STEADY AS SHE GOES: Jasleen Kandhari manages to stay vertical while learning to ski at Grouse Mountain on Vancouver’s North Shore.
I embarked on this undertaking with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, having never skied nor even ventured on mountainous terrain before. But I was inspired by friends and local diehard Vancouverites zipping effortlessly down the slopes of Grouse and Cypress mountains. In my mind’s eye I visualised myself doing likewise. After all, how hard could this be?
Having gone through the whole rigmarole of dressing in customised ski-gear adjusted to one’s weight, with my hands clenched on the ski poles and under the watchful eye of my instructor, I pushed my way down a gentle slope to get acclimatised to the feeling of the free-flowing glide.
“Keep your legs flexed, body weight forward, breathe and smile,” shouted Gordon, before I crashed into the snow leaving behind a trail resembling an umbilical cord. It is hard work learning to ski.
Grouse Mountain offers 26 ski and snowboard runs ranging from double-black diamonds to beginner green runs with the option of private or semi-private classes. There are also ski schools for adults and children that attract hundreds of newbie skiers every month.
As the lessons progressed I experienced the whole gamut of skiing weather conditions, from crystal clear blue skies with unlimited visibility at 15 degrees centigrade to foggy conditions and limited visibility. The initial snow depth of 310 centimetres built up with each passing week.
Mercifully, I did progress through the motions of learning the basic techniques of the snowplough, bow tie, and turns, gliding while relatively in control to emerge triumphant as a beginner skier.
For après ski activities I indulged in the luxurious, relaxing services at the iconic landmark Fairmont Hotel Vancouver with its trademark oxidized copper castle-top roof and traditional, charming ambience. I also stayed at the Waterfront Fairmont, with its breathtaking scenic views over Coal Harbour and the North Shore mountainous landscape.
The traditions of the First Nations peoples pervade many aspects of Canadian life, including in the area of food and spa treatments. I sampled the west coast culinary specialities of various delicious fresh salmon concoctions, ranging from salmon eggs benedict at breakfast to quaint salmon finger sandwiches at high afternoon champagne tea to pan seared wild salmon at luncheon, supplemented with the Fairmont’s maple and ice wine tea.
“How very British Columbian,” I pondered to myself while sipping my favourite ice wine tea which truly does taste like the famed west coast dessert ice wine.
Another relaxing feature was the adorable Fairmont mascots, the dogs Mavis and Beau holding court on the grand marbled-pillared lobby. The two relish attention and happily oblige guests who wish to enthusiastically pat them and take them for walks, as I discovered to my delight.
The Westcoast Gemstone Jewel Massage at Absolute Spa at the Fairmont proved to be a unique way to unwind after a hard day on the slopes. The massage utilises a selection of B.C. therapeutic gemstones or crystals as massage implements, which are also placed on the body to cleanse one’s auric field.
Absolute Spa produces its own organic products in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond. I also experienced a heavenly rare White Grapefruit Body Buff whose essential oils were collected in Thailand and manufactured in Richmond as part of the spa’s Organics brand.
The usual après ski activities of fun and frolicking pervades Vancouver, but I found the soothing activities presented at the Fairmont to be very restful.
Although I wasn’t able to make it to the Magic Carpet feature on Grouse Mountain—a variation of the ski lift in which one rides to the top of an incline on what can only be described as a strip of mobile carpet—my ski instructor assured me that after my series of skiing classes, the basic techniques I learned will bode me well in any future ski escapades.
Jasleen Kandhari attended Snow School at www.Grousemountain.com/winter
and stayed in Vancouver at the Hotels Fairmont www.fairmont.com
