The Corporates - A TR

The Background

For those who do not know in my non snow life I am a PA in a very corporate environment, Monday to Friday I am suited and booted (not even casual Friday’s!).

My first day at the current company I work with I had a getting to know you chat with one of the guys I support and he asked me what I did outside of work. I explained to him about my passion for all things snow and my work at Perisher. It was then that he announced that come hell or high water we were going to have a company ski trip this year (and would I organise it?) Of course I agreed!

Little did I know how hard this would be and what mountains I would have to climb to get it off the ground. I soon found out that this exercise had been tried many times before and had never happened. My first challenge was to get quotes and write a proposal to the company exec’s and money men to get some firm sponsorship. It was a tense couple of weeks while they mulled it over thought about the legalities (like insurance etc) and it was touch and go that we were going to loose our booking as we hadn’t paid a deposit yet.

Finally it all got approved and it was lift off. I had a short turn around to get commitments and payment off people (by the time it got approved we needed full payment upfront as there only a month to go until departure). 

Once people started saying yes I realised how large the group was going to be and that reinforcements were needed, so I sent a couple of begging messages to Dan83 knowing he had a Thredbo season pass so the weekend would be relatively cheap for him. Thankfully he agreed and thank god he did as I don’t think I would have had such a successful weekend without him and Spaz. I ended up gettign 44 people on board!

I then started stressing about how to make sure these people who are used to their own rooms in 5* hotels, flying short distances to places like Canberra, would cope at the River Inn and a 6 hour+ bus ride and also how to make it a overall fun weekend (queue lots of posts for advice on BW! thanks for everyone’s suggestions!)

Someone at work had the brillant idea of making goodies bags for the bus ride. So I run Thredbo and asked if they could send me some carry bags and some trail maps and village maps. And they did! (new management is obviously working!) The sent us bags with some maps and flyers and stickers. I filled them with Bottled Water, Lollie bags, chips, Berocca and Sun screen.

The Bus Trip
Even though it felt like ages away all of a sudden the departure day dawned.

We started the day off really well, everyone arrived in our lobby on time, the bus showed up on time, got a park right near our office and everyone gets on board. (there is nothing like a bus of A type personalities, I looked up and noticed that everyone had sat in the front 2/3rds of the bus! It was pretty funny.)

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But it turns out that two people didn’t make it on the bus! They somehow ended back at their desks working! It was decided that we would have to leave without them but some phone calls were made and it turns out they managed to get out and were in a taxi. It was decided we would pull off the M5 and stop at a pub and have a quick drink whilst we waited for them. So that was our first half hour delay! We also had a few beers on the bus and so it wasn’t long until there was cry’s for a bathroom stop! So we pulled into a rest stop. Finally after what felt like for ever we were on the road again. Next stop a dinner stop in Dickson in Canberra, it was a bit out of the way but it was a great stop. Heaps of choice for dinner and I ended up with a group of 6 at a noodle place, when we asked for a table she said yes but that we need to be out in an hour as they had a booking. I said sure cause we only had 30mins. She was very happy about this. And we were out in time. And everyone else was back on the bus in time (gotta love those Type A personalities!).

Next stop was East Jindabyne where those who needed rentals were kitted out.

We finally arrived in Thredbo at 10.15pm and meet Dan and Spaz at the River Inn. After checking in most people went to the bar.

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Saturday

So on the bus on the way down we took a vote who wanted to start on first lifts and we had a decent show of hand so I told those taking lessons (i had encouraged all lower intermediates and below to take lessons) when are where to meet for those and took the rest of them on a bit of a mountain tour with Dan and Spaz.

We headed up Gunbarrel and then Merrits for a few warm up runs and to see what sort of skiers and boarders we were dealing with. And we were all very pleased with what we found (ability wise) we soon headed over to central spur and took a few runs on Antons and Sponars. Then down super trail. After a few runs here we thought it would be cool to take the group to the top of Karel’s and Australia’s Highest Lifted Point and then down super trail.

They loved it. Of course as with Thredbo vertical there was a noticable difference in snow conditions from the top to the bottom but mostly the overseas people were impressed thus far!

