Sep. 4, 2023
Read time: 2 minutes and 41 seconds.
tags:Moving away from Canada, family is the obvious thing to miss. They’re top of mind every moment i’m away, but beyond that, there’s one activity that truly calls me back. It’s hitting the slopes and feeling that rush of cold air on your face going 40 or 50 km/hour.
Skiing, for me, started as a love affair with snowboarding. I fell in love with snowboarding as a kid, but skiing just did it for me because of the social aspects and the freedom on your feet. You didn’t need to bomb a hill or aim to hit a jump or a terrain park. It’s the blend of social connection and personal freedom. You’re not racing against anyone, just flowing with the mountain. It’s also something that reminds me a lot of rollerblading through the city, another activity I love. I used to love rollerblading in Toronto, especially in my favorite parts of town in the early mornings before work as a way to get in some daily exercise and brace myself for a day in the office.
Unlike the sometimes-stiff vibe of city running or biking, skiing is pure joy. Everyone’s in their zone when you’re in the urban wild. Whereas with skiing you were really never pissed off like you could see in the face of others cranking their favourite EDM song running along Lake Ontario. I’ve been fortunate to ski in some amazing places and ones that have left unforgettable memories in my mind. Skiing with my brother, especially on a recent trip to Ottawa, was a highlight of my ski trips. Especially now that he has kids, the only downtime we had together was being able to do that. Sit and laugh on the chair lift while freezing our buns off on the dim lit night slopes in Gatineau. It’s like a form of bodily and spiritual therapy unmatched by other pass times.
I’ve been skiing for about 15 years, but it wasn’t until Switzerland that I really learned the proper technique from a friend I had made as they braced themselves to become a certified ski instructor.
Friend: Hey, you know how to snowboard right? Me: Do I really talk about it that much? Friend: Well no. I can just tell with how much you’re on your back foot. Must be exhausting.
And they were right. After they gave me a couple of lessons, it was like night and day. I used to wrap up skiing and be absolutely shot. But getting a couple of lessons on stance and best practices, it was like I had become immune to having the effects of the slopes on my legs.
Living in a tropical climate, I really miss the snow. People might whine about the cold, but it’s something that’s great for your body. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of shredding down the slopes and there’s few things nearly as magnificent as being at the top of a hill seeing the floor roll in front of you. It’s easily the thing I miss most about Canada.
Skiing is more than a sport; it’s a connection to nature, family, and a sense of freedom for me. It’s a feeling I’ll always chase. And especially as life takes it’s turns, I hope to get a chance to go skiing again soon. It’s such a blessing to be able to stand and go at such a fast rate.