Colorado: Skiers

The first day we arrived at Winter Park YaYa quickly met us at the train platform with a big hug and then was off to finish a multiple day ski evaluation for a more advanced licensure as a ski instructor. She passed!

Since our lodging accommodations were not available right when we arrived and we needed YaYa to purchase our lift tickets and rent ski equipment, we spent the early part of the day eating breakfast (The Banana and Mr. TOF were starving because we had to get up and be on the train at a very early hour, before the grocery store under our hotel opened for the day) and wandering around some of the little shops at the ski resort. Mr. TOF had some important homework assignments to finish up before an afternoon deadline, so he worked on that while I read a book (until my high altitude headache got too tricky . . . good thing I brought a lot of advil along!)

Winter Park is where paralympic skiers train, and it was really fun to look out the window and watch them come soaring down the mountain on one leg, or on a sit ski. They were so amazing. Getting to see them ski was actually just one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. Later in the weekend YaYa gave us a little tour of where she worked, and we got to see how some of the adaptive equipment works. Getting to see YaYa’s workplace was also one of my favorite parts of the trip!

The Banana could hardly contain herself. Waiting to ski was killing her! She and Mr. TOF were up early and ready to go as soon as YaYa arrived the next morning. We headed to get lift tickets and rent ski equipment, and then they were off! I couldn’t really watch them ski, but they had an excellent time and figured out things very quickly!

With some instructions from YaYa, I headed over to the gondola for a ride to the top of the first mountain. I loved the gondola! I rode it many times. I was always in a crowded car with skiers on the way up (interesting people watching!) and in a quiet car by myself on the way down. The view was amazing! On the second and third days I rode up with my kidlets to take some pictures before they were off on their way.

The first day of skiing was warm. The second day was pretty cold. It didn’t stop them! The third day was still cold, but not as cold, and they skied as long as they could before returning the equipment and getting ready to board the train for the return trip.

One of their favorite parts was stopping at the waffle house halfway up the mountain on one of the ski lifts. The waffles, apparently, were amazing! They even went multiple times one day! YaYa knew all the nooks and crannies, and they tried so many different runs.