This is a sponsored post from Disney and BlogHer.
I stood on the dock with my oldest son while he shot shaving cream around my ankles, to make it easy for my feet to slip into the boots of the ski. I leaned on him for the strength to push my feet into the boot, and once my foot was secure, I cried. My legs felt as if they were in traction — I could not walk on dry land in these things, and I felt unnaturally trapped. But alas, walking was not the point of water skis. I would soon be in the water, and once again, the fear of being pulled behind a boat gripped my stomach, and I was immobilized with fear.
I wrestled with this “silly” fear. Lots of people water ski. Yet, they start skiing as a kid, not at the age of 48, when fear of what could go wrong, has had a chance to settle into our bones. At mid-life, I was trying to unlearn the fear my body had worked hard to earn, protecting me like a cocoon. Last summer, I managed to learn how to ski on two skis, which, in itself, was a major accomplishment.
But was that enough? No. This year, I wanted to learn to ski on one ski – a slalom run – just because everyone else is doing it — very well. My husband, my two oldest boys, and most of our neighbors are effortless slalom skiers. I’m not interested in being an awesome skier, like the above mentioned who are able to make the water tower over their heads while they cut back and forth across the wake. I just want to know that I can ski on one ski, just like everyone else in my purview. I don’t want to say, “I’m too old to learn,” even though, maybe I am. I just don’t want to think that way. This summer, that was my goal. A bottle of champagne was waiting in the fridge for that day.
I wiped my tears; while another friend, an awesome skier, came down to help me. She calls me kiddo, even though we’re close to the same age. She helped me into the water, and that, surprisingly calmed me. I felt supported in the water. Than, she ran down the checklist:
- Ski tips up
- Knees pulled into the chest
- Rope to the right of the ski (my left foot forward)
- Push… push, push with your legs.
Day 1 Result: I pulled, pulled, pulled with my arms. I felt nothing in my legs. I fell face forward and swallowed water every single time’s panicked every time I thought about myself standing up, and not knowing what to do when the waves came in. “Maybe my legs just don’t have the strength? She said, “I know you have the strength… if you can walk, you have the strength.” I tried 6 times. No success. Until I can visualize myself skiing without panic, I probably won’t get up. These practice sessions are breaking down the barriers of fear, bit by bit. Immediately afterwards, I felt sore under my forearm, right out from the fourth finger. No pain in the legs, where I was supposed to be pushing. Within an hour, I felt sore in my hips and my shoulders — and my butt. Still, I can’t help but wish I had 20 summers ahead of me to learn to ski, and 20 summers more of youth.
Day 2: I gave up and went back to skiing on two skis.
Day 3: More skiing on two skis, this time crossing the wake without falling.
Day 4: I couldn’t help but notice that skiing was starting to feel “comfortable,” rather than life threatening. Plus, there was no pain, and the “weird walking-on-water sport” was becoming effortless, and FUN. That terrified panic I felt standing behind a boat was long gone.
Instead of allowing the boat to pull me at its will, I was deciding where I would go and when… the right side of the wake was my favorite, and I noticed that my left leg was the strongest when it came to moving across the wake. Now might be time to lift one leg and find out what it felt like to slalom. “All you need is some clear water,” they said.
Day 5: So, I ventured out, on Monday morning, to join the 10 a.m. Ski Club – this is where the pristine waters thrive. Just after the fishing boats leave, just before the tubers have rolled out of bed, and the “wake” is officially opened on the lake. The slalom skiers are out there every morning, driving the boat slowly across the water (so as not to make a wake) at ten till ten, sitting in position and ready for the first skier to cut through the glass-like water at 10 on the dot.
On my turn, I went to the right side of the wake, lifted up one leg, and to my surprise did not fall. “Now, to get this ski off my foot…” I struggled to get my foot out, looked down, and immediately fell flat on my face. The pros in the boat laughed and said, “You could of told us you were going to slalom this time.” Except, I didn’t know I was going to do that until then.
On my second trial that morning, they made the bindings looser… and then, I made them even looser. I wondered if I could get up with that big ski flapping all over my right foot, but I did. As soon as I was settled on the right side of the wake, off went the ski, and away I went. I dared to breathe, and let out a cheer… and I still didn’t fall.
The boat cheered, and I laughed, and still didn’t fall. Even though I was doing it, I could not in a million years believe this was happening. All was well, until we hit a turn, and down I came. But that half-lake slalom run was enough to earn my glass of champagne on a Monday morning.
Did accomplishing this feat give me the exhilaration I wanted? Yes. And heaps of power. In her own personal victory, Penny Chenery steps into the male-dominated business of horse-racing, despite her lack of skill, expertise and knowledge. Against all odds, she ultimately creates the first Tripe Crown winner in 25 years, the Secretariat to create what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.
So what is the one thing you accomplished that you were afraid to do? Share your story, and win a chance for a $100 Visa gift card. Click here for the official rules. And for more chances to win, check out these bloggers…
See the Disney movie, “Secrateriat”, starting Diane Lane. In theaters October 8, 2010. Check out updates on Facebook and Twitter .
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