I don’t think I’ve ever been this sore in my life.
First of all, Vail can suck it. “Green,” they say. “This run is a beginner run.” What they don’t mention is that in the middle of their green runs, there always seemed to be a blue-level steep slope. And every run, no matter what the level, ended with a steep dive back down to the life. I’m sure it’s a lovely mountain if you are an intermediate-to-advanced skier, but not for moi. Thankfully, we went to Vail on our second day — if we’d gone there on Sunday, I think I would’ve gone down half the mountain on my butt.
On Sunday we did our first day of skiing at Beaver Creek, a much friendlier mountain. The basics came back to me quickly enough and we had a very nice day there overall. Jose and I stuck to the greens all day and had a lot of fun. I don’t think our friends — the ones that have been skiing since they were kids — understand our motivation for skiing. They keep telling me to push myself, go faster, etc. What I really want to do is just have fun cruising down the easy greens.
Why? Here it is: skiing scares me. It just plain scares me. I don’t really feel like going down the steep blues until I want to.
But the nice, wide easy greens are awesome. I love doing them. I love being able to look around a little while I’m cruising down the mountain. I like not having my feet cramp up (though with the rental boots I ended up with this time, that may be unavoidable; foot pain like I’ve never experienced in my life) and I like just having fun.
So I’m looking forward to hitting Breckenridge with Jose on Thursday and Friday, where there are reportedly much nicer green runs, and I can get new rental boots, and I can stop feeling like I’m skiing out of control and like all of my toenails are about to fall off. 🙂 Because there are moments when I like skiing, and I want to like skiing. Last year at Tahoe was awesome. This year has been hit-or-miss.
Today Jose and I took the day off and relaxed in a major way — watched a lot of TV, walked around town, had lunch at a bakery/deli, watched a movie, and more TV. We basically don’t want to move because our calf muscles scream when we do.
Snowmobiling tomorrow…
Word. Vail can go to hell.
This may sound strange, but that is exactly how I feel about photography. I just want to go out and enjoy myself and all the people telling me to try this and try that, do this and do that becomes a buzzing sound. I’ll learn more about all that technical stuff when I’m ready. Or maybe never. I’m just having fun now.
Enjoy the rest of your vacation!
I am SO with you on the Greens…I mean really who wants to go super duper fast down a mountain, crash and hurt yourself? I am a big wimp too if thats what its called for someone who likes to just have FUN skiing!! glad you’re having fun!
Hi Sarah!
Hope you all are having a good time in CO.
We just went to Breckenridge for the first time a couple weeks ago. I skied for 3 days there, and had never skied before ever.
Anyway, some good really easy greens on Peak 9 are Silverthorne and Red Rover. If you don’t like Ballet Hill at the bottom, take the signs for “Easy way Down”.
We found some easy blue/hard greens on Peak 8. Try Spingmeier and Park Lane.
Enjoy!
-Ron
Fun is good! However, the Cheeky Chorus is a bit on edge. 1/2 Ironman is less than six weeks away.
I’m with you on Vail. The one and only time I went skiing, I loved Beaver Creek,. but the day I spent at Vail was miserable for this beginner
I share the same philosphy on skiing. I want to have fun…that does not include going down the blues at warp speed, not being able to stop, screaming and slamming into a tree. Fun dammit, I want fun.
You Texan skiers are all wimps. Ski fast, run fast, just don’t wipe out.