Livingston County, Mich. – Skiing is one of the most popular Winter Olympic sports, combining speed, skill, and a touch of danger.
But what is it like for someone who’s just starting out or coming back after years away?
It’s been on my bucket list to really learn how to ski.
I’d been a few times years ago, but the last time I clicked into bindings was about a decade ago. This time, I wanted to do it the right way.
I headed to Mt. Brighton for a lesson with Ski School Team Lead Chris Powers.
“I love that you can come out in the winter, have fun outside, get some exercise and really get the adrenaline going,” he said.
My introduction to skiing started back in 2009 at Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia. A friend, Dave MacQueen, invited me out, confident he could show me the ropes.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” he said during a catch-up conversation about that trip. “We’ll keep him away from the really hard slopes, so he doesn’t hit a tree.”
He suggested we skip the bunny slope.
No surprise: it didn’t go well.
“We have photos of you carrying your skis down to the bottom of the hill,” MacQueen said.
That memory is part of why, at Mt. Brighton, I decided to start from scratch with an instructor.
This time, Powers walked me through the fundamentals instead of sending me straight to the chairlift.
We began on flat ground, just getting used to standing on skis, finding balance, and understanding how the boots connected to the snow.
“What we’re going to do is give it a little hop,” he said. “How you landed is the basic stance.”
From there, we moved on to simple sliding drills and learning how to control speed and direction.
As I practiced, Powers encouraged me: “You’re getting it.”
Once I was comfortable, it was finally time for the bunny slope.
We rode the surface magic carpet, pointed the skis downhill and took it slowly.
A little shaky, but I made it to the bottom and even had a laugh along the way.
After a few more trips up and down, my confidence started to build.
That’s when Powers decided it was time to take things up a notch and head to a higher slope.
We headed toward the ski lift.
From my point of view at the top, it felt a bit intimidating.
But with coaching the whole way down “eyes up, pushing shins, elbows forward” it started to click.
Powers said he teaches students of all ages and experience levels. His oldest beginner, he noted, was an 85-year-old woman.
“The biggest misconception is that it’s hard,” he said. “Anybody can do it. Anybody can learn to do it, and anybody can get good at it.”
By the end of the lesson, I wasn’t ready for an Olympic course, but I was having fun.
So, if you’re thinking about trying something new, take it from me: Do it.
But do yourself a favor and book a lesson first.
It makes for a much smoother ride and a lot more fun.