I clearly remember wishing that I could have gone skiing to Slovenia in my
second year in Moyle Park College. My mates were going but I couldn't. When
they got home they had some amazing stories about the skiing and the other
things they did while in Slovenia. From then on I was determined to go skiing,
as much as I could while in Moyle Park. I went out and looked everywhere for a
job and finally was accepted in the local Spar shop. I worked as much as my
manager would let me to raise the money for the next ski trip, Soon after getting
my job, Mr O' Byrne called a meeting to anybody interested in going skiing to
Axamer Lizum in Austria. I was so happy and I remember being one of the first
students to get my deposit in and guarantee myself a place in the New Year
ski trip in 2005.From then on I was so excited that I was going to get to do something that I
always thought I would never get to try, I would watch people skiing on the
television and in films and always wondered what it would be like to ski, and to
feel so free flying down a mountain. I thought only people with a lot of money
went skiing. I proved to myself that I was wrong.I worked really hard, and saved every cent I had. I was so determined to pay for
it myself so I could feel that I really earned this. I remember, in late November
of 2004, Mr O'Bryne organised a parent's night so that students and parents
with any queries about the ski trip could have their questions answered, and
funny enough I arrived late for the meeting. Mr O'Byrne also had two lads from
Capel Camping, John and Mick, to talk to us about the clothing and equipment
we would need. It was a great night, very interesting and really helped with any
worries I had.Around the Christmas break the excitement was really building. I was anxious
about the trip but really looking forward to it. The morning of the trip was brilliant;
we all met at the airport and flew off. I was in awe that I was really going to be
skiing. The trip was amazing, much better than I could have expected. The skiing
was also brill, I was a bit uneasy on the skis at first, but when I got going I was
flying. There are so many different things to learn about skiing and so many
different aspects of the sport. There is the regular skiing but you can also ski
off piste (off the designated slope). Off piste could be skiing over fresh soft
snow, or could be skiing over a more difficult terrain consisting of knuckles
(bumps in the snow) and jumps, as well as steep hills and, in some cases,
obstacles, trees, rocks etc. Then there are the pistes. Every slope is
recognised by a colour code. Green or nursery slopes which are slopes you
learn to ski on; blue which are getting more difficult; then the red which is again
more difficult; and then the black which are the hardest designated ski slopes
aimed at the advanced skiers. On my first trip I managed to be skiing down the
red slopes and came second in a race the school had. I received a gold medal
and was chuffedFrom that week on I fell in love with skiing and vowed to go at least once a year. I
went to Fugen in Austria during this year's Christmas break with the school again
and progressed onto skiing down some difficult black slopes and conquered
some extreme off piste slopes, not to mention hitting some radical jumps. This
year I came third in a race consisting of only the advanced skiers, receiving
another gold medal. As I am now in sixth year and will not be able to go skiing
with the school again, I am going skiing with my mates to France to a resort called
Alpe D'huez next Christmas and would love to conquer slopes all around the world
in the future. I recommend everybody try skiing in his or her life and promise you
that once you start you will never want to stop.
Click first button to hear the skiing.
