For our fourth snowboarding lesson, we had – finally – soft snow instead of solid ice. What a difference! In the morning, Daughter and I took three runs with the instructor, and I am sure if there had been a talent scout at the mountain today, we would have been offered a spot on the Olympic team. Well, that is how it felt compared to our first lesson three weeks ago. We kept riding so close together that we almost collided a few times, but the falls did not hurt because they were onto soft snow. I even got off the chairlift without falling! I came home without any bruises! The best part, though, is that now that I've got the hang of snowboarding, I was able to pick up some speed, which made the whole thing more fun.
Conditions were pretty terrific in the morning, but while we were in the lodge eating lunch, the nice warm air got a little too nice and warm, and the snow turned to rain. Absolute pouring rain. Every person who walked in the door was drenched, the teenagers shaking water off the way dogs do after swimming.
The great thing about rain is that most people don't like it. And they go home. For the rest of the day, there were no lines at all at the chairlift. And I didn't mind boarding in the rain. I've always liked hiking and canoeing in the rain, and this was no different. I have to admit that Daughter and I felt a bit trapped to be sitting in a chairlift in a downpour – you just really can't move at all – but once we were down on the ground, practicing our turns in the soft snow, we were happy to be outside.
When we finally drove home through a rainy dusk, our car was so filled with wet clothing and wet hair and wet kids that the windows kept fogging up. My Beautiful Smart Wonderful Daughter and I kept congratulating ourselves on our success and soliciting comments from the rest of the kids, who had caught glimpses of us as they zoomed past. Once I was home, I stripped off the layers of wet clothing, changed into dry sweatpants, and settled down in front of the fire with the books I am teaching tomorrow.
14 comments:
Boy, you almost make me want to try it. But I have never done anything more intense in snow than cross-country skiing
Glad you had a good day.
Congrats on improving...and so quickly!
For me, the best part of the day would be getting into those warm, dry sweats at the end. Aaaah.
I'm glad you're having fun!
What a great day! Congrats on the soft snow and good turns.
But the big question is: Marshmallows or whipped cream in the hot cocoa?
I've always liked hiking and canoeing in the rain, and this was no different.
This fits with liking to jump into really swampy water and throw seaweed at people.
You're just very liquid oriented, aren't you?
Hey, my word verification is "hexon", which almost sounds like a real word!
One of the reasons I don't ski is that dang chair lift....Falling down skiing doesn't hurt as much as falling off that chairlift. You're a very brave snow bunny
"...settled down in front of the fire with the books I am teaching tomorrow."
Um, that would be my heaven.
Who knew you could ski/snowboard in the rain?!? I guess there is so much snow that you had enough still on which to ski/snowboard, yes?
SuperB
You described such a lovely scene. My daughters are 4 and 6... I can't wait to get out on the hills with them.
We're in Ottawa... so if you're not outdoors ENJOYING winter you're indoors letting it drive you crazy. This year we've tackled ice skating. Next up: cross country skiing. :)
andrea
p.s. FYI your comment box identity check thing has no where to put a name if you're an "other"
Liz: Spouse puts whipped cream on the kids' cocoa. Herbal tea is my hot drink.
Rob: Well, water is essential to life, isn't it? I am always surprised by people who don't like rain ....
PPB: If you think getting off a chairlife with skis is hard, you should try having a snowboard dangling from one foot. It is horribly awkward.
SuperB: Yeah, the rain is not too good for the slopes, although they usually have a couple fee of snow so they can take some rain. The worst part is that after the rain stops and it gets cold, then the slopes are really icy. We don't normally get rain this time of year. These conditions have been very unusual.
Andrea: I think if you check "Other" instead of anonymous, you can type in a name and website.
I am going to try it out and see ....
jo(e)
See, I checked the "other" box when it asked me to choose an identity and then I just typed "Some Cool Name" in ....
Of course, I then had to try the word verification three times before I got it right.
I used to like running in the rain - these days I'm too out of shape to run far.
I'm glad you had some soft snow.
Oh, man. I hadn't even thought about the chairlift implications! (I find that getting on and off the lift is the most scary part of skiing for me. One time I had to be lifted off not once, but twice, by the ski guy at the top. Mortifying!)
Your appreciation of the soft snow reminds me of one time I went skiing after a long hiatus; the first day we were on really icy slopes and I couldn't do much of anything without falling down, and I was rather disappointed with myself about the loss of former skills. Then the next day we went to a different part of the mountain, where the snow was soft and full of moguls -- and, wow! what a difference!
(I learned to ski as a wee thing in Colorado and Utah -- where big puffy moguls were the norm -- and then had to learn to adapt to California ice -- yuck.)
(Why do these "word" verification things always sound like something out of an Inuit dictionary?)
Post a Comment