The Super Skier and Me

I'm married to a super skier. Jim loves to ski and he is really good. He loves the thrill of skiing through the trees in powder on black diamond runs. Unfortunately, he is married to a wimp of a skier. I started about five years ago and progress has been painfully slow. I'm still stuck on the beginner hill. I love to ski on wide, gentle sloping hills. Sometimes, I'm willing to try a steeper one as long as I can clearly see the bottom at the top. I freak out on anything else. My fear takes over. Poor Jim. Thankfully, he is patient. He taught me to count so that I will breath and other little tricks. He tries everything he can think of to make skiing more fun for me.

I've gone skiing five times this year. The first time was in McCall with my grandsons Nathan and Matthew. We skied on the beginner hill together and had the best fun. They thought grandma was a great skier. Then they moved on to the intermediate hill and started skiing with the real skiers leaving grandma in the dust (frost?). Next, Jim and I skied at Bogus on a Monday night. We spent an hour and a half on the beginner hill enjoying the beauty and serenity of the mountains (notice I said beginner hill). I could almost call that hill my own, I've skied it so many times. Then the sleet came. The warm bowl of soup we enjoyed in the lodge didn't improve the weather but it was a delightful ending to a delightful evening of skiing on the beginner hill. We skied, again at Bogus, the following Saturday. We were late getting away. By the time we reached the ski resort it was 10 am and the parking lot was full. We drove to a lot further up the mountain by some beginner hills I hadn't yet tried. Unfortunately, because these slopes were new to me, my fear mode took over. I just couldn't relax and enjoy myself. I took a break and Jim got to do some real skiing. Then the crowds came. I was glad to go home.

The next ski trip took place on Martin Luther King Day. Jim was determined to make this a happy adventure. He secretly booked a suite of rooms in a high class resort on Payette Lake in McCall. When we arrived in McCall, we stopped at the lodge to "use the restroom and check out the lodge". I was pleasantly surprised when he announced that we were going to be staying there for the night. He had found out that we could get the suite of rooms for less than a regular room at the Holiday Inn. What a deal! This ski trip was off to a great start.

The lodge sported a Beauty and the Beast chandelier!

Our rooms were beautiful.

We ate breakfast in the dining room the next morning. We had the whole place to ourselves and the food was delicious.

Check out the elk on the wall.

The view was incredible.

It was a beautiful, spring-like day. I think it was 45 degrees at the top of Brundage.

My super skier.

Jim signed me up for a private two hour lesson. My instructor was very nice, and patient. She tried to teach me how to overcome my fear. I thought I made progress. I had a good time showing off my new skills to Jim after my lesson. Then I went skiing again last weekend, at Bogus, and guess what...that old fear came back again. Was it because it was sleeting and ice was forming on my goggles so I couldn't see? Or am I just a hopeless case. I hope Jim survives.:)