Dance Magic Dance - Day 9
It’s 7am, knowing that theres snow up the mountain and a lovely cooked breakfast awaiting in The Diary Kitchen I couldn’t help but spring out of bed and into my snow gear. Today is one of the most entertaining days up at Coronet Peak with the Air New Zealand Holidays Mountain Mayhem activities. I’m MC’n along with awesome fellow MC Henry and am very excited to see Mark , Jono and Lisa battle it out on the slopes – there’s some serious competition going on here. Aaron swings around (whom I might add here is celebrating his 30th today..woohoo) and we hit the road. The first race up “The Dash for Cash”, where everyone runs a course up a hefty hill, under nets, across the mountain, down and over hay bails and across the finish line. The stand out, a human horse who cantered half-way up, cut across the track and then snacked on the hay…hilarious.
Next up was the all famous “Suitcase Race”. Now I’ve competed in this event in the past and know the speed you can get when your suitcase meets the snow..Lisa was in for a good one and I was ready to call all the shots over the mic as they unfolded. Jono arrived with his new “aerodynamic creation” and in a suit, Mark with a brand new slick suitcase and a boxing outfit, lego man – whom was one with his suitcase..no literally he was actually strapped inside his suitcase and painted yellow and the winner from last year – Mrs Sexy – who was actually a man in a floral dress and wig… The race was thrilling, Lego Man proved that making yourself a part of the suitcase was beneficial as he flew down the mountain like a v8 on the track to come to a screaming stop against the pads. Jono’s aerodynamic design didn’t quite cut the mustard, and Marks new suitcase sprayed heavily with some concoction just didn’t deliver. Taking out the main prize was Mrs Sexy with his trusty old suitcase that won it for him last year.
The men were done and so now it was time for the ladies to have some fun. I don’t think I heard a word from Lisa until this time, but up she went… Knowing her well I could tell she was most worried about smashing into the pads or taking out the crowd, or both – at this stage I asked the crowd to move right back – if anyone was going to wipe out the onlookers it would be Lisa… Little did we know that Mrs Sexy had brought his partner along to the race and kitted her out with a similar suitcase, she tore down the mountain leaving Lisa in her snow dusk… Lisa stopped just over the line…hmmm funny that as I suspected she was coming straight for the crowd so had to put the foot breaks on. Yes that’s right Jo, gotta look after the people..I had to take one for the team and slow the snow.
The Snow Dig was next on the list. This saw hoards of kids digging frantically in the snow for prizes, they were great at it too – only took them a few seconds to sniff out the prizes. Then another highlight good old Musical Chairs. An AirNZ plane is painted into the snow and chairs set up, as the music stops it’s a battle to grab a seat. The kids dominated this and played by the rules…however, when it came to the adults turn some real tactics came into play. Lisa and Mark trotted around grabbing chairs left right and centre until mark tripled up on someone’s lap and was given the “Your Out” from Henry and I on the mic. It was down to the final 2, the music stopped and the quick reactions from Lisa saw her pull the chair out as the other contestant went to sit on it and tackle it to the floor…Whoa Whoa Whoa take it easy!!! We had to have another round as our judge declared that move as “inappropriate” – but again as the music stopped Lisa dove at the chair taking out any competition and wrestled to get her butt on the chair…She was winning this one even if it meant breaking an arm.. Watch out think we will see her on a rugby field soon!! Better send Graham Henry a demo for the world cup there buddy…Forget rugby Jo I’m going straight to the ice hockey rink that’s where all the action happens these days. The funniest thing was Lisa thought she was battling it out for tickets to Japan..unlucky wrong event buddy, I gave those away at the AirNZ Holiday Mardi Gra..you still got a trip up the gondola… Well Jo, I was a bit gutted I came off with a massive bruise from that and no trip to Japan…
While Lisa rested, I realized I had 20minutes spare..wohoo just enough time to throw on my gear and get up the mountain for a board. Jax and I were off and it was the best time. There is such a difference when you go up the mountain with another chick then the guys. My first experience snowboarding was with my mate Nathan Teutenberg, he took me right to the top of the mountain and said “sweet see you at the bottom”…I wasted myself the whole way down. Over the years I’ve become a pro at heel side, heel side, switch, heel side, switch..try toe side..full turn back to heel side..so my goal was to nail toe side and what better person to help me then instructor Jax. Shes been instructing up Coronet for years and was totally awesome. I can tell you it pays to get a lesson..the things Jax taught me, and minor adjustments all paid off… Good times…Lisa you need to get up here!!!
We made it back down in time for the Snow Flags which is just like beach flags in surf life saving but on snow then it was sign off, pack up and off to the Ice Hockey.
WOW!! Ice Hockey is super awesome..If you haven’t been to a game you must go check it out. Yes Jo I told you this is the new sport to be watching, I knew you’d love it but I was surprised at the bit you loved the most, the team turnovers? You know when the guys change the players on the Ice..I think I heard you say “They are like gorillas jumping over and onto the ice, I love that bit” I wasn’t really sure where she was going with this one but might be one of her “Jo-land” moments. Yes Lisa, I know…also they really smash each other up against the walls, and when they hit the ice they are super quick to spring back up…oh and they fight…gloves come off and it’s a free for all…not to mention all the “lippy” remarks they throw at each other…It’s super entertaining.
From here, we made a quick stop into The Dairy to change into our designer wears and headed up the Skyline gondola to the Stoneleigh Jazz Night to enjoy the sweet sounds of some of the country’s top musicians L.A Mitchell, Nathan Haines, LA Mitchell, Sacha Vee, Oval Office, Rythmonyx and Tahuna Breaks. Awesome night and oh yes did we pull out some good Jazz dancing to complement the music.
The dancing continued at Ballarat & Barup where we had our own soiree in style in the front section of the bar with a number of good friends….It was a hilarious night full of fun and good times!! Scoop (If you haven’t met him – he is a true Queenstown ICON) was looking very suave in his funky suit, Next Top Male Models Mark and Scott teamed up in their check shirts, Akl bandits Ady Reid and Andrew Radcliffe were in fine “Champagne pouring” form, Fay, Lindsay, Simon, Bert, Stefan, Kirsten, and Lisa dominated the dance floor, Aaron celebrated his 30th like a true trooper….and of course In true Jolly Holley style I commandeered a cowboy hat and yes it was appropriate…it was the best..I must add here that it was everyone’s mission to compete in “who can pull the weirdest faces in any photos” I think I took that one out just quietly….may have only been me playing at one stage…hahaha… actually I was..just had a look at the photos…Lisa where were you with a “calm down” call…. Anyways…moving right along…all in all we all had a fantastic night with fantastic people…look out for the reunion…round 2!!
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jo snow
