February 10, 2013 
Ok, so skiing was actually really fun this year! I think in looking back at last year I was so sick, I just didn’t have the energy it required to give it a fair shake. I was nervous going this year because I remembered not really having a great time last year. But once I was out on the bunny slope, it all came back really quickly and I was easily better than I ever was last year within the first hour.
Last year I had a lot of frustration from not picking it up quickly. I don’t mean to be immodest, but I’ve been pretty active all my life and most physical activities have come easily to me. With how quickly I got back to it this year and immediately exceeded where I was last year, further makes me think that I was just really weak from being sick last year; if I hadn’t been sick, I would have been able to pick it up much more quickly. (It didn’t hurt that this year there was actual snow as opposed to mostly ice last year).
After an hour getting reacquainted with skiing on the bunny slope, I headed out to the greens and skied those for the remainder of the day and the next. I took two ski lessons last year and I kept trying to apply what I remembered my instructor telling me to do. Like all things, it just takes time to “feel it” (you can tell me all day to stand up straight and lean forward but when I’m sliding down a mountain, what I WANT to do is squat down and lean back, AWAY from the big scary mountain in front of me).
I managed to only fall down once and that was on the first run of the second day. (Well, 3 times if you count the 2 times falling off the chair lift, which, honestly, is incredibly embarrassing). By the second half of the second day, I could finally even keep my skis together and parallel a good bit for most of the way down, with only minimal “snowplowing” at the steeper points. I’m not saying my stance was nice and tight or anything, but I kinda looked like I knew what I was doing.
Still didn’t get a picture again this year (Who wants to carry around a camera or phone while skiing?) but the photo above is of the bunny slope. I didn’t want to mess with my new GoPro that I got for Christmas as I thought I had enough to worry with in just re-learning how to ski but I saw a lot of people with them so I definitely will use it next year. That’ll be some fun video!
So officially now I can really say I can ski! And, even better, that I actually enjoy it. Can’t wait for next year!
This is something I still want to do , but I am nervous about the chair lift! Now I’m a bit more nervous because you fell off of it twice. I just have this bad image in my head stalling everyone because I fell.
Also, I am headed to the Raleigh area in July for a wedding (not looking forward to the weather)….are you nearby? If you are free we should meet for coffee, or a meal!
Ok, well…falling off the chair lift can be embarrassing but then, everyone falls getting off. Even the experienced skiers I was with fell off once or twice.
And yay! We should totally get together while you’re in town! That would be awesome! I’ll be sure to find a nice air conditioned place for you!