Page 63 - Mercian Eagle 2017

Learning to ski at 30 (ish)...
Sgt Dennis, MG Pl Sgt, KOHIMA Coy
When I joined the Army, most people did so because they saw the video of Frank. Everyone wanted to be Frank. Frank was always doing some kind of adventurous training: jumping out of planes, skiing, scuba diving, the lot. As an 18 year old from Birkenhead this was the life I wanted. I wanted to do all the stuff that Frank did. It never happened.
Now, in my late 30’s, I suddenly found myself in February with a place on a skiing expedition to Val Thorens, France. All I needed to pay is £150, which was very cheap, if I was a civilian I would definitely be selling a child to pay for the trip! We were all issued ski jackets so all we needed were the ski pants and some warm kit, this was easy as Aldi were selling
them cheap. The rest of
the kit and equipment
would be issued on
arrival.
and choose which route to take, where the best place to turn was and where I would encounter hazards. Another difference in skiing at a late age is my body was aching all over. My knees were killing me and by the time the week had finished I was happy to hand in my ski kit. The boots were a nightmare to get in and out of, and they cut the circulation off in my feet making them permanently numb! Despite this, it was an amazing week, the views were outstanding, the air was so fresh and I was able to do something I never thought I would, just like Frank. I hopefully will have the opportunity to go again next year and I can’t wait.
The views in the Alps are simply breath-taking. Our RAF Ski Instructor made the most of this one in between complaints about the accommodation standard / Val Thorens, France
as young as five were going down the slope backwards and doing little spins, whereas there I was, a grown man, learning how to take his skis on and off. ‘I am going to crash into a lot of people today’, I thought, ‘I hope I don’t take out a little kid’. We learnt the basics that first day: how to turn, how to stop and how to walk sideways up the hill, ready for the next day when we would start on the ‘easy’ blue slopes.
The difference between learning to ski at an early age compared to a so called adult is mind over matter. The main disparity between a child or a teenager and a 30 plus year old is that the younger ones will invariably have no fear. You’ll see them from the moment you step foot on that
nursery slope - naturally gifted, whizzing past you, performing perfect 360 turns as they
reach the bottom. They’re unafraid of the mountain, unaware of the risk and unfazed
by falling flat on their face most of the time. I, however, was frustrated;
frustrated at being slow, frustrated at falling over and frustrated with the constant requirement to pick myself back up! My instructor would always say to me, “You’re not getting better if you’re not falling.” What he was saying was true. Annoying, but true. I hated being flat on the ground, the feeling of the snow in my coat melting down my neck as I collected my scattered skis and poles. But his words also made me believe I was getting better, albeit slowly.
As the week went on I gained more confidence, being able to look at the slopes
19 of us left Chester
at around 0700 slightly
apprehensive about the
912 mile road trip which
should see us arrive in
Val Thorens almost 24
hours later, by the time we arrived we were all in need of a good sleep and good meal (and a relaxing beer).
Everyone in my group was in the same boat; we had never skied before and were all doing ski foundation Level 1, the basic course. On the first morning we were all sized up at the ski shop for boots, skis and helmets before going on to meet the group instructors. From there we walked onto the slopes to begin to learn the basics. Looking around the slopes they were packed with skiers and snowboarders of all ages. Kids
Sledging at 30(ish). Another alpine sport best reserved for the millennial’s / Val Thorens, France
‘The difference between learning to ski at an early age compared to a so called adult is mind over matter’
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