Some gifts improve with time

So after the fabulous snowstorm yesterday I was eager to get out of work and go play in the snow! Dave and I stopped and picked up the classic skis he bought me for Valentine's Day at Sepp's Sports and we were off to Elver Park.

At first I didn't know if I wanted to classic ski with the Kortie looming so soon but I decided to give it a whirl. The groomer hadn't set tracks yet but some other classic skiers had been out so I figured I could ski in the tracks they made. The downside is that good tracks make classic skiing so much easier. The other downside is that I haven't classic skied in maybe 6 years or so. The remaining downside is that I was never a good classic skier.

You're probably wondering what the upside to the whole outing is? Well, I would say that I think I will appreciate the gift of classic skis more as time goes on. Shuffling along on skis is easy enough but actually striding well is a whole different matter. I felt so awkward . . . kind of like I felt just a few years ago on skate skis.

However, I love a challenge so I will keep working on the technique and fully intend to become just as good at striding as I am at skating.

Dave got a few laughs thinking about how he bought me a gift for Valentine's Day that was perhaps not something I would instantly appreciate. However, I told him that it was the gift that kept on giving . . . it might give some pain, suffering and awkwardness now but in the end it would give me the benefit of being a much better skier with many more trails I can explore. I'm sure by Valentine's Day 2010 I will be telling Dave those skis were the best present ever!