First Time Skiing at Mt. Ripley - AWESOME!

Today I went Skiing up Mt. Ripley with a bunch of friends from MTU (chinese + malaysians). Mt. Ripley is operated in conjunction with MTU. So MTU students get better rates for their season pass. Ok, it costs $35(only if you have 8 or more) to ski from 3pm till 9pm. Equipment included. Usually it costs $30 just for entry + $17 for rentals.We went there around 5.30pm and we skied all the way till 8.45p.m. I chose skiing rather than snowboard cause it was the easier ski sport to learn. And I must agree. After a few lessons from my friend, Peter, I learned how to stop and control my movement. But before I could learn to stop, I definitely had to fall many times. But it took me about like almost an hour to finally get it right. Next, I learnt how to get up the hill using the easier method, which is the T-Bar. It was hard hold on to the T-Bar at the beginning, as I have never done it. Then another senior, Aik How, taught me the right way to ride the T-Bar. As you can see, it's a wooden T-Bar where you can sit or lean against it and when it moves it drags you along. I fell off the T-Bar a few times. There was once when the T-Bar struck my arm. So, I got a lil bruise on my right arm. Every time someone falls off the T-Bar, they will stop it and resume it when you're back up. There are 3 control stations along the way, Bottom - Midway(beginner trail)-Top(intermediate trail)

T-Bar

So, after learning all the basics, I was pretty much on my own already. I started off at the beginner trail which is the green line. I was going down hill, taking the T-Bar up and going downhill again. Was going through that routine for some time until I felt I really had a hang of skiing. Crazily enough, I thought of going up to the intermediate trail (orange line on map). And I did! I was like 50-50 whether I should do it, since it was my first time skiing and the way to go up is super steep. Finally, I decided I will give it a try cause Peter was going to follow me. Peter was really experienced. He's like no fear at all. So, I held on to the T-Bar from the bottom of the ski hill, all the way up,pass the beginner trail (green line on map) and finally up the steep hill, it was fine at the beginning... I held it up 1/2 way the Intermediate steep hill, and I really lost control, and I fell off the T-Bar and I held it with my arms, I was dragged on the snow by the T-Bar until the point which I let go cause my arms were aching. Then they stop the T-Bar. I was trying to get onto the T-Bar again, but it was really hard, cause the hill was really steep and when I stand up, I'd probably ski backwards into god-knows-where. So, I was on the snow, trying to get back on my skis to grab the next T-Bar. Ok, this time I got it, but I couldn't sit on it right, and i was once again, I fell and held the bar with my hand until my arms gave up again. This time one of my ski came off and it slide away from me. I wanted to retrieve it, but I was wearing the ski boots, and it was really difficult to walk. Did I tell you the boots are really uncomfortable? It's really stiff and it is 90 degrees all the time, so you can hardly get any flexibility out of it. I was supposed to reach the top soon, but suddenly the T-Bar stalled for a long time. Maybe because of me... So, now I had to walk all the way up with those freaking tight boots. It was a really tiring hike up that hill. Again, I stress, it was really steep. Finally when I reached, I told the T-Bar operator that one of my ski came off a distance away from the station. He immediately went down the hill with no fear (well,maybe it's easier cause he was wearing shoes) and went to retrieve my ski and hike all the way up again. I thanked him and he was cool about it.

The story doesn't end there, in fact it was just about to start. When I was up at the top, I was telling myself, WHY ON EARTH DID I WANT TO COME UP HERE? OMG it was really scary, the trail was really steep. My heart started pumping faster and faster. Lucky for me, my friend Peter was really supportive, he kept on saying "dude, this is it man, YOU CAN DO IT!, there's no turning back" I was like... "OMG OMG, can't believe I am doing this!" So, I took a deep breath and said, "let's do it".

We started off a small and slightly steep hill, I went down that one, and took a stop at the level area (refer to map, a green dot that says " That first part made some adrenaline running in me. I didn't dare to go all the way down in one go. Then, again... I was like really scared... This time the hill is really steep and it's a long way down.

Now I tell myself, you got to do this, there is no turning back. So, I positioned myself, got ready... and (prayed to God to not let me die) and right after that...

OMG! IT WAS SO FAST and SCARY. I had an adrenaline rush!!

In my mind, I was concentrating really hard to stay steady and not fall, cause it you roll down that hill, it wont be pretty. I was like going about 30-40km/h And I am proud to say, I stayed in control all the way down the hill but I couldn't stop in time, it was too fast and I "crash landed". But it was one hell of an experience. I wanted to go up a second time, but I was too tired or perhaps, too scared/freaked out/excited/ to go up there and almost kill myself again. So, I went back to the beginner trail and skied till 8.45p.m.

We went for dinner right after that. We were pretty hungry.

One for the album!

Group Photo

It was a really great first experience on skiing. I am really glad it was easy to ski and I really enjoy it. Gonna try and learn more skiing technique the next time I go to Mt. Ripley again.

For more photos, check out http://calvinsc.multiply.com/photos/album/57/Mt_Ripley_Ski_Trip

And below is the Mt Ripley map, you can look at the places I mentioned above in the map.