Bad Excuses Not to Ski

As an official ski blog writer, I probably should have been skiing at least once already. This is the best start to a season in recent memory with at least three substantial snowstorms, great snowmaking weather and a guaranteed white Christmas. The truth is, I don’t like skiing before Christmas. There are a few reasons why, but I think most of it came from my years teaching skiing at Killington. I did not want to spend Christmas teaching on the slopes, so I avoided the mountain altogether.

I have another reason for not skiing yet. My ski equipment is in disarray. Last season I had a bump removed from my shin, costing a dear $700. If I hadn’t been so cheap in the first place and replaced my packed out boots, then my shin bump probably would have been less painful by season’s end. Now I have the option of using my sister in law’s ski boots that she used for a season after she had her Achilles restructured (she needed a softer boot for a season) until my new ski boots arrive. I would have to get my binding readjusted for the slightly larger boot shell, just to get it readjusted again for my soon to be new boots, then go through it all again when I finally buy new skis which is on the list for 07/08.

I should have written a disclaimer at the top, that despite loving to ski, I am not all that great at managing my equipment.

Maybe you are like me, and you haven’t slapped the slopes just yet. Perhaps your friends or colleagues (or father in my case) have already started tallying their days on the slopes. (I also have never tallied my days on the slopes, though at this time of year, I think it sounds like a good plan–maybe this year.) If you are like me, I say, “soon!”

Please note: The above entry was written on December 17.

Read more New England Ski tips from Heather Atwell.