The Leap - Entrepreneur Conferenece

This month I was asked to speak at the Leap - NZ's newest Entreprenuers conference.  My topic was 'Sharing the Dream' and I was asked to speak for 20 minutes to close the festival.

Intro

Thanks to Robett for having me. Yes I’m from Rhythm and Vines and we are about to sell out our 14^th festival next month.

I’m here to speak to you about sharing your dream. Now I know some of you have already your own dreams - both in startup phase and others in full development running at various levels. I also want to speak to those who have that idea bottle up inside them. I’m going to tell you some stories about my journey to encourage you to share your dream, get it out there for the world to see, include others to help build it and keep it sustainable. I will start by telling you a bit about my journey from finding a dream, getting it off the ground and continuing to share to this very day.

Our Dream

Now granted our idea was a big one and continues to be. We wanted to get the networks of friends from around NZ together to celebrate the new year.  In 2003 there wasn’t much happening in the way of NYE concerts so we decided to do it ourselves.  To get a number of people for a party in a vineyard of course you have so share it and that is what promoting is all about.  But I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t shared my dream, bought others on board and stood back at times to build a business and brand that is still relevant today.

Tom sharing the dream

The first time sharing the idea was via my friend Tom telling me his idea for a New Years Eve party.  Let’s get a few mates together for an end of year piss up by the beach. He may have been drunk but he got it out there none the less. Next I picked up that idea and ran with it. I had done a little bit of promoting for my band around Dunedin and was excited by the prospect, and of building my skillset towards a job in the music industry. So we went down to Gardies and discussed the ideas. Where would we have it? How could we promote it? Let’s get $100 in a hat and see where it goes.

Next we shared it with my flat mate Andrew.  I had seen a photo on the wall of his parent’s amphitheatre in Gisborne. Next thing we were walking around the pub with the photo sharing our vision with our mates. Would you come to Gisborne for NYE? This sharing provided valuable feedback and motivation to continue building our dream.

Dean Witters

Soon we were sharing our idea with Andrew’s Dad. We wrote a letter to him about having the event. He flew us up to Gisborne and it was a bit like the dragon’s den standing in front of him pitching our plan. It would be called Rhythm and Vines and the Black Seeds would headline. We decided to go 50/50 in the concept and he would provide some start up capital to get off the ground. He helped us write a mission statement about what we were trying to achieve one that is still relevant today.

University

We went back to university and shared our dream around campus. Black Seeds, DJ Soane (Rip) at a vineyard location in Gisborne. We shared our vision – road trip, sunshine, music, camping – one that continues today.  We put up poster and handed out flyer while people were studying at the library. Given it was pre facebook we had a unique marketing technique where we invited all our friends to the pub. Rugby players, pretty girls, Southland boys, Auckanders and we stood up and shared and sold them the dream over a few crates of Speights.

Gisborne

Tom and I realised we weren’t going to be able to do it all so we got 7 of our mates up to Gisborne and had a house on the beach. It was so important to share the load. Tom and I had limited experience with any event this big. But we soon had my sister handing out flyers, our mates, friends doing the design. Others helped paint the stage, stock the bars and mow the venue lawns. Others cook BBQ back stage and hosted the artists. That year we hosted 1800 under the bright blue Gisborne sky.

Losing money

We lost $20k that first year due to a number of mistakes – using cash on the bar, no one on the gate taking tickets, and exhorbitant venue hire arrangement. We sat down with Mr Witters and he put together a plan for the following year. Tom and I had to work again on the festival from next to know income.

To see someone in control of our dream was tough. We got told this was what was going to happen. Tom got disallusioned and did a runner to London. But I was young and naïve, and passionate about the opportunity to build something and I stuck around. I want to see where my idea could go and having shared it now with a few partners and a few thousand kiwis. Soon enough we had others sharing our idea. It felt like the next year everyone came back with a friend or two and soon we went from 5000 people to 10000 and the Rhythm and Vines festival was born.

BW Campgrounds.

Andrew my friend had the foresight to start up the BW campgrounds with local lad Toby Burrows. After a few years we were beginning to compete for the same patrons – offering accommodation and entertainment on Gisborne over new years - so we merged. We began to sell tickets together, marketing spend together, share finances, teams experience. They provided capital a few years when the times were tough. They came on our board and together we began a bigger better, more sustainable Rhythm and Vines and week of festivities in Gisborne.

