We woke up Saturday morning and it was fairly overcast. I was trying to avoid the whole skiing bit, but Devin convinced me that it would be fine so I layered away (I look a little uncertain in the above pic!) and rented my ski gear. When I planned this trip, I had no real intentions of skiing since I have only one experience skiing and that was of me going down the wrong side of the mountain straight towards a school bus. I also wasn't incredibly interested in paying a gazillion dollars on ski lessons this time since at this point, Devin and I aren't really sure how often we will be going skiing. However, Devin really wanted me to ski at least half a day with him and since I love him, I gave in.
We had been warned quite a bit about the dangers of spouses teaching spouses to ski and Devin seemed quite unfazed by it all, but admittedly, afterwards, I think we will wholeheartedly stand by those who oppose the idea. First of all, I have no idea how to even snow plow so Devin teaches me two seconds before we are to get on the ski lift to take us up the mountain. I am terrified and have no coordination with the skis yet at all. I'm trying rather awkwardly to get into the ski lift line and a guy working there said "Is this your first time on skis?" I say "Yep... that obvious, huh?" He looks at Devin and says "Take her to Strawberry Hill. There is no way she should be trying to ski yet. There's a magic carpet and everything for her to practice on." Then he pauses and says "Are you qualified to teach her how to ski?" Devin replies "I'm her husband." He says "I've worked here for nine years and I'm telling you this is a bad idea!"
So we go over to Strawberry Hill and I'm already exhausted. It's hard work walking in ski boots! I try practicing the snow plow a little and am really just interested in learning how to stop. I start feeling a little more confident, but have only tried skiing on a pretty flat area. It takes me literally forever to get back to where Devin was and then I'm trying to go up the hill which was anything but fun. I get on the magic carpet and get to the top of Strawberry Hill. Devin is beside me trying to tell me what to do. I end up in front of him and start going much faster than I'm comfortable with. Try to stop. Can't. Freak out. Try falling down. Finally fall down. Look at Devin like "I can't do this." Manage to get to bottom of the hill.
Second ski "pass".... I ask Devin if he could go in front of me so that I can try to copy him because it's hard to learn skiing as you are doing it. Devin agrees. Up the magic carpet we go. At first, I feel better. Can see Devin and copy him. Next thing I know, I am skiing straight into the moving magic carpet. Not a good thing. I ski straight into the moving conveyer belt and fall backwards. Again, I look at Devin like "I can't do this."
Third attempt... This time I get on the magic carpet and my ski somehow gets stuck. Half of my body is going forward and half is going backward. I panic. Fall. My body is going in different directions. Devin yells to the operator to stop the magic carpet. He does. I flail off the magic carpet. Look at Devin this time and say "This is not fun." He says "Do you want to quit?" I say "Yes, please!" Devin gives me his disappointed look and I try to explain that he learned to ski when he was fearless. I am not fearless anymore and am a control freak who needs to feel like she has at least an idea of what she is supposed to be doing. He understands.
So we go back to the cabin and Devin's dad goes skiing with Devin while I stay inside with Jan and Finley. I feel bad. Keep thinking I should have tried longer, but I felt like I couldn't explain to Devin what I needed to know and feeling like he would be having a lot more fun actually skiing that trying to teach me to ski. So next time, I will go into skiing with a complete willingness to spend a gazillion dollars on ski lessons. I have no doubts I need professional help... at the very least and even then I'm not sure if I'll ever be a skier. It would be great if I were, but I'm okay if it is a skill I never develop. I'm over trying to be good at everything. I think.
That afternoon, I took a zillion pictures. I really love the big one above of Devin and Finley. Is he handsome or what! Also, notice the scruff is getting longer. By the time we get to Day 3, he almost has a beard!
We also went to watch Adam and Nathan ski. After two days of ski school, they were pretty impressive. Much more impressive than my own pathetic attempts! Sadly, I actually felt better when Adam said he was afraid of the magic carpet! I needed commissary from anyone... including my 4 year old nephew!
Night 3:
When we got back to the cabin, we gave Jan her birthday gifts and celebrated her actual birthday with cake!
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