TheBanyanTree: Skiing 101

[Sachet]

Last week I learned that sitting down when going 100mph (slight 
exaggeration, true, but that's what it FELT like at the time) out of 
control would probably be preferable to slamming into a rock and then a 
big tree. I also learned that on that particular "bunny" slope it's best 
for me to stay away from the side with the rocks and trees because, 
after my spectacular fall, that side tends to freak me out a bit, which 
is a total distraction. It turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.

Therefore, this week, when I explained my theory to my ski instructor, 
she agreed that we should stick to the other side. As it turns out, I 
did much better and my confidence level soared. Only one fall and it was 
a gentle controlled one. Her teaching style and my learning style meshed 
perfectly today. She provided lots of analogies, trying various ones 
until one clicked for me. Plus, in-depth explanations of what I was 
doing right or wrong, with a wonderful abundance of praise and 
encouragement. Most importantly, she intuitively knew when I was 
over-focusing (aka OCD'ing) and would make me take a deep breath, slow 
down and remember to let my skis flow. As a result, it was a much more 
relaxed and enjoyable experience.

UNTIL I got confused after my lesson, decided to try the next level up 
from the "bunny" slope and mistakenly got on the ski lift for what 
turned out to be an significantly more advanced course. To my way of 
thinking, it made sense that the next level of beginner slope would be 
adjacent to the "bunny" slope. I had mastered it and my instructor had 
mentioned that I was ready for the next level, but we ran out of time. 
So I ate lunch, rehydrated (I get SO thirsty!!), and practiced on the 
"bunny" slope for about an hour more. I didn't want to rush things.

When I went over to the ski lift, I told the operator that I was new to 
the lift, *asked* her if I was on the right slope (she nodded and said 
yes) and then she very helpfully stopped the ski lift and kind of 
explained how to get on and off. (It was hard to understand with her 
accent.) As I was going up the lift, I looked down and around marveling 
at how beautiful it was since it had snowed a lot last night. As I kept 
going up, passing the first discharge point (which was closed) and then 
went up and up some more, I was getting a wee bit nervous. One - because 
from down below you can't see where the lift ends and I had NO IDEA that 
it went THAT far! Two - I knew that there was a trick to successfully 
getting off the lift and I wasn't quite sure that I knew how to DO it.
Turns out I was right. I didn't. I certainly tried though. And promptly 
fall down. Hard. But I did remember to get out of the way of the other 
obviously more experienced skiers who managed to glide off the lift and 
float down the first part of the slope.

Three - once you reach the top of the ski run, there just isn't any 
other way to come down except on your skis. (Well, I guess you could 
conceivably walk, but I think that would be frowned upon because you 
would be a hazard to the other skiers, plus it would look really silly).

I knew I knew how to turn (I reminded myself after a little girl half my 
size very sweetly helped me get up. I have NO pride when skiing and 
eagerly except any and all offers of assistance, no matter the age of 
the helper). I also knew how to stop by using the wedge and by turning 
my skis perpendicular to the slope. I REALLY like that method. What a 
rush to be going sooooooooooo fast and skid to a stop!! I am also now 
pretty good at walking in skis - be it up the slope sideways or duck 
walking up. When things click it's an awesome feeling!!

But, when I hit some icy snow on a slope that was so incredibly steep 
that I don't know how I managed to stay upright and then got to going 
faster than I have EVER gone in my entire life on my own two legs and 
saw the pylons (supporting the ski lift) and learned that I can't think 
as fast as I can ski......that's when I decided that since I evidently & 
instantaneously  FORGOT how to stop or even slow down, and as the one 
HUGE pylon got closer and closer and I was going faster and 
faster....well, sitting down might be my best option. The thing is, at 
that speed, and on icy snow (which is NOT soft like the regular snow), 
there is just no way to sit down easily or any where approaching gently. 
The back of my head actually bounced a few times, before I slid to a 
stop, right next to that stupid pylon. The good thing about landing 
there was that the chances of someone running into me had been 
significantly reduced. Not many people tend to crash near the pylons. 
They do have bumpers, but I was glad not to have researched their 
cushioning power up close and personal.

Once I got up, with the help of the pylon, I looked down and realized 
that I had just skied down the easiest part of the course. At that point 
I was feeling some degree of dread. My confidence level had just 
plummeted and I wasn't sure of what strategy was best, but I was REALLY 
regretting the fact that my instructor was not with me.

Three more falls, and the same guardian angel of a little girl helping 
me up after a fall that popped off a ski and sent my ski poles flying 
here and there (that fall didn't hurt though because I landed in soft 
non-icy snow), was when I emphatically decided that I was certainly 
close enough to the bottom because there was just no way I was going to 
attempt the final part of the slope which looked intimidatingly steep. 
It helped my bruised pride to see that there were other skiers littering 
the area where I had fallen and I heard one of them muttering that she 
was WALKING down the rest of the way. I commiserated with a smile.

Once I reached level snow, I put my skis back on, went over to my now 
beloved "bunny" slope and successfully skied down, stopped just fine and 
called it a day.

I didn't learn until later, that the majority of the staff is 
international and not TOTALLY fluent in English. So I am thinking that 
the lift operator didn't completely understand my questions about me 
being on the correct level of slope after the "bunny" slope. And I also 
learned that there is a map that shows you all the slopes and tells you 
what level they are.

That's when I figured out that the slope I had been on is called the 
OhMyGosh.

With dayum good reason.

 'Cause that's certainly what I was saying when I reached the top.


....Sachet
(who will indeed be buying a helmet before next weeks lesson)


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