What did you accomplish this season?

[MaineSkiLady]

Finding this forum was certainly a highlight of my season! Meeting several divas has been terrific!

Started out strong, thanks to lots of pre-season conditioning---but then had to let it all go to waste after being collided into :( So, in the final analysis, not as good of a season for me as I'd hoped, given the snow amounts here in NNE. Just haven't come back to pre-injury strength, and it's a little late now. Maybe next year...

I guess the highlight for me was finally doing the entire mountain summit to base non-stop, double-black to black to cruise, in January. About 2500 vertical. Good day.

 

[SnowHot]

I'll start off.

• What was crazy steep to me in previous seasons is no biggie. Yeah!
• My short radius turns are more consistent and balanced.
• I can turn off my type A-ness and just enjoy skiing without a goal in mind. This was a biggie for me. In fact, since I've been able to ski again, I haven't worked on anything...I've just had a blast!
• I can land a 360 in one direction, just not the other direction yet!

NM, you rock!!
I love your bring it on attitude!!
I'm so jealous that you got the 360!!!!
You have to help me on that at ABasin!!!


As for my accomplishments:
I was privelaged to ski my first day of the season with Kneale Brownson at Boyne Mountain.
He gave me a simple drill to improve my turn initiation and eliminate my wicked stem.
It worked!!!
I Still have my weird funk moments when I get in a sticky situation, when the stem rears its ugly head, but its been a great feeling to have a clean carve and an actual pole plant to go with it.
Life is freakin awesome!!

 

[greekpeakskier]

i almost posted this morning. and am glad or sorry i didn't.

i would have said that i skied over 70 days and progressed tremendously. am learning to ski monguls and loving it
went from skiing greens and some blues to anything on or off at my home resort.
i would have said that a ton of lessons has been amazing.


but then i skied today
and in lots of ways it was a disaster.

i have never once skied in powder and I had never skied Snowbird. You know, at this piont, I would have said that I had fallen 7 or 8 times in the last 40 times of skiing.

I fell over and over and over today. 20 times. 30 times. I came off the tram and fell my way down to the tram base. and promptly went in and took a lesson. I listed level 5/6 and they peeled me off because I skied better than the people in the group.

That means I spent 2 1/2 hours falling in front of a (very nice and patient instructor). It was mostly horrible and generally exhausting. And he did keep upping the anty (sp?) to where i was falling my way down double black diamonds of untracked powder. There is some sense of accomplishment in that. I can fall down double black diamonds of untracked powder.

Ok, so sometimes I could make it through a section and not fall. Then we'd venture down another section and I'd fall three times in a row. Then I'd manage ten turns w/o a hitch. Then I'd roll down a hill, losing both skis and have to climb back up to the top of the section to retrieve them.

One of the very important lessons I learned today was how to make a ledge in powder to put my skis back on after I fell. I swear, I bet I fell 30 times.

I'm blistered (boots for some reason) and sore. But will be back when the resort opens tomorow.

Oh, how far I have fallen from the diva who was confident at my home resort.

 

[ski diva]

Don't beat yourself up over it, greekpeakskier! Skiing the powder at Snowbird is a heck of a lot different than skiing on east coast hardpack. Takes some getting used to. And your instructor couldn't have thought you were too terrible if he took you down double blacks!

You'll see -- you'll be much better tomorrow.

 

[perma-grin]

You fell? What some 30 or so times you said? But after every fall you got up and tried again, alot of people would have bagged it called it good, but not you. You regrouped and tried again. Furthermore you are going back tomorrow to give it another shot. Why? Because somewhere inside you, under all those sore and screaming muscles, you know that you have the ability and skills to conquer those conditions on that hill. I know you can do this because attitude is everything and Divas have lots of I can do it attitude. It's not how many times we fall, it's how many times we get up, that count in this life. I'd say you've accomplished alot this year.

 

[SnowHot]

Greenpeakskier.............
Powder is not easy for a first timer.
You may do yourself a favor to get a 1 hr lesson.

Then you'll have some new tools in your SkiDiva ToolBox!!
We love new Ski tools!!!

 

[SueNJ]

^^^What they said!! You lasted the day, and you kept getting back up! You are one determined Diva! I had a taste of powder skiing during my trip to Utah, and it's not easy. It's a whole different ballgame compared to our stuff back east. On the one day that it was snowing most of the day and there were no groomed runs because the snow kept coming, I was going down green runs with about 10 inches of powder and struggling big-time. It's just not something I'm used to skiing in. You were on, what... black diamond runs??? I would have spent the majority of my time on my butt if I skied that level of runs. Trust me, the way I felt even on those green runs, I felt like I regressed big-time at times. You're going back in the morning with a great attitude!

 

[Gina23]

This was also my first full season on my own equipment.

- Skiied a blue with confidence.

- Skiied all blues with confidence.

- Skiied in powder for the first time.

- Skiied a black diamond.

- Skiied bumps.

- Skiied black diamond bumps.

- Skiied a double black diamond.

- Got significantly better at short radius turns, didn't even know they existed last year.

- Got significantly more comfortable with speed.

- Learned to talk myself (audibly) through tough situations.

- Skiied the entire mountain at all resorts/hills.

- Went to Vail.

- Went to Beaver Creek.

- Had a freakin' blast and it's still NOT over!

 

[snowski/swimmouse]

YOU are awesome!!!! I soooo admire your sticktoittivenous!!!!!! You have let nothing stop you;may I do as well in similar challenges!!

 

[gardenmary]

I learned how to ski.

Hopefully I'll have more to contribute this time next year.

