You An' Me Just Sittin' In Tha Dark...

One of the things I love about Whistler is the caliber of talent that is here, both on and off the mountain. Even better is the fact that those of us not so talented enough to be featured in, say, the Pro Photographer Showdown, love to gather and appreciate those who are.

Going to the Pro Photographer Showdown at TWSSF is a who's who in mountain culture. As I walked through the sliding doors to the Conference Centre, I immediately recognized most people in the room, something that was pleasantly maintained throughout the evening. Then we all settled in to our seats, the lights went down, and.... we all looked at pictures. But not just any pictures. Photos of our lives, our friends, the mountain, and riders doing what we only wish we could do - in places we only wish we had been. We saw photos from around the world, photos that inspired us, photos that made us laugh and made us gasp.

To be in a room with some of the coolest people in Whistler, sitting in the dark, admiring the talent and beauty out there in the world is an amazing thing. My favourite was Steve Lloyd, whose flawless presentation left me wanting more, as each photo was seemingly better than the last. Bryn Hughes took home the Peoples Choice award, by having the most balls. No really, he had the most balls! (that's how they voted, by collecting ping pong balls) And once again, Blake Jorgenson took home Best In Show, his compilation of images from Kashmir and around the world, and his stunning use of light ensured his victory.

After the show, I threw on my bunny ears and hit the annual Night At The Mansion Party at Garfinkel's, because my TELUS adventure is never complete without a visit to Hef and the Bunnies. Three days left and counting...