Teaching old dogs new tricks is as hard as advertised.  For some cross training, I’m learning how to cross country ski using the “skate style” skis you see the Nordic dudes racing on in the Olympics.  They make it look so darn easy and fun!   After a couple of hours of downhill skiing this morning, I switched boots and skiis and headed to the Kirkwood Meadows to take a lesson with two cross country beginners, both of whom, like me, were experienced downhillers.  Not pretty.  I went into this knowing that the one athletic endeavor at which I am utterly hopeless is ice skating.  On ice skates I am the ultimate spaz, and, not surprisingly, it carries over to skate style skiing.

Fortunately, our 80 year old instructor is a kind, patient man, and eventually he has me leave my poles behind and try some simple exercises/moves to improve balance and comfort on the skate skis.  Hands in front, swaying forward side to side, weight on balls of feet, ankles flexed.   Progress at last!  I leave the lesson not totally depressed.  Then went out on the trail on my own, and battled a headwind without much success.
The next day, with our yellow Labrador at my side, I gave it another try.  Finally the balance tips he gave me start to sink in, and I find myself actually skating!  Skate style skiing is a tremendous workout, and our Lab struggled to keep up, as I worked my way through a couple of miles of practice.  Yes, I still suck at it, but on a relative scale, I suck a lot less than I did 24 hours ago, and I can see that I have found another arrow for the bulging quiver of my exercising life!