Big White is AWESOME! Am I proud...? What...? Of being a ski instructor...?

Yes! Yes I am god-damn proud. Not that the cursing counts, not religious you see; and if there was some weird entity, wouldn't they be better off saving innocent kids? Just sayin...

Not Johny. But somebody else in the middle of
their mid-life crisis... probably.

I am proud to be a ski instructor, it is the best job I have ever had. Of course people did shoot at me when I was in the army and the UN (a bit more stressful you see). But as far as job satisfaction goes, ski instructor is numero uno (I've been studying a little bit of español... 'ole!').

Why? Because I change peoples lives. Bit of a bold statement I know, but it is true.

"How?" I hear you ask and I appreciate you asking or else this blog would be ending here.

Are you sitting comfy? Good. Let me tell you a little story...

Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away... wait... scrub that. Recently (last week) here (Big White) I was teaching a lesson (level 4 ski) with a couple from Bermuda (yes, famous for triangles). To protect the innocent (me) I will call them vitamin A and vitamin B. Or Johny and Sue. 

Johny was not really a level 4, he was more of a level 3 but he was confident (typical man) and keen to learn, oblivious to risk (males again). But Johny was going through his mid life crisis and he wanted to get into skiing, with his family.

Now... what is the best way to
torture Johny...

Wait, just going off on a tangent - male vs female skiers. Can be encapsulated in two sentences - 

• a female will look at a risk, let's say jumping off a cliff, on skis, blindfolded, backwards... whilst drunk... and think "hmmm... I probably shouldn't do that..."
• a male will say (post event) "hmmm... I probably shouldn't have done that..." assuming they are still conscious.

Sue, was also not a level 4 skier, more a level 3... like Johny, but risk aware... not keen on skiing (beaches and margaritas were more her gig), and not going through a mid life crisis. Sue was not keen, this became apparent about a hour into the lesson...

Ooh, another tangent... ever skied powder? Powder is the bomb, it is awesome, it is fantastic, it is the best thing ever for an experienced and let's say advanced skier... Powder is also unbelievably difficult if you are a novice... like Sue...

Sue (the novice) was trying to ski in the powder... in a lesson way above her capabilities... in poor visibility... in ski boots that did not fit... surrounded by more experienced (and thus more capable) skiers... who where very politely waiting for her... to try and pick herself up... again... Johny had put her in the group lesson... and yes - he 'probably shouldn't have done that'. See what I did there? Pretty good eh?

Anyhoo... Sue's patience appeared to wear thin... two things could have happened - tears or an explosion... on rare occasions both things happen. Incredibly Johny survived... and then (despite all previous indicators...) he did something smart - a private lesson for Sue.

The next day the sun was shining, the temperature was up, Sue had new boots, there were no other clients - it was a lesson just for her, tailored to her needs, moving at her pace, giving her the skills to boost her confidence... controlling her speed, managing her direction, improving her balance (so her quads don't scream)... Sue... had fun... Lots! Sue had so much fun she had another lesson the following day... then so much fun she booked another full day lesson for her, Johny (now out of the dog house) and her two boys the third day... Sue became hooked and Sue has already booked two weeks next March...

And me? Proud? Yes, 'none, existent, entity-dammit' I am. I am proud that I was able to change Sue's life, proud that I was able, (no, not to convert her to skiing), but to open up a whole new world of experience for her, her family and of course, help Johny enjoy his mid life crisis.

Yes, proud of being a ski instructor. 

Solido Properties Ltd, owns, manages, maintains, renovates, builds, cleans, preps and... (last but not least) rents seasonal properties to seasonal staff (only the good ones please). Wait... what is that? Am I looking for more properties to manage... why yes, yes I am... why not send me an email?