The school set up a trip for exchange students to Branäs, a skiing place about 2 hours from Karlstad. We had the option of down hill skiing, snow boarding, or cross country skiing and seeing as how I have never been on skiis, cross country skiing seemed like it would be the safest of the three. When we got there, we got our equipment, and had to ride a lift to the top of the mountain/hill (i dont really know what you call it, but it seemed like a mountain to me). Once we reached the top, I thought the cross country skiing trail would be there, but of course, I was wrong. We had to ski down hills to get to it. Reminder, I have never been on skiis. It was a bit of a disaster! Two Finnish girls were trying to tell me how to brake, but I couldnt figure it out. So, I just squated down and rode the skiis, that way when I fell, I would be closer to the ground. All the while, these little swedish kids were zooming by me like pros. We finally made it to the trail and I was sooo slow! It was so much work, for as slow as i was going. So I just went on the 1.5 km trail and decided that my skiing days are over. I took off my skiis, hoping never to have to use them again. But the only way to get down the mountain was to take this ski lift thing up to the top so we could take a big ski lift down. The ski lift we had to take up was the kind were you had to catch this thing and put it in between your legs. You just had to hang on to it, keep your skis straight and it would pull you up the mountain to the top. The first time I tried to get on the thing, I wiped out and my skis were awkwardly under me, so I had to roll around on the ground before I could get up (there were lots of people around, I felt so stupid, especially when 5 year olds were getting on it with no problem!) The second time I got it right, but it was scary, I kept thinking I was going to wreck again. Finally we got down the mountain and I turned in my equipment and went to lunch. After lunch I went sledding with the Finnish people. It was fun, talking with them about the differences between the Swedes and the Finns, and about stereotypes of the two and of Americans. Quite interesting! But back to sledding, that was a blast! There was a pretty big hill and not many people on it. At the bottom of the hill there was a pretty big snow mound that I thought would stop you and behind it was a wooden fence. Can you see where I am going here? I went down the hill, not slowing down because the snow mound was there. Well, I hit the snow mound, flew in the air a little, hit the fence, and slid underneath it to where there was an open walking area. It happened so fast I wasnt sure what had happened! Overall it was a good day though! It was a beautiful day with blue sky and sun. I learned that skiing is something that I should never do again, but glad that I tried: #16 on my list of things to do is complete! :-)Sunday, February 15, 2009
Skiing...
The school set up a trip for exchange students to Branäs, a skiing place about 2 hours from Karlstad. We had the option of down hill skiing, snow boarding, or cross country skiing and seeing as how I have never been on skiis, cross country skiing seemed like it would be the safest of the three. When we got there, we got our equipment, and had to ride a lift to the top of the mountain/hill (i dont really know what you call it, but it seemed like a mountain to me). Once we reached the top, I thought the cross country skiing trail would be there, but of course, I was wrong. We had to ski down hills to get to it. Reminder, I have never been on skiis. It was a bit of a disaster! Two Finnish girls were trying to tell me how to brake, but I couldnt figure it out. So, I just squated down and rode the skiis, that way when I fell, I would be closer to the ground. All the while, these little swedish kids were zooming by me like pros. We finally made it to the trail and I was sooo slow! It was so much work, for as slow as i was going. So I just went on the 1.5 km trail and decided that my skiing days are over. I took off my skiis, hoping never to have to use them again. But the only way to get down the mountain was to take this ski lift thing up to the top so we could take a big ski lift down. The ski lift we had to take up was the kind were you had to catch this thing and put it in between your legs. You just had to hang on to it, keep your skis straight and it would pull you up the mountain to the top. The first time I tried to get on the thing, I wiped out and my skis were awkwardly under me, so I had to roll around on the ground before I could get up (there were lots of people around, I felt so stupid, especially when 5 year olds were getting on it with no problem!) The second time I got it right, but it was scary, I kept thinking I was going to wreck again. Finally we got down the mountain and I turned in my equipment and went to lunch. After lunch I went sledding with the Finnish people. It was fun, talking with them about the differences between the Swedes and the Finns, and about stereotypes of the two and of Americans. Quite interesting! But back to sledding, that was a blast! There was a pretty big hill and not many people on it. At the bottom of the hill there was a pretty big snow mound that I thought would stop you and behind it was a wooden fence. Can you see where I am going here? I went down the hill, not slowing down because the snow mound was there. Well, I hit the snow mound, flew in the air a little, hit the fence, and slid underneath it to where there was an open walking area. It happened so fast I wasnt sure what had happened! Overall it was a good day though! It was a beautiful day with blue sky and sun. I learned that skiing is something that I should never do again, but glad that I tried: #16 on my list of things to do is complete! :-)
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how's the golf over there....HAHA
ReplyDeletehaha...well i went a couple weekends ago to a little par 3/4 course. it was fun!! however a bit strange. in the tee boxes there wasnt any grass. instead there was driving range mats! when i get back in july, we will definitely have to get together and play!!
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