PEI vs Cape Breton

    I'm very sorry for slacking on these blog updates... But I'm not going to lie... I'm a busy girl.  I'm either running up and down the bunny hill at Martock, stirring coffees at Tim Hortons, hiking the park at Martock, off to another hill to do some sort of contest/clinic/camp or dancing to Motown music with my friends.  Unfortunately these blog updates get pushed to the back of my schedule until a night like tonight where I am too overtired to sleep, have just had a SICK day of shredding, can't stop thinking about all the tricks I want to try tomorrow and just generally don't want to sleep... because I want to write to YOU of course :)
    A few weekends ago (Feb 12th to be exact) Natasha and I were sent on our separate ways (oh no! what am I going to do without her?! scary!).  Tash was off to Brookvale, P.E.I and I was of to Ben Eoin, Cape Breton. 
    After some delays (I got my Dad's 4x4 truck stuck in my driveway, just don't ask... it WOULD happen to me)... I was finally on my way to the city to pick up the boys (Gabe and Luke) so we could hit the road.  We had a handy dandy GPS to lead us on our way so we wouldn't get lost or anything!  There's no way anything is going to go wrong...... right? 
    So, I pick up Gabe in Halifax and off to Dartmouth we go... I throw my quarters in the bridge toll machine and start to drive away......... The gate doesn't lift.  I slam on the ol' brakes, jump out and put a new quarter in (apparently I had a faulty coin, go figure) this time it accepts and we start weaving our way through Dartmouth in my Dad's extended cab GMC Sierra with the cap on back.  Let's just say this trip I learnt how to use my mirrors.     
    We finally get to Luke's, load his stuff in the truck and off to the highway we go!  We're minding our business, driving through Dartmouth... when some young boy decides to walk out in front of my truck! What is he thinking really? I slam on the brakes so I don't hit the poor feller and off we go again! 
    We didn't even make it to the highway and Luke was passed out in the backseat, the poor boy had a late night shooting with Jon Burke and Charles Stevens gaping Charles' car, so he was pretty tuckered out.  Gabe puts on some jams and we start the supposed to be 5 hour drive to Sydney! 
    We hit Antigonish and decided this is a wonderful spot to stop for supper and snacks.  We arrive at Wal Mart and 45 minutes later walk out with a bunch of snacks.  The boys went healthy, buying things such as muffins and juice... myself, I went for the funner things.  Gummy bears, Dunkaroos, a HUGE chocolate bar, War Heads, mini eggs... I love candy.  We then hit up Pizza Hut for some grub.... and two hours later we're finally on the road again. 
    Finally the causeway is in sight and Cape Breton soil is under our feet.  We take the exit we were told to by a coworker of mine... and off we go venturing into the unknowns of CB.  The weather soon turns horrible.... rain, snow, wind, slow drivers... I just stick 'er in 4wd and there's no stopping us!
   Turns out when your GPS is telling you to make a turn..... you should really listen.  If you pass that turn, I highly recommend turning around and making it happen.  I however decided to keep driving.  We managed to take the longest way to Sydney ever, weaving in and around the opposite side of the Bras D'or lakes in almost every weather condition possible... thank god for 4wd.
    Finally we arrive at the wonderful and sketchy Martin Arms (we're doing this as low budget as possible since my dads truck eats gas like I
eat candy) and get ready for a night out on Sydney. 
    We end up at a bar called Capri.  Luke rolled up his pants into capris in hopes for free cover, but they shot his brilliant idea down. We immediately hit the dance floor and are having a time... until someone throws a drink in Gabe's face.   Not cool, really not cool.  We decided to peace out and head back to the hotel, as we have to be up early to head to the hill.  
    Before we know it the alarm is going off and it's time to put our stuff in the truck and head to the hill.  I am greeted by some friendly familiar faces and get to work getting everything organized for the clinic!  The boys put the billabong rail in as I went inside for registration.  Five girls registered, all of them intermediate... so I knew the day was going to be awesome! 
    We start hiking the park, learning tricks on the flat box to start, then hiking up further to hit the oillie on features!  Ben Eoin always uses their features they have the best they can, which I am super stoked about.  The people you run into are also awesome, which always makes the trip up 10x better! 
    Soon it's time for lunch and we decide to have a mini rail jam after lunch since their were no beginners registered for the afternoon clinic.  This is where we saw all the girls improve the most.... we even saw a cab 270 on 270 off! 
    Soon it's time for us to pack up the truck and head back to the mainland.... until we return in a few weeks for Snow Jam!
    On the P.E.I side of thjngs, Natasha led an awesome two day event! Here's what she had to say about it:

    Brookvale native, Lyle Robinson, had set up an amazing progressive park for the girls to play in all weekend.  There were only a few that came out to learn some new skills during Saturday's clinic however Sunday's contest was full of talent and fun!   The youngest female snowboarder ever to join us in the park was there today dancing and snowbaording along to the great Adrenaline Divas playlist - 3 year old Kalie Robinson!
 
Beginner
1st - Maggie
2nd - Lindsay
3rd - Hailey
 
* and props to all the beginner girls as this was a hard one to judge!
 
Intermediate
1st - Katherine
 
Best Trick - Lindsay (frontside 180 gap over the flat rail!!! WHAT!)
Best Bail - Katherine after a sick FS 360 on the jump.


☮ ♥ shred

- Snakebite