what it would be like to fly through the air, land on a pillow of snow, and glide to a graceful curving stop. 🤔

and Giant Slalom back in HS.

wonderful.

...only thing better I've experienced is body-surfing. Mostly you need the Pacific Ocean
for that because of the waves...wanted to try a boogie board, couldn't find one
on the "right" coast.

We lived in Rochester NY, and there are a fair number of ski places in the area. My parents decided it would be a good idea to take my brother and me to one of the resorts one day. Neither of them skied, so were not able to give us any pointers.

No lessons were arranged. I took the lift to the top of what must have been a bunny hill. Knew nothing. Not even the basics of what I later learned was called the snow plow technique to control speed. Straight down I went, terrified all the way, and ass-over-tea kettles at the bottom. Hat came off, glasses came off - I did manage to retrieve them.

Never again. Why my parents thought this was a good idea, especially without any instruction, I will never know.

by little kids. I was 20 something.

and walked away with a huge appreciation of their athleticism and also convinced that they have to be at least partially insane. Sliding 80+ mph on packed snow and ice down the side of a mountain...

Blows me away how they scream down a course with nearly no protection.


Realistically, cross country skiing. Did it in my younger days and loved it

When I was growing up, I spent most of my Friday nights and weekends at the North Park ice rink. While I was in love with figure skating - especially Dorothy Hamill - I just wasn't built for it. Plus, for some reason, I could never go backwards or spin properly. But, boy could I go forward fast! I wish that I'd heard about women's speed skating back in the 70's. I'd have tried out for it.

Last edited Fri Feb 6, 2026, 04:59 PM - Edit history (1)

Still one of my favorite looks. Very few hairstylists can do this cut properly.

I loved it.

...and during that time, I went thru 10 different hair stylists before I found one who could consistently deliver the goods.

The hard part was shaping the back so the layers blended seamlessly for that stacked look that was so iconic.

It must be exhilarating.

The beauty and strength of figure skating is always compelling. It would be interesting to see what it feels like to be held up high in a lift by your male partner.

I've done some cross country skiing years ago when my husband was stationed at K I Sawyer AFB in the upper peninsula of MI - it's exhausting. And, we had no idea that there was uphill involved. Before I mastered the necessary technique, I remember having to remove my skis so I could walk up one of the uphill portions of a trail, sobbing "Who in the hell decided that trying to go uphill on waxed pieces of wood was a good idea?"

My late parents belonged to a curling club for many years, and my dad traveled to bonspiels. I tried it a few times in the early 1970s. There's lots of finesse involved, none of which I had.

It was a last ski run at the mountain. I wouldn't quit as long as there was one more allowed. I rode the t-bar up and the fog and dark was getting heavy so I followed a skier as I got off. Everything looked strange. I didn't realize I had followed an expert over the split in the trail at the top which had a jump. I was about 13. That floating in the air was pure terror. When I landed (crashed actually) my skis came off and my straps let go. All I had was a pole and my boots and the obvious downward slope to navigate while sinking deep into each step.
It took a long time to get down to the lights and people. Everyone had been waiting while ski patrol had been searching for me. No-one thought I took the back slope with the jump.

I often reflected on how scary it must be to be a parent watching your child go down that thing for the first time.

Especially the landing part.
No way would I ever have done that voluntarily, and when my mom was questioned she made it clear that I was terrified of the jump and advanced run which is why no-one looked for me on that run after everything had shut down for the night and I had gone missing.

I followed the skier that got off the t-bar in front of me because visibility was very poor. This is what people do when driving in poor conditions, too!
Weirdly, while airborne and seemingly in slow motion, I listened to the voices of reason in my head about what to do (lean slightly forward over my skis). It is amazing what info we store. I didn't break any bones or kill myself! After learning which run I had taken down the mountain the ski patrol went back and found my skis.

what it is like.

…that was set up vertically. A very powerful fan, several feet in diameter, blowing air upwards. You had to put on a sort of flying squirrel suit to assure plenty of surface area. The powerful air stream then lofted you up in the air.

It was pretty cool. I was in Las Vegas, at Nellis Air Force Base, doing my 2 weeks of reserve active duty. The pediatric clinic was closed on weekends, so I was free to go to Vegas and explore.

Last edited Sat Feb 7, 2026, 06:33 PM - Edit history (1)

...forever.

Of all the skills required to complete in sports at the Olympic level, I think I can lean one way or the other when required.

Curling is my favorite

My cats like to watch them too.