It was hard to pass on my dream. Tom had left. But the vision was bigger than just me and I’ve always thought I was just one part in the cog of it all. By now I had a 30% stake so others were invested in the concept, both in risk and reward. I didn’t try and do everything my business partners were better at different areas of the business. I focused on the brand marketing and program aspects while they focused on the event management, ticketing, camping and all the many numbers of the event. Having new people on the team meant we were able to share the work load, the experience and the dream.

It was around this time 5 years on we realised our vision was tired. We were getting by the kiwi bands and needed to expand our concept. It was here I shared my vision with a UK festival contractor.  I met him in London and he had been a big part of Glastonbury and Exit festivals. He was able to come on board and help us achieve our goals and next phase of our growth. It was again hard passing over the keys to my dream.  But it was now his dream as well and he worked hard establishing touring routes with Australia partners, secured media partners and established the three day camping model that exists today.

As a result we got the festival we wanted. But we were in serious debt. Budgets blew out in a number of areas – artists, production, security. Charter flights and visas for international acts. Buy this time me and my partners were able to take over and continue to build a local team. We had around 8 staff over the next few years. Marketing, Accounts, Event Management, Programming. They were all helping work towards our dream. A world class festival experience right here in NZ. They had accountability in a number of areas from what bands we booked through to what beers we stocked. A big business you need to trust and invest in people.

Pride

Soon we had up to 8 staff all passionate and engaged in our dream. The other thing is people take pride. They become their own sales team for you they push the dream forward. They source opportunities for you and bring it to the team. They are walking talking billboards for your dream. By delegating you get to learn too. Bringing on industry experts and surround yourself with experts.

What if you don’t share?

I look at some of my competitors stressing our each yeah and overloading with responsibilities. They have kept their dream. People become greedy. Their ideas get stale. They hold on to the same team year in year out. They book the same acts. They more inclusive than what we have been. They stress. They live and die by the results of this inclusion but they haven’t shared at all and as a result we have been able to surge ahead.

Doesn’t always work

Sharing your dream doesn’t always work. We have had a different marketing manager every year and I spend a lot of time with them on the vision. I have invested time in many man people sharing for and caring for it to be thrown out and start again. The investment doesn’t always pay off.  Many of our young staff get a head of themselves. We have an active and engaged social media following and people feel the power of being involved in a popular lifestyle brand.  People think they are the brand. Sometimes we come across entitlement.. We call it wearing the ring as ego and entitlement kicks in. Had to have a few hard words with staff over the years to give the ring back!

Well poisoners.

Beware of well poisoners and those that don’t share your dream. I remember some of my best friends when we were getting our dream off the ground. They didn’t support the event. Some still don’t. Other’s try and steal the dream.  I have had staff try and change the concept, brand and ethos of this dream for their own gains. Others misrepresent themselves. With any big dream there are lots of moving parts and it your role as founders to keep the dream intact, share it and to steer it. We have had a staff that undermine the dream and have needed to be pulled back into line by the rest of the team and realise that no one is bigger the brand business and dream.

To much sharing!

As a result of this big team we had driving towards and achieving our dreams we got to big. We got offered lots of opportunities.  We set up another festival. Given we had a full time events team we started taking on other projects to feed the beast.  We even ran a manpower tour! Things started to go astray so we have come back to our original dream and trying to keep things simple again.

Back to earth

We have bought things back to earth. Kept it simple. I had my good mate Kyle back on board as my right hand man. And Kieran one of our hires who has experience for Live Nation one of the bigger promoters around the world. He has no ego and is a great believer in the dream. I trust them and they fight for the dream every day.

Selling out.

As we near our current position we are about to sell a share of the business to a bigger entertainment entity / investor. Things are back on track and there could be the opportunity to keep things the way they are. My biggest driver is keeping R&V sustainable and continue to entertain young kiwis year in and year out. But if we don’t partner up we are concerned about competition coming into the market. We also want to look at opportunities for growth. Both in this market and off shore. So again we are sharing our vision. There will be challenges and we may again start to get pulled in different directions. It will be my role as founder and the experience I have to help keep the dream on track.

