Skiing

I think of skiing as a regional sport/activity. I doubt I would do it if I hadn't grown up in Colorado. And while I do sincerely enjoy it, I also consider it one of the many things I do as a past time that mostly involves complaining.....



For example, the snow conditions are always grounds for complaining. There is too much snow, not enough snow, it's way too cold, it's a bit too warm, crusty snow with ice underneath, mashed potato like snow, blown snow, crunchy snow, icy snow, really just about anything you can think of to describe snow. It seems there is rarely a day that has perfect snow-yet we all crave it because every once in a while-there is one. There is a day when the sun shines just perfectly after just a dusting of powder on top of soft white crests. A day when you are king of the mountain. It actually makes you a better skier. Let's face it, most days when it comes to me and the mountain, I would bet on the mountain-but once in a great while-you are the champion. You hit every turn, read every line-you actually hear the sound of your skis. You just own it. Very rare (at least for me), but keeps you coming back





We also complain about having to haul all the heavy equipment long distances because there is never good parking. Who gets good parking anyway? That is a mystery to me-and it's a whole other blog so I am not even going to go into here. I get serious anxiety when I think about bringing my 4 and 7 year olds up with me. I have visions of them getting all dressed and having to pee. Then I have to carry all their stuff. Then I think they will whine incessantly about how cold it is (well, I hate to point out the obvious-but it is snow) And it is insanely expensive. But still, it is a Colorado family tradition-parents have been torturing children this way for generations and who am I to break the mold?




I used to ski as much as possible on my weekends. Then I had children. Now I feel like a rock star if I go 4 times a year. I used to love having the best of gear, and always felt like a kid in a candy store at the ski shops. Now, I am just happy the clothes I have still fit, and the equipment is functional. I cannot imagine that I ever cared about looking good while skiing, but if I did, that was very long time ago.





There are some truths about skiing I have learned to appreciate:

There is no better feeling in the entire world than at the end of the day, when you finally take your boots off.

Lift line etiquette is a must

A bad day skiing is still a better than a good day at work, which is why I maintain a strict policy of skiing on the weekdays

Advil is the elixir of life

If you go down a run that no one is on (and it's a crowded day)-THERE IS A REASON-get off this run!

You are more likely to bust your a$$ and make a fool of yourself on very easy runs with the most amount of people watching.

Two minutes is a very long time when the lift stops and you are on it

It is much easier to go to the bathroom before you get all your gear on.

Short people have a huge advantage

It's the only time in my life I wish I had facial hair

Only a few things are really worth the money-your boots, your goggles and your boots

Polling totally sucks

Skiing is not fun with people who are far better or far worse at it than you are at it

It is not something I recommend taking up as an adult-especially if all your adult friends already know how (see previous)

It used to annoy me when young children would sail past me on runs-now it kind of annoys me when old people do-I am not sure why

Skinnier is not better

Good equipment does not make bad skiers better, it makes good skiers better

Skiing with an Ipod is a imperative....and so is a helmet