First day of skiing this year... yahoo!

The first step off the chairlift and down the unloading ramp on the first day of the year is a touch unnerving. Thoughts of: "Did I forgot how to ski?", "I hope I don't break both femurs", or "do these snow pants sufficiently highlight my calves?" might be running through your head. Confidence has been higher.

You buckle your boots. The first 100 or so yards are inevitably flat terrain, but because it is your first day you try to make semi-large arcing turns to warm up, which is just awkward because turning on flats is unnecessary.

You stop at the top of a Blue Square. You're a little tight. You probably didn't stretch. And if you did, it was for 15 seconds. You wonder if your dins are set too high. You wonder how in Gods green earth could so much rust accumulate on your edges. Someone in your ski group probably asked if you ever wear a helmet, and you responded; "No. But I should" (But you never will until you run head first into a native fur while glades skiing). You put down your goggles. The foam is slightly crusted because they just sat in your ski bag for the last 10 months. This doesn't bother you. The people traversing the hill in a snow plow does however.

And then.. you're off. Uneasy at first, but after a few turns it's as though summer never existed and last year's winter never left. If feels natural to be on your skis. They feel comfortable. It's like you've been reunited with a long lost lover or your favorite comfort food (eg: Bagels, Burritos, anything at IHOP). Accelerating, cruising, carving, blowing by all the snow plowing riffraff, you REMEMBER HOW to do this! It's good to be back.

You ski until the lifts close at 4pm. At days end you make a B-line for the apre ski Bar. You take off your hat and your hair looks stupid. -Which is ok, because everyone else's hair looks just as dumb. Your cheeks are rosy. You order a beer (Fat Tire). It's the best beer you've ever had. You talk about the day with your buddies. 15 minutes later you order another beer. It's the second best beer you've ever had. Your cheeks are rosier. It's good to be back.

You wake up the next morning. You can't move. Muscles you were unaware existed are throbbing in pain and soreness. Your lower back is killing. You wonder why your head hurts. You remember the role Fat Tire played the previous evening. You nod your head in acceptance and then wonder why you woke up wearing your ski goggles.. It's good to be back.

Ps. Has a company ever turned a word/phrase that's so fun to say into a word that we no longer want to use like Yahoo.com??