The art of seducing a "relunctant skier"

In my past lives I had the "reputation" for solving difficult clients at the ski resort!
The bratty 4 year old. The macho "thunder thighs" wantobe mogul expert, and this one lady who I will remember all my life!

She had been passed along from instructor to instructor! Cost was no object to husband! She had to ski "for business reasons" and so after several weeks of trying different approaches the ski school director asked me "as a personal favor" to him to try one last time ! According to him,,just getting her on lift would be a "success" since she cried and refused to get on lift ! In short made a scene !

On Saturday morning I watched as the 4 children, determined husband and sad looking women came over to the desk! I had planned my seduction well!

The introductions were short and crisp! I sensed a wave of relief from all the family as they left her with me! Tension was in the air !

As a well trained seducer of skiers,,I offered to "have a coffee" in a quiet part of the chalet! We talked about her, her life, her joys, her kids, her work ! Never once was skiing mentioned !

After two hours ( in the chalet ) the husband shows up and is surprised that his wife is smiling, is animated about the morning and that his wife gives him a great kiss!

He goes right away to desk for future lessons!

The following week the same procedure but this time I make sure she still has her ski jacket on, and so after 15 minutes she asks to go out "too cool down" !
We walk around and watch as skiers they enjoy their day!
Again we talk about her,,,,,her kids, her plans,,,her goals !
The hour seems to flow so well !
When the ski school director comes over to ask me what is going on,,,,( he was watching us talk all morning ) I stopped him with a, "just take their money put in in a special jar and wait " ! He saw the twinkle in my eye and knew I had a plan !

After three weeks of these "tête à tête " coffee discussions she asks out of the blue, "aren't we suppose to ski " ! Silence follows !

I look into her eyes and say with a soft voice, "its up to you, if you want to go to another level. Think about it this week "
By this time other instructors are glancing at us. Rumors begin to fly ! Bets are made !

The week was short since I got a phone call from her! Yes she is ready to try "it" ! Yes she will get on slopes !

Did I have a surprise for her!

When the family was gone off skiing that Saturday morning, I suggested we try out skis near a quiet golf course nearby! For two hours she walked up and slide down the greens. For two hours she learned to edge skis as she walked up gentle slope! She just followed as we talked about her work and her husband! I never once mentioned skiing!

Another two sessions in the golf course ! The rumors were now "flowing" to the ski patrollers sheds !

With a hint of guilt she asks me if we could try to lifts ! The very lifts she hated and avoided with drama just a few weeks ago! I had been waiting for this moment!
My next seduction level ! I told husband to take kids home ( they had a chalet near slopes) and I would drive wife later!
With lifts closed I had arranged that one of the chairlifts was exactly on the "load" position ! Besides this chairlift was a small table with a table covered in white linen, a bottle of wine and three glasses ! Why three you ask ?

Well the rumors at this point were too much and I needed someone to pour the wine while I practiced with this lady how to get on chairlift with grace, elegance with wine glass in hand!
The ski school director accepted to pour!

Picture the scene;
5 PM dusk, two candles on table near chairlift, a bottle of wine three people sipping this wine ,,,,oh I forgot the cheese placed just to the right,,so that she had to get into chairlift to get her favorite cheese!

After 15 minutes of sipping wine, sampling cheese and laughing she was an "expert" on getting on chairlift! Another ski instructor suggested he drive her home ! My director and I just sat on this chairlift and finished discussing what to do with the money her husband had given us !

I already had planned my final seduction and I needed this money!

At the very top of this ski resort was a small cosy resto with a "hidden" bedroom on the second floor ! I suggested that we cater a meal there for the husband and wife and that they sleep at top of ski center since it had been done for some VIP "guests" !
The director had a stony face as he considered my plan! Then a tiny smile creeped up in the corner of his lips,,,,,"Pavel" he said, "you are on. I will set it up "

Since this is a "family ski chat site" and I have great respect for Dave I leave it up to your imagination how the evening ended with the wife and husband! I will leave it to your imagination how this women who was so afraid to go up in the chairlift "felt" as she was going up hand in hand with her husband to this special place!

In conclusion all persons can learn to ski!
All persons can overcome their fears!

You just have to find the "effective" teacher, the right place and a little wine !

Skiing is so wonderful,,,,full of adventures !!!

Respectfully,
Pavel

Brilliant Pavel.

Owen.

Most fears are irrational so they can be overcome. However one of my friend wouldn't ski no matter what, despite being born and raised in Haute-Savoy and living in Switzerland. She's just one of these people who struggle with balance. She says she really had miserable time at school when she had to ski with her class and was very happy when she finished it because for her it meant that nothing could make her go skiing anymore. She's been pretty bad with X-C skiing, ice skating, roller blading or biking too. Her husband is an avid skier but he's given up on her and just goes skiing by himself.

Anyone can learn to ski if they have that "want", and pavel is so right about finding an effective trigger.

But I do so disagree with anyone being forced, coerced, nagged, bribed, humiliated etc etc etc. Whether this is just to get on skis at all or to "progress" - in inverted commas, because the view of this so called progression is so often someone else with their own agenda.

Skiing is supposed to be a fun activity and if fun isn't part of someones day then forget it! Do something else.

If your partner/friend/child/sibling etc etc etc doesn't want to ski or doesn't want to "progress" then work round it, don't dry to bulldoze (should be snowplough maybe?) your way through this perceived problem. The problem is in your head!

My wife doesn't ski but, luckily for me, does enjoy a holiday in the mountains doing her own thing. What this means for me is that when we go together we have a holiday that involves skiing (for me) and when I go alone or with other people I have a skiing holiday.

It works for us.

OldAndy,,,should be,,,,WiseAndy !

You can only bring a horse to water,,,,,,,it has to want to drink !

So it is with skiing!

The WANT is the key!

Soon it will turn to DESIRE!

Smart smart man that OldAndy !