there's snow in my boot!

Growing up, I never went to ski with my family. My friends did it and I was always a little jealous but I never complained. I think I got a pair of skates when I was 6, but never got any after that. My sister might have skated a little more, but it never went past the local park lake. Most of it was because neither of my parents were familiar with winter sports, and quite frankly if I had time to play sports, I should've been studying.

Not that its an excuse...

But cross country skiing today was extremely painful. I've never taken a course to ski x-country and I get the jist of it (on the flats), but I can't go downhill for my life. My definition of a hill = 5 meter elevated mound. Seriously. I had a bit more time so I decided to venture out on some other courses on MtRoyal, and next thing I know I'm hurtling down (in front of a crowd) and crashing. A little later, course turns left, I go straight ... into a tree. Argg... I was so fed up. If I can point the skiis inwards before the hill and slow my descent, I'm ok. The bigger problem are the gradual declines where I just lose control - and can't turn...

Am I the only "adult" learning to ski? Seriously. I'm the only idiot falling and covered in snow. It sucks. When I go to " free swim" at the pool, its always packed with 70% kids who can't swim more than a length - why not skiers?

Anyway, this is my little story of "the Canadian who doesn't do winter sports". Its kind of like "you're asian, you know kung-fu?" but just as bad. For me, the only winter equipment I had was a tobbagan. Maybe that's why I like watching bobsledding so much.

enjoy the snow folks.