Mount St Louis - Ski Resort

Staring Death in the Face - A great way to see out 2012!

While Erik was a work, Erin's mom and step-dad took us to Mount St Louis on our first skiing adventure! (See Website: http://www.mountstlouis.com/). Charlene and Ron (Erin's parents) ski all the time and have memberships at the slope and were only too happy to take us out.

It was sooooo much fun. I thought that I would hate it and that it would be too hard for a fatty like me. But it was really fun. Carl has got some videos of me in my lesson at the start of the day and then some photos etc. of us going down the bigger slopes later in the day.

Ron (in the red) teaching Ron and I the basics. Honestly... look at how pro I look!

Fitted with my skis and poles. Oh and all of the second hand clothes. Ha ha... sexy right?

We were able to get a beginner's ski package which included an hour lesson and ski hire. But Ron took us out a little earlier and gave us a few tips. He used to be a ski instructor, so we learned some good skills before joining the other beginners for our lesson. They basically only teach you three moves and then shove you on the ''magic carpet'' (escalator up the snow slope) and made us ski down. I was amazed at how confident I was by the end of the hour! But I had worked up quite an appetite, so we all went inside for lunch. Charlene had packed a picnic lunch -it was so good! We filled our bellies, re-hydrated and then headed back out for the bigger beginner slopes!

Magic Carpet - Just hop on and off you go up the slope! Easier than the ski lift.

Skiing was soooooo much fun. You use every muscle in your body! Every muscle! My hands were hurting from holding onto the ski poles! The only thing I didn't like was the ski lift. I hated everything about the stupid ski lift! I hated getting on, I hated dangling in the air all the way to the top and I especially hated getting off! Ron and I both tumbled off the ski lift once. It's hard getting back up when you've fallen over.

Carl of course was a pro. He switched to blades after a while (they are smaller skis and you don't use poles). I think he had a great time!! He even went down the black diamond run! I got a video of that too, but you can't really see him until he slides in front of the camera. He's just a tiny dot going down a HUGE mountain. I think you use every muscle in your body when you're skiing and I had to stop around 4pm because my legs were starting to cramp and I needed those muscles to help me slow down and turn.

Carl and I posing for a photo. Carl is wearing the blades, and doesn't have poles.

Charlene and I on the top of the mountain. Carl got some great video footage of the view!

Surprisingly, my body didn't really hurt the next day. I think it must have been the copious amounts of vodka I had on NYEve. I think we are going to go to a different ski resort on the weekend and do some tubing and some more skiing. Tubing is going to be soooo fun. Apparently you get hooked to a rope and they drag you up the slope and then you just slide down the hills. That sounds like my kind of sport - you sit on your ass the whole time!! ha ha. I am loving skiing though and wanna give that another go. Carl and I even imagined going to New Zealand again in June/July school holidays for a week. We can dream can't we?

That night we headed to Boston Pizza (where Erik works) for some pre-drinks and then went to a house party on Lake Simcoe. We all felt very lucky to be celebrating the new year on the other side of the world!

Hope yours was just as eventful!

Love and hugs,

Xx Janelle and Carl