I moved to Alberta a few years ago and randomly (ahem...online) met this guy who was a Colorado transplant. I didn't think it was going to be serious - just some fun dates and then we would go our separate ways. About a month into our dates, he said it was time to ski. I said "what? what do you mean ski?" It was January in Alberta, and it was cold. And he answered "well, if you want to date me, and if we're going to introduce you to my kids, you need to learn to ski." I kind of ignored him and thought the whole thing would just go away.
Well, it was a beautiful sunny Saturday in late January, and I was hanging out with him, and he said "ok, today's the day." "For what?" "Today is the day you're going skiing." I begged, I pleaded, I even told him that it was too cold, that we would go next weekend. He just said nope and picked up my snowpants and told me to take my jacket and gloves. We got in the car and drove to Snow Valley in Edmonton - a tiny little bump in town. On Saturdays, for the last two hours, they have a deal: $10 for the lift ticket, and $10 to rent skis, helmet, poles and boots. He walked up and paid $20 for my rental and lift ticket. I walked into the rental shop and got some really old rear entry boots, and very short rental skis. I was very excited about the helmet. We walked outside he showed me how to click in and pointed to the magic carpet. "There are two things you need to know: french fries to speed up and pizza to slow down." That's it. And I walked over to the magic carpet on the bunny hill. I realized he wasn't wearing skis, and I asked "Ummm...aren't you going to get some skis?" and he laughed and told me there was no need for that today. And so I got on the magic carpet, and he walked up the bunny hill beside me. And then we got to the top. And the bunny hill looked so big! My knees were knocking. And he said "Ok - go ahead. Rememebr: french fries to speed up and pizza to slow down." And I slowly pizza'd the entire way down the bunny slope...and it was AMAZING!!! And I quickly went up the magic carpet again - this time going down with a bit less pizza. Well, needless to say, I spent the entire two hours lapping the bunny hill, and it was amazing!
I hadn't had so much fun in a long time - I was hooked, both on the guy and the sport. This all eventually turned into some beginner lessons at Lake Louise, more easy greens and blue at Snow Valley with SO and his kids, and then trips to the mountains. And we're still together - and our whole famliy skis together all winter, loving every minute of it.
If I hadn't taken a chance on some random guy forcing me to go barreling down a hill on two sticks...I wouldn't have so many people (and mountains) that I love today.
Well, it was a beautiful sunny Saturday in late January, and I was hanging out with him, and he said "ok, today's the day." "For what?" "Today is the day you're going skiing." I begged, I pleaded, I even told him that it was too cold, that we would go next weekend. He just said nope and picked up my snowpants and told me to take my jacket and gloves. We got in the car and drove to Snow Valley in Edmonton - a tiny little bump in town. On Saturdays, for the last two hours, they have a deal: $10 for the lift ticket, and $10 to rent skis, helmet, poles and boots. He walked up and paid $20 for my rental and lift ticket. I walked into the rental shop and got some really old rear entry boots, and very short rental skis. I was very excited about the helmet. We walked outside he showed me how to click in and pointed to the magic carpet. "There are two things you need to know: french fries to speed up and pizza to slow down." That's it. And I walked over to the magic carpet on the bunny hill. I realized he wasn't wearing skis, and I asked "Ummm...aren't you going to get some skis?" and he laughed and told me there was no need for that today. And so I got on the magic carpet, and he walked up the bunny hill beside me. And then we got to the top. And the bunny hill looked so big! My knees were knocking. And he said "Ok - go ahead. Rememebr: french fries to speed up and pizza to slow down." And I slowly pizza'd the entire way down the bunny slope...and it was AMAZING!!! And I quickly went up the magic carpet again - this time going down with a bit less pizza. Well, needless to say, I spent the entire two hours lapping the bunny hill, and it was amazing!
I hadn't had so much fun in a long time - I was hooked, both on the guy and the sport. This all eventually turned into some beginner lessons at Lake Louise, more easy greens and blue at Snow Valley with SO and his kids, and then trips to the mountains. And we're still together - and our whole famliy skis together all winter, loving every minute of it.
If I hadn't taken a chance on some random guy forcing me to go barreling down a hill on two sticks...I wouldn't have so many people (and mountains) that I love today.