I Took care of 3 grandsons, thurs thru mon, while their parents were both out of town.  On sat. we skied at Kirkwood.  They don't ski with me, I need too many midslope rests.  The rule is that the 3 boys, 17, 14, 11 have to stay together.  They headed for the cornices and cliffs.  The mtn. Had 14" of new powder and I was enjoying untracked powder in an unloved part of the mtn, when the phone began ringing insistently.  Friends and family know that I don't (can't) answer when skiing.  Can't stop and get it from a pocket in time, can't read the screen in the ambient light, it doesn't respond to a gloved finger, etc.  Thinking it was an emergency i stopped in shade, took off goggles, took out glasses and called voice mail.  The youngest had broken a binding, had to download, and they wouldn't let his 17 yr old brother rent for him, you have to be 18 to sign responsibility for the return.  

I met them at the repair shop.  The binding wasnt just broken, the heelpiece was exploded.  We showed it to the repair guy and told him it belonged to this 11 yr old 4' 6" 80 lb kid.  He looked, then turned it over and looked at the base.  "Holy sh#t, look at this".  Two guys came out of the back room and looked at the bases which were more core shots than they were Ptex.  "Where have you been skiing little guy."   'Well I was on the Mad River Freeski Team starting when I was 4.'  There was silence, then one guy raised his hand to give Daniel a high 5.  DUDE!  When I got back to the powder it was tracked out, but I don't care.  The moment was priceless.  

I bet you are still grinning!!

The Colonel

DUDE !

Great story to start my day, Denis.  Thanks for posting.

Woody