Latest posts for the topic "20 years and counting..."

20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 07:50:53 GMT

It occured to me last night that I first took to the slopes exactly 20 years ago this month (can't remember the exact date).

I had made the odd decision to do a ski season having never skied before in my life and first put on a pair of ski boots (of the storm trooper variety) in Tignes in 1989 at the age of 18 and continued my learning experience in Chamonix for 2 years.

20 years, 6 seasons and numerous holidays later I'm still loving every second of it and I don't think anyone else would appreciate what I was saying apart from my J2ski 'buds'

Here's to another 20(+) years :D

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 07:57:40 GMT

Here's to another 20 years Nelly :D :thumbup:

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 08:27:04 GMT

bandit wrote:Here's to another 20 years Nelly :D :thumbup:

+1 8)

22 years and 2 months ago I fell over (many times) on the glacier at Tignes!

I plan to ski on my 100th birthday. :D

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 09:09:49 GMT

Well done Nelly - I'm a lot older than you and only been skiing for about 15 years, but would like to still be skiing in my 60's and then we'll see about the 70's )
Admin - I presume you intend to be alive and skiing on your 100 birthday - or is there going to be a coffin strapped to a plank/ski/snowboard hurtling down a slope somewhere )

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 09:17:36 GMT

Nelly,
20 years of ski-ing is a long time - you must be pretty good now :D

I wonder what you ought to buy yourself as a 20 year anniversary gift ... china ... platinum ... mmm ... I know - another ski holiday! :D :D

It is also an anniversary for me - 40 years since I first skied! But I'm afraid I had a 30 year gap with no ski-ing :cry:

Anyway, congratulations on your anniversary.

Ally

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 09:30:49 GMT

I definitely think a 20 year anniversary deserves a big treat of the skiing variety. Go for it Nelly! :lol:

35 years coming up for me, but with a 15 year gap, that makes 20 for me too...Now where are those brochures!!! :wink:

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 10:25:33 GMT

Sixteen for me. :-) Loved every minute.

Enjoy your twentieth anniversary Nelly.

Finn

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 11:49:55 GMT

:lol:

Wow, congratulations. I have just realised that I spent nearly that amount of time between my first and second Ski trips :shock:

My first trip was when I was 14, then I didn't go again till I was 33. Making up for it now though :twisted: I try and do two or three trips a season.

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 11:52:39 GMT

17 years in February/March for me :D

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 11:57:42 GMT

Pablo,
Were you two years old when you started then?

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:02:06 GMT

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:03:14 GMT

I've only been at it for 12 years - with a break of 7 years as Mr Kate no 1 had snow "issues" :shock: I had to divorce him.

My 9 year old has been skiing since he was 4, and he's better than me now....

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:48:36 GMT

Pablo,
Have you got any photos of yourself as a 3 year old on skis? I bet you look really sweet!

Kate - I quite agree with you, divorce was the only sensible solution :wink:

Ally

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:49:33 GMT

Not sure and even if I did, I probably wouldn't post them on the internet.

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:50:53 GMT

Pablo - why not? I put up that one of me when I was only eight.

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:53:40 GMT

kateshaw wrote:I've only been at it for 12 years - with a break of 7 years as Mr Kate no 1 had snow "issues" :shock: I had to divorce him.

Wise move... :thumbup: :lol:

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:03:09 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:

kateshaw wrote:I've only been at it for 12 years - with a break of 7 years as Mr Kate no 1 had snow "issues" :shock: I had to divorce him.

Wise move... :thumbup: :lol:

:lol: :lol: Having "snow issues" is clearly a sacking offence!

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:27:55 GMT

kateshaw wrote:I've only been at it for 12 years - with a break of 7 years as Mr Kate no 1 had snow "issues" :shock: I had to divorce him.

My 9 year old has been skiing since he was 4, and he's better than me now....

That deserves 5 stars I think. Can't have silly excuses like that getting in the way of skiing.

Thanks for all the anniversary wishes, I will most definately be treating myself to something nice. Funnily enough we are off to Val Disere next month (ooo thats not long now!) so will pop to Tignes for old times sake.

Was just trying to put some 'then and now' pics on here but I can't because I'm rubbish. Will try again later :-)

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 14:09:57 GMT

9 years for me in feb :) And hopefully many more years to come for us all ! :) Congratz Nelly, prime example of how the love for skiing is never lost !

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 19:59:36 GMT

kateshaw wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:

kateshaw wrote:I've only been at it for 12 years - with a break of 7 years as Mr Kate no 1 had snow "issues" :shock: I had to divorce him.

Wise move... :thumbup: :lol:

:lol: :lol: Having "snow issues" is clearly a sacking offence!

