Halfway through University, I fled for the hills and spent a winter teaching three year olds how to ski. Up until that time, I'd never even met a three year old.
I didn't speak a word of their language. But, in ski boots, on my hands and knees, I looked those barely toilet-trained, milk-toothed little people in the eye, and we made a connection.
We bonded over pizza and French fries, walking like a duck and wobbling like a jellyfish, revving imaginary bikes and bouncing pretend basketballs. We rallied over the skitripping sneakiness of "snow snakes", the importance of yelling "wipeout " when a teammate has gone down, over having a "shake-it-off" attitude to falls and failure. We connected over getting air over bumps, and the amazing sense of accomplishment that comes from trying something new, and the sheer awesomeness of sliding on snow.
Since that winter, I have discovered that you just have to scratch the surface of any skier or snowboarder to find that freeas-a-three-year-old spirit.
The pros at Whistler Blackcomb Snow School have an uncanny ability to tap into that spirit. Not just those working in the Kids School. Thanks to the introduction of the new Max 4 program to the Adult School, more and more intermediate to advanced level grown-up skiers and snowboarders have been taking a lesson in the art of mountain play, too.
Snow School Alpine Supervisor, Dave Hobson, says the uptake on the new group lesson packages has been overwhelming. "We've hit a sweet spot with only four people in the group. It allows us to match people's abilities much more uniformly, and as a result, groups are able to get a lot more out of their day. With teaching time divided amongst fewer students, our pros can really cater specifically to each individual's needs." Being a beginner has nothing to do with it.
The pros working under Hobson are all internationally qualified ski and snowboard instructors. Diverse as their backgrounds are that their common passion for skiing is contagious.
"They obviously all love skiing," says Hobson of his staff, "but to thrive in this job, I think you have to love sharing your interest with people too. Good teaching shows people how to play with the terrain. The technique is just a tool. Because, really, it's about playing in the mountain environment."
Parents put their kids in Snow School because knowing how to slide on snow and how to have fun are important life skills. Whether you have never been on skis or boards before, or have spent your life on the slopes, don't you deserve some awesomeness too?
