Hello, Divas!
This time I am reporting after the trip on the real snow in real mountains. I have made that Alpine ski trip which had been the focus of last year's lessons. With flying colours.
I only had a foggy idea of how real situation was going to compare to my carpet lessons, because I only managed to to get on a real snow hill once before departure. So it was with some trepidation when I pushed off for the first time in Val Thorens , got to the edge of the first incline and...Wow. What happened? All of a sudden, without my thinking, those skis started to behave exactly as I needed them to be doing. I went faster than ever before, and getting down steeper surfaces (never mind what they could be in reality, they felt like something I would not have been able to tackle last year) with more enjoyment than ever before. During the week spent in France I felt better and more confident every day, right to the last day, when I took on a route home that was steep(ish), bumpy, and crowded with other returning skiers. I remember the initial feeling of oh no, I am not going down there, but TBH I was tired and the idea of just walking down skiless did not appeal at all. So I took it on, and could not believe my own senses, how easy and enjoyable it turned out to be.
Please forgive me that bragging tone. I have been struggling with learning to ski since I was 15, meaning it took me 50 years of trials, errors, and new starts. FINALLY, I managed, thanks to the 1. that ski centre, 2. Finally, and for the first time, excellent coaching and 3. the cheering on I have found on this Forum (special mention
@liquidfeet ) . Boy, was it a loooooong struggle - but it seems successfully over. Though I am going to continue! And the beauty of French Alps is a great incentive for the next year.