Me too - I learned how to alpine ski! XC is great but climbing hills gets OLD.

2nd time out - moved from beginniner slopes to low intermediate.

 

[Ski Spirit]

Accomplishments!!!

You fell? What some 30 or so times you said? But after every fall you got up and tried again, alot of people would have bagged it called it good, but not you. You regrouped and tried again. Furthermore you are going back tomorrow to give it another shot. Why? Because somewhere inside you, under all those sore and screaming muscles, you know that you have the ability and skills to conquer those conditions on that hill. I know you can do this because attitude is everything and Divas have lots of I can do it attitude. It's not how many times we fall, it's how many times we get up, that count in this life. I'd say you've accomplished alot this year.

Couldn't agree more.....it's how many times you get up that counts!! Congratulations!!!!!!!

 

[Native Vail Gal]

Couldn't agree more.....it's how many times you get up that counts!! Congratulations!!!!!!!

Ditto....but I'd just add.....it's how hard you giggle, too!

 

[Ski Spirit]

Best Season of My Life

This last season I committed to improve as a skier. It's seemed like a hard road.:(

But here are the significant points that made this season my all time best:

1) Skied 40+ days (not over yet although goal of 50+ is looking iffy).

2) Attended one day clinic at Heavenly, Kim Reichelms womens clinic and Mermer Blakeslee's fear clinic for women. Advanced further w/each clinic. Met several women who I hope will be lifelong friends and ski buddies.

3) Took private lessons from an outstanding instructor in Tahoe who helped me to ski certains runs that had been goals for some time: Alpine Bowl, Lower Main at Sierra at Tahoe, my first black at Northstar and helped me to ski w/greater confidence and technique than I could have imagined in the timeframe we worked on it.

4) Worked with Mermer Blakeslee privately and another instructor at Vail who helped me to ski two blacks there as well as learn a lot more how to self correct when things go wrong, ski with a lot more balance, understand the importance of POSITIVE self talk and how capable I can be!

5) Met and skied with one Diva (In the Clouds) who I'm sure will be a lifelong friend and ski buddy. She is one of the most positive people I have ever met and a great friend and mentor!!!

6) Skied and met a group of Epic bears at Breckenridge and had a fantastic time and changed my impression of Epic based on personally meeting people. Wouldn't hesitate to go to another gathering!

7) Drove myself up and back to Tahoe several times and this past week drove from Denver to Silverthorne and then Vail.....you Co Divas may not hestitate about this..but driving through 3 mountain passes was a major accomplishment for me (I was the very slow driver!!!!).:

8) Tied skiing to life in so many ways......believing in yourself is absolutely necessary in skiing (and it helps in life too)!

If you believe in yourself and you acquire the necessary skills, you can do things that you never would have dreamed you could accomplish and the feelings of joy will overwhelm you. :cheer:

The world is full of people who are happy to help another person to fulfill their dreams/goals by just offerring words of support (Divas, Bears,people you randomly meet) , by being friends who encourage/support/ski with you, by being instructors committed to helping you and enjoying the process because they understand your love of the sport and what it means to you.

In short, it was the happiest ski season of my life and the most memorable. I kept having the "best ski day of my life" over and over again. I was so happy when I skied a black at Vail with Mermer Blakeslee that I broke down and cried tears of happiness!!!!!! :cheer:

 

[ski now work later]

In short, it was the happiest ski season of my life and the most memorable. I kept having the "best ski day of my life" over and over again.

I am so glad you had such a great season Ski Spirit. Nothing like some excellent lessons and many days on snow to move forward. Your words are very inspirational!

 

[Ski Spirit]

Thanks SNWL! I'm also very happy to have found this forum because it's so full of info but especially support (and you're one of the most supportive Divas..so a personal thanks to you, to Wendy and SnowHot!). Also, must add there a lot of helpful people on Epic, so a special thank you to them also (they know who they are).

 

[ski now work later]

Thanks SNWL! I'm also very happy to have found this forum because it's so full of info but especially support (and you're one of the most supportive Divas..so a personal thanks to you, to Wendy and SnowHot!)

Right back at you -- you posted some very kind words on my thread about my medical condition and surgery. I'm so glad to be on the other side of it. I'm feeling about 70% recovered today in fact.

Are you going to attend the Diva event next season? It would be great to meet you and ski together!

 

[Ski Spirit]

SNWL, I sure hope to be able to. I lost track of that thread and need to check dates. But I've purchased an epic ski pass for next year...so committed to finding ways to ski more in CO next year (unbelievable snow!!!) and would love to meet and ski with Divas!!!!!

 

[Ski Spirit]

Great to hear you are feeling so much better!!!! I would love to also meet and ski w/you and, if the Diva Summit in CO doesn't work out for timing or other reasons and Mermer's clinic is only available in NY, I will definitley go back for that and could try and meet you (and Wendy?) at Okemo....??

 

[sibhusky]

Was picked as back marker for the first time by our guide friend - quite an honour, made me feel v. proud and consequently skied much better than ever before

I have no idea what a back marker is. Someone who brings up the rear of a tour group?

 

[SnowHot]

Learnt the difference between skidding, pushing & carving turns.
Managed to ski some moguls vaguely properly for the first time ever - very exciting !
Made first steps in overcoming my fear of steep, chopped up terrain and skiing in white-out conditions.
Was picked as back marker for the first time by our guide friend - quite an honour, made me feel v. proud and consequently skied much better than ever before

I have no idea what a back marker is. Someone who brings up the rear of a tour group?

I was thinking the same thing.

I'm feeling terribly humbled in my accomplishments, in the presence of the accomplishments of my fellow divas.