So I hope you got some insights into my journey for sharing my dream. I continue to lead my team and others towards our dream.  I encourage you to be open for opportunities. Inspire others towards YOUR dream. Surround yourself with experts. Get their buy in. Be aware of those trying to undermine or steal your dream. But over all get it out there for the world to enjoy.

And as Winston Churchill said:

Never Ever Ever give up.

What do you do all year?

I often get asked what do you do all year?  Surely it doesn't take all year to organise a festival? And what do you do in the middle of winter when the event is so far away? How come you get to travel so much and not always locked down at one office?

Its the start of the week and currently I am writing this blog in Napier. It has been a long weekend so I was able to book cheap flights on the Sunday and come down for a few days. Shortly I have a skype with the company that did the hologram for Tupac at Coachella. My day is often full of this kind of general hustle. Just potential contacts about some things that could add to the festival experience. Be it putting in zipline's at R&V, the use of Virtual Reality in our marketing, or a meeting at AUT about using their interns later in the year. Try and flesh out a few leads all the time and then see what may eventuate.

Shortly I will get back to my daily role or day job which is booking the bands for R&V. It seems my busiest time of the year for me is April - August. I'm in regular contact with our Australian festival partners as we all need to work together to liase our line ups. I normally get a call the second week of January to start putting in some offers. It is generally to early for us as we are still wrapping up but its good to start thinking already about who could perform. Although there is a little bit of chat in February and March it seems to be more April when things kick off.  I was able to have a bit of time in the US over this down period both for work and play, attending SXSW in Austin, a friends wedding in Utah and a bit of downtime in LA pre Coachella.

It felt like the week post Coachella in mid April that the booking season had begun as emails and phone calls bounced around about potential acts to tour over the new years period. This continues into May as online research is done into what acts work well, who is playing where and when, and offers are constructed to fit tour date requirements.  These detailed offers include the staging times, financial fee, travel and accom details, backline, press requirements etc.

June is often a holding pattern for the program role. Lots of our offers are out there, in fact if they all come in we will be over budget. Given we deal with lots of UK agents we are often waiting for answers as the summer festival season begins. The comms normally go quiet mid to late June around Glastonbury or Ibiza opening when it seems all the industry - agents, artists, managers - meet up for a few pints of Red Stripe in a muddy field somewhere and probably make some decisions about the rest of the year.  Sure enough the emails soon start rolling in again - wanting more money, dates, pitching more acts and trying to close deals.

This routine of push and pull and debating negotiating keeps up until August when we launch. Often we are waiting until the last minute to sign off the deals.  This is frustrating for the marketing team who have different versions of the poster and press release ready to go up until the night before we launch. Some agents are known to drag things right out until launch, then request more money at the end of the process. I'm sure they have a calendar on the wall of launch dates and push us right to the limit.

Given I'm in the Hawkes Bay I don't have any catch up meetings today. But generally I'm trying to fit in at least one or two coffee catch ups a day. It is an important part of my job getting out and about. This is generally sponsor meetings, musicians, media, friends or even foes. These catch ups can be invaluable to for getting feedback or industry advice. And just being seen and keeping your event relevant. We are trying to run the biggest party in NZ so need to be visible. I highly recommend networking and having contact with as many different people both professionally and socially as possible.

Tomorrow in Napier though I am meeting up with an event manager that helps us with our side event 'Road to Rhythm' side show. We are looking at a new venue for the 28th of Dec event. I will also give a presentation to the Eastern Institute of Technology to the young music students. It is great to be able to give back to the region and try and inspire a new generation of music professionals.

Then back to Auckland tomorrow and continue the hustle! 14 years and counting so we must be doing something right!

The 'Book a Week' challenge

When I was 16 my parents moved to Thailand for my fathers job. Rather than joining them in the Land of Smiles or being shipped off to boarding school, I stayed in Napier and boarded with family friends. The Duckworth's lived nearby and their daughter Alice was my age. Give I had 18 months left of school it was an easy transition for me to finish my schooling locally before heading off to university, in Otago of course.

