G
Guest
Guest
I am so stoked to be able to have this first time ever in snow opportunity at this ripe old age -
Wind HOWLING and it is dark...5.30pm.
The day dawned snowing but actually not too cold. I had a 1 1/2 hour lesson booked for one. I had to drive there in completely snow covered roads but although the snow was far thicker than yesterday when I found I could drive with no problem I just scraped, chopped, cleaned the snow off the car and drove off with no hesitation.
It is amazing how the snow fell so fast into the boot - making the carpet pretty well all white!!! - while I was putting my skiis in. Just never realized how much snow falls and how quickly it layers up.
HA! By the time I had negotiated the snowed in roads, not being able to make out edges, slithering here and there round corners and not being able to see the road as all signs of sludge have been covered in snow etc I was rather worried about the lesson. (This is the third lesson and I have done two other sessions on nursery slopes on my own and one time on a steep slope that I had to grab onto a stick thingy with a disc on the end and stick it between my legs...I learnt not to pull the thing out to early the first time when I slithered backwards and fell!!)
I went to the ski school and tried to back out of the deal but the instructor came and convinced me we would go because I am capable.
SO we went...on the chair lift...damn it was cold, snow blowing at an angle, wet and cold and we were so high off the ground even if it was quite beautiful I was still very NOT happy...what have I let myself in for...after trying to take in the fact that I have to be sure to STAND as we got out of the chair and scoot away I started getting a bit ..well, I don't panic but I had feelings of being close to panic stations........ and DONE there I was standing somewhere at the top of the mountain being told all about the different coloured sticks and directions and that I must RELAX into my boots and let's go!!!!
"Are we ready to go"? The instructor asked. 'Yes, of course, I am here and want to get down as quickly as possible, let's get going and stop fiddling around'.
"Not too quickly", he said, "Slowly, slowly is the key"
Visibility was almost non-existant (I think because I had my eyes closed) but slowly I eased up and found that yes, it is white all around...BEAUTIFUL, White, Not so windy.
As it was still snowing heavily we did have little visibility but there is the most incredible feeling of softness and gentleness up there and surprisingly the slope was mostly about 1/2 as steep as that slope I did 8 times on my own yesterday. The instructor said that, that hill is about the "red slope steep" and if I could do that on my own I will do this 'putt-problem'.
And then we were at another area where there were a number of lifts going to other slopes and a restaurant and more people. I started to really enjoy this all...truly, truly enjoy this. On down the slope through a forest of trees.......Indescribably beautiful.
And eeeeek I did not see the snow bank and ploughed right into it....this happened twice. Fortunately the banks were on the inside of the path.
I can't seem to see where the flat stuff ends and the banks of snow stuff begins. Bit like reading the wind on the water when sailing, I think. Experience will only help improve this so I am definitely up for more skiing.
My tensed up and painful leg muscles started to ease up...Damn they were hurting, I was so tense...and then we were passing right above the chalet and the nearby restaurant where some of our household were coming out from...so It is REAL, I can ski, although I am not confidant enough to go without an instructor yet so I have two more lessons booked for the next days...UP ON THE MOUNTAIN!!!!
Back home with a good glass or six of hydrating vino and glasses of water, and warm cassoulet made by my sister (I made the polenta cake to go with it) I feel "on top of the world". I even LOVE wearing winter woolies....
Wind HOWLING and it is dark...5.30pm.
The day dawned snowing but actually not too cold. I had a 1 1/2 hour lesson booked for one. I had to drive there in completely snow covered roads but although the snow was far thicker than yesterday when I found I could drive with no problem I just scraped, chopped, cleaned the snow off the car and drove off with no hesitation.
It is amazing how the snow fell so fast into the boot - making the carpet pretty well all white!!! - while I was putting my skiis in. Just never realized how much snow falls and how quickly it layers up.
HA! By the time I had negotiated the snowed in roads, not being able to make out edges, slithering here and there round corners and not being able to see the road as all signs of sludge have been covered in snow etc I was rather worried about the lesson. (This is the third lesson and I have done two other sessions on nursery slopes on my own and one time on a steep slope that I had to grab onto a stick thingy with a disc on the end and stick it between my legs...I learnt not to pull the thing out to early the first time when I slithered backwards and fell!!)
I went to the ski school and tried to back out of the deal but the instructor came and convinced me we would go because I am capable.
SO we went...on the chair lift...damn it was cold, snow blowing at an angle, wet and cold and we were so high off the ground even if it was quite beautiful I was still very NOT happy...what have I let myself in for...after trying to take in the fact that I have to be sure to STAND as we got out of the chair and scoot away I started getting a bit ..well, I don't panic but I had feelings of being close to panic stations........ and DONE there I was standing somewhere at the top of the mountain being told all about the different coloured sticks and directions and that I must RELAX into my boots and let's go!!!!
"Are we ready to go"? The instructor asked. 'Yes, of course, I am here and want to get down as quickly as possible, let's get going and stop fiddling around'.
"Not too quickly", he said, "Slowly, slowly is the key"
Visibility was almost non-existant (I think because I had my eyes closed) but slowly I eased up and found that yes, it is white all around...BEAUTIFUL, White, Not so windy.
As it was still snowing heavily we did have little visibility but there is the most incredible feeling of softness and gentleness up there and surprisingly the slope was mostly about 1/2 as steep as that slope I did 8 times on my own yesterday. The instructor said that, that hill is about the "red slope steep" and if I could do that on my own I will do this 'putt-problem'.
And then we were at another area where there were a number of lifts going to other slopes and a restaurant and more people. I started to really enjoy this all...truly, truly enjoy this. On down the slope through a forest of trees.......Indescribably beautiful.
And eeeeek I did not see the snow bank and ploughed right into it....this happened twice. Fortunately the banks were on the inside of the path.
I can't seem to see where the flat stuff ends and the banks of snow stuff begins. Bit like reading the wind on the water when sailing, I think. Experience will only help improve this so I am definitely up for more skiing.
My tensed up and painful leg muscles started to ease up...Damn they were hurting, I was so tense...and then we were passing right above the chalet and the nearby restaurant where some of our household were coming out from...so It is REAL, I can ski, although I am not confidant enough to go without an instructor yet so I have two more lessons booked for the next days...UP ON THE MOUNTAIN!!!!
Back home with a good glass or six of hydrating vino and glasses of water, and warm cassoulet made by my sister (I made the polenta cake to go with it) I feel "on top of the world". I even LOVE wearing winter woolies....
