My skiing experience - interview by the ALS Association

Hi Don,

Wow, you have done so many things in your life! Thank you for the picture and the link to your blog – I love reading about all your adventures! If you have time would you answer just a few skiing-related questions? Thank you, Don! Have a wonderful weekend! J

Questions:

1. What was your tie to skiing? (recreational skier, on a ski team, competitive skier, ski patrol, etc)

I was only a recreational skier.

2. At what age did you start skiing and how long did you ski for?

I started around the age of 7 and skied until my wife and I had kids around 1993. So on and off for 29 years.

3. How often would you go skiing?
   Also most ever winter. When I was in the Army and stationed in Germany skiing was my top Priority!
   
   

4. What was your level of difficulty? (ex: advanced, professional, back-country, moguls, etc)

I was advanced at both downhill and cross country skiing. I didn't learn how to snow board.

5. What was your favorite thing about skiing?

Getting outside in the beautiful mountains and skiing with my friends. Also I loved skiing knee deep in fresh powder! Once I dressed up as clown with a fancy colored shirt and a clown mask with a big orange nose. You should have seen the looks that I got from children as well as adults! I have fond memories of skiing in the Swiss and French ALPS! To this day I am convinced that I can still stand up with assistance because of my strong skiing legs!

6.   Where was your favorite place to ski?

Steamboat Springs , Colorado! 

7. How did it affect you when you weren't able to ski anymore?

I was upset but that’s what ALS does to people, it robs them of the good times that we once could do.

Holly Kerr

A Short Story - My Swiss Alps Skiing Vacation

It starts on a beautiful winter day. We were in the Swiss Alps at a place called Saint Moritz skiing resort. With 300 days of sunshine this place is gorgeous! I was skiing with my girl friend at the time named Susan.

We took a bus from our hotel to the ski area. It was early in the morning because I wanted to make the most of the day. You never know what the weather will be like later in the day.

Once we bought our ski tickets for the day and put on our skis we skied to the gondola. I handed our skis and poles to the gondola attendant as we got on the large gondola to ride to the summit.

The scenery was breathtaking as we rose into the clouds. At the top the door opened and we clambered out with the people who joined us. You could hear the heavy ski boots stomp as each person exited the gondola. We had to put on our ski goggles because the sun was so bright. Once out of the way of all the people we put our skis on and headed down the mountain.

I was surprised at how well she skied down the moguls. I enjoyed skiing behind her and watching how she handled each obstacle. We would trade off whom following who until we got down to the chair lift. We were thrilled for our first attempt down the mountain as we stood on line to get on the chair lift and could not wait for the next run. We were pleased at amount of people in the line and we got on the chair within minutes! More skiing time! Oh yeah!

At the top we agreed to try a more challenging slope. Susan was a very good skier but not as good as me. She had trouble skiing on the double black diamond slopes so she asked me for help to get down the steep hill. I went behind her and wrapped my arms around your waist holding her close. I made a snow plow formation with my skis us slow us down. She did the same with your skis and we were well under way to the bottom. She was relieved when we got to the bottom and she awarded me with a kiss! That was my favorite part!

Unfortunately by lunch time the snowstorm hit and we were cold and hungry. The beautiful day turned ugly. So we headed to the gondola which took us to a restaurant on the top of the mountain.

I took her in the guest house. That’s the term they use for restaurants in Switzerland. It as a very cozy restaurant with a roaring fireplace in the center of the room. We immediately got warm and started stripping off our heavy coats and gloves!

The waitress asked if we wanted a drink before lunch and I ordered two beers for us since I spoke German which seems to be accepted in Switzerland. We looked over the menu and she spotted the goulash soup and said ohhh that sounds delicious! We ordered it and it came with lots of bread for soaking every morsel of the goulash!

After lunch the clouds disappeared and we had a wonderful afternoon of skiing!

When we were done skiing we went to town and I rented a horse and open sleigh! It was fabulous to be all wrapped up in blankets with the cool evening breezes against our faces!

True story! Actually I had such an awesome adventure when I was stationed in Germany in the Army! I went with my good friend!