Jarrod Cook

Social Security #: 190-66-9797

Admissions

6 October 2004

Skiing

I am perched at the top of a hill; adrenaline rushes through my veins as I push off. I start to gain speed, as the hill grows steeper. The icy wind and snow sting my face as I race down the hill, crouched in the proper stance. I edge my skis to the right and then to the left as I meander down the slope. I take a rough trail through the woods and hit a jump as I emerge once more onto the main trail. My skies clap as they hit the snow, and I begin to pick up more speed on the steepest part of the hill. I grow near to the lift and edge my skies hard, causing snow to fly into the air as I skid to a stop. I blow my nose with the tissue in my pocket and jump back in line to do it all over again.

Skiing all began for me in sixth grade science, it was near the beginning of October and the teacher announced that he would be starting a ski club. I acquired a form from him and wasted no time in showing the form to my parents. They examined it and agreed that sixty dollars for five lessons was a fair price. They filled out the form along with a check and I turned it in the very next day. The anticipation then began to build, as ski season grew ever nearer. A few days before Christmas break we were informed that our first trip would fall immediately after our vacation and that we should bring warm clothes. I could not wait! Only two more weeks and I would get to ski for the first time!

Finally the day arrived and everyone was just as anxious as I was to get out onto those slopes. The bus arrived at about ten to three and we all boarded in anticipation of the fun that was ahead of us. Upon arrival everyone was herded to the upper floor of the lodge, where several instructors awaited us. We were given a list of rules, a lift pass, assigned to a group, and pointed in the direction of the rental shop. After everyone in my group had been fitted with the proper equipment we met up with our instructor outside. Since this was everyone’s first lesson, it focused only upon basic procedures, primarily getting up after falling down. For the next five weeks we continued our lessons in the basics of skiing and then the real fun began. After I had been instructed upon the basics all I needed was continual practice to perfect them. I was disappointed when the skiing season ended that year, but it gave me a reason to look forward to winter the following year.

I continued to progress in the years that followed and successfully completed even the advanced level lessons. I started out knowing absolutely nothing about the sport and in a few short years became a mediocre skier. For me, winter has been transformed from a cold wasteland into a wondrous ski resort. I plan to continue skiing for years to come in order to perfect my techniques.