Keeping your sanity during the holiday week

[BackCountryGirl]

Okay, all you instructors and those with other on-mountain jobs: we are heading into the first weekend of the holiday and, on the east coast at least, all predictions are that resorts, big and small, will be rocking. I'm sitting at home, with a cup of tea, watching the snow fly (again), on my last day off until, oh, probably January 3rd. What are your tricks for keeping yourself together, physically and mentally, during these "slam" periods? (Heavy use of alcohol at the end of the day is not the sort of answer I'm looking for!)

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Hi BCG! Are you ready for the holiday scene at the River?? DH here will probably volunteer his services for similar age group (which he taught for 2 years) at Sugarloaf. He's missing teaching, loves kids. Keep your cool out there, the preponderance of snow in our parts is going to bring them out in droves. I have a Silver Pass and thus will be blacked out from 12/27-31. My sanity will be retained by doing some lovely, quiet cross-country skiing and perhaps an evening at Black Mountain in Rumford (NICE place, been there?). Other non-skiing distraction for me is major fitness classes. When stressed, I add another riser to the step in aerobics! Good luck starting this weekend, I defintely know the scene at The River, hope things get going lift-wise -- Barker had a mishap last weekend, as you know (I wasn't there), and groundwork was still happening over at White Cap, hope that has worked out. Pow at Jordan looked ridiculous the other day when they finally dropped lines Hope we can make a few turns after the holiday madness!!

 

[tcarey]

As Dory from Finding Nemo would say "just keep swimming,just keep swimming"

T

 

[Kiragirl]

I'm dealing with the pre-holiday nuts out there shopping and trying to drive in the snow (especially those who can't drive well anytime). Tonight is the last night for me to pick up 1 or 2 little things, trying to avoid the crazy crowds. I would love to be at a resort over Christmas, skiing in the snow. I'll be in FLA but enjoying it at my sister's/family house. I relax at the end of the work day and pre-Christmas craziness by going home to a quiet apartment and having a glass of wine.
Good luck next week!

 

[Kano]

As one of the crazy folk out on the slopes driving all of you lift operators, ski patrollers, instructors, and whatever all else to drink, please forgive me for interrupting your thread to just say this:

THANK YOU!
I really appreciate that you're there so I can play!​

Kano

 

[perma-grin]

I wear reindeer antlers complete with battery powered lights on my helmet. It makes students laugh, breaks the nervous factor of the lesson (or injury care depending on which jacket I happen to be wearing, for which job.) Tomorrow is the last day I have off till the Jan 7th. I try to remind myself that most of these skiers have a very limited time frame to get their skiing in, and are just trying to make the most out of it! For some reason we've had alot of parents with their kids playing hookey from school this week, trying to sneak in a few extra "special days". I personally think thats being good parents! In 20 yrs that kids not going to remember what he did in math class on any given day of that year, but I bet he remembers the times Mom and Dad let him skip school to go skiing!!

 

[Jilly]

BCG - allow yourself at least a few minutes every day for you. Run a tub, take a glass of wine, relax, lock the door! The world will keep turning if your not there for 15-30 min!! You'll come out refreshed and ready to "keep swimming"!! Keep your humour about you and laugh!

 

[Native Vail Gal]

THANK YOU!
I really appreciate that you're there so I can play!​

Ditto and AMEN!!!!!