Haedyn getting ready to ski! Looking very stylish, as always!
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Happy Holidays 2013
12 years ago
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Hannah had her first guitar lesson today! Look out Miley Cyrus! She loved it, we'll see how much practicing she does. Hunter has started snowboarding lessons and is loving it. Hannah has also joined Brownies and we're about to be covered in girlscout cookies! Hunter is going to boyscouts tonight for the first time and Haedyn is busy being Haedyn and keeping us all on our toes. She has been busy skiing in the trailblazers program at Copper and has informed us that she is now the fastest skier in her group. Yikes!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Happy New Year! We had a really busy December! We had breakfast with Santa and told him everything we wanted for Christmas. We also got to meet one of his reindeer and an elf!We built snowmen in the backyard and had a huge surprise on December 23rd! Our Nana and Papa came and surprised us for Christmas! It was great. Hunter and Hannah started their Sunday Ski lessons with the scooters program at Copper today. It's a balmy -3! They have so many clothes on they can hardly move! Haedyn starts her ski lessons on Wednesday. We'll see how that goes, she minds the cold a lot more than her brother and sister! We wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! Here are a few of the things that we are all thankful for this Thanksgiving!
Hunter is thankful for: Having lots of friends and for a family that loves me!
Hannah is thankful for: Mommy and Daddy and our whole family!
Haedyn is thankful for: Friends, cake,dogs,boots and ice cream!
Gobble, Gobble,Gobble
Hunter is thankful for: Having lots of friends and for a family that loves me!
Hannah is thankful for: Mommy and Daddy and our whole family!
Haedyn is thankful for: Friends, cake,dogs,boots and ice cream!
Gobble, Gobble,Gobble
Friday, November 21, 2008
a bit of news from today's paper
First time on the slopes, let the falling begin
By JONATHAN BATUELLO
summit daily news
summit county, co colorado
I finally understand the obsession locals have about living in Summit County.
I had never been skiing before, but after one day on the slopes of Copper Mountain with ski instructor Jon Drabik, I got it. As I went down the Green Acres run, not yet having mastered the turn, with my adrenaline high, the wind hitting my face, I had become addicted. Even when I attempted to stop, had my skis slide out from under me and fell hard into the snow, I couldn’t help but smile.
Having been an intern from the flat cornfields of northern Indiana since August, I got my first chance at the slopes this past week under the watchful eyes of Drabik. And if you want proof this was my first time skiing, let me say I had to be taught how to properly put my boots in the skis.
That initial guideline led to a much more challenging task — learning how to move while on flat ground. Baby steps may be the best way to describe the first hour, as you learn how to sidestep and move forward and backwards.
Eventually, though, I was taught the wedge to stop, and skiing down a mountain had officially started.
Well, by mountain, I mean Copper’s Easy Rider, which may be about 40-feet long, but it was down a hill nonetheless.
Learning to wedge stop and walk was just the beginning of my lessons, though, as a line became very familiar to me throughout the day.
“What are you looking at?” Drabik would ask as my eyes focused on my skis. “Look at me, look at where you’re going.” It was a line said at least 10 times throughout the day, and that 10 may be generous for my benefit.
I should also mention at this time my fellow companions on the Easy Rider. Besides the two other adults in my class, I was surrounded by children ranging from 3- to 10-years-old.
Note to any adult learning to ski: Check your ego at the car because, undoubtedly, there will be a boy or girl younger than five who is 10 times better than you on the mountain.
These children also had mastered a task that continually found me falling on the ground: the turn. It was my biggest problem all day.
Learning to control my edges and gradually turn was a problem. I tended to make quick and sudden turns and found myself falling to the ground (proudly, though, I did only have one bruise at the end of the day).
In fact, the first time I made a turn correctly, Drabik reached out his hand for a high-five thinking I had figured it out. The next time down he realized it was luck when I made a full-out faceplant that had me come out of my bindings and a nearby instructor say how glad she was she got to see it.
The morning session taught me the basics, though, and despite my still lacking ability to turn, we made our way to the Pitchfork chairlift and Green Acres run in the afternoon.
It was here I got another first experience when I rode the chairlift. Something that seems so mundane was all but that as I prepared myself to go on a run that could actually last a little bit longer than 10 seconds.
Once situated at the top, Drabik explained the easiest line to take down the hill. Seemed simple enough, until I got going and my lack of turning ability had me going very straight and fast.
It was here I had that previously mentioned rush that led to my newfound obsession and obtained that one bruise. Even as Drabik came down and asked if I was okay I couldn’t help but look towards the blue sky and smile.
“That was sweet,” I responded as I got up. Drabik laughed and said that’s what he wanted to hear.
I finished my run down the mountain, albeit doing a wedge the whole way.
