Not everyone can say their work gets any more exciting in winter. I, on the other hand, have the pleasure of saying mine does. This is a new benefit, as some of you may know – I just came aboard to SkiSoutheast. As a result, I am looking forward to the upcoming season more than I ever have before, and probably just as much as many of you (okay, maybe not quite as much, since many of you are fanatics, but give me some time).
Having immersed myself in this new position, I am more than ready to assume the lifestyle of the avid skier… or snowboarder (we’ll see which one I take to better this year). Little by little, I’m picking up the talk, but have yet to walk the walk. One indication that I’ve already adopted the mindset is that, without even realizing it, I have established this list of reasons why I’m looking forward to the weeks that lie ahead. So, without further ado, I shall share it.
10. Better than Last Season
I don’t think I have to spend a lot of time justifying this one – I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir here. Obviously, I wasn’t too invested in last year’s slope conditions, but things have changed, and it would be a complete bummer, to say the least, if my first true season consisted of… dare I say? next to no snow. Therefore, I’m thinking positive and know that this season will be better than the last!
9. New Gear
First and foremost, I’m a girl, so any excuse to buy new attire is a blessing. When it comes to ski gear, though, I think it’s safe to say that anyone, girl or guy, is pretty excited to pick out apparel and equipment. I may have an ulterior motive, however – distraction. My newbie presence may not be so highly noticed if I look like a pro (I’ll keep telling myself that). My only question is, "with so much to choose from, where do I start?"
8. A Fun Workout
Yes, finally! I haven’t found many of these so-called fun workouts that I can do on a regular basis. This could be it. The best part, you can treat yourself at the resort restaurants afterward and not feel guilty. Skiing and snowboarding are both great exercises and calorie burners. Translation: burritos and hot chocolate (with the whip cream), here I come!
7. Stress Reliever
This one goes hand and hand with #8, but another aspect is the location. Sure, working out in a gym relieves stress, but in my opinion, it doesn’t even compare to being out on the slopes. No cell phones, no TVs, you can completely escape.
6. Fresh Air
There is nothing like the fresh air that you’ll breathe in on top of a mountain, not to mention on a crisp cool day. It seems simple, I know, but certainly worthy of my Top Ten.
5. Something New
I’m always ready to try new things, and would love for it to turn into something I do regularly. This venture will be nothing but new — new sport, new gear, new places, and new people, which brings me to #4…
4. Meet Cool People
I can already tell this will be the case. I’m just hoping I meet you all in a controlled, calm, and collected way and not as I’m falling down the mountain and yelling to you to watch out! 😉 Skiing/ snowboarding is obviously an individual sport, but it takes place in such a social environment, that those who want to mingle can mingle, and those who prefer to break away have no problem doing so.
3. Exhilaration
I need a little more of this in my life, with regard to physical activity anyway. I can only imagine what will be going through my head as I’m riding the lift with my board and then getting ready to make that first descent.
2. Challenge
This coincides with #5, but not everything new is a challenge. When it comes to skiing/ snowboarding, for me, it’s both. I suppose I could just be a natural 😉 but I won’t hold my breath. No matter how long it takes for me to get the hang of it, I’ll enjoy the trial in the meantime. Without one, I wouldn’t have as much sense of accomplishment.
1. Travel
This one may not apply all of the time, as I’m sure once I find my favorite resort, I’ll want to go there as often as possible. In addition, I’m lucky to have three resorts all within about a 15 mile radius of my home. Nevertheless, skiing/snowboarding presents opportunities to travel, especially with the work I do, and I have to do my homework! I enjoy visiting places I’ve never been, and of course would surely benefit from hitting the slopes at various resorts.
And there you have it. Now tell me, do these 10 reasons ring true with anyone else, or is it just me? While I’m pretty set in my way of thinking, I am curious to see if and how this list evolves from season to season. To be honest, I may even have a few replacements between now and my first outing, who knows. The one thing I do know is that I am eager, not only on a personal level, but on a professional level, as well. SkiSoutheast is going to have one heck of a season, whether I’m upright or on my butt promoting it!
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