When did you start skiing

My first trip was 31 years ago, to Bormio. I was 8 years old.

I hated every minute of it, if my memory serves me correctly. I was very small for my age and struggled with the lifts and tows. I also didn't like the cold.

The past few seasons I've been fortunate enough to have 3 holidays each year and my only regret is not being able to afford to go in my early 20's.

Looking forward to Mayrhofen this coming January, followed by Sauze in Feb and to continuing to make up for the lost years!!

I really wish my parents had been interested in winter holidays, or had the money to have them. I never went on a school skiing trip, it wasnt for me apparantly :(

My wife, who I met at the age of 16, went skiing with her school 3 times, but we married very young, and for many years couldnt afford to have holidays. However, as time went by, we started having better holidays in the summers.

Then, 5 years ago, we decided to go away for Christmas. Mrs H wanted to get away from the usual routine at Christmas time, so we decided where better to go than skiing? I had never been before, my daughter had been once with her school (she was 15 by now and my son 12). We headed for Val Thorens with our friends, Steve who was a good skier, and Bridget who had never skid before, and their 2 girls the same age as our 2. They had also decided they wanted to go away for Christmas.

I wasnt sure how I would like it, so we borrowed a load of gear, and I booked in for lessons, morning and afternoon. I hated it to begin with, probably because the youngsters had no fear or sense of danger, no concerns about time off work with injuries, or how easy it might be to fall off a mountain! I was useless at snowplough turns, and by the end of day 2, I sat in the bath with my shins almost bleeding and announced that I was not skiing again. I didnt know how my boots were supposed to feel, did I?

The following day, I went to my morning lesson, and informed my instructor of my concerns. The kids had all been moved up a group or two, and I was still in the bottom, with a bunch of total losers, most of whom were totally non sporty and were not really interested, doing it for their partners or something similar. I told him I had had enough, it was minus 25 every day and I wasnt enjoying it.

"Today, Monsieur Toneee, ve are making ze parallel tons. I promise you, you vill find zis easieur. If you do not like, you can quit tomorrow."

With those words of wisdom, we set off high on a blue run up above the village, after what seemed like an eternity on several long and very quiet chair lifts. I was a lot more relaxed than previously, as I had decided this would probably be my last day. However, the ease with which I suddenly found myself projecting across the slope took me by surprise, and I actually started to enjoy myself.

At lunchtime, I stayed on the green through the village and went up and down, up and down, and straight back into the afternoon lesson, before going on a few more blue and green runs back around the village with Mrs H and the rest of the gang. I began to feel like this could be fun. The rest, as they say, is history.

However, when I left Val Thorens, I had only had that weeks skiing, and only 5 days of lessons. The next time I went was with Skidaddle, the 2 of us deciding to go away for a few days to Bad Klein Kircheim in South Eastern Austria, after our initial plan to have 4 days in Slovenia fell through when the snow melted! This was 2005. I was nothing short of rubbish, although even he struggled on the one run that was open, which was sheet ice in the morning and slush by midday. It was cold and wet, but the beer was fabulous. We had 4 very drunk days, and i decided we should do this skiing thing again, but properly.

Since then, we have been to Mayrhofen several times, and Sauze d'Oulx earlier this year. I simply cannot get enough, and at 39 I am learning every time I get on the snow. My technique is far from perfect, but I am able to get up and down a mountain with the minimum of fuss, and now without causing any danger to anyone else either! Thats quite important.

But most of all, I love being out up there, in the snow, with the sun shining preferably, blazing a trail back down again, and feeling like I have really achieved something. Everyone needs a challenge, and this has been mine in recent years, and I cant wait to improve myself with the 2 weeks coming up this season.

me 5years ago in niederau at41 i am now going at least 3 times ayear to make up lost time,after reading jans posts will probably have a new year trip to niederau to tick off the runs i havnt done and because its a little gem.

1-27-07 :) I had a totally smooth run for about .45 seconds. Best 45 seconds of my life. I was carving and doin' great. LOL then what? See my avatar :)


Peace out

When I was 7 years old

I started around 1980 when I was six years old. I spent all weekends and 1-2 afternoons in my local hill for many years. Then I found out that girls are more interesting than skiing. I went to army after highschool, and after that I found out that skiing in more interesting than girls. So I found myself in the backcountries of Chamonix, and oh yeah, I was right.

Ok, almost. Now I ski with my sons who started at the age of four.

first trip was 2004 when i was 13. Went to winter park in colorado with school and i loved it!

My parents were never really that interested in skiing but one of their freiends persuaded them to go and so they booked for us to go to la plagne two weeks after winter park!

I've been hooked ever since and have a been at least once ever season since then!

1982 14 years old school trip monte bondone trento region italy