This weekend I got to cross something else off my 30 for 30 list....skiing. I went skiing once, when I was like 11. It was a Girl Scout trip. There wasn't even a ski lift. So I don't even think it counts. My husband grew up in Maine and West Virginia. Therefore he is pretty much a skiing expert. I have been promising him for years that we would go on a ski trip at some point but I just never made it happen. But a couple weeks ago, I got a Groupon email for half off lift tickets to a place two and a half hours away. So we decided to go for it. My friend Jenni and her future husband Matt decided to tag along. This worked out well since Matt also already knows how to ski and Jenni like me, does not.
Once we got there, we rented out equipment and headed out to the flat-ish area to test out our skis. I ended up like this pretty fast...
So the boys decided it would probably be best if we went ahead and signed up for that first time skier lesson we had been debating taking (I also think it was a ruse for them to get away from us and ski on real slopes for awhile). During this time we learned something about making our feet in to the shape of a pizza slice. We also learned how to get up when you fall courtesy of Jenni who fell while standing completely still in line during our ski drills.
Finally we decided to go ahead and take the plunge and get on the ski lift. I was really scared of the ski lifts. I was pretty sure I wouldn't be ready to get on to it and that I would then fall right off. That did not happen. I made it to the top. Now I was ready to conquer the mountain. The first time I went down I fell three times. After that I kind of got the hang of it (turning, the pizza slice, etc). However, I never made it down the mountain without falling at least once. I would be doing great, then all the sudden I would accidentally gain speed, see people way in front of me, freak out and think that I'd hit them, and then slam into the snow. Good times.
Overall I enjoyed my ski experience and would like to try it again. I'm pretty sore today though (and having a bit of trouble using my calf muscles).
So, that was my ski trip.
Do you ski?
Is snowboarding harder or easier? (it looks pretty scary to me)
11 comments:
I thought you did a really good job skiing. I would say you made it down the mountain since on a couple runs you fell at the bottom, not during. Also, you did two 360's without falling, which was pretty intense. yes, they were unplanned, but still cool. Also, I wish people could have seen the look on your face when you were going down the mountain. It was a look of sheer joy until you picked up to much speed, then it quickly turned into horror and fear as you realized you needed to stop, but forgot how to.
...followed by you stopping the only way you knew how...by falling on your butt.
My sister says snowboarding is surprisingly easier than skiing although I cannot confirm that. I also went skiing with you at age 11 in Girl Scouts- I remember it being a disaster. Skiing is scary.
I am fully aware of my ability to hurt myself standing still on flat ground, so no skiing for me. I'll stick to sledding. At least that way, my butt basically one the ground already :)
I lived in a ski town for a year, and never hit the mountain once. It kind of terrifies me - so HURRAY that you did it!
People who snowboard, swear by it - but I would try it before you get too used to skiing, apparently its harder to go from one to the other.
Skiing was fun. Well it was fun until that last run I took. There were just too many people that I was sure I was going to plow into. Sometimes making yourself fall is the only way to go.
I am also pretty sure the ski lesson was more utilized as our babysitter so the guys could go on the more advanced slopes.
Don't you dare say the G.S. trip was not a real ski trip. I remember that as the absolute coldest I have ever been in my entire long life. The wind blew right through my very bones. It was real. (Must admit I did not get on skis,however, as I felt it was my job to stay in the lodge to receive any of my girls who might have an accident).
I tried skiing once and thought my legs were going to be ripped from my body. I stick with snowboarding now. Glad to see you had fun!
Congrats! Way to conquor your 30 in 30 list! I wish I could have been there for your 360's and stopping adventures. I think snowboarding is easier to get a knack of ... although you fall a whole whole lot more. Perhaps you can try boarding next year :)
Good for you...getting out there like that. Skiing scares the bejesus out of me. Way too little control. But I'm very proud of you and Jenni for strapping on the skis and hitting the mountain.
Nice job!!!
I used to ski all the time, but as I have gotten older, I have gotten more afraid of injuring myself. Which usually happens when I ski.
I have never snowboarded. I figure I have enough trouble handling my feet when they aren't attached to the same board
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