So I am no longer a ski virgin! Robyn posted some of my early takes on skiing earlier this week. I'll try and provide the whole story, with pictures.
I took a lesson on Sunday at Brighton. The group I was with (9 others) were all experienced skiers. The decision was made to go to Brighton because it's a great place to learn. My lesson had one other person, so we got a lot of attention. After our 2 hour lesson, the instructor (who I really liked) advised that we stay on the bunny slope. I was disappointed with this, but being a good student, did what he said. For a few runs. I was frustrated because it was so crowded and I couldn't get any rhythm. So, on a lift ride up with an instructor/supervisor, I asked where to go next. He told me where to go, and then offered to take me there. He stayed with me down my first full green--and I got as much out of that as my lesson! He was very complimentary-told me I was approaching my right turns too aggressively and to slow down and be patient. So I did, and he was right!
I'm on the left. We ran into some of my group at the top of my first green.
As we left, it was really beginning to snow.
Day 2 was spent at Snowbasin. How beautiful! It was so quiet and pristine. Our group did a green/blue run together to start the day, and the guys in our group were all very complimentary of my skiing. That always makes a girl feel good!
My 2nd run was w/ two others from our group, Willow Springs. It's a blue and really for at that point, too steep for me. I was still struggling with right turns and not comfortable going very fast. This is where my binding 'broke' and I called Robyn from the mountain while my friends went and got ski patrol. This was after sliding down over 100 feet on my arse to get to my friend, while laughing hysterically. As I told Robyn, you gotta have a sense of humor!
Once ski patrol showed up, he snapped my binding back into place ("You mean it rotates?") and I was good to go. I had no idea they rotated--it really did look like it was broken off. At that point, I'm in the middle of the steep part. I fall down 2x before I really got going. The ski patrol guy was still there and the snowmobile showed up. He offered me a ride, but there was no way I was going down that mountain not on my own two legs! I didn't fall anymore, just took it slow and easy and then it was lunch time.
I went back to the same run after lunch, determined to make it down without going the 100 feet on my bum, and I did! OK, I did spend about 15 feet on my bum but I hiked back up to me skis and got it right.
Interesting side not--when I took that big fall, a guy walking down the side in the powder looked over and said, "That's why I'm walking."
My friend tried to help him but he couldn't even stand on his skis. She offered to call ski patrol, but he said not to because he'd be embarrassed because he used to work there. Ummmm. . . surely not as a ski instructor! He also asked my friend for a joint. After his 20th fall or so, she left him and caught back up with me.
I spent the rest of the afternoon on my own, practicing my turns on some greens and easy blues. For the last run of the day, I tried a new blue (nervously) and did OK. It was more like a narrow bowl with noone else around, so I could keep my speed under control and thus keep my skiing under control. I was sad that the lifts were closed.
I hit the hot tub that night, two times!
Pics from Snowbasin:
I'm continuously struck by the beauty.
Taken from sitting on my bottom, waiting on ski patrol.
More beauty.
Me
Day 3 was an off day. We did go tubing, but otherwise it was a lazy day. I think I needed it!
Day 4 was spent at the Canyons. It was my last day, so I didn't get a full day in. That day, there were only 5 of us and the others were all relatively advanced, so I was on my own. I warmed up on a double green/blue and was really tentative to the point where I was about to call Robyn whining, but I finally got comfortable and started feeling more comfortable. I did an easy blue a couple time (Boa) and fell hard once--when I got too close to another skier and got nervous. I met the guys for a quick lunch and to say bye, and then headed back up. I had less than 2 hours left and wanted to make the most of it!
I did blues for the remainder, didn't fall anymore (though had a couple ski lift mishaps
) and was loving it! I really felt like I was beginning to be in my element. I was so sad when I was at the top of the mountain and realized it was to be my last run. I made it down quickly (even did a new blue-I was more tentative when on unchartered territory), changed, and met my ride to the airport.