Mr A got me into skiing and now wishes he hadn't :lol:. I wish I'd started earlier in life :cry:
Nelly, have a drink in La Folie Douce pour moi

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 20:33:32 GMT

Caron, Mr Kate no 2 (I collect them) is entirely responsible for my now almost obsessive interest in the White Stuff....it's gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.... :lol:

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 20:35:09 GMT

you and me both. I think we'd get on well :D

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 20:38:24 GMT

:D At least I've passed it onto my son. He's away to Courmayeur on 12th with school - his father (Mr Kate no 1) is resigned and unamused :lol:

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 20:41:15 GMT

At the age of 40 I'm only in my 4th year. As many say, I wish I'd started earlier but my previous career severely restricted any form of holiday. So now I have the extra freedom I intend to make the most of it.

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 20:50:00 GMT

getjim wrote:At the age of 40 I'm only in my 4th year. As many say, I wish I'd started earlier but my previous career severely restricted any form of holiday. So now I have the extra freedom I intend to make the most of it.

That's the spirit. :-)

Last season in Banff, I had the pleasure of getting on a chair next to a gentleman in his 90's and still Skiing regularly. He said the only problems he had were with his sight, so he now tends to stay slightly lower and Ski down runs where he can use the trees at the edge of the pistes as guides. He always lets the Ski Patrol know he is out, and they keep and eye out for him just to be safe.

I reckon that gives you and I somewhere in the region of 50 years Skiing still to be done :twisted:

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 20:53:37 GMT

Sorry just got in from work, I first went falling down a lot to Italy in 1979 to a resort called Casspogio where there was very little snow so we had to ski across the valley in Chiesa so that is MMmmmm ......... 31 years come January there are a few gaps in there.
I'll tell you how long ago it was I went with a TO :shock: the company was "Swan travel" not a bad memory for an old bloke :oops:

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 21:08:28 GMT

I think 1978 was my first experience to Monte Bondone, above Trentino. I still remember my first lesson walking skis around the garage that doubled as the ski locker.

My 5 year old who will be having his 4th week at New Year probably still thinks that's all I should be doing still!

Looking forward to having him on my tails encouraging me to go faster, in a few more years time.

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 21:14:50 GMT

I'll never forget the moment when my then 7 year old made me ski a moguly black in 2008. He rolled his eyes at me....what could I do?!

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 21:56:07 GMT

Easter 1972 - Sauze D'Oulx - cable bindings, lace-up leather boots!

So that's 37 years (with no gaps!) of ski-ing! Sorry, not trying to be boastful but...that's not bad, is it?

School trip with Ski Plan to the Hotel Monte Genevris; the following year the school went to Austria with Swans! Are they still operating?

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 21:57:08 GMT

Will be 3 years exactly on the 30th December 2009 :D

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 22:00:22 GMT

Ist trip in Feb 1984, 25 years with no gaps. Still not good enough!

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 22:08:16 GMT

Dorset Boy wrote:I think 1978 was my first experience to Monte Bondone, above Trentino.

cant believe that, my 1st trip was monte bondone dec 26 1982,4th year comprehensive school trip.can you remember the bucket lift?

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 23:11:18 GMT

Congratulations Nelly, 20 years is good, but six seasons included ~ respect.

Just drinking your health in chardonay. Hears to another 20 years. :P

Oh lor, that would put me at ermm, (blanked out) years since I would have started skiing. Two big celebrations in Jan though.

Re:20 years and counting...

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 23:29:22 GMT

Dave Mac,
Does that mean you were ski-ing before everyone else here? I think you said you started a couple of years before me, and I started in 1969.

Ally

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:02:25 GMT

I must be a rank amateur by all your standards. This will be my 9th year, and 13th week (I think) of skiing. I'm just trying to remember where I've spent each week, and I think it's something liiike: Saas Fee, Les Arcs, Tignes Le Lac, La Plagne, La Rosiere, Serfaus, La plagne, La Tania, Les Menuires, La Tania, Les Deux Alpes, Tignes Les Brev.

I need to get outside of France more. I've been hankering after some Austrian snow for a year or two now, actually, but my ski holidays are either strictly dictated by price, or where my family are going. One day soon, though! Also hoping to get some Scottish slopes under my skis sometime in the coming year :D

Anyway, ignoring all my babble, I'd like to echo the earlier sentiment and raise a (nearly empty) glass to another 20 years and then some!

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:23:55 GMT

AllyG wrote:Dave Mac,
Does that mean you were ski-ing before everyone else here? I think you said you started a couple of years before me, and I started in 1969.

Ally

Ally

Ally, we had an "old Gits" thread some time back, which I refused to have much to do with, because I think age is a state of mind. There were a good few in their seventies, and one guy in his eighties, I think. I did relate the story of meeting up with a 94 year old skier in Niederau, who, it turns out, was on a 1974 photo of the Ski Instructor prize winners, him on the left, me on the right.

So no I am not the oldest registered J2skier, although I might well be among the oldest current regulars, (mostly because Admin hasn't banned me yet!)

In January it will be 40 years since I first skiied in Niederau. It coincides with a rather large birthday. My b/d is always held in the Bichlwirt, for no other reason, than it gets me another weeks skiing in my special place.

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 08:28:02 GMT

Dave Mac,
Thanks for your reply. It would seem likely that we first skied around the same time, then. 40 years is an incredibly long length of time. It makes me feel pretty ancient. It's a pity I didn't keep up with my ski-ing during my 30 year gap, or maybe I could have been as good as you! And it's good to know there are other senior J2skiers on this forum, even if they have been too busy to post messages lately.

