Why people call me TT.

It was wonderful Christmas Day. Santa had brought me the brand new X-Box 360 with Lego Batman. My parents told me I could get X-Box Live so I could game with friends online. I was full of joy and couldn't wait to sign up for live. But when I finally bought it there was a problem, I needed a user name. Thus TTE100 was created. The "TTE" is my initials (Tristan Thomas Evans) and the 100 was a cool number that represents perfection like myself.

Many years had gone by and nobody had ever mentioned my username until a late night gaming MW3. It was Mercey09 (Ben Mercey) and I on a late weeknight. All of a sudden RickRossUgh (Matt Voneuw) joined the party. The first thing he yells into the mic was TT, the first time I had ever been called tt. It was unusual at the time but I had no clue that one day everybody would call me that.

After countless hours of MW3 with Ben and Matt, Ben grew to love the nickname tt. In grade 9 gym class its all he ever called me. The class caught on quick and by the end of the year I barely heard my real name. Throughout the year at the caf table with all the boys more and more people caught on.

By grade 10 I was TT. It was rare if I heard a guy call me Tristan. I didn't mind though. Then the pro nick name creator Ethan Scott came into the picture. I was getting names like Teet, TT Hunneds, Huns, Guns and even West Side Guns. It was wild, everywhere I went I was being called so many names. It had become who I am.

Im in grade 11 now and TTE100 has become part of who I am. Sometimes I forget what my real name is. My parents still struggle to grasp the concept of TT. These days all my friends have a nickname for me. Even girls are catching on. I am Tristan Evans and I am TT.

Hockley Valley Changed My Life

Hockley Valley ski resort is a local ski hill just outside of Orangeville. The ski hill has taught me many lessons and memories I will never forget. It has shaped the man I am today.

To begin, Hockley Valley was the ski hill that I learnt to ski. During my wild years in grade 4 my parents introduced me to the greatest sport ever. It was exhilarating, my heart was racing as I grabbed that handle tow. My mom, the not so great teacher she let me bomb straight down the hill into the mats. Ever since that rush of adrenaline I knew I would ski for the rest of my life.

In grade 7 I bought a night pass to Hockley Valley. It was the first time I had ever skied by myself. It was crazy, so many possibilities running through my head. I skied nosedive and hit the biggest jump. Hockley Valley that year was were my love for park grew.

Now its the grade 9 glory days. Another season is around the corner and to much surprise the year of 1997 raised a group of phenomenal skiers. It was so much fun, Narnia was like nothing I had skied before. So many shenanigans. Playing chicken on the chair and hitting on the lifties. I went to my first gaper day and had the time of my life. Every night all the guys would meet up and go shred the slopes, that's when the Chronic Crew was created. We would do insane park lines. Hitting rails only the best can do. My first edit was made... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt-PxCJNYaI

Its grade 10 and to much surprise I was hired at Hockley Valley to be a lifty, the people I harassed so much the years before. This was my first job ever. I couldn't be happier because Hockleys prices were through the roof and I got a pass for free. I quickly realised my days of skiing Narnia and running from ski patrol had come to a end... or so I thought. Another great season had started. Danger Dave was still sending jumps and the rivalry of Ethan and Andj had begun. On a quiet Friday Night man hunt on snow was created. I was always putting my job on the line. Old Vic a fellow lifty almost noticed my real identity as a employee.

I'm now sitting in the library writing this blog in Mrs. Le's grade 11 English class. I'm looking back on so many good times and how grateful I am for my job. I'm still working as a lifty and riding as much as possible. Hockley Valley has made me the man I am today.

Mystery Skype

       During the Mystery Skype I learnt that their education system is very good. They are given opportunities that most high school students off reserves are given. As well the living conditions on this particular reserve are quite well. They feel like they belong and avoid being judged. They like the laws better on the reserves.  They participate in the same sports and activities that we do except bingo is very popular for them. 

      They were very friendly and easy to talk to. We shared a lot of the same interests. I was able to get a better perspective of the lives of a teenage First Nations.

      The questions could have been improved and better organized. I think more time spent on this would have made the Mystery Skype more informational. The teachers should not have there Skype names on screen because students can use that information to easily find where they are from.

ISU Blog Post #1

         The novel I chose for my ISU is Medicine River written by Thomas King. The novel is set in Western Canada on a Native reserve and follows the life of a middle aged man named Will.

        Thomas King, who was born in 1943, is a noted novelist and broadcaster who often writes about North American First Nations. He is an advocate of First Nations causes. He is of Greek and Cherokee descent. King moved to Canada in the 1980's and taught Native Studies at the University of Lethbridge. He also served as faculty of the University of Minnesota American Indian Studies Department.

The novel gives knowledge of the conditions and lifestyle of those on a Native Reserve.

Blue Mountain Haole Trail Review

A large improvement to Blue Mountains 2013 bike trails was the full rebuild of Haole, turning it into a features run. All features have been built for people of any skill level can ride it. The trail was re routed and shaped. The builders added many new wooden features including a large drop at the beginning of the trail. It flows into a short jump section. Afterwards you will find a line of new wooden features. A great addition was the wall ride built to help maneuver around a fast sharp corner easier. Next you will find one of the only sections not changed, the red wooden drop. I believe the new top section of Haole was an amazing improvement to the trail. The bottom half was poorly built. It consists of switchbacks across the ski runs. Along the switchbacks they had built dirt jumps. All of the dirt jumps are too large and nearly impossible to clear. To maintain your speed for the jumps you will have to pedal across every switchback. This being the bottom half of the run you are already tired and pedalling this much can become very difficult and even annoying. Finally you will meet up with the “Collector” and follow it to the chairlift. A small downfall is to ride this run you will need to pass a simple features test and get a special pass to ride Haole.

Overall the new Haole is a great improvement to Blue Mountains Downhill Biking trails. For those who love fast and flowing trails its great for you. The wooden features are all very well built and make the trail much better for those who like jumping. My only complaint is the bottom section of switchbacks but if your legs are feeling fresh you should be able to maintain a fast enough speed to clear all jumps. Haole has now become one of the most popular runs due to the successful rebuild. I strongly recommend you ride this run.

2013 video of Haole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qugI0sYQnM