The Best Intentions

With the lifts closing, my ski stack changes to reflect the conditions. I’ve always been a one-ski person. While having a raft of skis, there was always one pair of skis I played on for 90% of the days. On one particular day, I might drag out a powder ski. And I usually had (no longer) a pair of DH’s for a couple of real cruising days. For most day’s, I ski one pair of skis.

For many years that pair of skis carried no heel. “Free the heel free the mind� mantra ran with me. On re-joining ski school, I became more oriented toward combat gear. In recent years, though no longer teaching, the ease of combat gear stayed and my tele days are few and far between.

Yet every year, the same ritual occurs. Bemoaning to myself how little I tele’d over the winter, with the closing of the lifts, I stash my combat gear and move my tele gear out to the door. The thought being, on a few special spring days, I’ll toss the boots and skis in the car, drive to the ski area or up a canyon. Hike and ski a run or two on pins.

The intention is pure. The motivation missing. Or is it displaced? Time after time, spring after spring, the pins sit next to the door gathering dust as I pass by with a pack of climbing gear, a paddle and pfd, or just a daypack filled with a picnic.

What is it with the plethora of sports we pursue that some drop off a little? Or a lot.

I suppose there is next year. And in fact, the spring is not over yet. Snow still lies high. A longer, healthier hike. Push the battered and patched up heart to pump a little harder.

The day will come.