Have a good double celebration in January in Niederau :D

I was trying to find out exactly when I first skied. I looked out my first passport, issued on the 31st March 1969, which I got in order to go to Spain on holiday with my grandparents when we were homeless after our house burnt down, and my ski-ing holiday in Italy isn't on it. In those days I think they were quite keen on stamping passports, so presumably I went ski-ing before that, and I was on my mother's passport. But in that case I would have been only seven. I will have to do some more research!

I would like to be exact about this, and it will come in handy for when I write my autobiography :wink:

Nelly - I'm glad to hear you will be celebrating in the correct place - out on the slopes :D

Ally

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:30:56 GMT

I wish I'd have the opportunity to start skiing as a child but my parents have never had any interst (apart from one incident in Stowe about 9 years ago when my dad announced at breakfast he 'fancied a go' until I reminded him he needed the right clothing and insurance then he rapidly went off the idea), my parents visited me in Chamonix during my first season and spent the week sunbathing. A missed opportunity there.

Anyway, I could definately be a lot better at skiing and boarding, having spent more time boarding than skiing I'd say over the last 20 years, I'm rubbish (or hilarious) off-piste on skis and a diamond off-piste on a board (not that I like to blow my own trumpet very often), there's definately room for improvement anyway.

And I'd still like to be sliding down mountains (preferably not on my backside) when I'm old and grey(er), all depends on how crumbly my knees are by then.

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 20:35:01 GMT

Bluebird - was it brown, one person with a 'cage' rather than anything solid?

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 21:07:41 GMT

may well have been,my memory is a bit blurry,thought it was a 2 man though.

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 22:10:09 GMT

I can't remember if it was one or two people TBH!

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:13:16 GMT

28 years for me!

February 1982, school trip to Artesina in Italy. The Jam (Town Called Malice) and Stranglers (Golden Brown) number 1 and 2 in the charts. Top songs, top bands - first week away from home and first time in love - with skiing! Also discovered "frogger"!

Done a few since then!

God I'm getting old!

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 12:47:50 GMT

It is three years this month for me.

Since starting I have done 17 weeks skiing (I spent most of the season in Canada last year) and skied on three continents so not too bad for a late comer to the sport!

Hopefully by the end of this season I will have added a further 2 weeks to the list! :mrgreen:

My only wish is that I had started earlier. I always wanted to go skiing but for one reason and another I missed out on the school trips and then when I started working I was either too poor or my friends weren't interested. Thank god a work colleague let me jump on her trip with her Scuba Diving mates..... :lol:

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 14:39:55 GMT

I first went Easter 1993 (I think!) to Zell Am See, aged 13.

It was rubbish! Very little snow, had to queue for hours to take the funicular train at Kaprun to get to the glacier, and the instructor was an absolute poser who obviously didn't want to teach a beginners group!! He was called Wolfgang, and was very cute though! :o

It took me several years to go again after the first experience, but 17 years later, and I'm going for my 9th time in March.

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 15:59:04 GMT

AllyG wrote:Dave Mac,
It would seem likely that we first skied around the same time, then. 40 years is an incredibly long length of time. It makes me feel pretty ancient.

Have a good double celebration in January in Niederau :D
Ally

Just tried to do a count back, it is either 42 or 43 years since I first skiied. I think it is 42 years ago, on Cairngorm, lace up boots, cable bindings, Raigmore hospital, plaster cast. I never did return the crutches.

A more important question for me is ~ how many more years can I go for. I still work hard on technique, am faster than ever, but nothing goes on forever!

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:49:15 GMT

2001 was my first year skiing. I have been making up for lost time ever since.

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 17:04:16 GMT

2001 for me, now go for a week with the family & a 5 day trip with Mates, best holidays ever. Always go to a different resort, but always have the same fun. 9 more sleeps to Family holiday, cant wait, my 5 year old first attempt, should be cool.

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 20:05:12 GMT

A more important question for me is ~ how many more years can I go for. I still work hard on technique, am faster than ever, but nothing goes on forever!

That crossed my mind last week when we had a bloke who must have been pushing his 80s staying in our chalet. He always seemed to be the last of his group to get out of the chalet in the morning (yet still before us I might add), he would hobble down to breakfast each day but we all admired him and hope we are all still going at his age.

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 20:21:41 GMT

NellyPS wrote:

That crossed my mind last week when we had a bloke who must have been pushing his 80s staying in our chalet. He always seemed to be the last of his group to get out of the chalet in the morning (yet still before us I might add), he would hobble down to breakfast each day but we all admired him and hope we are all still going at his age.

I ski tour with people in the 70's and 80's, they can still climb a 1000m and ski down.

Personally, 25 years and somewhere over 150 weeks at a guess

Re:20 years and counting...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 20:35:18 GMT

2001 for me to!!! Just before I turned 40 - I wish I had started earlier in life but I am making up for it going three times a year for the last four years and twice before then :lol: