My first downhill skiing trip

I planned to go for downhill skiing just after my project submission. Our project team was working pretty hard on finishing up the software by March 5 deadline. We were working on the weekends and working like anything. We met the deadline and there was no greater reward than going for downhill skiing. Bill and I planned the trip and we decided to go to Ski Sundown in New Hartford. Ski Sundown is located at 126 Ratlum Road in New Hartford, CT 06057. On the sunny tuesday, March 7 2006 we reached Ski Sundown around 10 AM. The ski resort is located around 1.75 hrs from willimantic. The day was perfect. Not many people were there. The temperature was in 60's.

Bill and I decided to go for beginning area. I took a beginners package ($70) which included 2 hrs session and entire day skiing in Sunnyside learning area. Bill decided to give me company and he rented snowboards. He is pretty good skier but he decided to do snowboarding so that he can give me a company. When the first time, I took the ski, I was not able to stand up. I had some experience of cross country skiing but I never did downhill. Fun started when I took the lift. There are lot of tricks you have to remember before going on the lift. Bill helped me and gave me the first lesson. On my first downhill, I was barely able to go down. I was falling a lot. I also had fear of going too fast so I used to fall side ways. Somehow I completed one loop and I took nearly 20 mins to do a small slope.


Around 11 AM, I started taking downhill skiing class. My instructor, Janny was very enthusiastic and good teacher. My first task was to learn how to climb up. Trick is to walk like duck. It was pretty tiring. I didnot have poles either. Second task was coming down. Janny took me on the lift and she assisted me on the first downhill. It was lot more fun. Downhill skiing requires bending your knees and bending towards the slope. This time, I did it with only couple of falls. I took several lifts after this and Janny taught me the basics. How to turn left, right and most importand how to stop. Around 12:30 PM my class ended and I had a chance to try out what I learned.


Bill and I took lunch. I bought some potato sandwichs and Parle G biscuits. We enjoyed lunch sitting outside. It was a perfect day. Sunny and no winds. After the lunch, Bill and I took lifts in learning area. I fell many times. One of the difficult problem in downhill skiing is when you fall and you unclip your skiing. It is a gigantic task to put back your skies. Sometimes, it takes forever to wear them again.

By the end of the day I was skiing with no fall. I enjoyed downhill skiing and I have decided to enjoy next winter.