The Adult Beginner
We all know that the best time to learn anything is when you are young - remember your little spong like mind, soaking everything up? Additionally when you are young you fall down, pick yourself up and start all over again - there might be the odd grazed knee. As you get older you fall over and the getting up and starting all over gets more and more difficult and painful as the years go by.
I went skiing for the first time when I was 17 on a school trip. I didn’t really like the skiing - it was cold and I like hot (I didn’t find the lovely warm hood tucked into the back of my ski jacket until I got back!) - but the apres ski was fun. I went for the second time when I was 40, with a young family. Our friends, avid skiers, sent us a formal invitation in the post. My wife, who had never been skiing, and my young children of 9, 6 and 3 years all wanted to give it a go. Who was I to deny them? I delved deep into my pocket - it is not the cheepest of holidays - and off we went.
Now, I’m not saying that I was dreading it, I knew it would be good for the kids and there was always the apres ski to look forward to, but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it.
Well by day three we were meeting our friends on the slopes, at altitude, in one of those extremely picturesque bar/restaurants. I have to say that even if you never put on a pair of skis you would enjoy this part. The scenery is just stunning, the air is fresh (and that’s an understatement - cold, crisp, oxygen!) and the refreshments taste like nothing else on earth. Then we get to ski down, friends showing us the way. My wife and I extremely unsteady but the kids!! They took to it like seals to an ice flow, off they zipped, straight down. One of the most rewarding things I have ever witnessed as a parent.
So, if you’ve never been sking, go on, bight the bullet, even if you don’t take to the slopes enjoy the atmosphere - both social and gaseous!
I’ve been asked to recommend a good skiing spot. Though we go most years now I’m still not good enough to appreciate a good piste from a poor one. I would advise however going somewhere with mountains, where it has snow on the ground!
Ski hotels booking sorted out you guys, I am stoked about our ’surprise’ trip. This weekend is the last chance for the cost, please get it to me asap.
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