I’VE been riding a couple of times since I last wrote and I’m pleased to report that progress is being made.
I’ve acquired some new gear including a board (which needs a name – suggestions please!) and this is giving me some motivation to go to the slope as regularly as my finances will allow.
I seem to finally be conquering my fear of picking up speed and I’m feeling much more confident and in control.
This could well be down to the fact that I wear a helmet, crash pants and knee pads (I feel like one of those men in padding that train police dogs).
Even the stray skier that used me as a crash barrier on Monday couldn’t break through my armour!
I’ve been working on going down the slope on my heel edge, which has been a bit of a nemesis of mine up until now.
On Monday evening I had plenty of obstacles to steer around including a large group of beginners having their first snowboard lesson and the jumps that the guys had put out to do some tricks on.
Having physical obstacles to negotiate will be good practice for Italy when I came face to face with trees and rocks.
At the moment I need to get more confident riding at speed before I can link turn, because turns don’t really work at snails pace.
Its two and a half months until I go and the more I progress, the more excited I’m getting.
I’ve been looking at the webcam in the resort and it’s already beginning to snow and I have it on good authority that this year will be a good snow season.