This past winter I spent over 30 days skiing. Spending about a month’s worth of time at the mountain, you begin to fall into a daily routine. The day-to-day consists of countless things that make spending a winter skiing a special experience. The following is what I believe is the essence of what makes skiing such a great sport.
1. Priorities
For me, skiing is a priority. Staying up late is partying can be fun, but most weekends I’ll be in bed at a decent hour in order to get up for the powder day. If something needs to be done during the day, it can wait until the lifts close. Sometimes this means a bit of homework procrastination. Oops.
2. The Morning Ritual
When I wake up and look out the window to see several inches of snow accumulating on the ground outside, I know it’s going to be a good day. The best days are the days when the road conditions are bad and the snowplows are making laps up and down the highway. I have my route through town perfected, with the obligatory stop at the grocery store on the way out of town for coffee. Half an hour later I’m in the snow covered parking lot putting my boots on.
3. Walk Like A Pro
Everybody knows the unwritten rule in sports: to look good is to be good. This applies to your gear, as well as how you carry yourself. Watching someone carry their skis across an icy parking lot is a good indicator of their ability. Falling on their butt and dropping poles left and right? Probably an out-of-towner. At this point in the season, I feel like I can run a marathon in ski boots.
4. The People
Sometimes I ski with earbuds, and sometimes I do not. When I don’t listen to music I feel more connected to the fellow skiers around me. You meet the coolest, and sometimes weirdest, people on the chairlift. It’s awesome meeting people who have been skiing the same runs since the '80s when they were in college.
5.The Importance Of Good Equipment
I have crashed multiple times, and my helmet has saved me from serious injury multiple times. Wear a helmet. The sport of skiing uses cutting-edge technology to help you slide down the mountain and have a good time. You may as well use this same technology to save your life. In addition to safety gear, you’re going to need quality, warm clothes. If you have quality boots, you won’t be complaining about foot pain at the end of the day.
6. Exploration
One of my favorite parts of skiing is exploring the mountain and finding the best lines. Who knew that the best powder would be at XYZ location!? I now know the best spots to go to avoid crowds and find the most unique terrain. On the way up the lift, I’m always thinking of runs I’m going to connect on the way down. It’s awesome to be able to navigate the mountain with your eyes closed.
7. Ten Thousand Hours
Many have heard of the concept that it takes ten thousand hours to master a given skill. I believe that the best way to get better at a sport is to practice that sport a lot, so I ski a lot. I ski a lot in all kinds of conditions. Most of the time it is not going to be a champagne powder day, so you better get good at skiing in all conditions. Practice different kinds of turns on the groomers, practice jumping and riding switch, and practice those icy moguls. The more skills you develop in adverse conditions, the better you will be when it’s time to nail that pillow line.
8. Heroes Are Good
It’s a good thing to have heroes, but there’s a reason why the professionals ski for a living. One minute I feel like I’m Candide Thovex, and the next I catch an edge and almost eat it. It’s always good to be humble about your abilities.
9. Count Your Blessings
Mountain sports are expensive. Not everyone has the privilege to participate in the sport we love. Every time I go skiing I am thankful that I have the means and support to do the sport that I love. I am thankful for the fact that I live and go to school in a place that people go for vacation. It’s rare that I have a bad day skiing.
10. Be An Ambassador
Sports communities can have some of the most supportive people. Many people have helped me succeed, and I want to help others succeed. I try to help the guy who has fallen and spread the stoke to the next person.
