Mritsa Week 14: Lake Tahoe
Year after year, my family's winter retreat to Lake Tahoe served as a cherished tradition—an escape to the slopes for a week of skiing and snowboarding. However, amidst the beautiful landscapes and adrenaline-fueled adventures, one particular incident remains ingrained in memory.
In the midst of a routine ski class, positioned at the end of the line, I embarked on a descent down the mountain with fervor and determination, practicing sharp turns and small jumps. However, midway down the slope, my skis betrayed me, and I face-planted into the snow. When picking myself up, I noticed that I was all alone because my instructor and fellow peers never noticed I fell and left me stranded. Just when I was about to give in to despair, another ski class approached who helped me and allowed me to join their class down the mountain.
As we made our way down together, I was struck by their kindness and camaraderie with a blend of anger and betrayal towards my own instructor. Although I would consider myself a forgiving person, I still to this day hold a grudge towards my ski instructor. To apologize for the negligence, he offered me a peace offering in the form of an extra cup of hot chocolate (he should have been sued but to each their own).
Reflecting on this day, I realize that Lake Tahoe isn't just about skiing—it is about the shared experiences and the connections forged along the way. Sure, I may have almost died, but I emerged from it with a newfound appreciation for the kindness of strangers—although I will never forgive my instructor—and the unforgettable moments my brother and I shared on those slopes.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Mritsa! I'm sorry to hear about what was clearly a deeply traumatizing event for you. From my experience with skiing, I understand how painful falling in skis can be; not only the snow cold and hard, but the long, unwieldy skis force you into awkward and uncomfortable positions, and make it more difficult to get up. I can't imagine how much worse that feeling must have been to not only take such a painful fall, but also discover that you had accidentally been abandoned at the top of an icy mountain by the person who was supposed to watch over you and ensure your safety. While you likely signed a liability release and wouldn't have been able to sue your instructor, I can understand your frustration towards your instructor; although it wasn't his intent, it was nonetheless highly irresponsible and neglectful to lose track of a young child on a ski slope.
ReplyDeleteStill, it's good to hear that you managed to walk away from the experience with a positive takeaway. Skiing is a lot of fun—in spite of all its dangers—and I hope that you can continue to enjoy it with your loved ones (and kind strangers)!
This is such a sweet and cute story, especially since I barely have created any memorable moments during my time in Lake Tahoe. Surprisingly, I have only visited Lake Tahoe once, and for the first time, I got to witness an actual snowfall. While I have never even tried to learn how to ski, reading about your personal experience honestly makes me concerned for the instructors–how are most of them even hired if they often neglect their own students? Either way, it is good to hear that you were able to find the good out of quite the not-ideal scenario.
ReplyDeleteI liked the use of descriptive words that are supposed to portray your emotions, whether those be your feelings of “fervor and determination” when learning the newly-taught skills, or your blended feelings of “anger and betrayal” after your original instructor forgot to include you in the lesson. I think it would be nice to know how you externally reacted to the situation, such as how you were able to turn this somewhat chaotic moment into a great memory, but overall, I appreciate you for sharing such a unique memory with me. I hope the future years you spend in Lake Tahoe will be more enjoyable than the last.