Most everyone has a story to tell. Maybe about their first time on skis, something that happened that was totally unexpected while on the slopes, or something that occured while skiing that still makes them laugh when they think about it. Here is one story about a first time out.

I have to admit, I absolutely hated learning how to ski. As a matter of fact, I hated the classes so much at first that I honestly thought about quitting! But quitting is something that I am not known to do, just the opposite in fact. Sometimes I don't know when to quit.

Okay on with the story: I took the classes and felt somewhat like a penguin trying to learn how to play baseball. Pretty awkward feeling, even on level ground, trying to get those two waxed slats to go where I wanted them to! So FINALLY the class was almost complete and the instructor took us all down the slope in a big, slow, bumbling group. We cautiously (and a bit ungracefully) began to make our way down the slope for the first time when out of nowhere comes a skiier who obviously has mastered the basic art of balance to a far greater degree than we had. I watched in awe as the skiier zipped toward us at a speed that I thought would surely get one a ticket on the interstate. At the same time, our instructor deemed it necessary to toss a ski pole into the path of the oncoming skiier, who failed to heed the instructors warnings to slow down for our "newbie" group. The skiier quickly and smoothly dodged the pole and disappeared around the next curve.

At last we made it to the bottom with all of our equipment and bodies intact. Class was officially over and we were released to wander off in the wild on our own. A friend and I nabbed a lift and managed to stay on our feet when disembarking from the chair of terror. One deep breath and we were off, not breaking any speed limits mind you, just on our way with no one to "hold our hands" on the way down. Having barely made the first turn, my friend toppled over and somehow managed to sprain her ankle. Well it seems that she was apparently going too slow to pop off her ski when she fell and instead got carted away to spend the rest of her time sipping hot chocolate and flirting with the available men at the lodge.

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