Skiing

Before you read this, pause for a second and think about the most fun you’ve ever had in a day. Was it hanging out with friends? Visiting a new place or perhaps some family? Maybe it was going to some sporting event or concert. Keep that thought and capture the moment. Picture everyone else around you, sharing that same great experience. Would they consider it the most fun they’ve had in a day? It very well may be, but it could also be far from it. You really can’t know for sure, and that’s what makes it interesting. Now I know what you might be thinking, skiing? That was really the most fun he’s ever had? I can’t say it is because honestly I can remember a lot of good times especially with friends, but it makes my top ten, easy.

It was a cool winter morning when we first hit the slopes and man did we hit them hard. It was me and my sister’s first time skiing and the minute we strapped into our skis, we knew were in for a ride. In the beginning we fell more than anything, but after a few minutes of close instruction, we began to feel a rhythm. 

I’ll be honest, at first, I was completely intimidated by the beginner slope. Keep in mind this wasn’t exactly what I was used to, growing up in Illinois with our lovely “hills.” This was, if anything, a much deserved and overly sized upgrade. In the end, I decided that we hadn’t traveled all this way and rented the gear for nothing, and joined my dad and sister on our first ever ski lift ride. The trip up was actually amazing, gifting us a great view of the snowy wilderness surrounding us and a moment of blissful silence at the very top. Before we knew it, we had arrived at our destination, and we jumped off the lift with surprising ease.

To this day, I can’t decide if my favorite moment of the day was the first or last run. Whenever you try something new, especially something like skiing, there is always the rush of adrenaline and excitement the first trip down. The ski instructor had shown us how to slow down by pointing our skis inwards forming a triangle, and at that moment, I couldn’t think of a more useful piece of information. I flew down the slope at seemingly breakneck speed, slowing down only to turn and prevent myself from falling (which to my dismay didn’t quite work as often as I would have liked). As soon as we finished the run and met at the bottom of the slope I was ready to go again. Throughout the day I became better and better and handling the skis and changes in slope and direction until I was ready to take on the intermediate hill.

Unfortunately, the day had flown by and I happened to try the intermediate hill on my last run. It was both the worst and best decision of the day. Again, in the beginning I was worried I would fall or get stuck on the steepness of the slope, but I underestimated my natural skiing ability, and the softness of the snow cushioning my fall. I flew down the hill again, this time more in control of my skis, but faster I realized, much faster. It was exhilarating and frightening at the same time, but I loved it all the same. I had my falls and lost skis but I wished I had tried the steeper hill earlier in the day. In the end, I had a great time and will forever cherish that day. In fact, you could say it was the most fun I had ever had in a day.