Swooooosh!

Conditions were perfect for skiing. Perfect meaning that it was not pelting down with rain or snow and gusts of wind like the previous day had been. Perfect also taken with tongue in cheek, with a -14deg day, and wind chill making it something along the lines of -20deg.

I don't want to sound dramatic, but I have seriously never been so cold in my life - and I was in my warmest attire! From the bottom up: trusty explorer socks, 'sexy' thermal leggings, ski pants that I bought a few years ago now and subsequently come up to my arm pits, long sleeved thermal top, t-shirt, long sleeved lightweight hoodie, fully lined ski jacket, beanie and gloves, which were latter added to when I stole Coops' glove liners also!

My fingers were so cold not only could I not feel them, but they ached like nothing else, hence the thieving of Coops' glove liners - he's much more of a cold-tolerating person than me... My exposed face stung with cold, but my feet were snugly and warm in my rented ski boots that fit so well that I am considering asking whether I can purchase them for the winter. Very Impressed.

We headed out at 9am and were at the ski fields by 9.30am, even though we got a touch lost on the way. Despite some nice snow falls this early in the season, all the mountains are making snow in addition, just to let the base settle and get a jump start for when the real snow hits; late next week according to the weather channel. It was the 2nd weekend that most of the mountains have been open and running one or two lifts, just to get everyone back into the swoosh of things. For me, it became a serious task of getting myself up to the same level as the Canadians my age who have been skiing all their life.

I might mention at this point that I was 27 the first time I stepped on a pair of skis, and yesterday made the 4th time I've actually done so. OK, yes, might have been putting a little too much pressure on myself, but I mean look at the form on that snow plough stop below!!!!!!!!!!! I'll get there, or to somewhere slightly better and/or more frustrated that I am now. I mean, I can go and rent skis and buy a lift pass for $50 for the day (at home that would just cover the rental) so there's no reason Coops and I can't go hone our skills one day on the weekend, and one night a week. Its kind of sickening really. Hence I'm considering buying my own gear, as its just about half the price of home as well. But don't tell my bank...

Photos courtesy of Coops.

I started off the day really well, it wasn't until I tried to get technical (parallel ski turns) that I started falling over. But it was so much fun, until I got tired, and the bruises on my knees started coming out...