I've always thought snowboarding looked super cool and when I asked to try it I was promptly told no, but you can try to ski. Some would call me accident prone because I bump into most anything often and it hurts. But I have done a lot of yoga so my balance is not terrible. I do admit having both feet not attached to the same board is a benefit to me.
Last March my husband and I went to Shanty Creek for the weekend and I had my first skiing episode. I borrowed skis that were meant for a 12 year old (didn't know that at the time) and so I had a rough go at first. I couldn't get the damn ski boots on so Justin had to basically muscle them onto my feet and buckle them for me. It hurt so bad I threatened to give up right then. And then, have you ever tried to walk in ski boots? Let alone ski boots that don't fit? I felt like a drunk dinosaur.
Justin tried to teach me the pizza and the French fry but it was difficult because he is an excellent snowboarder and hadn't been on skis in a long while. I was able to get myself onto the magic carpet with the 3 and 7 year olds and didn't fall going to the top of the bunny hill. Down I went and I tried to pizza but it wasn't slowing me down and so I fell to stop myself from flying straight off the bunny hill into the lodge. I went back to the car, cried it out, decided to get myself some liquid courage and told Justin to go "shred" (just learned that) and find me later.
Best advice ever - I got a private lesson by an awesome lady who I had to put my fear aside because I can't be a baby in front of her, only in front of my husband - he's very used to it. I learned a ton and even got on ski lifts! By the end of my lesson I was cruising down a regular hill gooney-style because my poles were also for a 12 year old. My instructor nicely told me, "oh those just get in the way, let's both leave our poles here." I thought I was just that good that I didn't need poles. Not.
Fast forward to this year. I bought my very own skis! and all of the other expensive equipment that I discovered I needed after studying my friend Alina's ski prep. Now I am determined to get better at skiing than I am at drinking in the ski lodge to justify my "investment." It was actually pretty cold this ski trip to Alpine Valley so I bundled up. I felt like Jake from Little Giants wrapped in foam padding, waddling out to play with the team, blowing bubbles out of his nose. Still learning how to walk naturally in ski boots and wearing goggles and my coat zipped up to my nose I had to leave my pigtail shooting straight out the front just so someone could tell what gender I might be. Hi guys, I'm ready to ski!
The ski lift only hit me in the ass twice getting off until I realized I needed to stand up a second or two later than I was doing. I still am not looking down when I'm up that high. I enjoy practicing my form in my skis in my living room. I love the ski outfits just as much if not more than the sport itself (typical). Going too fast terrifies me and pizza is a great thigh workout. I only have 4 bruises from my second ski trip and none of them are from falling! I was 3 feet away from being creamed by a tiny Asian girl on skis going down the hill. Beware of small children - they have no fear, no direction, and no speed control.
I've been asked if I have even an ounce of athletic ability and I've replied maybe an ounce. I've come a long way since my MSU snow bunny days and am proud to finally say I can ski, kind of.
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