Learning to ski is totally like learning to mountain bike: Introducing Little Blue Skis

I have come to the conclusion that I must have a subconscious grudge against my skeletal system. There are not many sports I enjoy that haven’t at one point killed someone and all my favorites commonly result in broken bones for the people who do them.

Mountain biking does indeed come to mind. This past summer I broke my bike rather than my bones when I fell, but I did end up with an excellent array of bruises and scrapes.

I rode horses for most of my childhood and a good chunk of college. I kept doing it in spite of the fact that I was possibly the only nine-year-old in the history of the barn I frequented to be bucked off by the gentlest, oldest horse in the place.

So naturally, I took up skiing about a month ago.

My little blue skis.

 I realize that this is supposed to be a bike-centric blog. The trouble is, riding bikes in the icy Jackson streets and sub-zero temperatures is just a bit too suicide-y even for me. Also, as I discovered this summer, there are only so many trails around here suitable for learning and practicing, and I foolishly didn’t take that into account when I planned out this blog.

Also, it turns out the two have more in common that first meets the eye.

 As I acknowledge above, both involve more falling than your average activity. As I took my first foray onto the slopes I felt bit like I did on a new cycling trail during the summer. Most notably, I once had to fall on purpose to avoid crashing into a huge wood cutout of a leering mouse in the kid's area.

 Dressing funny is part of the culture. Biking has spandex. Skiing has a look people refer to as “steezy.” People who use this word unironically appear to be trying to achieve an acid-trip homage to 90s Nickelodeon ads – lots of neon.
   
It is possible to spend more money than I make in a year on your gear. I got reasonably good gear for under $400. A brand-new setup I looked at earlier this year would have cost me $2,000 – without any accessories or associated clothing. And it was on sale.

Both sports are full of proselytizers. People who do much biking or much skiing are eager to tell you all about why the way they do it is the most awesome of all the ways and you should do it too. Skiing is even worse than biking. Skiers recruit with a passion for giving testimony I have not seen since my last Christian youth rally.

Skiing and biking are both seriously fun. What's not to love? I mean, sure you fall. Sure you end up with sore muscles and weird bruises. Sure you deal with terrain and weather (eight below ski day, anyone? I’ve totally done it.)
But both involve being outside, pumping adrenaline, getting solid exercise and racing down steep hills really, really fast.

Also, public safety announcement, both because it’s important and because my dad reads this blog and will bring it up later if I don’t put it in. Wear helmets biking and skiing. And horseback riding, for that matter. All of these things are much more fun when your brains stay inside your skull.