I went skiing this weekend. One might ask how were the conditions. Well, it really depends on if you ask a pessimist or an optimist. I would say there were many elements to the two full days of pursuing fun that highlighted some of the yin and yang in life…and I wanted to share my observations and impressions here 😀 :
1) Firstly, my shin became bruised in the vice grip of rental boots, and the second day it was reeeeaaally fun doing the mind over matter thing cramming a swollen limb into this same boot, but you see, the exhilaration of launching my body perilously downhill at speeds to make your eyes water and your lips freeze into a smile overrode any discomfort (ahem-PAIN!) I felt. At one point, when I was “SuuperG-ing” and barreling down my favorite run, thinking I’m all glorious and stuff, always one caught-edge from total humiliation and the disaster of somersaulting downhill in a flailing mass…my shin was getting jolted rudely by moguls and as I clenched my teeth and bared it, I thought how I was SO Lindsey Vonn. haha! But then…THEN, oh to experience the blissful relief when the offending boots were finally removed. That alone is worth enduring the torture. I could start a day spa based on this theme 😀 Wanna sign up?
This is BEFORE it even started snowing!
2) Of course it’s lovely to ski with fresh powder fallen the night before and a blue California sky above… but you see, with the cloud cover, wind and even snow storm we eventually braved at the end of each day, we had such EMPTY slopes 🙂 heehee. Not to mention, no pesky sunshine to make the snow slushy! No sirreeee…we merely had to endure gale force winds pummeling us at the tops of each lift, where we were instructed to duck and push off hard so we could clear the chairs! The visibility was almost nill…which made my marginal skiing handicapped yet further by depth-perception challenges. At one point, my friend Rachael and I had to side step to make progress against the blizzarding winds (blowing stinging pellets of snow onto the exposed portions of our faces, mind you) What did we do? Pack it up and head home? Retreat while whining about the icy air penetrating our jackets, goggles and beanies…showing us who’s boss? Before I answer this, let me ask you one question: Do you have ANY idea how much a lift ticket costs at Mammoth???? Lol If you do, you’ll know unequivocally we stayed…and skied…and laughed at the ridiculous conditions. But guess what? The blizzard conditions kept dusting the slopes with fresh, pristine snow – and we enjoyed traipsing down run after run.
3) Another flip side bonus to our frozen appendages and faces…the delicious delightful sensation of such simple pleasures as a warm fire-heated lodge and a cup of hot coca clasped lovingly in your cold grip, thawing your fingers as you sip and let the smoothness warm you from the inside out. How could one appreciate such comforts without enduring the temporary agony of threatening frostbite? 😉
We gotta have contrasts. Otherwise, how would we know when things are really good? Discomforts and difficulties are really transitions…to the good things in life. Also, it’s how you look at things…find the silver lining. Practice gratitude. For all these things, contrast helps…and skiing is good zen.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
LOL, sounds like it was really good fun! wish I had been there even in those drastic weather conditions. Looking forward to your next articles. Keep them coming! :))
Hugs xx
Do you ski? I love the rush! Thanks so much for reading my silliness and for your encouragement! Yes ma’am – I shall keep writing 🙂 Wow..I’m still amazed at how small of a world Twitter makes…so nice to know you and I love your rare wildlife shots!
Well, clearly, if you got to side-stepping down the slope, you officially pushed your limits! I've so been there! Awesome that you stayed and made the most of it. That is what we'd do as kids. Tap into our inner 12 year old. Tenacity and spirit!
Hi Shannon! Thanks so much accepting my invitation 😉 and for your perspective. Yes! I think that's exactly it – we regress into our childlike sense of adventure when we're having fun and running on adrenaline! We had to side step against the force of the winds, can you believe it? We were laughing and shivering simultaneously 🙂 So fun to connect with someone sharing so many passions! Bliss you ~ G
The unbelievable and probably sad thing about me: I've lived in the Seattle area for most of my life, never more than 2 hours from pretty good skiing, and have never gone. I've gone tubing & sledding, but never skiing. #FacePalm
Heyyyy Kid 😉 ALL snow play is a good thing! Skiing takes a while to have fun at…and get the adrenaline shot. In fact, there is always the looming danger that you'll catapult yourself into something, someone, or over a ledge! :} Thrills a minute! lol Thanks, as ever, for your visit and your friendship! Cheers n huugggs – G
Contrast is SO important, great call Gina. And way to stick through the Earth's slap in the face! I'm a snowboarder, but the impact is the same. I've been on top of Mammoth with those same conditions. I couldn't even see the person who was 10 feet in front of me! It was all ice and hard as hell! But, the pure absurdity of it all put a smile on my face 🙂
The analogy I always use for contrast, and the fact that you have to have one to know what the other is like, is movies (because I'm a HUGE movie buff). You don't know what an "A" movie looks like until you've seen a "B" movie (with B actors and all). After you've seen the two, there's no mistaking them anymore. Love the post!
Thanks so muuch Jeffrey 🙂 It feels good to laugh through the "Earth's slap in the face", doesn't it? 😉 I'm a big movie buff too! Less so lately as the truly fine films are fewer and farther between. I seek out lil Indies now 🙂 Happy snow play to you and thank you for indulging me by reading this post! Cheers! G