Skiing - It’s Marmite to me 🤪

Doing something with someone you love 💙

Chris and I both discovered skiing as teenagers with school ski trips at secondary school.  I absolutely loved these trips both for the physical skill of skiing, being a sportswoman, and the social aspect of skiing with a gang of friends.  I went three times with school and again at university.  Chris went six times with school!

However, we had never been as a couple due to money and sporting ties, until much later when we took the family to Austria in 2015.  The girls had been with school, Chris and I felt it was important they had the same opportunity to experience skiing as we had had and then decided we should try it as a family 'just once'. 

After this holiday, where we'd had such an amazing time, our new love affair with skiing began.  We went again and again on family holidays, with friends and by ourself until Chris decided after he left Energize, he wanted to go for longer and the van has helped us do that this winter and last.  Chris comes alive on the slopes and his appetite for skiing is pretty voracious.! 

Childzys&TeamTozer - DJMT 💙🤍

Flaine23 Gang

The breathtaking views - part of the love of skiing for me is being in the dramatic landscapes of the mountains.  Being at the top of the world, next to the sky, looking out over the expanse of the mountain ranges is very, very special, it humbles me, keeps me grounded and gives a feeling of calm.  Even in those times when I've been homesick or anxious on our ski travels, the mountains have always kept me calm and in awe.  

Being in the outdoors and nature - Much like the mountain views, just being outdoors when it's cold is invigorating to me.  Sometimes, at home in Britain, wintertime is a difficult time to get out due to the wetness of our climate.  But even though I suffer from the cold due to an under active thyroid, being in the snowy environment helps you to get out. I love feeling the cold air on my skin, breathing the sharp. cold air and of course, most of the time, the sunshine.  European skiing is obviously well known for the benefits of sunny weather and the blue skies add to a massive feeling of wellbeing. 

Another refreshing sight are the people in mountain resorts embracing the weather, getting out and enjoying their surroundings despite the low temperatures, people of all ages still going out and exercising, walking, skiing, sledging, nordic skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and of course cafe culture, sitting out in their coats, hats, boots and gloves.  Of course life still goes on in these cold communities, no staying indoors here. In Super Besse, France, despite the wind, sleet and general miserableness of the weather, families were still out on the slopes sledging and walking, no hiding indoors, so great to see.

Night times in the mountains are special.  The blackness of the sky, the multitude of stars, the quietude, again is calming to the soul.

Homer on top of the world at Pau Engagly, France.

The beauty of a newly groomed piste 💙

The physical & mental challenge - As I said, I've always enjoyed the physical challenge of skiing, the strength and energy needed, the techniques employed and the mental application of all of these.  I've definitely improved this year of course after hours of skiing as well as better conditions. But also my weight transfer is much better. In fact I thought my ‘snake hips’ had become pretty damn good but after watching myself back on video I’m not that impressive lol! Just a 54 yr old randonaying down the piste! Judge for yourself on YouTube - no comments thanks 🤣

https://youtu.be/mFZZoyVgDFA?feature=shared

  As a confident and fit youngster, I didn't really think about the mental and physical challenge, just merely felt the sore muscles.  But inevitably, things don't come as easily any more and after last season where I took weeks to get fit I prepared myself a little better this year just so that I wasn't so tired and could keep up with Chris and any others we might ski with a little better.  Gym sessions with Hel definitely paid off and as a result my skiing has been better and I've been less tired.

After having read last years blog ‘Fear…’ I’m also more confident and less fearful when skiing.  Of what?  Ice, steep slopes, falling, the 'wrong' kind of snow.  I'm more confident in myself as a skier and my physical ability.  Skiing down steep pistes, still not Blacks 😆, like the ones below, present an immediate challenge.

Red run ✔️

But also, glidng down beautiful wide slopes like this one is also very physically and emotionally satisfying, you're 'in the flow' ,just doing it with a heightened awareness of your surroundings and your mind and body at one - sublime.

It started as a kid, blame the TV series ‘Heidi’ - I like mountain villages, architecture, history and scenery

And of course coffee, beer & lunch with amazing views 🍻

The morning coffee stop - body, mind and spirit at one 

😌☕

I HATE SKIING!!! - Ok, so I've gone on about my love of skiing but I also HATE it! 😂

Why? In a few words...

* Its's cold, bloody cold, so cold you can't feel you're fingers, they hurt, they throb, you think that the hell am I doing out here?

* It's scary - why am I stood at the top of this piste, I might hurt myself - I could break my leg/arm, neck, die?  It's too steep, I don't want to fall, what's this bloody ice?

* Bloody snow - It's snowing, I can't see where I'm going

* It's too much effort - the boots, all the layers (I'm cold/no hot), carrying my skis/poles/helmet/bag, I've got to walk to the lift with all this?  Can't I stay in bed?

* My legs/arms/hands/feet/shins/ankles/eyes/everything hurts

* I want to lie on a beach...and be warm and lazy

But I keep coming back...😊