The fam went skiing yesterday at Cataloochee over in Maggie Valley. It was the girl’s second time and the boy’s first. Both kids participated in the pricy, yet somewhat loose ski school in the morning, then took a couple green runs with us, then circled the bunny slope 600 times. Those carpet lifts rock. Remember the rope tows of yore that used to rip the palms off your gloves while they jerked you off your skis? Sometimes, technology rocks.
Anyway, after skiing quite a bit in my late 20s and early 30s, I’ve only been on skis a few times in the past 10 years. I was a little shaky at first, but the body memory returned quickly. The sad part is that I had the oldest and longest skis on the mountain. Typically, there’s always some 60-something-year-old guy with ancient skis, looking all grizzled and old-fashioned. Yesterday that person was me. When I was a regular skiier, it was cool to have long skis. Long skis equated to skiing experience. Now, everyone has these short, flexible, swishy skis–even the really good skiers. It may be time to retire my 20-year-old K2s. Particularly since I noticed that the ski resort uses its old skis to make fences–and a pair just like mine were nailed up to the boards, keeping folks out of the woods. Damn.
Oh yeah, and I’m sore as hell today. I also got sunburned. I’m always so cautious about sun (melanoma survivor), but I totally forgot about the snow reflection quotient. I slather on sunscreen most mornings, but forgot yesterday in our rush to get out of the house.
Overall, the ski adventure was great fun. And there was decent snow for North Carolina after our “storm” this week. I’m off to swallow some ibuprofen!
Share This
Sonny Boy would be so jealous! He’s a cool snowboarding dude, you know. If I ever mess up and say he’s going skiing, he is very quick to correct me. He does not ski - he boards. Skiing is so passe. So - I recommend that when you ditch the long skis, grab a board and you’ll be really hip
i don’t like skiing.
i like sitting fireside and watching the people who are skiiing fall and bust their butts.
i also like peppermint Schnapps, preferably drunk fireside, inside a log cabin at a nice ski resort.
other enjoyments: fleece tights and tight-fitting sweaters (both on members of the opposite sex), mirrored goggles, ski lifts and hot tubs, especially outdoor hot tubs at the bottom of ski slopes.
so, pretty much everything around skiing. but no skis for me.
I loved my K2s when I skied every weekend at Whiteface Mountain as a youth. I rented some skis at Wolf Laurel a few years ago and was shocked at the length of the skis. I had a great time and the skiing was easy, even after many years of being off the slopes. I couldn’t help thinking the entire time that if my 14 year old self saw me on those skis he would be ashamed and in great fear of his future.
Rio, I’ve tried snowboarding. Once. It was enough.
Yes, anony, the sideline ski perks are sweet too!
Cat, love the new avatar. I think all 14-year-olds would be horrified to see themselves thirty years later!
Ah! snow! I remember the first time I learned how to ski in Flagstaff, Az. as a teenager.
It was so fun!
**sigh** great memories!
Stephanie (cousin)