This weekend we journeyed to the XC skiing mecca Waterville Valley, with the express intent of enjoying our final ski for the season. Of course, since the trails still boost a foot and a half of packed snow, the ski season will continue well into April, but we were determined to make this our final hurrah, a resolution that was strengthened by skiing uphill for 2km on a black diamond trial called Criterion in the buttery springtime snow on top of a layer of ice.
Below is one of my favorite pictures from this long, fantastic XC season: Mr. P skiing down the alpine-style open slope at Windblown XC. If you’ve ever been on XC skis, then you know that it takes an absurd amount of balance and skill to control those twiggy skis, especially while descending a long hill. To do thThis weekend we went to the XC skiing mecca of Waterville Valley with the stated goal of getting in one last ski for the season. Of course, with a foot and a half of packed snow still on the trails, the season will likely drag on well into April, but we were determined to call it. That resolve was strengthened after skiing uphill for 2 km on a black diamond trail called Criterion, where buttery spring snow sat optimistically on top of a layer of ice.
Below is one of my favorite pictures from this long, excellent XC season: Mr. P skiing down the alpine-style open slope at Windblown XC. If you have ever been on XC skis, you know they are essentially twigs, and controlling them on a descent requires a level of balance and competence that most of us do not innately possess.
Mr. P is a lifelong alpine skier who, for reasons that remain unclear, decided to take up the more punishing sport of XC skiing. He does not seem to miss the alpine lifestyle all that much, with its expensive lift tickets, freezing summits, and crowded lodges. But put him on an open slope and he immediately reverts, casually throwing in pivots, carving, and parallel turns while the rest of us descend in various states of caution. It is enough to make you reconsider what exactly you are doing out there.
