Learning to Ski ~ Try Something New

Exercise is something most people dread. Not me. I love to play and the world is my gym, for the most part. I play games with the kids like 'hide and seek' and dodge ball. I like to find new things to do. I love the slow and steady, like hiking and cross country skiing. I love the fast and furious like karate and laser tag.

Last Sunday I geared up to go skiing for the first time at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton Maine. I called the night before I went. They have a "Learn to Ski" program for those who have never skied before. Brandon answered the phone and gave me the price for people to take the program who have their own skis and a pass, $39. Told me to ask for him when I got there.

It was the most beautiful day for skiing. The sun was shining hard on the slope. As I came up to the group of new skiers and asked for Brandon, I took off my outer most layer of jacket. I was already hot. Brandon radioed up to the instructors to give me a free lesson. Really a sweet thing, especially less than a week before Christmas.


The adults got split off from the children. There were five in my group. Two people, from Maine, had some cross country experience, like myself. The other two people were originally from Maine but now live in Mississippi. The Mississippi people were less than thrilled to be there.

We all went to the top of the small hill, where the "magic" carpet let out and we learned to "pizza" and "French Fry", just like the south park episode. We made it down the hill with a minimum of spills and while the southern couple and I waited for the other two people to come, the Mississippi couple took off their skis and left. Saying they were only there for their kids and since they got split up, they couldn't see the point of staying. So weird. Here I am all by myself, wanting to ski for no other reason than wanting to ski. And these people just take off during their $90 lesson (theirs included a pass and rentals). They were so nervous about falling. I care not about falling, actually consider it part of the fun. To each their own I guess.

Next we learned to get on the carpet to bring us up to the top of the hill. Yes we were surrounded by very small children and the occasional big child. It was fun anyway. I got on the carpet. Basically you move forward on it until the belt take you up. It has a weird feeling when you are trying to move and then it seems like it grabs you. So I get on, and the woman from Maine goes to get on. When the belt grabs her skis, the poor thing falls forward, falling on the post that has the emergency stop button. The entire belt jerks to a stop and everyone flings forward bending at the waist. I was so surprised.

At the top we learned the pizza and learned to turn, cutting the inside edges of our skis into the snow so we can turn. After a few trips up the carpet, it was time for the Rabbit Run, a ski lift that goes to the 2 easiest trails. We learned to turn and go faster and slower. Taking a turn is much like sliding into home base. You put all your weight into the outside ski as you twist your body in the direction you want to go. When your body twists, the skis follow. Others were trying to turn their skis, so they were having a hard time. I think all it took was that first time down that and I felt so good about it, like I was ready for the black diamond trail.

Lesson over, my daughter and I had lunch and hit the Rabbit Run again. We did that 4 times and I said I wanted to go up to the big lift. I knew there was a easy trail up there from looking at the map. My daughter, who has been taking lessons in elementary school for years was a little nervous. She said she had only been on that lift once. We went anyway.

I should have totally listen to her nerves. When I got there the grade of decent looked like a cliff to me. The view was gorgeous but the slope steep. I went a bit too fast for me and fell a few times. My legs were so sore from forcing my legs and feet pointing inwards to each other. It is a very unnatural stance.

That was the extent of my 'big' girl skiing. The rest of the afternoon, I stuck to Rabbit Run (bunny slope). I had an awesome day all together. When we finally got home,. I was ready to sleep at 5 PM. I forced my self to stay away but before 7, I couldn't do it any longer. I went to bed and slept for 12 hours. Even the kids were late for school.

Can't wait to do it again!!