When I moved in my surrogate mother Jill Duckworth said she wanted to teach me three things when I lived with her family. The first was to to learn how to cook. Well I already knew how to cook. Every Thursday my Dad would attend Rotary, so my sisters and I would take turns cooking dinner for Mum. We would whip up roast chicken, with homemade french fries and peas, or Mexican nights featuring tacos or nachos. My parents had stacks of cook books so I was also a a competent baker, whipping up cakes and muffins on rainy days. Either way Jill continued the Thursday night tradition and I was able to learn more about cooking, especially with her passion for Italian eating.

Jill would also teach me how to drink tea. She would drink 5 to six cups a day and would often be found pacing around the house with a fresh cup of piping hot tea, her arm outstretched so not so spill anything on the floor. 'Cup of tea Hamish?' would often come floating down the hall way towards my room, morning and night.  I soon mastered the art of Taradale Tea - a local brew which was a strong Earl Grey brew with a dash of milk. No sugar for me, something I keep to this day.

And finally she wanted to teach me how to read.  Again I was all ready a reasonably established reader.  My parents were great readers and encouraged us kids too. I grew up reading Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl. I could read the Enchanted Wood over and over again, along with Matilda and Danny the Champion on the World. Roald Dahl was an absolute favourite, we even share the same birthday! His book of short stories was another favourite about Henry Sugar the english playboy who learnt to see without his eyes.  But I would read anything, from my sister's Babysitters Club books to real life crime magazines.

Jill however was ferocious reader, devouring books like no ones business.  She had a stack of novels either side of her bed and would often juggle a number of books at once. Every day I would come out of my room to a towering book shelf full of classics - from David Baldacci, Thomas Ludlum and Jeffrey Archer. So it was fair to say I smashed out a fair few books during the time at the Duckworths. The Beach was big hit especially since I was spending time in Thailand visiting my family.  I would try to learn more about Thailand or Asia too. I also enjoyed some Jeffery Archer short stories and continuing on the real life crime books. Plus my school curriculum The Handmaids Tale and Lord of the Flies. But either way I was soon getting through a number of books from Lord of the Rings to Memoirs of a Geisha - many of which stick with me today.

Coming into a wet NZ winter not only has my tea habit picked back up but I have suddenly felt the urge to read again.

The first book one I picked up recently was the 'Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe'. I was amazed at how quickly I skipped between the chapters while all the being exported back in time. I was instantly transported to certain places of my life when I read the famous children's book, such as the West Coast of NZ when I was 7 or 8. In the couple of nights it took me to read it really dragged out a world and a story, much like the 4 children in the book and their journey from wardrobe to the thrones of Cair Paravel.  I had seen the film in recent years but prefer my minds eye interpretation, one I was enjoying relieving 20 years after I last read it.

This week I am finally getting around to reading Elon Musk biography written by Ashlee Vance. One of my favourite books is the Steve Jobs autobiography by Walter Issacson and this is in a similar vein. It is about a modern day titan, his beginnings, his dreams and his struggles as he leads the world in rockets, solar power and electric cars. I have just started it and am suitable inspired by the world's most revered entrepreneur. Not only is he the smartest man in the room, he is also the most focused and hard working.

Another book I want to read is 'The E Myth'. It is about the real reason to start a business which the author presents his argument the sole focus is to provide a structure in which to then sell it. My initial thoughts are this is incorrect, my experience on my business is based on a passion and a lifestyle, a purpose. But who knows after reading this it maybe I can be a bit more removed with my goals for my business and where to take it next.

I also have next to my bed The Luminaries which was in recent years named the Booker Prize winner I am not normally a reader of novels, preferring non-fiction autobiographies or self help books but this one comes with a huge reputation. And being a kiwi it needs to be read at some point. I have challenged by friend Sophie to read it too at the same time so we can compare notes.

There are also a number of other classics and autobiographies I intend to read. One that keeps popping up includes Open by Andre Agassi. But a number of current hits I am Pilgrim to The Help. Maybe some older classics I have never read like Catch 22 or Anne Frank Diary. If not these there a plenty of others I will hope to get through if I stick to my goal of one book a week.

I hope this little challenge will kick start my inspiration in a number of ways and broaden my horizons. Maybe also inspire me to continuing my own writing too!  A blog of week would be a good challenge too :)

Reality Music - Trip to Israel, Sep 18-25th.

