Carolina Kiwis: Downhill Racers

Saturday, May 23, 2009

We got home late last night from the Chiefs game, and had to be up bright and early for Ro's rugby game this morning, so we were all dragging pre-coffee. Ro's friend MJ is now on his rugby team, too, so Sherry and Karla chatted during the game. Each game, Ro is getting gradually better as far as doing what he's supposed to do, but the progress is s-l-o-w going. He had a great run today and nearly got a try, but stepped on the touch line (the sideline). From the look on his face, he may have thought the touch line was the goal line, since the goalposts are on it. The little kids only play on a half-field, and their goal lines would be the touch lines of the regular-size field.

Sherry's finally feeling better after being sick for a while, so we got out of town again today. She'd never been luging before, so we headed for Rotorua. As much fun as Mark and Ro have had luging in the past, it's waaayyy more fun when you're racing somebody. We got to ride the Advanced track for the first time, too, which is so fast it's almost scary. Fortunately, the turns are banked much higher so you don't fly off the track and kill yourself. No kids or tandem riders allowed on it, though.

Note Ro's Dermabonded eyebrow from earlier in the week. The bath faucet won that encounter

Ro started out the day riding with Sherry on the Scenic (beginner) track, so he could "teach Mommy how to drive it." Mark gave chase from behind, and Sherry pushed him off the track when he tried to pass them, sending him careening into the dirt. Mark finally caught up and passed them near the end of the run when Sherry got backed up behind some slow-pokes, and boy was Ro steamed when they got to the bottom! We're not sure who he was more mad at...Mark for "cheating" (Ro's word), or Sherry for letting Mark by!

Ro pissed about getting passed

The Hills riding the chairlift between luge runs

Sherry & Ro flying down the Intermediate track

Our other notable race had Mark & Ro trying to catch Sherry on the Intermediate track. By this time, Sherry was an old pro, growing more confident with handling the luge at high speed, having just finished a solo run on the Advanced track. Mark & Ro tried passing her unsuccessfully a couple of times, eating the wall at one point. But, Mark knew the track like the back of his hand and knew just how hard he could push it in the curves without flipping, so he finally caught up to her on the last big speed hill. Sherry thought Mark was trying to pass her on the right, so she moved over to cut him off, but then he & Ro ducked around to her left. Like NASCAR drivers trading paint, we were side-by-side down the hill, bumping each other at full speed (which, of course, is forbidden). Unfortunately, the track narrows at the bottom of the hill and it only becomes wide enough for one luge, so in addition to bumping each other we were soon each bumping the walls. Sherry admits her maternal instinct took over at this point, and while she wouldn't have hesitated to put Mark in the dirt again if it were just him, she couldn't live with herself if she hurt Ronan, so she let Mark squeak in front of her, much to Ro's delight. After that, Ro refused to ride with Sherry because "Daddy goes faster."

Sherry showing off her new sheepskin boots

We stayed at the luge until sunset, at which point it was becoming quite chilly, especially on the chairlift back up the mountain. Calling it a day, we headed down on the gondolas. In the building at the bottom, the staff had set up a portable heater (central heat is practically non-existent in NZ), like the jet-engine looking ones you see on NFL sidelines. This was nirvana to Sherry, who was chilled to the bone, and she promptly parked herself in front of it. On the way home we called ahead for takeaway from Hell Pizza. Like BurgerFuel, Mark had gotten turned onto it from the nurses at work. Easily the best pizza we've had here! Unfortunately, when we stopped to pick up the order, Sherry realized she had lost her wallet somewhere at the luge! D'oh!

See link: https://hellpizza.co.nz/