I returned yesterday from a ski trip to Park City, Utah.  This was my second ski trip ever.  So I now have officially 6 days of skiing logged.  Learning new skills is humbling.  Yet at the same time it’s great to be a beginner.  Let’s review some highlights.

Friday – Deer Valley Ski Resort

We stayed ski in / ski out literally about 150 ft from the nearest chair lift.
Got on the skis early a.m and managed to not fall in line for the first 100 ft.  Bonus.

The first day actually overall was fair to good.  I was surprised how much I remembered from last year.  Actually felt a little more natural.

My mother-in-law coined a new phrase that will be used from now on to describe epic wipe-outs…

“Yard-Sale” = defying gravity while dislodging skis and poles and realizing why wearing a helmet is fantastic idea.  Crash and burn.  Laughing is mandatory.

Friday Highlight:  12-year old after watching me “yard sale”

Kid:  “Hey mister, are you OK?”  (stopping for a short 5 seconds before he continues to shred the run)
Me:  laughing… “yeah man”

You know it’s a great wipe-out when you’ve got kids asking if you’re ok

Saturday – The Canyons Ski Resort

Now it’s time to do some blacks.  Trees are an interesting obstacle when stopping ability is not yet a priority.

I kept doing the same run over and over to work on turning in moguls in between trees and falling in powder.  The landings weren’t hard, just frustrating after the 12th time.

New motto:  “If you’re not fallin’ then you’re not pushin’ hard enough.”

Well I must have been pushin’… A LOT.

Saturday Highlight:  late 40-something female getting drilled in the back by the chairlift and then ending up riding with my brother-in-law up the lift.
She and my brother in-law.
One Chair ahead = her friend
Two Chairs ahead = yours truly and my sister-in-law.

Small talk all the way to the top.

Dismounting the lift…she hesitantly says a couple of things to me (remember I am working on Black Diamonds)

Lady:  “You fell a lot on that last run…are you OK?”
Me:  “Yes I’m fine…did he tell you that it’s only my 5th day skiing in my life?”
Lady:  “Yes you’re doing very well for that.”
Me:  (maintaining my inside voice) at least I can get on a chairlift :/

Sunday – The Canyons Ski Resort

Final day.  Back to skiing over my head.
Managed to fall A LOT in the course of 3 days without getting hurt until…
yes, the LAST / FINAL run of the day.
Tired.  Snowing.  Going too fast (theme of the weekend).
Got my pole stuck under my ski while cruising down the run.
Yanked my pole so hard…

Sunday Highlight:  Punched myself in the face leaving the entire left side of my jaw swollen chipmunk-style.

6 Days of skiing down.  Numerous to go.

Weekend Summary:

Bite off more than you can chew and … CHEW IT!

Crank it!
B-Rad

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Grip N Rip 2.0 Saturday Feb 6, 2010 co-taught with partner in crime Adam T. Glass.

There’s a New Kid on the Block and he’s “Hangin’ Tough”

Sometimes I wonder how and why certain people cross my life path.  At this point in my journey, I understand there are zero coincidences.  When you cross my path for whatever reason, I will make sure to let you in on that thought stream.  Whether it resonates with you at that specific moment in time and what you do with that encounter will be left to your free will.

There is something about gathering open minds and the open forum synergy it creates.  The world is changing.  Adaptation is taking place…Learn to adapt or be forced to adapt.  Weekends like this are indescribable in a blog post and that’s why you need to attend.

Fourteen brave souls entered my private lab at 1000 hours eager, excited, nervous.  A few from the Twin Cities proper.  Most from different area codes.  The actual workshop ended at 6:30pm.  Yet the material absorbed and implemented will change these 14 people (and myself and Adam) included forever.

Where else can you bring together…

a medical company worker
a lawyer
a barber
a programmer
an IT analyst
a railroad worker
a pipe layer
a construction company owner
a machinist
a sex offender case worker
a ski instructor
a communications professor
a guy with off-the-charts Tourette’s
a guy who elects getting punched in the face a couple times per week
an E6 Air Force Sergeant
and myself who has seen the tip of the iceberg in my 11 year+ fitness industry stint

…and have everyone feeling like they just were struck with a lightning bolt?

Your belief systems (positive or negative) are the driving force in your life.  They determine EVERYTHING.  Are your belief systems serving you?  Question “authority.”

The ONLY thing this weekend could rival is a Monster Truck Showdown.

Why a Monster Truck Showdown?  Because the reverberation felt around the training world sounds like the Monster Truck announcer in that deep announcer voice growling “Sunday-Sunday-Sundaayyy!”

Crank it!
B-Rad

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