Last week I received an email from a Jewish friend based in LA. She was putting my name forward for an industry trip to Israel, all expenses paid in September this year. Hell yeah!

Reality Music - Trip to Israel

The trip funded by the Schusterman institute as a way to bring the music industry from across the world together to Israel to learn, network and be inspired by this great nation's history and outlook. Around 70 attendees will be given a week long tour of the country from its clubs, to its temples, famous cities and its war torn villages.

As part of the process to apply I am to send two personal essays, along with a short video. The essays cover my journey in music, along with my thoughts on Israel and what I hope to get out of the trip. 

The video is a short piece to camera about how and why this trip will fuel my current and future work aspirations in the industry. 

 I have written some brief notes below:

Tell us your professional journey, the moments that have defined you, and what you have accomplished along the way (400 words)

My journey in music promotion began on the back blocks of Napier, NZ near the Church Road vineyards. Every summer the Mission Concert would host 25,000 people and feature some golden oldies like the Beach Boys and the Doobie Brothers. I often wondered why we couldn't seen my heroes such as Pearl Jam and Sublime in this unique vineyard setting. It wasn’t long after this I set up my own concert called Rhythm and Vines to do just that , host cutting edge music for young kiwis in a vineyard setting.

Another definitive moment was the end of my rugby career, which lead me to turn to music and events. Like every young kiwi I had ambitions about being an All Black.  I loved the physicality, the comradeship and the social aspect of the sport. I guess throwing events is a bit like playing sport, you need to trust your team, work hard for one another and never give up towards a goal.  After a serious knee injury I turned my focus towards my music, starting a little band with my mates that would play at friends 21^st and balls. It wasn’t long until I was promoting a local club night, which gave way to the first Rhythm and Vines concert in Gisborne.

Moments that have defined my journey are the sacrifices and commitments. Giving up following my friends to London in my mid 20’s to stay and build a world class festival with a couple of loyal staff. Then returning from some time living in LA to help rebuild the festival once more. Borrowing money to ensure creditors get paid and the festival survives. Often I haven't had a choice it is the only decision to keep the festival alive. If had not made these commitments and sacrifices I wouldn’t be here today.

I love the events industry. I love the thrill of live performing. I love the creative spirit and all the characters involved. It is dynamic, and you can’t beat seeing 15,000 smiling faces lit up in unison. Its what gets me out of bed each day. I’m passionate about NZ's role in the industry and creating a leading national brand in the festival space that I am proud of.

I arrived at my current role by creating it! I’ve never had another proper job. I have tried some different parts of the event game from sponsorship to social media, running small shows as well. But I enjoy the creative vision aspect of a festival, the negotiating with agents and picking trends. And the one with balls on the line and ultimately accountable for the results. There are not many who can say they have taken as much risk and accountability as me in their careers.

  

I look back on my 13 years in the role and what I have achieved.  We have hosted an estimated 200,000 people through our gates over our 13 years, many of them foreign visitors. The seasonal aspect has allowed me to travel the world. It has allowed me to attend and be inspired by a number of leading festivals. It was allowed me to follow my own path and leave a last legacy in the NZ event and tourism industries.

What does the trip mean to me? What are your connections and interest for Jewish history and what do you hope to explore on the trip?

My first experience with Israel was learning about the struggles during history lessons at school. Specifically the later half of the 20th Century. Coming from NZ it seems a mile away and different to our way of life, the conflict, the politics, the influence the nation state held on the region and the world. 

My first experience meeting Jewish people was travelling around Thailand as a student. I met many Israelis, along with Swedish and antipodean’s they spent their holidays in the tropical southern islands. I learnt the word 'shalom' and was able to make friends with many I met along the way.

I look forward to getting to know the jewish people further.  Understand and appreciate the attitude and resilience of the people. Learn about their struggles, the history.  Admire the architecture and the granduer of the cities, how they were built and continue to grow.

The food is big passion for me and I want to experience it all. The influence it has had on my current favourites from bagels to falafel to cous cous to hummus. I want to experience the Mediterranean influence from fresh bountiful produce, breads, grains and cured meats. 

