I’ve been absent from the blog for a few weeks, but it’s not for lack of activity to report! I finally kicked my ski season into higher gear with back-to-back trips on Sunday and Monday. Skiing is tops on my list of “things worth using a vacation day for.” It’s also worth two day trips in a row from Cape Cod (including one to New Hampshire), and it’s worth the amount of money the resorts rob from you these days.
On Sunday I took a trip to NH with a friend of mine. He works the night shift, so if you want to know what dedication to the sport is: he worked until 7 am Sunday, we drove north and skied until 4 pm (with a lunch break for a few Bloody Marys), I drove us back and he went to work that night at 11. He also has no children, so I can call him with little notice and chances are good I’ll have someone to go with.
Monday was a slightly different kind of trip. The whole family hit the slopes for a special event that my wife was invited to at Wachusett Mountain. It was a gorgeous day at Wachusett, and the ownership provided a great experience. It was truly awesome getting both of my older boys on skis.
This was the first time for my 4-year-old, and my 6-year-old hadn’t been for almost 2 years! They were enthusiastic about the skills they learned during their lessons, and I couldn’t wait to head out with them myself.
I love teaching kids how to ski. It can be one of the most frustrating sports to learn, especially if you’re a perfectionist (or a toddler/young child)! Once I’m on skis, I feel like I have a new level of patience that doesn’t exist in any other situation. I try to keep it simple, because you don’t want to over-think things in the beginning – not to mention we’re talking 4 and 6 year olds here… and the most important part of the lesson is to have fun.
After a few runs, my 6-year-old was cruising down the trail by himself. I couldn’t have been more proud [*tear]. My 4-year-old did well too, and we ended by flying down the trail together while he held on to my ski poles for support.
Now that the ski season is entering its second to last month in the Northeast, skiing is all I have on my mind. I need to orchestrate as many trips as possible, working with the following handicaps: 3 children under 7, living 200 miles from the closest decent resort, finishing a kitchen renovation, not having much in the way of discretionary income, and having a busy work schedule.
Good thing I have a supportive wife, who knows that I am at my best/happiest when I’m skiing! I’m sure she’ll be fine if I plan a St. Patrick’s Day ski trip next week, as I haven’t taken an actual overnight trip all season. Thankfully my parents are back from their warm weather vacation, because now they can take care of our dog and help with the kids while I get my turns in.
It’s possible they may even come on a trip with us later in the month – that way my wife and I can take some runs together instead of trading off to take care of the baby!
I hope everyone in the northern states enjoys the tease of spring this week, because it’s probably gonna snow again! Actually I will say that it felt fantastic walking around Boston yesterday, it was almost tropical. I’m not ready for spring yet though, so at least that makes one person out of 14.5 million in New England!
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