Ready, Set, SKI - or whatever winter sport you like

Swish!

That's the sound heard on top of the mountains now.  It's the sound of all the people whizzing by as they ski and snowboard down the slopes.  Last weekend one of the mountain top ski lifts opened.  The don't all open on the same day.  This weekend, the ski lift that I see directly across the valley from my apartment window will open.

Incline ( in Summer) to top of mountain

There is a 'routine' to going to the slopes.  The skiers gather all their equipment and take an incline train to the top of the mountain.  Once at the top, they ski down to the midpoint of the mountain, where they take a ski lift back to the top and ski again, to the midpoint. They don't ski all the way down to the valley.

In the warm sun, watching skiers

Sitting in the sun, resting, drinking hot chocolate, beer, wine

At the top of the ski run there is a restaurant, where the skiers rest drinking hot chocolate or beer and can get lunch.





Ray and I took the incline up to the top to just be there and enjoy the energy of people out skiing. While it gets colder the higher you go, the sun made it a perfectly warm day to sit outside and watch the people.  Actually it felt hot!  I had to take my scarf off and unzip my coat!










The day was beautiful.  Clear sky, no wind, just sunshine and people having fun.

Ski Poles plunged into the ground while the owners sat at restaurant

Ok...looks like I published a YouTube video of skiing that I had intended to put in this post!!!  Still on a learning curve with blogging.

Little Ones Learn to Ski

In any event,  you can see what a great time everyone has here in the winter wonderland of Davos, Switzerland.  One of the cutest things I saw was the way children learn how to ski.  Lessons begin when children are very little, maybe 6 years old.  They are given a pair of skis, no poles.  They are then attached to long straps - like a leash.  Mom or Dad holds onto the leash and they both ski, the little one ahead of the 'teacher.'  It was so fun to watch.  Remember there are sometimes cliffs on the sides of the slopes!  And no railing.  You have to guide that new skier on a straight path!!!  Or else it's a huge woops!!!

Ok...that's all for now.  Our friends ask us when we will ski...not sure about that.  Maybe snow shoe or cross country.   What would you do??

Hugs from the white spaces of Switzerland,

Marybeth