Of course the music and related nightlife is another drawcard for me. The clubs and beach bars, rooftops bars, and sunset raves.  I have been to Turkey and if the night life is anything like that I am in for a treat.

And finally I am looking forward to the networking, mixing with industry people from all over the world. Making new friends and business contacts. Being inspired and generally getting out of my comfort zone!

Why do I want to participate in Reality Music? How will this trip fund my current work and future aspirations in the industry? Why am I an outstanding candidate?

This will be a well needed sabbatical for me after a busy period of the year getting our lineup together and launching our tickets.  Having time away in such a setting I will be able to assess my place in my business and the industry. Who knows there may even be some opportunities to explore the festival opportunities in Israel!

The trip will me a chance to network with people from different ways of life be it those on the trip or those I meet.  It will give me respect and reflection for my own up bringing, both my past journey and the one ahead of me. There is nothing more full filling that getting out of your comfort zone and I look forward to developing as a person on this trip, for the better.

Why am I a good candidate? Im a kiwi! We are unique in this world and I will represent our core values of being humble, friendly and adventurous through out the trip. I might just be the furtherest attendee! I'll bring my own unique perspective, attitude and energy to the group, along with a vast knowledge and passion for the music industry, both here and abroad. 

Johnny Utah

I vividly remember watching Creed on TV close the Winter Olympics in the 2002 from Salt Lake City. I had missed my chance at a ski season while at Uni as was often in Thailand and soon found myself busy working summers on my project Rhythm and Vines, which continues to this day.

Creed closing Salt Lake City Olympics 2002

So when my Otago friend Chris Mahony mentioned he would be having his wedding in the ski fields of Utah in March 2016 I immediately put my hand up to attend.  I had hung out with his wife Alex Chaffin on multiple trips to NZ and also met up with her in Miami when there for WMC in 2013. Chris had been a loyal friend over the years and always in touch when in town for a beer. He had showed me around Oxford when he had studied for his PHD there. I knew a few others going, including Kelsey her friend I had hung out with in LA. Why not!

 As I flew into Salt Lake City from Dallas was immediately blown away by the proximity of the mountains. They almost encircled the city from all angles, bar the murky lake on the urban fringe.  Andrew Witters picked me up and we ubered the 30 mins or so to Park City and checked in to the hotel. It wasn’t long until we were in the saloon bar shooting shit with the Bachelor party crew. Oxford rugby mates conversed with Washingon political comrades alongside Otago and Kings friends.  Sliders and nacho’s rolled in alongside IPA’s in the crisp mountain air. I took the coverted yellow jersey off the groom after 8 or so attempts from the crew. Chris soon disappeeared and we ended up at Downstairs night club before calling it a day.

Next afternoon after checking out the saloon-like town, it was straight to Sundance Resort, a 40 min drive from Park City. The place was created in the late 1960’s by Robert Redford as a tranquil retreat for artist’s and creatives alike. It had become the center piece for the Sundance Film Festival hosting VIP guests and screenings in its boutique and quaint setting. I was shattered from travel and found a spare bed at the Chaffin's house to sweat out my demons and prepare for the festive weekend ahead.

I wasn’t feeling 100% the next morning so parked up at the café and greeted the skiers for lunch. Was able to catch up on work and settle into my cozy room stone’s throw from the reception.  That evening it was down to the cocktail party with Regina and Sam Priest before a unique slide show and speeches from up to 12 people. Quite an American tradition to gather guest the night before the wedding. And then on to Owl Bar but was in bed around midnight still feeling under the weather.

I was up for a ski the next morning and it wasn’t long before I find my ski legs again in the wet spring snow. Enjoyed the stunning vistas from the top of Bear Claw while chowing down a bratwurst and IPA with the other guests. I skied with Chris's French friend Olivier with only one short tumble at the bottom to top off a memorable day. Soon was getting ready for the wedding held which was held in the brisk mountain air. Alex looked a picture along with her 7 bridesmaids.  We enjoyed cocktail drinks before being ushered into the Convention Center for more formal speeches and dinner. The 10 piece band entertained us with Bruno Maars and Michael Jackson covers. On to the Owl bar where I got up and played Free Falling with the Mahoney brothers on support. Then ending up at the Mahony's house drinking PBR, singing Aladdin songs and Guns and Roses until the small hours.