From there the rest of the afternoon only got better. I completed a turn-stop (I know, amazing, given my lack of turning at all throughout the day), made it down the run multiple times without falling and found myself not wanting to stop when the lesson was over.
There is still plenty for me to figure out, though, before I move to even a green run. For instance, I still don’t have control of my edges and need to learn to link turns a lot better, but the first few blocks are in place.
Knowing the things I needed to learn got me more excited to get out the next time, though. Walking back and seeing people get on the American Eagle lift made me set my goal to be able to complete a blue run before I leave in December.
It’s a goal Drabik said will likely take multiple days on the mountain and learning how to link turns and control my speed, but it’s possible.
So, if you see someone on the slower slopes laughing as he falls, don’t fret. It’s simply an Indiana boy relishing his last few days in Summit County, jealous of everyone who doesn’t have to say good-bye.
Jonathan Batuello can be reached at (970) 668-4653 or jbatuello@summitdaily.com.
By JONATHAN BATUELLO
summit daily news
summit county, co colorado
I finally understand the obsession locals have about living in Summit County.
I had never been skiing before, but after one day on the slopes of Copper Mountain with ski instructor Jon Drabik, I got it. As I went down the Green Acres run, not yet having mastered the turn, with my adrenaline high, the wind hitting my face, I had become addicted. Even when I attempted to stop, had my skis slide out from under me and fell hard into the snow, I couldn’t help but smile.
Having been an intern from the flat cornfields of northern Indiana since August, I got my first chance at the slopes this past week under the watchful eyes of Drabik. And if you want proof this was my first time skiing, let me say I had to be taught how to properly put my boots in the skis.
That initial guideline led to a much more challenging task — learning how to move while on flat ground. Baby steps may be the best way to describe the first hour, as you learn how to sidestep and move forward and backwards.
Eventually, though, I was taught the wedge to stop, and skiing down a mountain had officially started.
Well, by mountain, I mean Copper’s Easy Rider, which may be about 40-feet long, but it was down a hill nonetheless.
Learning to wedge stop and walk was just the beginning of my lessons, though, as a line became very familiar to me throughout the day.
“What are you looking at?” Drabik would ask as my eyes focused on my skis. “Look at me, look at where you’re going.” It was a line said at least 10 times throughout the day, and that 10 may be generous for my benefit.
I should also mention at this time my fellow companions on the Easy Rider. Besides the two other adults in my class, I was surrounded by children ranging from 3- to 10-years-old.
Note to any adult learning to ski: Check your ego at the car because, undoubtedly, there will be a boy or girl younger than five who is 10 times better than you on the mountain.
These children also had mastered a task that continually found me falling on the ground: the turn. It was my biggest problem all day.
Learning to control my edges and gradually turn was a problem. I tended to make quick and sudden turns and found myself falling to the ground (proudly, though, I did only have one bruise at the end of the day).
In fact, the first time I made a turn correctly, Drabik reached out his hand for a high-five thinking I had figured it out. The next time down he realized it was luck when I made a full-out faceplant that had me come out of my bindings and a nearby instructor say how glad she was she got to see it.
The morning session taught me the basics, though, and despite my still lacking ability to turn, we made our way to the Pitchfork chairlift and Green Acres run in the afternoon.
It was here I got another first experience when I rode the chairlift. Something that seems so mundane was all but that as I prepared myself to go on a run that could actually last a little bit longer than 10 seconds.
Once situated at the top, Drabik explained the easiest line to take down the hill. Seemed simple enough, until I got going and my lack of turning ability had me going very straight and fast.
It was here I had that previously mentioned rush that led to my newfound obsession and obtained that one bruise. Even as Drabik came down and asked if I was okay I couldn’t help but look towards the blue sky and smile.
“That was sweet,” I responded as I got up. Drabik laughed and said that’s what he wanted to hear.
I finished my run down the mountain, albeit doing a wedge the whole way.
From there the rest of the afternoon only got better. I completed a turn-stop (I know, amazing, given my lack of turning at all throughout the day), made it down the run multiple times without falling and found myself not wanting to stop when the lesson was over.
There is still plenty for me to figure out, though, before I move to even a green run. For instance, I still don’t have control of my edges and need to learn to link turns a lot better, but the first few blocks are in place.
Knowing the things I needed to learn got me more excited to get out the next time, though. Walking back and seeing people get on the American Eagle lift made me set my goal to be able to complete a blue run before I leave in December.
It’s a goal Drabik said will likely take multiple days on the mountain and learning how to link turns and control my speed, but it’s possible.
So, if you see someone on the slower slopes laughing as he falls, don’t fret. It’s simply an Indiana boy relishing his last few days in Summit County, jealous of everyone who doesn’t have to say good-bye.
Jonathan Batuello can be reached at (970) 668-4653 or jbatuello@summitdaily.com.
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