Apart from an hour in the Milton Keynes snow dome, the last time I stood on a pair of skis was 1994.
When we lived in Japan, some pals of ours decided to take us skiing in Nagano for the weekend. We drove up there overnight and were kitted up and out on the slopes as the dawn rose over the mountains - spectacular, if a little exhausting. My ski gear was borrowed from my 6'3" boss and was somewhat on the large side, to say the least. Oh, and there was the small problem that my only idea of how to ski had come from watching Ski Sunday and the odd Winter Olympics. No matter - our friend Masahiro grabbed me by the back of the jacket and bundled me onto and off a ski lift. In rudimentary Japanese, he explained how one snowploughed and then pointed me down the mountain. Off I slid - all very good. Skiing! Faster and faster, until I hit what felt like about 30mph and thought I'd better try the snowplough thing, at which point I discovered that at that speed, it really doesn't work too well, and flung myself onto the ground instead. When everyone else finished howling with laughter, they explained to me that skiing generally involves traversing the slope from side to side, not just heading straight down it. Well, how was I meant to know? That's not what they do on Ski Sunday!
It has taken me nineteen years to get round to going again. But go, we did, last week. And it was brilliant.
The snow was thick and fluffy, the hotel, perfectly placed for easy access to the lifts and ski school and the instructors got us all whizzing along and really enjoying what La Plagne has to offer. Predictably, the boys loved skiing and took to it really well - they are certainly much braver than me, as we discovered when we took a wrong turn and ended up on an extremely steep slope. They flew down, without a second thought when I made the mistake of looking and engaging my brain. Cue 10 minuites of knee trembling and agonisingly slow descent (but I made it!).
One boy child (and I'm sure you might be able to guess which) might have been a little gung ho at one point and managed to ski over the back ends of my skis resulting in a big fall and a colourful bruise.
I may have had the teensiest sense of humour failure at that point - he learned his lesson and gave me more room from then onwards!
And the best thing about skiing is that you feel totally justified in eating like a pig at every opportunity. Cooked breakfast - yes please, lunchtime tartiflette - don't mind if I do, 4:30pm - must be cake time, and it would be rude to turn down any of the three courses at supper. My kind of holiday!
Honestly, I'm slightly sad that it has taken me till my 40s to discover what fun a ski holiday is. I'm sure I would have bounced better at twenty something. And I might have stood a better chance of keeping up with the offspring too. Though I don't feel the need to do everything they do...
That's you, that last video, isn't it?
Posted by: The Coffee Lady | 01 April 2013 at 17:27
Wow! That looks amazing. I have only skiied once about 13 years ago. I would love to go again but think it might be a bit late to learn again in my fifties!
Posted by: Gina | 01 April 2013 at 20:18
Just look at that sky!! Although I hope you didn't. Not while skiing anyway...
Posted by: rusty duck | 01 April 2013 at 23:31
oh my. looks beautiful but I would be far too scared........
Posted by: driftwood | 02 April 2013 at 08:53
Looks heavenly. And yes, I'm certain that's you in the second video. Very impressive!
Posted by: suse | 02 April 2013 at 09:38
Wow! I've never been skiing, and I'm sure I've grown too scared of falling over to ever be able to do it now. It looks like a fantastic place to be, though, and I'm sure I'd manage the eating part well!
Posted by: Amanda | 02 April 2013 at 10:02
How fantastic - I'd love to go skiing. My dad first went when he was 60. He was in Davos for work and had a spare couple of days before he flew home. At 31 I feel a bit too old to start now but I suppose it's never too late! x
Posted by: PinkCatJo | 02 April 2013 at 12:29
The Coffee Lady's comment cracked me up. If that IS you in the ski video -- Wow LOL!!! Good for you for trying skiing again! It looks like you had a wonderful vacation -- bruise and all.
My first ski experience was in a college class and it ended with me pulling ligaments, being on crutches for two weeks and out for the ski season -- all without even going on the ski lift! I tried again for my ski-loving hubby on our honeymoon, and although no injury occurred, it was almost as disastrous. Our boys love to ski and I'm looking forward to enjoying some ski vacations with them in the future -- I'll be wielding smaller pointy sticks in front of a cozy lodge fire!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 02 April 2013 at 13:20
Oh how I miss our yearly white week (as we call it)on the snow! Watching this just reopened my wound.
I'd be great at face planting in the snow, how did I not think about that?!
Posted by: Paola | 02 April 2013 at 15:21
I used to be a snowboarder. Yes, I did. We went to play in the snow every weekend for three winters and many evenings - and believe me, night skiing in the frozen North Eastern US is not for the fainthearted.
I couldn't even imagine doing it now, though I rather suspect I could eat all the cake.
Posted by: dottycookie | 02 April 2013 at 17:50
Glad you had such a fun time!
Posted by: OhAbigail | 02 April 2013 at 22:31
I could just soak up that blue, blue sky. It is the colour of happiness.
Hope the arm is OK now.
Posted by: Alice C | 02 April 2013 at 22:36
Oh that looks amazing. I'm talking cake here... You will never EVER get me on a pair of skis. Ever. I am way too chicken. Respect to you though. And your lunatic boys.
Ax
Posted by: Magic Bean | 03 April 2013 at 15:02
Yes, my one and only foray was in Japan too about twenty six years ago (shit - was it THAT long ago - my old life!). I really enjoyed it though I was pretty rubbish. I recall the best bit being the onsen after and the hot sake.
Anyway, really ought to try it again. Maybe you've inspired me to think about next Easter ...........
Posted by: Simmy | 03 April 2013 at 21:57
I was about to type 'how jealous am I!' ... and then I remembered that the last time I was on skies was somewhat more than 19 years ago and these days I'd be most likely to end up on my bottom!
It really does look like you all had a fabulous time :D
Posted by: Annie @ knitsofacto | 04 April 2013 at 22:17
It all looks so wonderful Ali. I don't mind the snow so much when it is accompanied by a blue sky!
Posted by: Simone | 04 April 2013 at 23:50
Your description of what happened to you in Japan was exactly what happened to me when I first went skiing in Lake Louise on our honeymoon. I whizzed in a straight line down the mountain, narrowly missing a group of people (who parted a way through for me as they screamed) and I realised too late that I couldn't stop and so was eventually forced to flip over several times before landing in a heap. My husband was horrified (he learnt to ski when he was a child and so it was a complete surprise to him that someone could be quite so inept). I haven't ventured back on to the slopes since then either, but I'm now tempted.
I'm so pleased you had a lovely time. x
Posted by: Florence | 05 April 2013 at 22:49
Despite having a well padded bottom to land on when I fall over I've never fancied skiing, but whizzing along must feel exhilarating.
Hope you'd packed the arnica!
Posted by: French Knots | 06 April 2013 at 08:38
last time I went skiing was when I went on a school trip. So many of my classmates came home in plaster my mother would never let me go again. I would love to give it a go again but at 47?
Posted by: Claire | 06 April 2013 at 17:06