A series of stories from skiers and riders, and why they love what they do.

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Chapter 1: #GirlDad

“Well I started out, down a dirty road,

Started out, all alone”

It was a midweek night session at a small, tow rope laden, city owned ski hill.  I was with my young daughter who was learning the ropes, literally – a new skier and her first-time experiencing tow ropes. 

“And the sun went down, as I crossed the hill,

And the town lit up, the world got still”

We weren’t out long.  It was a school night, after all.  And, it was very COLD.

On the short ride home, along the partially frozen bay, I glanced over and saw a red-cheeked little girl staring out over the water, tired from the cold, tired from skiing, tired from the tow ropes, but with a look of simple contentment and joy after hangin’ with the old man for a bit at the local hill.  I wanted to bottle that image, cement it into my brain.  It was one of those special moments, a simple moment, that hits you like a ton of bricks.

Tom and his Heartbreakers were playing at that same moment during our drive home.

“I'm learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings,

Coming down, is the hardest thing”

That song now instantly puts me back in that very moment when I felt like a proud, happy dad glancing over at his growing, cold and tired little girl – bottled and cemented into my brain.

Time now stands still for those 4 minutes when I hear that song.  But man, time is not standing still.

That simple memory is one reason why I ski or ride. 

“I'm learning to fly, around the clouds

What goes up, must come down.”

- Rod Call, #girldad