dooming environment than our misty and windy conditions. It wasn’t long before we found a common ground and met up with the majority of competitors.
And as soon as we arrive, there is banter and chit chat bouncing all over the place, within minutes some skier guys invite me to participate in a mass start race, and I quickly move around spreading the word.
We are directed down to the judging arena, and in a spontaneous but effective way we decide to slide down one by one or in small groups, each one of us, showing off some of our cool moves; from flowing techy carves, to Ollieing (if thats what its called on ski's) a large spread of rocks or pulling of 360's. And with the tricks came the applause of the crowd. We were a great bunch of snow loving Scottish partying skiers and boarders. A unique feeling of pride sits with me knowing that only Scotland could have so much fun during a postponed competition in the mist, while mother nature blows a houllie.
So at the confirmation of the competition being postponed to a later date on the 26th April, due to the Sh*t F**K conditions" the mass start race was on, and after a few photos and some media PR. We were off, and from the start point to the top of the access chair, I did not turn once. I actually adapted the lowest stance I've ever had on my board and hoped for the best, and the only person I could see who I was never going to catch in supreme tuck for speed mode was Muzzz Small, who did indeed make it to the Access Chair first! Well-done lass!
 |
| A great way to end the day. photo by Peter MacKenzie |
So that was that, but no it wasn’t. As I sat at the base cafe with a beer in hand chatting with the “weedgies”, (the name given
to Glaswegian Glencoe regulars) who were sporting a bottle of Mescal and giving some West side humour. A group of
Skiers and boarders made their way down the Creag Dubh shoot, a really steep
shoot with a crevasse at the top. It was fine viewing - i tell ya. That would of definitely added some Freeride
edge to the day –“I’m going do that tomorrow” I said. Manana, Manana eh!
So until the 26th April the Coe Cup still belongs to last
years winner and local Freeride hero Dave Biggin, I reckon he still has it in
him to win it for a third year.
Please let the sun come out and snow cease for the time being
  |
| Skiers in the mist |
No comments:
Post a Comment