Steep Learning Curve

I took Emma skiing on Saturday and had one of those days that you remember for the rest of your life. I am actually irritated trying to put it down in text because I can not capture how much fun it was to spend the day with her one-on-one, watching her excel at something new.

8:00 am – Emma’s 1st Ski Trip Ever
Pack up the ski gear and head off for Silver Mountain. Take world’s longest gondola to lodge at the top of the mountain.

10:00 am – Going to Ski School
Drop Emma off with beginning ski instructor. Hit the slopes w/ Jeff (ski-buddy, running-partner, friend, etc.)

12:00 pm – Ski School is out

Pick up Emma. Told by instructor that I have a “natural” skier on my hands (tip extra for unprovoked compliment … okay-- so we all know that I didn’t really tip him). Find out that she was bumped up to intermediate class to keep her from waiting around too much. Grab some burgers and fries in the lodge (mmmmm – that hot greasy stuff is even better after skiing all morning). Interrupted by 30-something fellow ski-schooler and told how good Emma was on the slopes. Apparently she was the 1st one at the bottom of the runs.

1:00 pm – First runs with Emma (GREEN CIRCLE)
Consciously try to exude confidence, despite nervousness about Emma slipping off the side of the mountain (She looks so dang small all of the sudden). Lots of falls (amazed how quick she bounces back up, smiling while professing “I’m okay”). We work our way through every green run on the mountain.

2:00 pm – Going to the top (BLUE SQUARE)

We stumble across a blue run that Emma’s instructor suggested I take her down, it’s a bit steep. Emma tackles it with vigor. It tackles her back a few times. Her instructor said that after going down that run she would be ready to ride Chair 2 (duh duh duh – suspense inducing music) to the top of the mountain – so we’re off. Emma is so tough. She cuts her way back and forth all the way down the mountain. Welling with pride at her work ethic and “No Fear” attitude. Reward her efforts with some hot chocolate in the lodge.

3:00 pm – It's Showtime (BLACK DIAMOND)

After getting a little rest we head back out. Emma wants to see how she will do now on the green runs she started the day with. She blows through them with ease, falling only a couple times. She even tries a rail slide. While telling her to stay off the ski park she hits and lands a small jump! Start laughing because watching her ski is so much fun. On a cat track, I show her how tucking makes her go a bit faster. We hit the blue run she battled earlier. This time she speeds down it and starts tucking because apparently she isn’t getting enough speed. She no longer cuts across the run, just barrels straight down. The run is short enough that, as I start to get nervous for her, it is pretty much over. I laugh and tell her she is a mad-woman. We now go back up Chair 2. After getting off the lift, Emma makes a beeline STRAIGHT down the mountain. I start yelling for her to cut across the face of the run to slow down. She continues to plunge. I throw myself down after her. I can’t catch her because she is not cutting at all and her skis are actually waxed. I finally catch up with her at the bottom. I scold her and tell her it isn’t safe to just go straight down. She argues that “its easier if you don’t cut.” I am seriously impressed, but I persist to avoid future hospital visits. She agrees to comply next time.

4:00 pm – Joining the Snow Patrol

We take some more runs down the mountain. We unwittingly go down a run that has been shut down for the night. We realize this as we get to the immobile lift at the bottom. Snap some pics while we wait for ski patrol to rescue us. Get a stern reprimand and a free ride back to the lodge. What a fantastic day.


While spending the day skiing and joking and playing with Emma, I got this glimpse of her and I on the slopes over the next ten years or so. The whole day just made me excited for the many ski days with her to come.