There is nothing that truly compares to skiing in real powder. The sensations go beyond anything that we can describe to those who have not yet experienced it.
Last week while guiding a group around Copper Mountain, my friend Linda experienced it for the first time after many years of skiing. With 6"-8" of new snow, it was tough to find really deep powder, but I managed to find half a dozen or so turns for her. She was a little overcome by the slope, so she followed my turns. After the first turn, I knew it was going to be good! On my wider Nordica Hot Rod Afterburners, I never touched bottom, linking turns down the fall line and playing in the 3D snow.
I pulled up at a rest spot and waited. As Linda pulled up, she had one of those smiles on her face. The ones that are a mix of awe, wonder, and delight. Her words tumbled out of her as she tried to relive the moment and capture the feelings. I smiled.
"You're caught now!" I exclaimed, "You're spoiled for life. You'll be searching for that experience from now on."
It's not a bad thing, of course. But, it shows just how amazing this wonderful sport is. And how it captures us with the joy of finding the next experience. It's truly a sport that happens in the moment, just as life should. And how it teaches us!
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