Confessions of a Skier

Some go to a priest to confess.

Some tell their best friends to unburden their soul.

I found a perfect “medium” to confess my ski sins! This site!

This sin has been “around” for some time and rumours are spreading about my behavior,,so if ever you are in a well known ski resort or in a bar and you “hear” this tale please just smile and know you have the true source and it is far diferent from what you heard at the bar!
I just want to stress to some of you that might not “approve” this tale or confession,,that first it is a confession thus I do recognize my sin! It is the past,,when I was young and “foolish”.

Some sins you can forget easily! But this one had so much “unplanned” impact that I could not tell anyone (even my family),, now I must unburden myself!

All I ask is that if you find out at what ski resort this happened ( because it really did happened) then do not repeat my sin! It is too addictive and you will find yourself with a life time of such desires!

Where do I start?

How did this happen!

Well first you must know that I am a former ski patroller so I believe in respecting all rules! No ducking under ropes for me! No cliff jumping for me! In short I follow the rules!!!!

Here it goes,,,,,,,gulp!

It was one of those 3 day snow storms, with roads closed, schools closed and even some airports closed! 3 days locked in a house,,like a tiger in a cage watching the flakes build up! Three days getting my skis ready, making extra food, trying to keep my heart rate down!

Finally on the third day,,the winds died down. The forecast was for sun and 60 cm. of fresh snow (if you could get to it)! It was like the night before Christmas and you know you have been very, very good all year so……….

I had a secret that few skiers knew,,that would guarantee me first powder! But before I tell you about the secret, let me just fill in some new skiers, like Adele, Mike, Gordieski, and perhaps Ellistine to the secret desire of all top level skiers! It is to ski chest high soft fresh powder fields that have never been skied before! Jan knows all about these “secret” skier desires. It is an experience some skiers will never have ! The goal is to be first on the lifts and first down virgin snow fields!

Problem is there is a “pecking order” in the ski world! Never officially posted! Never officially recognized by ski resorts, but never the less it is “religiously” respected!

First up are the crews! They do not ski down so no problem!
Then the head ski patrollers! The patroller’s supervisors and then they are followed by the junior first year patrollers or patroller “friends”! Right up behind are the ski instructors,,who rarely get up early to ski since they “want the groomers” to make the runs perfect for them! But on such a unique day all the ski instructors are out ( even the ones who have a hangover),,,,pushing the patrollers to get on lifts! Of course the School Director is first! Even if he/she gets to lift late,,,,the skiers waiting in line part like the sea does for Moses!

Finally the peasant skiers are allowed up ( that is you and me)! That is the tradition! It has been so for hundreds of years and will be so for another hundred!

But I had a secret and this is what I am about to confess to, how I used this secret to obtain a lifetime of memories! All I hope is that this confession does not cause a young skier soul to follow my “sinners path”! Again I repeat,,I deeply regret this sin!

I had worked at this resort so I knew some “family secrets”! I knew that there was a restaurant at the top of this resort and the only way to get food up was to use the ski lifts! All the food, all the drinks were hauled up at 5 AM! I knew the manager since I had helped him in the past on “busy” days and times! I planned my attack!

At 3 AM I left my home very quietly since I did not want my wife or teenage sons to know where I was going! The roads were all cleared and I arrived at an empty parking lot at 4:30! The food trucks were already parked under the lifts! I walked over to Hans , the restaurant manager and casually offered to help him load up the 40 crates of food! When the last one was loaded,,,he looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and of course that knowing smile!
“Why don’t you help me at the top also Pavel” he asked! In a second I got out my skis I had hidden just beside the lift! I looked around,,,no patrollers arrived! No instructors around! “Quick get on the lift” screamed my brain!!!!!

Have you ever been in another galaxy? I know some people think you need “artificial” means to travel beyond your body. Not so for me! That ride up was unique! Quiet with every tree branches heavy with snow! A giant mysterious hand had sculptured the ski runs!
At the very top another 45 minutes of hauling food. Then Hans smiled at me and said, “I do not open for another hour,,,I’ll go down with you” So he puts on his tele skis and off we go!

