Snowbasin/Sullivan vs. Brighton/Irvine

     Do you ever have those moments when you could kick yourself for not having your camera when you really want it?  I had one of those moments yesterday.  I helped out with one of FCYD's (Foundation for Children and Youth with Diabetes) annual winter camp sessions for a day of skiing at Brighton.  It was an early wake-up call to drive up Emigration Canyon in time to drive the eager little skiers and boarders to Brighton up Big Cottonwood for the opening runs, but it was well worth it.  In the morning I was riding up the lift with my new friend Joe Curtis, and as I sat on the Great Western lift I saw the most beautiful sight.  A vast expanse of untouched snow on the mountains and evergreens appeared like a cascade of glistening diamonds under the sun as the lift carried us up.  It was stunning!  It took my breath at away at one point.  Even if I had brought my camera, it probably wouldn't have done any justice to what I saw in person.  It couldn't.  Not everything is meant to be captured on camera. 

      I had a very interesting experience while I was there.  I've been skiing since I was three or four years old, and I had some great flashbacks of my childhood yesterday.  I love volunteering at summer and winter camp for FCYD because I loved attending as a camper, and the best part was always the counselors.  I was seven when I went for the first time and that's when I learned to give my first insulin shot by myself.  More importantly, I learned that even though I'm a diabetic, I can still do what other kids do who don't have to worry about insulin reactions, or high blood sugars.  So, I attended camp every year, and loved it!  Especially winter camp because that meant I got to go skiing.  I was a pretty sassy little kid and thought I was all that on the ski slopes.  This being the case, I always made sure that I got to ski with Chuck Sullivan - he was the best.  Back in the day, camp used to be held at Camp Kiesel instead of Camp Kostopolus so the skiing adventures took place at Snowbasin instead of Brighton.  I don't remember the name of the lift or run anymore, but this particular run was my absolute favorite to ski with Chuck - a huge bowl of nothing but powder.  It was the east face off of this particular lift, and apparently no one knew about it, because every time we skied it, it seemed to be in pristine condition.  Tons of powder and tons of speed (keep in mind, this was speed in the mind of an 8/9/10/11/12 year old) was the greatest thing in the world for two blissful days.  Chuck always sped off in front of us like bait, but he couldn't beat us down (us meaning - me and my friend Carmen) the hill so we threw caution to the wind and barreled down the mountain after him.  Beating Chuck while skiing at winter camp was the equivalent of winning the NY marathon.  This was serious business.

      So, the flashback to all of this began when I was asked to ski with two young girls (9 and 11) in the afternoon after lunch - Grace and Sarah.  I saw so much of myself in Grace yesterday, I couldn't keep from laughing the entire time I watched her ski down the mountain.  She was up for anything and had a keen sense of radar directing her to every path through the trees that had a jump at the end.  This is probably why both of these girls could not get enough of the "skate park" at Brighton with all the built-in jumps and the half pipe.  A personal aside here - I don't think skiers belong on this particular run.  Unless you are incredibly good, and incredibly fearless, skiers look ridiculous doing the same things snowboarders do.  But, like I said, that's just my opinion.  I love jumps, and hit some great ones yesterday, but I have issues mingling with snowboarders.  I've grown accustomed to the ban on snowboarding at Alta.  I offer no apologies.  =)

       Back to the story - as I was watching these two girls, I saw myself and Carmen skiing with Chuck.  As such, I took it upon myself to do the same for them that was done for me.  I made sure we were all together at the top of the run, and then I took off at full speed.  It was the best thing ever to turn around and see them keeping up!  Neither have mastered the parallel technique, but they have the snowplow down pat.  Those two girls made my day.  It was so fun seeing them abandon all fear and enjoy the feel of rushing wind on their cheeks and managing some jumps that cautious skiers triple their age wouldn't touch.  They inspired me.

       I used to think that great skiing meant that I had no falls on my record that day.  I've come to see things much differently now.  I think the former opinion grew out of the fact that my ski instructor during all my years of training NEVER fell.  I repeat - never.  Even when I skied into him while he was holding a huge video-camera - I believe I was four - he stayed upright.  This person would be my dad.  It drove me nuts that I would fall, and he never did.  However, I have come to realize that a really good spill means that you're pushing yourself farther than you've done before.  It's just like ice-skating.  I don't know how many times I fell (I've even broken bones in the process) while learning how to complete an axel at the Bountiful ice-rink.  I fell, and fell, and fell some more, and then finally, I nailed the landing.  Best feeling ever.  It's the same with skiing.  Joe and I skied black diamonds all morning and I had a great spill on Wrangler, but I was just as happy at the bottom of the run as I had been at the top.  I pushed my limits, and the next time down, I didn't have the same problem.  In the end, I think that's part of what I realized yesterday.  When I was a camper, Chuck Sullivan didn't care if I fell or not (he wasn't keen, however, on letting a couple of ten year old girls beat him down the mountain), he cared that I pushed myself and improved - mentally and physically.  So - the lessons I learned at Snowbasin many years ago, I tried to pass on to Sarah and Grace yesterday at Brighton.  It was absolutely perfect.  And next month I'll be sure to bring my camera to at least capture the faces of happy skiers who are having the time of their lives taking on the mountain at Brighton.  Thanks Chuck!!!