By this time we needed to head back over to Merrits to meet the rest of the group for lunch. Pretty much every one showed up on the deck at Merrits, even a few first timers who either braved the ski or caught the Merrits Chair up.

After lunch we headed out with a different group from the morning but still equally as fun.

I decide that it was a great novelty to not HAVE to ski till last lifts and decided to head in around 3pm, chilled out in our room at the River Inn before getting ready to meet the group for drinks.

A bit of an awkward moment when I was showering and realised that the Shampoo and Conditioner dispenser in the shower seemed to have shampoo in both the shampoo and condition containers. So I got out of the shower wrapped in a towel and stuck my head out into the room to ask the only other female in the room if she had some conditioner, she didn’t not. So i kind of stood there a bit stunned trying to think of what to do when Dan pipes up with “I have some conditioner” Yay to Dan and his metrosexual ways! LOL

The itinerary I had prepared had stated 5.30pm in Schuss Bar to watch the flare run. I wasn’t sure how many would show up but just like lunch those type A personalities came through and everyone was in the bar on time to watch the flare run. I was a little bit disappointed with the view (you couldn’t see much of the actual flare run) but the overseas people were impressed with what they saw and the fireworks.

Spaz as the social coordinator of the group then decided that The Lounge in the Thredbo Alpine Hotel would be our next pre dinner venue. So 45 of us file out the Schuss and down the stairs. As the last one to leave the Security guy stopped me and asked where we were headed when I told him he got this panicked look on his face and gets on the radio to tell bar staff and security to go to the Lounge bar. Opps!

After a couple of drinks at The Lounge Bar it was time for dinner so we headed to Santes in the village (for those playing along at home the same venue that we went for The Shred). Every really enjoyed dinner although the table Dan and I were at was severely lacking in the drinks department and we found out that another table were ordering a new order every time a bunch of drinks were delivered so they were well sloshed (and of course Spaz happened to be sitting at this table!)

After dinner we then hit up Keller bar, which was a little early but my colleagues made the most of it and hit up the dance floor. But at about midnight I had just come out of the bathroom and looked around and it seemed everyone had left. I found Dan and Spaz in a corner and we soon headed back to the River Inn having one of the most random conversations ever (do you boys remember??)

Dan seemed to think there was a party happening without him at the River Inn and was anxious to get back there. It turns out there wasn’t but Dan and Spaz sat up with a couple of guys while i called it a night.

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Sunday

Alarm went off at 7am but I was shattered! Somehow I had managed not to make any official plans with any of my work colleagues so I decided a sleep in was in order -  I just didn’t want to get up. Spaz was up early as usual but Dan didn’t seem too motivated either! LOL

I think we made it to breakfast before 9am but they went back to the room and stuffed around some more - Spaz and Dan packed their stuff into their cars and I slowly took my stuff down to the lobby. Spaz wasn’t joining us on the mountain and so Dan and I got up the mountain around 10am (first video footage was 10.23am).

It was nice just Dan and I cruising around, not stressing about other people. There had been some fresh snow overnight, not much but there was plenty of wind blown stashes (now I just sound like the snow report but it was true!) We headed over to Crusier (we thought we should do a token look for my colleagues) and then decided that Waimea looked too nice and so headed over to Anotons. We hit up Waimea, where Dan tried to get some footage on his GoPro but had no battery and then headed back to Anoton’s to do it again, we cut down from the cat track into that little bowl behind Frost Bite, there was a bit of a dip/gully and Dan hit it pretty hard and ended up on his butt. Not a bad stack (I had a bit of a giggle) but when we go to the Tbar there was a massive queue (not really but it was the biggest we had seen all weekend) and whilst we were contemplating our next move Dan looked down and realised that his GoPro was not on the end of his pole mount!!!!!!!

There was that moment where you just look at a person and you both stunned and thinking “oh shit” can’t remember who spoke first bit it was a bit of “go back too where you stacked” “No leave your board I’ll wait here” kind of thing.

So I am standing there watching Dan pretty much run up the hill - thinking to myself, how long should I wait before I have to go after him and help him dig… When I look up and he is already running back down the hill! The GoPro was just sitting on top of the snow in the gully. PHEW!