I took a lesson on Sunday at Brighton. The group I was with (9 others) were all experienced skiers. The decision was made to go to Brighton because it's a great place to learn. My lesson had one other person, so we got a lot of attention. After our 2 hour lesson, the instructor (who I really liked) advised that we stay on the bunny slope. I was disappointed with this, but being a good student, did what he said. For a few runs. I was frustrated because it was so crowded and I couldn't get any rhythm. So, on a lift ride up with an instructor/supervisor, I asked where to go next. He told me where to go, and then offered to take me there. He stayed with me down my first full green--and I got as much out of that as my lesson! He was very complimentary-told me I was approaching my right turns too aggressively and to slow down and be patient. So I did, and he was right!
I'm on the left. We ran into some of my group at the top of my first green.
As we left, it was really beginning to snow.
Day 2 was spent at Snowbasin. How beautiful! It was so quiet and pristine. Our group did a green/blue run together to start the day, and the guys in our group were all very complimentary of my skiing. That always makes a girl feel good!
My 2nd run was w/ two others from our group, Willow Springs. It's a blue and really for at that point, too steep for me. I was still struggling with right turns and not comfortable going very fast. This is where my binding 'broke' and I called Robyn from the mountain while my friends went and got ski patrol. This was after sliding down over 100 feet on my arse to get to my friend, while laughing hysterically. As I told Robyn, you gotta have a sense of humor!
Once ski patrol showed up, he snapped my binding back into place ("You mean it rotates?") and I was good to go. I had no idea they rotated--it really did look like it was broken off. At that point, I'm in the middle of the steep part. I fall down 2x before I really got going. The ski patrol guy was still there and the snowmobile showed up. He offered me a ride, but there was no way I was going down that mountain not on my own two legs! I didn't fall anymore, just took it slow and easy and then it was lunch time.
I went back to the same run after lunch, determined to make it down without going the 100 feet on my bum, and I did! OK, I did spend about 15 feet on my bum but I hiked back up to me skis and got it right.
Interesting side not--when I took that big fall, a guy walking down the side in the powder looked over and said, "That's why I'm walking."
My friend tried to help him but he couldn't even stand on his skis. She offered to call ski patrol, but he said not to because he'd be embarrassed because he used to work there. Ummmm. . . surely not as a ski instructor! He also asked my friend for a joint. After his 20th fall or so, she left him and caught back up with me.
I spent the rest of the afternoon on my own, practicing my turns on some greens and easy blues. For the last run of the day, I tried a new blue (nervously) and did OK. It was more like a narrow bowl with noone else around, so I could keep my speed under control and thus keep my skiing under control. I was sad that the lifts were closed.
I hit the hot tub that night, two times!
Pics from Snowbasin:
I'm continuously struck by the beauty.
Taken from sitting on my bottom, waiting on ski patrol.
More beauty.
Me
Day 3 was an off day. We did go tubing, but otherwise it was a lazy day. I think I needed it!
Day 4 was spent at the Canyons. It was my last day, so I didn't get a full day in. That day, there were only 5 of us and the others were all relatively advanced, so I was on my own. I warmed up on a double green/blue and was really tentative to the point where I was about to call Robyn whining, but I finally got comfortable and started feeling more comfortable. I did an easy blue a couple time (Boa) and fell hard once--when I got too close to another skier and got nervous. I met the guys for a quick lunch and to say bye, and then headed back up. I had less than 2 hours left and wanted to make the most of it!
I did blues for the remainder, didn't fall anymore (though had a couple ski lift mishaps
) and was loving it! I really felt like I was beginning to be in my element. I was so sad when I was at the top of the mountain and realized it was to be my last run. I made it down quickly (even did a new blue-I was more tentative when on unchartered territory), changed, and met my ride to the airport.
Loved it! Thank you for sharing this experience with us, and welcome to our very obsessed world!!!
