Today we 8 people left at around 1 PM and reached Urasa ski jo field at around 2 PM, after getting into the ski gear. First we tried at the bottom and just fell many times and so were not actually thinking of going to the top, but its crowd mentality so everyone said lets go to the top and we went. Now at the top me and Balaji were just scared to go down the slope. Others went ahead and did manage well, for us two we were falling and falling but I managed getting up almost 15 times telling myself that I want to do it. All these falls were within a distance of 100 meters. But after 15th fall I gave up and said to Balaji thats lets go down with the rope way. I had almost decided that ski is a difficult job for me.
The rope-way guy said that we cannot go down with the rope-way but he can call the patrol team to help us down. The patrol team was a team of 3, 1 was helping balaji one me and 1 extra. The person with me was skiing in reverse direction and telling me to make a v in 2 skis with legs bending inwards, he was also holding the front tips of my skis. The way he was taking care of me was just too good man. I managed to speak some illiterate Japanese to him, his name and that he is good at skiing, thats all. After that he felt I was good at Japanese so he started talking many things about ski but I didn't understand them due to limited vocabulary. We had to take many breaks because we were getting tired. After some distance he said something about 5 O Clock which I didn't understand, finally through actions I understood that it was closing time at 5 O Clock and that I should get on his back and he would ski me down. I first got confused what he is saying, a 50+ year guy as heavy as me, was planning to lift me on his back and ski that way down, but he meant it. I got on his back and my ski gear was handed to other patrol person. Wow I was on his back and he was skiing down at awesome speed, the experience was just one of the best in my life. All the people around were watching n may be saying what a stupid this guy is. Anyways I couldnt help it.
After reaching at the bottom, I thanked the guy many times and he deserved it man. Even after reaching there he asked me to try skiing the way he had taught me. I could fortunately do it then, without falling much. Then I felt I can try skiing again - which had changed because of the help and training offeren by that patrol person.
Hats Off to Japanese hospitality!!
Had that person not guided me in such a nice way, I guess I would never think of sking again.