This time I did not rush! I knew I was the only one there to ski down! I looked around so that the sensations coming in my brain were to last a lifetime! Then like a bird I took off from my perch,,,soft easy snow flying by! Soft easy turns slowly getting faster and faster with snow rising into my nose! Into my open mouth!

Floating not skiing! Snow in my ears, my nose, my neck! Breathing in rhythm with my turns like a swimmer. Like a porpoise I would come up from the snow,,then down over my head into the snow ocean!
Time did not exist! Silence everywhere!

Too quickly I am at the top of the main lift and I can see tiny dots first static then as they see me I perceive movement, agitation!

As all you skiers know skiing in the woods with your buddy alone is fine,,,but when you have the “gods” of the ski resort watching,,,that is another issue! And these Gods were upset!
There is only one way to “escape” from them,,,it is to ski like you have never skied before! To show them that you may not be a GOD but you desire to visit heaven ( at least briefly).
I picked the steepest line! I picked the deepest powder so that I was lost under that sea of snow longer and longer! I let those skis go and just held on!

A strange thing happened wit h the Gods! A silence first, yet I could feel those eyes as I occasionally broke surface for more air! Then one yell! Another followed with, “Yaaaaaaa” A third “go for it” ! It was as if all of them were with me,,taking in the swells and sharing my visit to heaven! At the very bottom all were whistling, laughing and encouraging,,,,,,, EXCEPT THE GOD! “How did you get up there” was the loud stern question as I stopped in front of HIM!(sometimes it is a HER but this GOD was a him)! Him's are worse than Her's because this was his moment to show lesser gods his power!!!!!

I knew better than to get Hans in trouble so,,,,,I brushed my jacket off, took snow out of my ears slowly and finally looked GOD in the face and said, “I walked up two days ago”!!!!!
I touched him! He had been young himself once! He had those same sinful desires so with a smile he said, “well next time call me so we can do it together”

And so if ever you hear a story about a “crazy skier” who walked up during a blizzard on skins and then slept in a sled shack,,just to ski down first,,,,,I confess I lied it did not happen exactly that way! Please do not argue to the storyteller because I plan to do this again but this time with my sons!
Also if ever you are in a ski bar and you meet an skier who calls himself Mike and he finishes the tale by saying that he is really Hans,,,,well ask him what kind of fat skis did I have?

PS.
This site in not responsible for young souls who may be “influenced” by such behavior! Visiting heaven is risky so always do it with another who works for resort!
Better still become a ski patroller and you will ski those virgin slopes everyday.!

Now the debate begins,,,sorry I really had to “unburden” myself!

Pavel,

You know that sometimes you hear a piece of music that gives you an install recall of a girl you once met? A quickening of the heart, a smile of that long ago feeling.

Well, when I read your description of the run down, I was transported back to a day, when I first encountered deep snow, snow that sprayed high over the shoulder, with crystals glittering, rhythmic bouncing turns and only the sound of your breath, and your occasional almost hysterical squeals of excitement. Yes snow in nose and mouth! And I was first on and off the lift.

I feel a yodel coming on.

DaveMac,
So far away,,yet I hear that sound right now!!!!!

No need to say more! You have sinned (and loved it)!
Pavel

wow sounds amazing! I envy you two!

DaveMac,


A "teaser" for you (and I am sure Jan, Mike, perhaps Bandit will bite)!


How can you in 2 seconds KNOW that the skier beside you on this glorious powder day is a powder pro? (even before you put skis on or get to lift)

No it is not the skis!
No it is not the $1,500 North face Extreme powder suit!
No it is not the heliski patch on jacket!
No it is not the "I skied in Alaska, Utah, St. Anton,,,,,"

So what is that one thing that in 2 seconds you know he/she loves powder. Skis powder a lot. As it is written in the bible, "knows the flakes personally"!

One day i hope to visit Pavel`s world as it sound`s magical,I`ve just got to get him to spill the bean`s where it is. :wink:



AJ Adele

Pavel, they wear goggles when the sun is shining )

Pav. Nothing wrong with a little white lie now and then, especially in such circumstances. You would be forgiven by all, I am sure. I'd have done the same. Good on ya!