Ski Week

When I heard that our schools would shut for a week so that families could spend the week skiing I laughed to myself and said “ of course they would “ . I was told that a recurring pattern had developed where families would pull their students out of school around the time of Presidents’ Day ( a public holiday on a Monday in the middle of February) and have the week off to hit the slopes . With a high number of absentees occurring consistently at the same time each year the school district relented and created a week off each year for families to go skiing . I raise my hand and admit that I have hung onto my working class prejudices . Skiing was always a sport for the rich , it still is but now the middle classes can also access this heavenly pursuit .

When I was asked to consider going with friends who had offered to take Leroy to Park City to go snow boarding I shut it down quick . I didn’t want to spend a substantial lump of cash that we have had to fight hard to save to just go and play in the slopes with all the other rich kids . Yes I know …..I’m hung up on money and I’m still firmly attached and respect my upbringing where cash and privileges were in short supply . After several days the guilt started to fester . The other two kids would be with their dads whilst Leroy will be up in the slopes alone .Now I know he really wouldn’t be alone as our friends would totally look after him but still I felt the guilt that my child wouldn’t get to look for his dad for praise or help or just that appreciation and wonder that a kid wants his parents to share when they’ve learnt and done something totally new . Instead I was to take Tex surfing to Santa Cruz and Steamer Lane . The weather forecast for cold winter storms had me less than looking forward to driving six hours north to surf in freezing water . I changed my mind . We are going to Salt Lake City to stay and board at Canyons resort in Park City . As much as I want to say I’m low working class , I’m not . I’m middle class and have to own it .

Once Emma sets the wheels in motion with flight bookings , Amazon purchases and planning with the other families I’m stuck in the headlights . Every other thought is about getting to the snow . I’m a nervous traveller , always glass half empty expecting something to go wrong . I’m always the guy pulled aside for extra screening when going through security at the airport . I was the only person who had their luggage set aside for a full check when we landed in Fiji and it was done in full view of all the other passengers . I was the guy who was given a 8 foot 1978 Islantis surf board with no wax to surf at 6-10 foot Wilkes Pass , after booking a 6ft 6 thruster to only find that it was already assigned to another guy . I subsequently broke my leash and had to swim to the channel to find that the guy who had taken us out on his boat had gone fishing ,. Fortunately a guy on a Red Bull jet ski came across and saved me , towing me a mile down the reef to retrieve my board . When I took Tex to Mt Buller in 2013 I left my phone in the car after we were shuttled to our share lodge . I walked back in the night in freezing conditions to get it , Mt Buller staff were not impressed . I was the guy who on their 1st snow boarding adventure to Mt Baw Baw who couldn’t get up the pommer ( a fucking horrible towing device for novice boarders) . Five hours later I finally made it up ,with 1 hour left .Next weekend we would go to MtBuller . I make the fatal error of continuing to use my Target ( cheap arse ) gloves that had little waterproofing . After my hands had gone numb I clicked on my board , half way up the lift it dropped off my foot , careering down the mountain like a deadly weapon , narrowly missing a Mum and her two young daughters . I was subsequently grilled by ski patrol , marched off the mountain and interrogated. Luckily the guy thought I was pathetic and plugged the legrope that I had to my shoelace , knowing that the hiring of the board should’ve set the the legrope up so it reached my boot . There have been plenty of good memories but the list of mishaps above keep my feet well and truly grounded in the cautious and worried column . Without Emma’s meticulous preparation and confident approach to any situation it’s left to me and the boys . Strap yourself in kiddos .

Airport … tick , a beer at 915 am … tick … my bladder …not so . Whilst waiting to taxi out for takeoff I’m starting to feel the need for a pee. I tell myself to wait till after takeoff but for some reason we sit for at least 10 minutes with everyone seated . I look back at the toilets every 30 seconds and think about marching down in front of everyone before we even takeoff to do my stuff . On the 30th look I decide I need to go now or I’ll wet my pants and I really fucking mean it . I walk to the back of the plane just as the engine starts to buzz ( of course it would ! ) . The flight attendant tells me that I have to return to my seat . I tell her I can’t . She folds her arms as if to say no but luckily Kim our neighbour is sitting in the back row . She voices her support for my plight. The flight attendant relents . I get back to my seat whilst the plane is actually moving . I don’t dare look up at the seated patrons who know that I nearly pissed myself at 50 years of age …. . An hour 30 later we land in Salt Lake City .

It’s a big modern airport , super clean , organised and pretty much everything that LAX isn’t . Once outside the frigid air reminds us that we are in snow country . Bill does the driving in the hire car whilst the others arrive by shuttle ( an Escalade ) . It’s not long before the snow starts to flutter down . We bypass Salt Lake City . It’s not a big city , I’d compare it to Adelaide . It’s grey , cold and bleak . Winter has stripped all the colour away . We ascend out of the frozen tundra , winding up into snow covered terrain . The snow is coming down heavy , I’ve never seen it like this before . I think of Leroy as he’d never seen snow until recently let alone to watch it come down in almost white out conditions . Concentration is needed behind the wheel . I’m glad Bill is driving . Finally we are at our lodge …. tomorrow we’ll be up in the slopes . The nerves subside for now but tomorrow morning we’ll all be buzzing . It’s time for a beer ……….to be continued