Since I know that you are all dying to know, here is how the broomball team fared this week. We went 1-1, with the loss coming in an overtime shootout. Game 1, the eventual loss, was a well played game as we managed to score three goals, including one by me off a beautiful pass by Larry. Unfortunately, they also managed to score three goals which sent the game into a 3 on 3 most goals wins overtime. Neither team scored. It went to a shootout and they got the best of us. It was a really fun game. Our passing is getting better and better each game. It was a loss but it was a hard fought loss.

On Wednesday night, we played our second game of the week. We started off the game by scoring less than 15 seconds into the game. It seemed like we dominated the ball and had many, many shots on goal but nothing would go in after that. Their goalie was playing in a somewhat unorthodox way as he stayed on his knees the entire game and essentially blocked the bottom half of the goal. This forced us to try to loft the ball into a corner but we couldn't buy a goal. Eventually, the other team, Lodging, tied the game up at 1 with a nasty blast from the left side. I'd swear guy was nearly behind the goal when he shot but it went in. So, the score was tied at 1 with about 5 minutes left. Then we finally scored again with about 3 minutes left. The goal was a product of great passing. We managed to kill the clock and escape with the victory in a game that I feel we dominated but the score certainly does not show it.

That was the end of the regular season and we finished at 2-2. Or possibly 3-2 if you count our forfeit win. At any rate, I think the 2-2 will get us into the playoffs. Boy, that would be fun, especially since I can see definite improvement in our team.

Stay tuned for Playoff Action...at least I hope so.

Image courtesy of Broomball.com

So Kyle calls me about 1pm and says "Can you play broomball tonight?" An unscheduled game. We had just played on Mon. night and now they wanted to know if we could play on Tues. night. Of course I can play broomball. There's always time for broomball!!

Broomball is a massively fun game played on a hockey-sized ice rink. Essentially it is hockey but without the skates. Players run around in regular shoes with plastic boat oar shaped paddles chasing after a small rubber ball (about the size of a little kids soccer ball). The intent is to score goals, into hockey nets. It is a crazy fun game, especially since we are now using a little soccer ball instead of a rubber ball. The soccer ball really can scream.

Keystone Transportation has a team this season and that's the team I'm playing on. The season consists of about 5-6 games and then a playoff. We are about half way through the season. The last game was particularly intense and fun, especially since the good guys ended up with the W. A quick rundown...

We play (2) 20 minute halves and trust me, if you're not tired after that, you're obviously not playing hard enough.

Transportation vs. Accounting*(see below for more info on our opponent)
1st half action...

12' - John Liske (Good guy) scores on a 1 on 1 breakaway. The response of the opposing goalie (to his teammates) "Get with the F'in program!"
8' - Larry Strazz (Transp.) plays no role as one opposing player undercuts his own teammate. Nevertheless, Larry takes retaliatory hard elbow to the back. Tempers flare.
6' - Jason Connolly (Transportation) undercuts opposing player. 2 minute penalty. (Penalty successfully killed)

Halftime score: Transportation 1, Accounting 0

2nd half action...

18' - Accounting scores a contested goal. A rocket shot right past my leg.
12' - Accounting scores again. Not good, the game is slipping away.
10' - Larry Strazz scores on a dart from 12' on the right side. Excellent teamwork.

End of game: Tied at 2.

We go to Ooooovertime. Overtime is 5 minutes of 3 on 3, no goalie. Most goals wins.
3' - Jason Connolly scores!!
Keystone Transportation frantically holds off the Accountants for the remaining 3 minutes!! Good guys win!!!

A very exciting win from an intense game. It's only broomball but it is SO much fun.
Solid contributions across the board from...Misty, Vinisha, Ruth, Ben, Me and Kyle was excellent in the goal!!

*Our opponent was accounting, more specifically auditing. Of course it was accounting. It seems as if we always play accounting. Here's a typical exchange...
Me: Where do you guys work?
Opposing player: We work in accounting, auditing.
Me: I thought we played auditing last week.
Opposing player: Oh, you probably played our external auditing team. We're internal audit.
OR
Me: I thought we played Accounting accounts receivable last week.
Random opposer: Oh, you probably played accounts payable last week. We're accounts receivable.

You'd think a resort the size of Keystone would have teams from all over (Restaurants, Lodging, Ski School, Lift Maintenance, etc.) But oh know, they're all freakin' accountants. Except us. We are Transportation, Keystone Transportation.

Last Saturday, I was put to the test by my friends, Ryan and Patrick, as we traveled to Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado for the 2008 Talons Challenge. The Talons Challenge is a free event hosted by the resort where they challenge skiers and riders (snowboarders) to do 13 black or double black diamond runs. The event is not timed or anything but rather a physical test. Finishers can say they skiied down 23,000 vertical feet. Pretty neat, especially for a kid from Iowa.

We registered and got onto the mountain by about 8:45am and let me tell ya, that first chair ride was pretty cold. Always is, at least in January. Most of the designated runs were located on the back side of the mountain, so we skiied down to the lifts in that area. The first five runs were not too bad, although I'd say 80% of the required runs were moguled. By about run number 6, we were starting to wonder if we could complete the runs before 4pm because the lift lines were getting long.

But, we kept at it and went to an area of the mountain where there seemed to be fewer people and knocked out those runs. We got down to run number 11 and it was brutal. Probably the toughest run of the day, at least for me. By runs number 12 and 13 I was getting sloppy with my riding and I went into survival mode.

In the end, we did it!! I was definitely feeling it by the last run and I was also definitely feeling it on Sunday morning/afternoon. I'm pretty sure that 5+ hours of riding was the hardest that I've ever snowboarded. We didn't really stop at all for 5+ hours. And some of those runs were very steep and lots of moguls.

2008 Talons Challenge Finishers - Patrick, Ryan and Ryan. (I didn't get the memo about the green jacket thing.)

The Chesnut boys, Ryan and Pat, did very well and I can tell that they are native Coloradans. They can rock the bumps. I think that snowboarding over moguls is pretty tough but I was able to hang in there.

Finishers got a Talons Challenge hat, a Talons Challenge pin and also a free beer and brat. Totally worth it and the beer tasted extra good after a tough day on the hill. Good times in the mountains my friends!!

I will have more to say about the long-haired life. Much more. Analysis, reaction, observations. Anything to keep you coming back.

The result of 18 months of nurturing. Gone with four quick snaps of the scissors.

You know what that means kiddies!! A new look for your beloved blogger.

Locks of Love

The above is merely a tease. Stay tuned for the "after" shot. Just trying to boost site traffic here.