You wait in line watching the clock tick by for the minute the lifts start rolling up the hill.
You’ve been up since an ungodly time in the morning with your slightly reluctant ski partner.
You’ve eaten something that made you feel slightly ill when travelling up.
The coffee picked today to scold the roof of your mouth.
The sun is only just rising over the taller peaks and the lift is still in shadow.
What makes us want to get up for the first lift?
It’s almost a rite of passage for the addicted shredder.
There’s a good base.
The days where you’re up before the ungodly hour and tensions are rising high.
It’s 10 minutes before it opens.
You watch your breath rise in clouds from under your facemask and the air is crisp.
You wipe your mitt clad hand through the freshly fallen snow and it just sinks and sinks.
You see to it no-one will pass before you and your buddies.
You’re going to be on second lift.
The guys in front have to wait for their friend to adjust his bindings.
5 minutes from that point you will be the first ones having the snow fly up and submerge you.
Who can let a WHAT TIME?!
O’clock in the morning stop them getting this?
Other days you just feel you have to be there.
The air is already warming around you and the corduroy is already feeling soft.
The lifts have already started when you get there and there is no-one in sight.
The restaurants are empty, the hotels and village are lifeless.
The park melted out last week.
The view goes on forever.
Even when you step out at the other end, still no-one is behind you.
Some days are too beautiful to miss.
Why not be there first?
There are days you wish you had.
A nipple deep powder grey day in the trees.
Your first time in a legendary resort.
The first lift back home after being away.
Sometimes it’s just impossible.
They say it’s not worth it.
A bad days skiing is better than a good days work.
And a good days skiing is better than everything.
It makes it all the more worthwhile.