Whilst Dan had gone GoPro hunting the queue had disappeared so we went up again. This time when we lapped through Cruiser we found a couple of snowboarding colleagues of mine that Dan was pretty keen to hang out with so we headed back to Central Spur with them and took then down through Michaels Mistake a few time and had heaps of fun (see video’s). An hour or so later I had to head back to put my tour organisers hat on Dan and the boarders stayed up for a couple more runs.

We had arranged a lunch at the River Inn and what do you know the same guy who was playing at the Shred was on the guitar (Kid Rock or something?)! He still had his Boardworld sticker on his case and when I mentioned it to him that he never signed up he said he wears his Boardworld Tee often and totally reps us!

About 2.30pm I started gathering the troops and headed out to the bus. We managed to leave relatively on time just after 3pm and after a quick stop in East Jindy to return the rentals we were on the road. Dinner in Goulburn where someone on the bus insisted that we drive past the Big Marino - the Europeans were a bit confused LOL. And we were back in Sydney CBD at 9.30pm. Not the fastest drive but after dinner I kicked a couple of guys off the back seat who were just playing on ipads and got to lay down and managed a couple of hours sleep! So I loved not driving myself!

All in all a pretty successful weekend and once again I would like to thank Spaz and Dan for helping me make it such a success!

Video

Warning features those evil skier type - and only a little bit of Dan, soundtrack is cool though!

For those only interested in boarding I bring you “The Dan Show”

Already enjoyed the first part, looking forward to the rest oz

Saving for more photos.

Good job Oz!
Fair large group to organise, I can image how stress with those people gets ready in the time…
Your report is good idea to showing us how things has organised, surely your colleague had ball time! 
Yeah we will have a large group about 29 deaf adult & kids coming up next month. we hope it’ll goes smooth

Nice TR, oz. Video was a bit long to hold my interest, but I’m sure the people who went on the trip and know each other will properly appreciate it!

Good job organising it, as silent said. I’m helping Crackers with Pirate day by doing the organising of the accommodation, and I would never have guessed that it could possibly take that many hours! It is going to be all worth it, though, and I’m sure it was for you!

Yeah the video is a bit long for you guys - I am making another one which will be shorter for BW

Dan dan the hair conditioning man ey!

Sounds like a great weekend oz with some decent weather to match. Everyone in the vid looked to be happy and enjoying themselves!

Now you have made me realise I miss Thredbo!

Nice TR oz!

You did great job organising it. It was a really fun weekend and all the people I met were very friendly and good to hang out with.

Thanks heaps for including me. Happy that I could be of some help.

And what was our conversation about on the way back to RI?!?

I think Oz was referring to the Keller convo. Were she kept threatening to take your phone each time a text came hahaha.
The convo went something like;

spaz. moments after getting text from oz; ‘‘There’s Kim, she’s looking for us, quick hide.’‘
dan; ‘‘Man I’m so in love, she’s so perect’’ (referring to GF at home)
ozgirl; ‘‘there you are, where is everyone. DAN IF YOU DON’T PUT THAT PHONE DOWN…’‘

During walk to RI
spaz; ‘‘I’m sure that chick was flirting with me’‘
oz; ‘‘Which one, was it ,,,,,, with the ,,,,,, hair?’‘
dan; ‘‘nah spaz she has a bf’‘

At RI
dan and I got in a debate about which has more soul, snowboarding or surfing or skating (we didn’t even recognize the boardworldian theme) which resulted in me reenacting the thrill of surfing in a very physical manner as I talked and talked.

ha to you oz and dan, oz your the one who told us the drinks bill would be covered. I think your making excuses for being soft. Didn’t I deliver a jug of Sangria? I bet you didn’t even order an espresso martini for desert.

For another ‘take’ on the weekends events it’s covered in my ‘‘snowbuming’’ TR.

Haha Spaz!

No I was talking about the convo we had about conception LOL

Haha Spaz!

Totally forgot that one! Even now it only vaguely rings a bell.
Something about how every conception is a miracle because the odds are so against it actually happening

Updated with “the Dan Show” video