As I walked into my management meeting last week, I miraculously managed to trip over the Internet cable, crash through 3 chairs and 2 co-workers, and land flat on the table, knocking the handouts down to the floor.

When my friend and co-worker jokingly asked if it was “my first day on the new feet” I couldn’t help but wonder how on earth I would live through the corporate ski day planned for the following Friday. Desperately hoping to avoid complete embarrassment I decided to learn everything I could about skiing before the trip.

During my fact finding mission I talked with a lot of friends and family about their skiing experiences and found that, instead of being reassured and excited to go, I was considerably more terrified then ever! Many of the people I spoke with went once, that’s right, just once. What I came to refer to as “first and last time skiers” usually had two things in common:

• They outfitted themselves completely wrong
• They went to the very tip top of the mountain (without any idea of what they were doing) and then went down.

I realized after careful consideration that since skiing down the mountain upright was the actual goal, some basic ski instruction, (especially for someone of my natural ability,) was a must!  Most ski resorts offer individual and group lessons. Individual lessons are pricey but very fast and effective.  If you have the funds these are well worth it. Group lessons offer all the basics at a rock bottom price and will usually give you the necessary knowledge to keep your backside up.  There is also the finding a friend option but, if your not very athletically inclined this can lead to your friends telling you fun things like, “I only agreed to this because I thought you might catch on” and “have you thought about taking up a less physical pastime…like scrap booking”?  Finally, because I know some of you won’t have access to any of the above I’ve created a brief video that both shows you the basics and exactly how falling down repeatedly looks…enjoy!

I can say, with all seriousness, that the lesson was insanely fun!  My instructor, Cody from the Sundance Ski School, was patient and encouraging which really helped make me believe I could ski down a mountain 60 minutes later if I paid attention; which is just what I did! Now, don’t get too excited…I didn’t do it well.  But, I did have fun without the constant fear of death lurking in the back of my mind.  It wasn’t neat side-to-side action: it actually looked more like I was scooching cross-legged down the slope.  But I didn’t injure myself or anyone else, which was totally unlike most “first and last time” skiers I spoke with before my trip.  I am excited to do it again, even better next time, and with practice I might even eventually look smooth and sleek as I swoosh down the mountain in style.

Finally, just to be extra helpful, l I have compiled my list of the top three things you need to know to avoid embarrassing yourself on the ski slope:

• Bring a friend to help you take off your skies.  It’s almost impossible to do yourself the first few times and you look ridiculous trying!
• Wear goggles. If you don’t, the blowing snow tearing at your eyes will cause you to hit everyone within five feet.
• Try on your entire skiing outfit in advance, so you realize the snow pants don’t fit over the heavy pants and long underwear before you’re already at the slopes without an alternative outfit.

Thank you so much to the Sundance Resort for hosting our ski day, the rental shop for teaching us how to rent the appropriate equipment, and the Sundance ski school (and my instructor Cody) for showing us the basics to having a great time skiing. If you would like to try skiing for the first time (or try again with some good basic knowledge on your side) you couldn’t ask for a more beautiful and well staffed setting than Sundance.

Check out our upcoming article on ziplining. It’s going to be thrilling…and fast!