In case you're new here and don't know, I write long, useful threads so you're in for a story.
I went to college to ski, and the University of Vermont is the perfect place to do this on the east coast. Unfortunately what I soon realized was that I didn't want to be in any of the programs the school offered. Because of this and a few other bad experiences last year I didn't really have as great of a season as I was hoping, and I began to lose "That lovin' feeling" (If you don't know what song I'm talking about you don't know music).
Since I was dissapointed with my ski season I focused much of my spring and all of my summer on surfing. I love surfing and had probably the best summer possible for Long Island, and when it came time to go back up to Vermont for college I was pretty annoyed. My stokedness on surfing overcame the reason why I went to UVM in the first place and I was majorly bummed as I watched (via webcam and photos) as the east coast had one of the greatest late summer/fall seasons for surfing in recent history. Thoughts of skiing slipped further and further away as friends back home told stories of getting deeper and deeper in the tube.
Finally December rolled around and I skiied my first day at Stowe on the 12th. Not too much was open, conditions weren't too great, and I was just overall in a bad mood I think. Driving home for Christmas break the next day I was again thinking about the swell coming in instead of the possibility of going to Colorado to visit family and ski. Normally I would be stoked just at the idea that we might get to Colorado but I didn't really have high hopes because I thought even if I did get to ski I'd have to ride with relatives who won't want to do the same runs as me and stuff.
Flights worked out and we got into Eagle airport the night of the 26th. Riding to my cousins condo from the airport I couldn't really see the mountains and there was barely any snow around. I didn't think too much about skiing and realized this would be more of a "relaxing with family" trip than a "ski trip." Later that night we decided to ski Beaver Creek the next day so we headed to bed early.
I went up to eat breakfast the next morning and when I looked out the living room window I was taken back for second. We were literally just across the street (although a few hundred yards away) from the Arrowhead base and it was bluebird. I started to get pumped and felt that desire to ski again. After some difficulties renting, however, I was stuck with a pair of some older non-twins and we didn't get on the chair until around 11. Again I had low expectations and wasn't too excited to ski.
To keep it short, I skiied until 4 that day at Beaver Creek, and then tuesday at Vail from 10-3:30, and had the time of my life. The first run brought it all back to me and I remembered why I started skiing in the first place- because it's fun. It didn't matter that I wasn't on my equipment or with my friends, I was with family and I was skiing. The views were breathtaking, the people were friendly, the town was beautiful, and I was there.
Now as I start school again in two weeks I'm going to "bring back that lovin' feeling" with me to Vermont and enjoy every day I have on the mountain. My course load is lighter knowing I'll be transferring next year, so my plan for this semester is to just realize what I've been given and have fun. it might've taken me a trip out west to realize this and snap myself back, but it doesn't have to be that extreme for everyone.
I'm sure for some of you it might seem impossible, but if you're feeling bummed or bored with skiing and have lost some of the passion you used to have, just remember why you started. Do what it takes to get that loving feeling back; whether it be finding new lines or watching old videos or even riding a different mountain for day. It's said all the time and I have a thread all about it (https://www.newschoolers.com/web/forums/readthread/thread_id/334211/), but everyday is a gift and skiing is like that present you found after everything else was opened- you were happy with what you were given before, but finding that last gift was a reminder of how truly lucky you are.
