Learning to Ski

I'm 29 and have gone for the very first time to learn how to snow ski.  One of my biggest fears before going, besides ending up on my back with a bone breaking through the skin in my leg, was that I'd get sick of seeing little 6 year olds zipping past me in their little pink boots, and get frustrated.  Everyone knows what I'm talking about, right?  Like when you're at the skating rink and little pre-pubescent brats whoosh past, doing spins or jumps or other things that make the dark part of you want to stick a foot out and trip them?  That's not just me, is it?

 

Anyway, I was so excited the morning we left to the indoor ski place.  I'd packed or worn almost every warm thing I owned (to my later regret) and we took the train.  Xinye and I got into the building and lined up for our equipment, which included a snow suit, a helmet, boots and skis.  Where were our sticks??  Well, apparently they're not for anything but balance and we weren't going to be going fast enough on the little kiddie slope to need them.


Sorry this is blurry, but it's totally me!!

Ok, that's not me.  But anyway, I did the best in my class (which were all adults, thank goodness) because skiing turns out to be so similar to roller blading and I was able to recall my time playing hockey well enough to look like I was amazing.  Semi-amazing.  Not bad.  Adequate.  You get the idea.  Turns out skiing is kind of tough on the knees because you have to turn your feet inward to control your speed, but you're also supposed to lean forward at the same time.

I never did get to try going down the big grown-up hill because we ran out of time (that's my story and I'm sticking to it), but the instructor said that next time I come back, I would probably be ready to try the big girl hill.  Woohoo!  

Oh yes, and it took so much energy that I was sweating in all my layers, bra, long-john shirt, shirt, sweater, coat and finally, snow-suit within 10 minutes of starting and had to take half of it off during the lunch break, which got me really cold since everything I still had on was wet.  And the duffle back was twice as heavy as it needed to be as we travelled to and from the train stations.  But, aw well.  You live, you learn!  And I'd do it again in a heart beat.  I'm interested in trying an outdoor slope next!