Skiing Is

Skiing Is… Skiing is… Alpine thrill ride on four inch boards Boggy in the bumps – a schuss to the lodge Carving a turn leaving icy rooster tails in the air Drag lift to ride on thick moving ropes Skiing is… Extreme black diamond runs on endless terrain Flat hills of green for bunny slopes Googles of amber for blizzards or flat light Hardpack and boiler-plate; blue ice and corn snow Skiing is… Into the heart of pure mountain splendor Jet sticks on snowfields under blazing blue skies Keeping upright avoiding face plants Lift lines of frustration at chair lifts and gondolas Skiing is… Moguls that hide crafty snow snakes Nordic dance of short swings in fresh powder Outside skis with a mind of their own Powder hounds piggin’ through aspen trees Skiing is… Quick turns called weidlin from Austrian lore Runs of legend like K-2 and Exhibition, Wild Child, The Plunge Sitzmarks the size of a lunar crater Telemark turns on frosty cross-country trails Skiing is… Under the smile of the crystal solstice Vertical drops into wide open bowls Weighting unweighting parallel turns Experts and bunnies apres ski with tall tales Skiing is… Yards sales of googles, poles, hats and lost skis Zest for taking your life in your hands! 2-28-23