Ski Free: An instructor's lifetime contract

Like in an Alfred Hitchock movie this adventure started with a small event. A minor problem in fact! A women had her fingers and diamond ring stuck inside her ski gloves.


But first let me set the scene.

It was a glorious Spring skiing day with lots of sun, no wind and -3c weather! Cold enough so that the snow stayed fast yet you could feel that sun caressing you! I tried to get some friends to ski with me but they were to busy making more money, bring up kids etc...
I was alone and enjoying it!

On such a day I never stop skiing but the extra coffee and that great New England breakfast forced me to stop!

As I passed this women, the red lingths went on and the flashing sign in my brain, "does not compute,,,does not compute" kept blinking!

Too much make up for skier! Blonde hair down to waist too dangerous to ski!Very very expensive ski outfit not appropriate to New England ski center!
Just when she was going to put the knife to the gloves, I came to the rescue. They were $300 Spyder gloves after all! Seems her diamond ring was stuck inside the glove lining and she had given up!
Just could not see those great gloves cut up!

With some tugging and twisting we got the fingers out! Out comes a big,,,no a HUGE diamond on a tiny ring! We saved the gloves!

I am just about to go off when she cries out, "John,,,John come and see this man helped me get my gloves off"!

I turn to look and coming towards me is a huge man! A Tomba Bomba but bigger with jet black hair and clearly on some juice! His neck was stretching the sweater to breaking point. His XXL ski jacket was too small!

After a long long handshake, I had to have coffee with them. I stress the HAD TO!

They were new to area ( as if I did not know), lost in ski area and skiing for two weeks. At this point I should have shut up and just continued my skiing!

But no! I began to tell them about the "easy" sections, then how to ski the easy sections, finally show then how to get to easy sections!

In short I ended up skiing with them ( now I say out of curiosity). She kept asking how she was doing and he "surprised" me with his agility!Very fast on his feet!

One lift and run lead to another until it was the end of the day! I must confess I enjoyed myself watching them discover skiing like little children and listening to their heavy New York accent! Clearly city people.

After telling them what great progress they made and suggesting some things to do next day, I am about to leave. Out comes a roll of money. I mean a roll of bills! He hands me a one thousand USA bill! I refuse and tell him how much I enjoyed the day! Quickly I go off so that he has no choice but to put bill back!

The following days are great and I ski the steeps since the snow is getting soft! I forget the couple until I get a letter from the Ski center Marketing Director. Seems I have a season's pass waiting for me and a request to book for the next 10 years the following XX week every March! A certain couple who own 10% of the ski center want me to teach them!


What can I say!


The story does not end there! Three weeks later I am reading Time Magazine and I see heading, "Teflon DON leaves with son".

John is that big boy on the right of the picture if you visit the site, "Teflon Don"

Ah John Gotti? I wish my ski life was as exciting!

Pavelski, you have great stories and tell them(write) well. Keep them coming!