Born to ski – Josh Benjamin Brown – 3rd May 2009
Josh Benjamin Brown - 3rd May 2009, Innsbruck, Austria - skier
As a child in maybe 1977 I remember the life changing experience of clipping into plate bindings and pointing skis down the dry slope at Rossendale dry ski slope – I can say without bravado that things have never quite been the same since – the smell of Toko wax still sends me wild with excitement just at it did 30 years ago. A couple of years after my time on Rossendale and down in Gloucester I bought a pair of ski poles so I could practice the racing tuck position in my bedroom. Near death experiences followed with the sub-zero temperatures and rock strewn pistes across the Scottish highlands. Then came Ellmau – February sunshine, skiing through farm yards and exposure to a ski culture that left me mesmerised and has captivated me ever since.
Some 20 years ago all that mattered to me was the next swell and the hope that our Cornish beach party had finished in time to get straight enough to paddle my surf board into glassy dawn waves. Some more years out of the mountains followed in Australia and New Zealand, which were also dominated by water sports, mainly canoeing and diving. Then followed a year in Whistler-Blackcomb and Vancouver – the over-riding emotion from British Columbia, Canada was never again; never can I go so long again without snow underfoot. 9 Innsbruck winters later and I have stayed true to this commitment. Work has absolutely dominated the last couple of years, sadly at times very much at the expense of other quality of life pursuits. And now the biggest, best, most life changing experience of them all – Josh Benjamin Brown, born 3rd May 2009, Innsbruck, Austria. He is healthy, wonderful and he is a skier. Until the time he can say no to its dad, he is a skier, Josh Benjamin Brown was born to ski; I just live in hope that I never hear the word snowboard coming from my new hero:)
Congratulations to you two, and yes, looks like a skier to me!
Thanks Phil, if he is a cross between his folks then he will ski powder until he sees the first mountain hut and then get the deck chair out at the first opportunity.
congratulations to this life changing experience. i can imagine how wonderful you all feel at the moment. (hopefully josh feels comfortable with the big scratched goggles on his head. its about time to buy some winnie the pooh goggles.)
you are so worried that he might become a snowboarder at some point. you know what – i would even be more worried that he might become a monoskier.
i am also quite impressed how much hair josh has. lucky him that he was not born with a semmel.
I guess in the worst case scenario Josh might break my heart by getting on a snowboard, see the damage he has done and then find a ‘middle way’ and show up on a monoski. To be honest either situation would be hugely preferable than the day your son arrives at the lifts with those hinged race boots, a race snowboard under the arm and a shoulder padded, ass hugging yellow Spyder suit. Race / slalom / fixed binding (whatever it is called snowboarding) is the least desired outcome for Josh – those things can’t even go off-piste!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to you both on a job well done, I’ll call you in a couple of days, once things start to settle down (2012), give michelle our love & we’ll catch up soon. John & Terri
Congratulations Matt and Michelle, love the picture, although would be nice to see his face! Lots of love, Cathy and Dan x
Congratulations to both of you!! 10 more days in his mum’s belly made him look like a strong, healthy Tyrolean skier
All the best and hope to see you very soon! Love, Birgit and Luc (who will prove that he’s a gardener as well)
He has certainly got skiers legs, they are thrashing around everywhere when I change him. There is currently big debate as to what age Josh can get on skis. I genuinely think that if he can stand he can ski, so next spring is the target
One thing looking at the picture again Cathy is that the goggles do seem to drown out Josh. When I bought them I told the shop owner that the recipient was ‘null jahr’ but it seems that they did not stock eye wear for 2 day old skiers????
congrats!! all the best to michelle and you.
and hey – he WILL hear the word snowboard
… sooner or later.
greetz from zurich, wolfi
Thanks wolfi, but please don’t introduce Josh to those snowboard race carving boards, that might be too much to accept!
Hi Matthew/ Michelle/& JOSH!
Congratulations!!! Anyway, keeping it brief, two questions of great importance:
1) Will the Men’s Downhill Champion 2029 be know as the first Anglo-Austrian Champion, or the first Austro-Briton to claim the title?
2)Have you established ‘Wo ist der 24-hour-shop in der Nahe?’
Wipes, Calpol, Soothers,(sterilised of course) Powder, – oh dear,… powder takes on a whole new meaning. All change,.. but for the better. Enjoy! Finbar, Vera, Oisin and Meabh
More photos Matt, if you have to make it a skiing photo, put one of your ski boots next to Josh.
Hey Finbar, I hope all is well. Answers are as follows:
1 – 2009 to 2029 is a period of 20 years, assuming Josh develops as hoped then I would hope to shave 3 or 4 years off your date.
2 – I am surrounded by alien products, it is just finding what to do with them – if only raising a 12 day baby was as easy as skiing
John, I am puzzled to say the least. We run a popular ‘look back at 2008/09′ with a series of images and you liken it to a re-run of MASH 4077. And now that you have seen every video ever uploaded to youtube you are wanting more images to help pass your day????????
Matt, that is exactly what i need. I thought if you used a few props you could let us all see the future of Anglo/Austrian skiing.
Matt , WAKE UP ! there hasn’t been an updated photo on the blog for 2 weeks, is the website or the man broken??
No problem at all, I will stop feeding Josh and cleaning his home to ensure you don’t have to sleep afternoon at your desk, give me a minute