struggled for years, never really getting off the blue runs...having to sit listening
to all the gossip about how great such and such a run was, high up in the clouds,
where I was never going to be! In desperation to conquer my fears of lack of control,
and much against every ski instructor's advice I mentioned this to, about 3 years
ago, I moved onto skiboards (snowblades) and things did improve. Much more control,
nice tight turns when I wanted them, and I thought I had cracked it. I tried various
lengths and widths, and moved from fixed bindings to release ones, but in deep fresh
snow, slush or mounds of churned up stuff, the loss of length, and weight bearing
surface, means you have to balance well, and be prepared for the odd face plant!
So this year, I decided to move back to something longer, but what could be called
a half-
Day 1 & 2 ok, but
very nervous and cautious, same old feelings of fear of what might happen. Day 3,
sun came out, snow got soft in the afternoon, and I took a tumble when I hit a mound
of soft deep
snow...left ski didn't come off in the fall, (and that was the knee
that had been operated on 5 months earlier -
on snow!"
When we got back home we started surfing the net, (as you do when
you think you have discovered something new and want to know if anyone else has had
the same moment of enlightenment!) And that was when we came across your forum. I
feel quite privileged that the resort we ski in Obertauern in Austria, seems to be
where Snowbiking started in Austria, and that Mr. Brenter himself has biked there.
All the lift attendants are fantastic, slowing chairs down when needed, helping you
on and off if needed, and generally looking pleased that you are enjoying something
new. Not one negative comment or frown!
Once home we were so daunted by the
prospect of not being able to use these little bikes till next season, we grabbed
a last minute 5 day break, back to the same resort, for the soul purpose of using
nothing but the bikes, and that's exactly what we did. I have for the first time
in my life, been down the runs I see on the webcams, the runs that everyone else
sees, the reds that offer more challenge, and the
spectacular views from the mountain
tops, that I normally I can only view in a photograph, and even better than this,
I was with my husband to share it with, which is a new experience as I can never
ski the runs he enjoys. I know now that I can tackle anything, and instead of considering
giving up skiing, as I was in February, I have years ahead of me to bike till my
hearts content, and my husband, who has had 3 lots of knee surgery, and was beginning
to think his skiing days were over, can bike off into the sunset of old age with
me. Thank you Mr. Brenter!
-
April 2008
Personal Story...
Sharon Shinwell
New to Biking―My Story
Hi Everyone, only just joined this group, so just wanted to say hi to you fellow bikers out there, to say I am enjoying reading all your comments and messages, and tell you how I came by this fantastic past time at the grand old age of 54!
I live in England, and we ski in Europe every winter (or we have for last
12 years). Started skiing late in life...mid 40's and although my husband and older
sons took to it like a duck to water, I have