Our intrepid account handler, Sarah Willis, is always looking for a new adventure or challenge in her life. From hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro, wild camping around the country to kayaking and running half-marathons! This year she’s found a new pastime that she loves – skiing!
Find out more about what prompted her to take on the challenge of learning to ski and her journey so far on the slopes.
“I had never skied in my life before this year – unless you count about 10 minutes on a dry doormat-like slope when I was 17, with no advice or instruction, which I hated immensely and only went to please a friend I was staying with in the school holidays. But at Christmas last year, my new partner asked me, “Can you ski?” He skied a lot in the past and was keen to get back into it.
Warily, I said I’d give it a try by having a proper lesson on real snow and see what I thought. I booked myself a 90-minute introductory session at Milton Keynes Snozone in April. The lesson includes ski, boot, and helmet hire, a 15-minute introduction, an hour practise, then a debrief. Five other people were in the lesson with me, and while introducing ourselves to the instructor, three of the ladies and I had a giggle when we discovered we were all there for the same reason – learning to ski because our “other halves” asked us, “Can you ski?”
As unsure as I was about whether I’d like it, I threw myself into it with 100% effort, like I do with everything, to give it the best chance possible, before I made up my mind whether to pursue it.
Well, the first lesson was great. I didn’t fall down, which was a bonus. I didn’t go very fast or from very high up either! We “snow-plowed” down the first part of the nursery slope – the front of our skis pointing towards each other to keep control and go slowly.
That first lesson told me what I needed to know, however – I loved it and couldn’t wait to have another go.
Over the next few months, I booked in as many lessons as I could on a Saturday to fit around other commitments, and I completed the six levels of training required to be let loose on the main slope at Snozone without an instructor. The most important skills, besides being able to stop, are turning, in big sweeping loops, or fast, tighter ones, and of course, staying upright, which I managed to do most of the time, with only one or two tumbles.
In Level 5, my first view from the top (see photo below) was quite terrifying. It was steep, and a long way down, but once I got going, exhilarating.
I’ve now bought myself a ski suit, gloves, helmet, and poles, and intend to get skis and boots as soon as I can. I love all manner of outdoor pursuits and this latest one is taking priority just now. I have a 2-hour practise session every two or three weeks, either at Milton Keynes, or a similar indoor snow slope in Manchester, and go zooming down the slopes as if I’ve been on skis for years. My partner lives in Scotland, so we’re hoping for snow there over Christmas. But the big adventure comes early next year, when we’re jetting off to the Alps to put my new-found skills to the test.
Sarah Willis, Account Handler
