94 (I think) Bear Valley, CA, 3ish years old. All I remebr was it was the most fun I had ever had. I've been obsessed with snow ever since.
I'm new.11 years old McCauly Mnt Picton Ontario 1972, closed long ago, rope tow lace up ankle high boots, Canadian tire skis.
My how things have changed
I'm new.
What are Canadian tire skis?
My wife feared for my life for the first few years of my skiing, can't say things have changed all that much. But I like skiing and I'm stubborn, so now my skiing sucks slightly less at better resorts...My first day was in December 1992.
A friend of mine from college and I wound up in the Washington DC area. He called me up earlier that week and asked what I was doing that weekend and I said something about "no clue", so he said "you're learning to ski". So we drove out to Wisp (western Maryland). He attempted to teach me the basics, but -- as my other instructors were to learn -- I am most decidedly not a natural at any sort of athletic activity, so he eventually gave up and dumped me off on the ski school instead.
I remember crashing countless times, but I had heard skiing was "fun" and I refused to believe that I was that awful at something, so I went a second time. And a third. And a fourth. And... Eventually something must have clicked. Still here today!
I got a trip booked for Winter Park, have not been there since early 90's. Tried to look up my good friend Bill Brown, Wild Bill we called him. Owner of Winter Haven Ski Lodge. I was sad to find he past this year in July, link below. It was he who gave me my first ski bum job, great man, treated his staff like family. He wanted all of us to ski every day.... Pic below me and Bill, Bill in middle, I'm on the left, Winter Haven Ski Loge bar. RIP Wild Bill, love you!1981 my parents took me and a freind snow sking Winter Park Colorado, Winter Haven Ski Lodge, for a high school graduation present. I never snow skied before, but grew up water skiing. Well I was hooked, and struck up conversation with owner of ski lodge how much I loved it, he said well hell when you finish high school, you got a job here. That started my 4 year degree in international ski bumming.
1976, my girlfriend (now wife) & I obtained permission to skip high school for the day and we drove up to Alpine Valley in WI. At the prodding of one of my teachers, we took a group lesson. (Thank you Mr. Vogalsang). Short Olin Mark 4's if memory serves me with the suicide strap & a hybrid leather type boot (rentals). We had a blast and we still reminisce about that loooong day and trek. So thankful for that experience as we still ski regularly with our 4 daughters, their husbands and grand children.