It's been awhile since I posted. Let's face it, the mountains now have snow in them and wandering around aimlessly by my cellphone doesn't seem smart in frigid temperatures.I do have some heel hiking adventures from October in Australia that I'll post soon, simply because I have nowhere else to talk about my single heel hiking adventure downunder.
Today's post however, is about a very serious matter --- they don't make ski boots in high heels. This is a situation I intend to remedy.
Having been a ballroom dance major in college (while taking my pre-med classes of course), I never took the chance to go skiing on "the greatest snow on earth," not willing to risk an injury. So last year I ventured with friends to try snowboarding. Which after one really rough first run, was a lot of fun. But that meant I still hadn't been skiing.
Tuesday, only hours after getting off a plane that was supposed to get in the night before, and working on only 3 hours of sleep acquired in a noisy Sheraton somewhere in Atlanta, I went skiing for the first time --- in the dark --- on fake snow.
I thought my first down snowboarding was rough. Skiing was so much worse. At least the first run. The main issue ... my feet were locked into these horrible flat boots, in a hyper-the-other-direction angle than my feet are used to. I'm sure these were good boots -- for someone else. The pain from stretching my Achilles in that direction was blinding and I nearly got sick all over the slope at the end.
After much pleading with Alan to just let me die, I scooted off to the side, sans the skis and with my feet freed from their bondage, while he went on a few solo runs.
The nausea subsided and I was ready to go at it again. This time, the pain was at half mast, and I was soon doing runs without falls --- and the biggest accomplishment of all ... getting off the lift without crashing.
The secret to skiing ... throw a little hip into it. I think I was so mesmerized by the grace of snow bunnies riding down the hill effortlessly, that I failed to recognize the mechanics of what it took to ski. Once I realized it was more of a salsa than a waltz, life was good, or, um, at least better.
The only thing missing from this tango --I know WAY too many ballroom references -- was a nice pair of heels. I'm convinced, however, that they would make a champion out of this beginner skier.
The 3 heel rating is in anticipation of what will be, as well as a shout out to my darling friend Kimmi who so fittingly called ski boots the "high heels of the slopes".
We chose Brighton because as far as we could see, it was either Wolf Mountain or Brighton for night skiing/boarding (4pm-9pm) and since my favorite equipment rental (Canyon Sports) is downtown, we chose Brighton. The resort is quite a drive from the canyon mouth - about 19 miles. And the lodge does lack a lot of the amenities found in places like Snowbird and Canyons. However, night skiing is great for no crowds and the staff is great, too. Now, does anyone know where I can find a great "Ski SL,UT" t-shirt?
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