Watching downhill skiers on TV gives the impression that it's easy. They make it look so natural, unless they take a fall of course. Cross Country was the first skiing sport until the invention of tow lifts which brought Alpine Skiing. The Austrians, Swiss and Italians have dominated the sport. As soon as they can walk, some young children in the Alps region can ski and go to school on their skis everyday. Most people ski as a leisure pursuit and leave the Olympic ambitions to the daredevils. Being popular with the young, snowboarding, has joined Alpine Skiing. Racing down slopes on planks of wood does seem a crazy thing to do. Having done it myself, I know how exhilarating it could be. When I was in Scotland I skied in the fog and over sheer ice. One day I hit a sheet of ice and couldn't prevent myself from crashing into a tree. There was a log cabin at the top of the hill where you could buy hot chocolate, coffee and snacks. You can also feed from your hand the local herd and reindeer when they came up near the cabin. Yes Alpine Skiing is really amazing! I had another great skiing experience in Austria. The snow conditions and the weather were better there. Nothing can beat Alpine Skiing when the sun shines and the snow glitters in the sunlight. I love Aprs Ski too and I remember drinking a lot of great wine. I lived in a picture postcard village in a typical Alpine cottage. The village contained the most amazing church and was adorned with frescoes and gold. One day I had to put my Alpine Skiing on hold because the night before, me and my friends had rather too much schnapps at the local bar. I promised myself to go skiing again and try to improve. They just open a very big dry slope near my home, which would be a good way to get back into it again. I may even try out snowboarding lessons; I don't see why the young should have all the fun. We had a trip to Innsbruck when I was in Austria and we visited the old site for the Winter Olympics there. I went to the top and stood where was the ski jump slope, and the incline is unbelievable. It's impossible to have an idea of what ski jumping is like from television. I am sure it must feel like flying sometimes. The only time that I ever flew was by pure accident!
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