| I had always had an idea that I would like to ski right | | | | started to negotiate not only the easy blue runs but |
| from being a teenager, I did the usual thing of asking | | | | then the reds and finally I managed a black run. |
| my parents if I could go on the school skiing trip but | | | | I honestly believe that this would not have happened |
| found that the financial implications were a bit too | | | | if I had not committed to taking lessons that give |
| high for my parents to manage as I was one of four | | | | you the basic skills, some of the things you do when |
| children and money was tight. | | | | skiing are a bit counter intuitive and without expert |
| My next attempt at going skiing came quite a few | | | | tuition you could learn some very bad habits that |
| years later when I was a member of the Royal Air | | | | would prevent you mastering the steeper slopes |
| Force and tried to take up the option of going on a | | | | which are much less forgiving of poor technique. |
| forces led ski trip, unfortunately I fell foul again, this | | | | But what a buzz when you do master those skills, |
| time because I had applied to leave the air force and | | | | not only do you get to see some of the most |
| it was decided, quite rightly, that I had ruled myself | | | | fantastic scenery the world has to offer but you can |
| out of this option and was not eligible, someone else | | | | actually throw yourself off a mountain and shoot |
| who was not leaving the air force got the place. | | | | down the slopes at what seems incredible speed, not |
| I then tried again when I was in my late thirties but | | | | as fast as Ski Sunday and actually not that fast at all |
| would you believe it, this time I had a medical | | | | really but you don't realize that, from your |
| problem and ended up in hospital just as I was about | | | | perspective you could be in a world downhill challenge |
| to go on my privately paid skiing holiday, having finally | | | | so who cares if its actually a tad slow. There is |
| got a job that provided enough cash for me to go | | | | something very special about conquering a new skill |
| skiing. I thought that was it and that it just wasn't | | | | especially when you can use that skill to get some |
| my destiny to go skiing and that I should give up on | | | | very healthy exercise in a wonderful environment, I |
| it. | | | | think they call it feeling alive. |
| I didn't reckon on my wife though who had been | | | | All I can say is I am so glad I persevered and can |
| skiing on several occasions and was completely | | | | now enjoy this wonderful sporting activity, so if you |
| hooked on the sport. She talked me into having one | | | | think you are too old you may want to think again, I |
| last try just after my 39th birthday. | | | | am now in my 50's and I am still going strong with |
| Was I glad she did because I discovered what a | | | | what has become one of my favorite pass times, |
| fantastic and exhilarating sport it is, OK I nearly killed | | | | my only regret is that I didn't quite make skiing as a |
| myself learning to ski and not being a particularly fit | | | | teenager, could have been so much better for so |
| 39 year old or a natural skier, learning the basic skills | | | | much longer. |
| strained every muscle and sinew in my body, even a | | | | I now live in the South of France near the Pyrenees |
| few I didn't know I had, but gradually and bit by bit, | | | | where I run a gite so I am able to participate in my |
| by taking skiing lessons, I learned the basic skills and | | | | favorite sport a little more often. |