My Most Incredible Ski Day Ever

Yesterday was my best day skiing EVER. I began the day as a mediocre skier who has had the worst ski season ever this year. In fact, this season was so stinky, that I was seriously considering giving up skiing altogether. But yesterday, I had an epiphany. It was so incredible that I wanted to share it with everyone!

My day started off really hectic. I began skiing 9 years ago as a direct result of organizing ski trips for charter schools. I get such a good price on my trips that several families tell friends and, if the conditions are good, the event “snowballs.” Yesterday’s trip was one such trip with over 200 participants. So, my day began in the rental shop passing out tickets to what felt like a mob. Finally, things settled down and I got my own equipment. Of course, by then I was mentally exhausted. Because of my dismal outings the previous three trips, I didn’t even look forward to “hitting the slopes” myself.

However, my husband Paul has had a fantastic ski season this year. We would ride the lifts together and “swoosh” he’d be off. Meanwhile, I’d be alternating between terrifyingly “out of control” falling down the incline and painfully “in control” traversing. Paul would either wait for me at the lift or take in another run and catch me at the bottom for another lift ride up. On the lift he’d offer tips about overcoming fear and “letting loose” and try to help me see what I was doing wrong. Every trip it felt like the same thing and every time I showed zero improvement. By lunch I was exhausted and my legs ached terribly.

Then a couple of trips ago, I decided to take another skill improvement lesson. At the beginning of the lesson everyone had to state their goals. I said, “I know I’m doing something wrong, I just don’t know what it is.” My instructor observed me and said he could tell immediately what I was doing wrong. I was probably one of the better skiers in the class, but it had to do with getting into a rhythm. Apparently, this didn’t come naturally. So, he gave me some tips on establishing an artificial ski rhythm. And I worked at it – painfully.

And for the next two trips I practiced the things he told me and still didn’t see any progress in getting to the bottom of the hill faster. I did establish a goal for myself. “Before I die,” I told myself, “I want to make it from the top of the mountain to the bottom without stopping.” I recognized that this involved the intermediate goal of making it from the mid-mountain lift to the bottom without stopping, and I started to work on that. Yet, I didn’t feel success for two trips, but I did notice that the pain in my calves and thighs was replaced by a milder soreness in my knees.

And then, there was yesterday’s trip. My first run I went to the mid-mountain stop with Paul. Something didn’t feel right with one of my boots. Nonetheless, I struggled down the mountain and met up with Paul who was waiting patiently at the lift. Our next run took us to the top. The view is spectacular, the trip down was so painful. There was definitely something wrong with my boot. I picked my way down to the rental shop and got another pair. Then, without Paul, I attempted another run. It was better, but I was still too tentative.

I went in the lodge to find Paul and Victoria. We had lunch together. After lunch, I was going to go out with Paul, but was sidelined helping one of my customers for a few minutes, so Paul and I split up. I rode the lift up again – this time to the very top of the mountain – and had a heart to heart with Jesus about my terrible ski season. “Jesus,” I said, Maybe I’m not meant to ski, and if today isn’t better than the earlier part of my season, I guess I’ll just quit skiing altogether. Maybe I can focus on something that I am good at. But Jesus, I bet You’re an incredible skier. And You’re supposed to live in me. So, something doesn’t feel quite right. I must not be in touch with You as a skier. So, maybe you could ski in me.”

When I reached the top, I started on my “artificial rhythm” exercise which usually involves counting while alternating the pressure on my skis and moving up and down and the same time. Instead of counting though, I made up a little song the included “Jesus in me” “Help me to ski” “You ski in me” and “Now I am free” (Hey, it rhymed). Then, the amazing started happening. As I went down the slope, I started improving exponentially. It was amazing. I added all sorts of verses to my little song until it became an ode to Jesus the best skier in history, a worship epic of Alpine proportions.

And, here’s the best part, I made it all the way down without stopping. I was so excited, shocked, and amazed! I went into the lodge to see if Paul was there. Nope out on the slopes. I found my friend Ruth and told her; then I went out with her. Ruth’s an excellent skier with years of experience and she had already been out a lot that morning. So, we got to the top and planned a course down to the middle lift. I know she wasn’t going as fast as she’s capable, and I didn’t go as fast as Ruth, but she didn’t have to wait forever for me. She remarked that I was skiing much better than usual.

So, we went up to the top again, and I had another “all the way without stopping” run. I couldn’t wait to tell Paul. I looked for him at our meeting spot. Just missed him. I left him a note on a napkin and went out again. Two more runs. Half the mountain non-stop and then down the whole way w/o stopping. I was living a dream. Back to the lodge, and I finally met up with Paul.

We went to the top and did halfway down again (w/o stopping) then went to the top and did another full trip down. I stopped to talk to Paul (who was waiting) part of the way down, but I didn’t have to stop and rest or regroup. I made it in two non-stop legs. I wasn’t as fast as Paul (or Ruth) but I skied so much better than ever before that it was amazing. I kept thanking Jesus for this gift of a great ski day and for helping me achieve a goal that looked so unreachable just that morning. Not just once, but FOUR times!