Skiing is like Pizza.

Today we're talking about the time I survived my first ski trip and don't have any bruises to show from it. We'll do some talking, some gif-ing and some laughing at my expense. Thanks and you're welcome!

I've only been up on the mountain for snow recreation once and it was a traumatizing snowboard experience where my brother said "go" and not a single soul stuck around long enough to make sure that I could "stop". Bruised ego and body were dealt with and 10+ years have passed since I've been brave enough to strap boots into any board-like shape and volunteered to skid down a mountain. 

Ugh, how old do I feel saying it's been "10 years" since something. 

It was on our family's winter to-do list to hit the slopes and learn the basics of skiing. With mom out of town (welcome back!), dad and I decided to take advantage of a sunny weeknight afternoon where nobody would be up there to see us struggle.

Once we got up there (yes, cool how the mountain is about an hour from the city, right?) we found out where to spend our dollars. This clearly meant we were now entitled to strap some sticks on our feet and barrel down a mountain. Not sure this is an appropriate way to handle things but who am I to judge? 

After putzing around for a bit, we made it up the lift and both fell trying to dismount at the top. Like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time. At the top is where all of the "experts" were strapping into their boards and picking their favorite pow-pow playlists. Here I am, on my butt... trying to first of all get back on my feet and secondly make it down this mountain without death or significant physical harm. The other people's reaction:

There was probably a 20 minute stretch where I laid there, flailing. Trying to get up fall after fall. Crash after crash. Close run-ins with trees and near collisions with more experienced people on the slopes. It was everything I could do to get up on my feet until I realized that this guy may be hot on my heels:

With the Yeti inevitably hiding in the woods, I found myself speeding down the hill faster than I often drive and having no other option than to intentionally crash to my death stop the momentum behind me. From there on out, the word was "pizza" and oh-my-gosh was there ALL the pizza on that hill. My dad yelled "pizza", I yelled "pizza", hell - I was even hAngry for pizza. 

The first time down the mountain was a disaster and I may have even thrown a fit and cried a little. This happens when I want to be successful at something yet I'm failing miserably learning.

So, I searched high and low for pizza the rest of the night.

The nice tow-rope operator gave me a crazy helpful tip to steer my upper body like I'm driving a car, and that way I'll be able to navigate the larry's and randy's better (lefts and rights). 

And do you know what? This worked! 

On round #2 we did so much better, much faster and with WAY fewer falls. I only fell 3 times including the dismount off the lift, then another scary fall where my skis were both 100ft and 50ft up a hill from where my body had landed. An epic fall I wish I had an aerial camera for or at least someone on the lift saw and chuckled at my expense. "Mountain Climbers" really do work if you need to climb a mountain, though. Thanks HIIT workouts. 

After safely reaching the bottom, we decided to make an ambitious move and went back up for a third and final time, attempting to do a no-fall run. When I successfully dismounted the lift, dad and I celebrated something like the image below. Little did we know, it was foreshadowing to a majorly successful ZERO fall third time down the mountain. YES.

From tears to cheers, I had a blast learning how to ski and was happy for the bonding experience with dad on a weeknight. Here's some images of me, the mountain and sister who drove us there(?)

One of the better parts I'm not ashamed to admit was the late night dinner on the way home. I don't care who you are, fiery Doritos tacos and Cinnabon delights hit the SPOT. #notPaleonotSorry

That's all for today. Hello to the new faces around here! 

I'll see you again someday, mountain. Until next time.