I wasn’t awake til midday and missed most of the crowd at the farewell brunch. The burger at Owl bar was all I could manage before I checked in for another night to enjoy the plush surroundings of Sundace.  Skied the next day at Sundance with Andrew Witters. Was good to shoot the shit between runs about our business and where we would go next. After a spa it was time to get on the road to Deer Valley. Up the prestigious St Regis Resort for a burger and beers as the lights twinkled over the valley in the still air as the snow decended on the charming village.

I awoke to the most amazing sight of crisp snow lined trees and balconies outside my window. I booked in some ski gear down below our accom and we strided across the car park to the bottom of Park City lifts. There was an spooky feeling to the lift up through the fog, the trees white with icing sugar like snow dripping from any available branch. The crunchy powder was something else, like sliding on cocaine down the hill as I carved up the fresh powder. We did a few runs of the crisp untouched Blue Runs before on to the unchartered tree runs. It was an exhilarating feeling as I leaned back and skidded down the slopes taking time to dodge the tall timber while bouncing through the powder. What a feeling!

We had to say good bye to Sam Priest unfortunately but continued with a burning attempt at the black run Thaynes with out him. After lunch we were off on the Quicksilver chairlift to Canyon Mountain a new part of the resort making it the biggest in North America. I lost the boys after a few runs of Tombstone but it was a great challenge to follow Trance back towards the gondola at the end of the day.

After a few beers and whiskeys at the Legends bar we were hitting our straps so back to the house then to supermarket for supplies. I had jumped in with Doug and Will two friends from the UK who had a ski trip planned for the week. Will was visiting from Dallas, while Doug was an Oxford friend rugby friend of Chris who was living in South Africa. Top blokes and we got on famously. We stocked up on Coors light, Pizza, Bagels, Eggs all the basics. We went and met Alex and Chris one last time before a cheeky night cap at the local dive bar for NBA chat and ridiculous pints of beer!

We awoke to the plan of hitting Deer Mountain and was up by 9am to settle in to the more premium facilities for skiers only. We chased Alex and Chris across the mountain and found them by striking Montage hotel. I had some trouble on the first black drop lost my skii’s and spent a good ten minutes breathing the biting air to get them back on. I felt like Hilary on Everest with every burning deep breath to regain my composure and get skiing again. The slow trek through the trees was a highlight though and I found the others back on the next lift down.

This time I took my chances on a double black and the near vertical slope owned me, I came loose again this time with ski's left meters up the bluff. It was too steep to put them on so I traversed over to a tree to put them on. The black run seemed a breeze now but still tested my burning lungs and thighs. After lunch we said good bye to the bride and groom and had a casual run back to base. We sat out in the spring sun and enjoyed beers and plotted our plans for the Lions tour of NZ in 2017.

I decided to have the next day off skiing and was able to catch up on work at the local Starbucks. We caught the new Superman and Robin movie before heading out for sushi and karaoke. It was here we met Howie D from Backstreet Boys, singing his own songs none the less! What a nice guy and was very fond of his trips to NZ.

I had a drink with Shana the concierge at Ciseros where Matt Corry and Hampster had worked for a couple of seasons. We chatted about her life in Utah and Portland before heading back to my house for a drink and meet the boys. Everything seemed booked out for dinner so we went to Chop House for a homely meal. Continued back at mine for some music and religion chat.

The boys had left by the time I stumbled out of room and reluctantly caught an uber to Salt Lake City. I was sad to leave Park City after such a memorable week but given the snow was melting on the hills under the blue sky it was time to quit while I was ahead.  I'll be back! I visited the popular Rubys Café for some chicken steak eggs bennedict and then on to the bus station to store my bags. The crowds had gathered at the local arena for the Bieber concert and I joined them buying a ticket for $100 off the scalper. I was impressed with the scale of production and dancing but disappointed with his general laziness and lack of enthusiasm. Too much snowboarding for the lad! After a night cap at Lucky's I was soon on my 3am departure on the California Zephyr train with some other characters. The next morning I was too awake on the majestical rockies and Utah seemed but a distant memory.