Whistler Day 8
It’s Super Bowl Sunday so we head out early in different groups so we can be back at the condo to watch the game. Brian’s already out when I get to the condo at 8:30. Matt and Rob head out and I wait for Sleeping Beauty Metzer to get up so Elad and I can go up the mountain. I’m in no hurry given my endurance seems to be about 2-3 hours. We leave around 10 to go up the mountain.
It’s been snowing overnight and all morning so the snow should be good. However, as we get to the Blackcomb base, it changes over to rain. I also go and redeem a free helmet rental that came with the lessons after yesterday’s experience. We go up Wizard Express and then Solar Coaster. The guys are gracious enough to escort me down the green. I’m still bending at the hips and not standing straight up. But the bigger issue is that I’m still scared of speed and leaning on my front foot. Metzer tells me to trust the system that if I lean on the front foot all will be good. Trying!!!
The green gets flat and narrow…such that turns get harder to do so we go down a blue. Elad’s right, it’s easier to stop since there’s more slope and it’s nice and wide for turns. However, it’s also prone to more speed->getting scared -> leaning back -> catching an edge -> and SPLAT! Thank goodness for the helmet. I land on my left side and get the wind knocked out of me. I lose confidence and “practice” slipping and sliding. Metzer gently reminds me to do toe side turns. I get in some turns but mostly I’m sliding down the blues. I catch an other edge and SPLAT! This time I hit my head pretty good again. *rattle rattle* This one takes a while to shake off and my rib is hurting from the previous fall. I realize that I’m also not good at getting up when the mountain is going in multiple directions. I seem to only find the stance that points me towards that black diamond that I don’t want to go down. I spend lots of time on my butt, back and scuttling around today. By the time we hit the Excalibur gondola, I’m wiped. It’s been 2 hours on the mountain, my head is still ringing a bit and it’s getting harder and harder to breathe without pain. I bid the guys Adieu and download to Whistler village.
Brian is already home and Mike and Bettina make it back from their shopping run. I hobble into the hot tub to squelch the pain coming from my body. Elad walks in alone with a similar injury to me. However, his was inflicted by a skier’s head to his left ribs. He can’t even get in the hot tub.
