Wipppppppppppe Out

Tell my knees and calves if was worth it please. Well I did it. I spent six hours on the slopes learning to ski yesterday at the snow dome in Milton Keynes -with real snow - and I did much better than I thought. I was up there with the twenty something lads keeping up with them whilst we learnt to ski traversely and turn so doing some nice S shapes down the slope. Hardest thing was getting off the conveyor belt at first, I ended up in many a weird position trying to do that! Getting up from falling down is really hard if your ski's are crossed and you have no poles to lean on and your tennis elbow won't let you put pressure on the bindings to release the ski boot.

So all was going well, my fear was under control and so were my skis. And then.....

I got on the stupid button lift.

and didn't manage to get off very well. The second time the instructor took us to the top of the slope. Timing is crucial - flip right ski out to right hand side before letting go of the button thing between your legs = FAILURE to get out of way of upcoming next person. I had to flip my self to one side and scuttle on my bum like a baby before it crawls! and then, off you go guys down this very steep slope doing what you have been doing. Ok, by then I am back to being petrified and succeeded in losing all control and skiing sitting on my skis downwards fast and wondering if I would stop. End result = one weepy scared woman who had lost her nerve. One glass of water later, I stuck to middle slope and practiced my turns for the rest of the day. The others went up to the slope from hell (in my opinion) and it was quite gratifying to see them losing it alot of the time!

Anyway I reached my goal. The last time I ski-ed I couldn't even step on a flat without freaking out. This time I pushed myself, kept up with the boys and went for it. And best of all, I was one of the good ones and not two of the worst. That felt great. Two weeks time will be real slopes. I can see myself back and forth on a little stretch for quite a while.

That's absolutely fine by me!

Now I need to stop hobbling.