Ski Lesson Day 1

Friday, January 23
Northfield Golf Course, mid to high 30s, soft snow turns slippery and mushy as the day went on.

We arrive somewhere in the back of the course and I've not paid attention to the route. Change into our ski boots and carry our gear to the course. Some of us are downhill skiers and are learning Nordic for the first time. Some of us haven't skied before. We start with clipping into the bindings, and do some exercises and games to get us comfortable with balance on skis. Two skis then one ski. Move a ball around the circle to the person next to us using one ski tip. And they taught us how to fall and more importantly how to get up starting with the turtle position. . .lay on your back and put your skis in the air and then bring them down together. Drills without poles, following Beth's and Austin's tracks. They stood on the curve to watch us come by. I inevitably slip or look clumsy in front of them having lost the rhythm I found for a few strides. Glide, glide, transfer weight, glide, glide, transfer.

Eventually went from flat ground to the downhill where we were instructed to bend at the knee but relax and keep our hands in front as though holding a tray. Down we went! Literally. I fell about 3 strides into my approach to the downhill. Got up and finished the run. We came back up, herringboneing or side stepping up the hill so that we could do this run with a double pole pump while hinging at the waist. Again, slightly bent knees.

We skied around to another hill, another hill, and another hill, each progressively longer and steeper and practicing varied drills. I fell more than anyone and each fall was accompanied by "shit" sometimes with laughter. Usually, I fell well though, as the day wore on, I may have been tired and the laughter ebbed as did "shit."

Austin asked me about prior experience and complimented me on my willingness to keep trying and to ski downhill given the level I started at in the morning. I appreciated his comments though tried to dismiss the consideration. I need to get better at accepting compliments. All in all, felt good about the day.