Well it’s day 11 of skiing and apart from 1 day wipe out from closed lifts (see previous blog) and 1 day rest we have skied and boarded every day. Unsurprisingly we are all a bit tired.
Steve has written ‘Old man’s ode to skiing’ (see below) to give his view on the trip thus far.
Kids have been at snow board school almost daily and unsurprisingly they are now on the double blue. As I write this Erin is practicing the splits so she can do more jumps. I thought both legs were attached to the board so not sure what she is planning ?!?!
So, some white days, some powder days and a couple of days with lots of sun and we have all a bit of panda eyes.
Everyone is very friendly – except the Italians who upset the locals by not adhering to the ‘alternating’ protocol of the lift line. It may be that the Brits invented queuing politely but the Americans have perfected it!
Every lift journey is accompanied by a conversation of who you are, where you’re from and what’s your day like. We’ve met all sorts and are not alone in taking kids out of school. I loved watching the over 70’s ski club – I met a man who could barely walk but could certainly ski!
Park City is a pretty ex mining town and, (we never knew before we arrived) it is home to the Sundance festival and thus full of amazing restaurants and bars and art galleries. Steve and I had a great night out at the Distillery and I forgot the measures of bourbon are bigger than at home and had the full impact of a hangover on the slopes.....
So here is Steve’s little rhyme…
The Old Mans Ode to Skiing: by Steve Dunn
It’s been eight long years since I last put on skis,
And to make things worse I left Sydney with two dodgy knees.
To begin it took ten excruciating minutes just to get on my boots
And then when I bent over to buckle up, I pulled both my Glutes.
Heidi says, “These two weeks in Park City will be fun”
Did she forget her old mans’ legs were only ever made to run.
Too late now up the ski lift we go,
time for the Country Whyalla Boy to eat some snow.
I managed to slip off the chairlift with grace and poise
And just missed hitting a group of young snowboarding boys.
‘Home Run’ an Easy Green was the first slope to go
And as I headed down I thought I was a pro.
My Red and Black Beginner skis looked really neat
But then something was wrong as they wobbled and slid beneath my feet.
Surely the fault was not my superb technique,
As Heidi complemented my style and said it was unique.
Well amazingly I made it to the bottom without falling
And now I could hear the Blue Runs Calling.
Up once again we went in the ‘PayDay’ chair
I was on top of the world, pumped and could tackle a bear.
Well the bear was called ‘Silver Queen’ and little did I know
That two blue squares was for advanced and had ice, not snow.
Too late now Heidi bellowed as she flew down with ease
As I stood shaking and cursing at the top, without any plan Bs.
Oh well I thought if she can do it, so can I
And I made a prayer as I looked up into the sky.
The first half of the run I remember was fun
But when one ski touched another I knew I was done.
With my bum in the air and a missing left ski
I slid down that slope hoping I would miss that tree.
Finally I stopped and Heidi rushed to make sure I was alive
And I am sure her laughter was one of a truly caring wife.
Well that was day 1 and that’s all in the past
As we are now on day 10 and I am having a blast.
Kids are now snowboarding on blue slopes just fine
Whilst I look forward to 3pm and that big glass of red wine’!