How Rediscovering a Passion Can Transform Your Life: My Journey with Skiing

Growing up, my siblings and I were put on skis at a young age. My mom grew up skiing, and encouraged my dad to try it, which led to a family love affair of skiing. We skied every weekend at Greek Peak Mountain Resort in upstate New York, and never missed a Sunday there (Sorry church the powder was too good!) We’d do trips to Okemo in Ludlow, VT every winter and they are still some of my favorite memories. I could talk for pages about wishing I could turn back time and be present in the moment for what my parents gave us. The season pass, the time spent together, growing up immersed in such a fun, athletic sport. Despite these gifts, I threw a fit every weekend we went when I was a teenager. I don’t really recall the deeper reason behind being so irritated that we had to go skiing- probably just being sixteen and a royal pain in the ass.

When Dad hurt his knee, and my sister became involved with volleyball, the family skiing era was put on pause. My brother still got out with his friends and ski club, but I was off to college and focused on getting my bearings at Siena. When I came home for winter break, I’d try to go up once or twice with my brother but that was it. And then he moved out west, so I didn’t ski for almost five years. I missed it. I longed to do it again as I heard friends, family, and peers always talking about their ski adventures. But in the last five years, I had moved to Boston and had no idea where to even begin. Skiing felt like a piece of myself that I’d lost and one that was going to remain in my childhood. I felt consumed by city life and didn’t think skiing was accessible from here- but how wrong I was!

When my family was home together for Christmas 2022, my brother encouraged us all to spend the day skiing at our local resort. I was so excited and nervous…what if I didn’t know how to do it anymore? What if I couldn’t remember how to? But sure enough, the second I put my skis and boots on again, it was like being acquainted with an old friend. We had a blast, and all I could talk about for the rest of the holidays was how whole and free I felt. I felt like I was holding my 16-year-old self’s hand again while on the slopes. Like I was going back in time, and it made me so happy. I shared with my family how I felt my winters consisted of sitting, too many dinners, and drinking, and that I wanted something different for myself.

My brother, who is my best friend and knows me better than anyone, told me I needed to bring my skis back to Boston. I was hesitant as I didn’t know the first thing about skiing in New England, but I wanted to make him proud of me, so sure enough they went in my car. I did some research of mountains near me and ended up at Wachusett Mountain in Westminster, MA. It’s a small, family mountain and soon enough I had skied every trail. Then I started going up to Mount Sunapee, in Newbury, New Hampshire for more terrain and harder trails. I love Sunapee- it’s still one of my favorites. I slowly started getting my footing skiing on my own and it felt like I knocked the rust off my soul. Doing it alone was different for sure, but I loved being outdoors and back on skis again.

My cousin then called me in late winter of 2023 and asked why we hadn’t been skiing together yet. We quickly planned a weekend trip to Killington, VT and to say it was one of the best weekends of my life would be underselling it. I was so nervous going up- as Killington is "The Beast” of the East, but it was unbelievably fun. You guys know I’ll write another post on Killington adventures, but for now I’ll just say K town is my Disneyland.

I bought my first Epic Pass in summer of 2023, and the 23-24 season was truly one for the books. 3+ Killington trips, 6am drives up to Okemo, and lots of Sunday scaries beat at Sunapee. I’ve made the trip out to see my brother and it’s true—there is nothing better than skiing in the mountains out west. My friends now expect me to go off the grid come December each year due to skiing every single weekend. There is nothing in this world that makes me happier than waking up on a Saturday morning in the dead of winter and chasing the snow. Turning down nights out, parties, dates (sorry!) and other gatherings for skiing has become my MO. I’ve met so many new people through skiing, brought my other friends into it, and it has become the one thing that fills my soul like no other.

I wish I could describe the feeling I get when I ski, but it’s indescribable. Perhaps that’s why it’s so addicting. Especially as a mental health provider, I’m so grateful to have found something that makes me so alive. It prevents my burn out at work and keeps me balanced. I can leave all work worries, personal stressors, etc. at the top of the slope and focus on the terrain in front of me. I’m dialed in on one task and nothing else matters.

I become so melancholy in April when my season ends (me? A drama queen? Never). I keep my skis and boots in my apartment all summer so I can stare at them and count down again until the season. It’s so different from how I was about skiing at 16 years old…maybe it’s because of the perspective change or the après skiing! That’s definitely one of the best parts of skiing as an adult. That 11:30am hot toddy at the summit lodge! Or how about the cocktail at 6pm at the bar after a long day of skiing? Paradise.

I wish everyone could experience the feeling of racing down one of the trails under Killington’s North quad chair. Or the Solitude trails at Okemo. Or anywhere. It’s truly so liberating and sets my soul on fire. Finding my love for skiing again has been such a gift filled with deeper friendships, a stronger relationship with myself, healthier choices, more time spent outdoors, and falling in love with NH and VT. It’s also come with a much lighter wallet, but that’s a story for another day. I’m so excited for this upcoming season and real fans know the stories will be endless!

Kiss,

Charty