Don’t hit the tree, don’t hit the tree, dodge the sitting snowboarder… Okay, pizza pizza pizza – made it! (*throw hands and ski poles in the air in triumph)! This is what went down when we took to the ski slopes in Blue Mountain, Ontario for the very first time with the sole purpose of learning to ski.
On a beautiful snowy morning in Blue Mountain, we clumsily trudged in our snow boots into the newbie holding pen, confidently dressed from head to toe in rental gear and proceed to start peeling, foldings and attaching our ski lift passes to our coats when an instructor strolls by informing us we are doing it all wrong. And in all likelihood will lose them within minutes of it flapping in the icy winds #EpicFail. Us newbies can clearly not be left unsupervised for even a minute.
Eventually with our replacement ski passes attached, standing firmly on flat ground we were ready to start our ski lesson. Beginning with the basics; of how to get skis on and holding the poles. We nailed it and were promptly graduated to the second phase which involved slipping down a short tiny incline whilst pulling our toes together to make a pizza slice with the ski’s, bringing one to a slow halt.
Once again with little trouble, we moved onto class three where we boarded a magic carpet (essentially a conveyor belt) hoisting us to the top of a tiny incline. So we can learn to curve side to side, elegantly slipping down the slope forming a continuous S shapes whilst perfecting the all-important pizza slice move.
Like an arrow, I whizzed straight down that hill leaving dear husband and all other beginners in my wake. I told our very patient instructor I think I was a natural-born speed ski Olympian, whilst the instructor replied I was simply an out of control woman!
After multiple runs on the nursery hill, many falls and a few collisions with a snow-capped pine tree, we graduated and could take on a green run, an official beginner slope. Dear husband seemed to be a born natural and I was holding the team back, but he kindly stayed by my side till I felt confident to take on the real slopes. The real slopes… complete with a real ski lift!
With a plethora of majestic falls, some splendid speed wobbles and a few death-defying runs under my belt. I survived! And am thankful for my well-padded bum.
After almost a full day on the slopes, many triumphs and even more mishaps mastered I disembarked from the ski lift and promptly slid straight into a sitting snowboarder. From that moment on I lost my nerve, looked down from the tip of what was now a mammoth feeling mountain and thought I can’t see myself safely arriving at the bottom! Leave me at the top, frozen awkwardly squatting over my skis, not daring to twitch in case I slipped and snowballed down.
That tiny slope was my Everest. Looking up from the base it resembled a snow-covered Hershey’s Kiss in comparison to the ‘real‘ slopes that tower over it.
For a brief twitch free moment, standing atop my Everest the view was breathtaking. And it was knowing I would be rewarded with a beautiful view that pushed me to learn to ski, not the adrenaline kick.
Lessons I learnt from my First Time Skiing
- Ski boots weigh a ton
- You feel remarkably like an astronaut when suited up
- The ski lift is actually the scariest part
- Thank goodness I have a well-padded bum
- Did I mention ski boots weigh a ton
- Get a hotel room right below slopes (see points 1 and 5)
- Snowboarders spend 89% of the time on their bums and it becomes a game of dodgems
- Snowboarders and snow-capped pine trees act as great ski breaks
- I think I may just be more of a hot chocolate and snow tubing kind of girl
Looks fab and fun – I think another go at those slopes may be required. You need to master the art whilst you living in a country with so much snow.!!!
I am just thankful I survived with all limbs only slightly bruised