My skiing story...
My first job was with an East-coast computer contracting company. My first introduction to skiing was via a company-sponsored ski weekend to Seven Springs, PA. After I rented skis on Saturday morning, I looked around and my co-workers had already headed for the slopes. So, I figured out how how to work the Spademan bindings by watching someone and shuffled over to a lift line. When I got to the top, I immediately fell getting off the lift and dragged my carcass out of the way. Somehow, I got back up and found a zig-zag trail through the trees. I had seen someone do the snowplow, so I just plowed my way from zig to zag until I got back to the base. Being young, stupid, and stubborn, I got back on the lift for another round of punishment. ...and another. ...and another. I was spending good money for this weekend and was going to enjoy myself if it killed me. In order to present the most stylish image (and also being cheap), I had purchased a pair of new unwashed bib overalls for this ski weekend. Every time I fell, I left a blue mark on the slope. By the end of the day, there were blue marks all over the beginning slope. It looked like someone had spilled a big box of light blue apostrophes. Sunday, my co-workers encouraged me to take on a blue run. FWIW, I am no longer friends with any of these people.
Eventually, I had a chance to ski out West (Vail) and was immediately hooked. It was their worst season in seven years. It was my best skiing experience ever. Not that I had a clue as to what I was doing...
Not long after, I fell in with a ski group that traveled out West for an annual ski trip. I was invited to join and went on several trips to Breckenridge, Copper, and Park City. We basically skied ourselves to exhaustion for a week. Did I take a lesson? No way! This was my vacation and I wanted to enjoy every minute. How could taking a lesson be any fun? We skied greens, blues, and the occasional black. Did I say "skied"? Let's be honest -- I was skidding and wedging the entire time. I wasn't skiing -- I was coping with the mountain and it usually won. Half the time, I was scared spitless. I still had no clue as to what I was doing...
(Looking back, why did I keep on skiing? There was no good reason, but I enjoyed it somehow. Go figure...)
Eventually, our ski group went their separate ways and I didn't ski for several years. My by-then wife and I had always talked about leaving the DC area. One of the factors in choosing a new home was that it had to have *something* to offer other than a job. For some reason, we wanted a "life", which we'd heard about and sounded like a good thing. Even though I hadn't skied in over 10 years, I remembered fondly those earlier ski experiences. Ah, those happy times at Seven Springs! Finally in 1998 we moved to Sandy, Utah, which had several things to offer, including nearby skiing.
I immediately threw out my old ski equipment (Olin Mark IV skis, Hanson rear-entry boots) and purchased new shaped skis. "You'll love these new shaped skis! You'll be thrilled with your new turns!". For some reason, I couldn't tell a difference between them and my old Mark IVs. The new shaped skies didn't skid or snowplow any better than my old skis. I was disappointed...
Anyway, I was skiing more often now since the slopes were so close. I figured that sheer "miles on the slopes" would make me a better skier. For some reason, that didn't seem to be happening...
So, I signed up for a half-day private lesson. My first lesson ever! It was taught to me by an Alta Olde Phart. He shouted encouraging things to me like "Mash the grape!" and "Attack and die!". When I interrupted with a question, he snapped at me to shut up and listen. Gee, I was sorry when the lesson ended and I had to part with my new friend!
But for some reason, I still wasn't skiing any better. So, I ordered this "Anyone Can Be An Expert Skier" book, which talked about cool stuff like carving and actually made sense. The very next time I was on the slopes, I tried this "Phantom Move" thing. It worked! Maybe this Harb guy knows what he's talking about!
...so, two books and videos, 5 camps, and countless exercises later, I *think* that I may be getting better at this skiing thing. I actually enjoy the exercises. I'm not afraid any more. I know how to control my speed. My turns don't look like zig-zags anymore. I'm constantly scheming to get more days off from work so that I can ski more. I think I may have a life now.
This may work out after all...