12 January 2013 - Everyone on the ski @ Keystone, CO

Today is a great day for many reasons:
1) The Broncos are playing, so no one will be going to ski.
2) The weather is super cold (-4°F / -22°C) so even less people will be going up.
3) Wai Leng has rented out a pair of ski @ Sport Authority and is really excited to ski for her very first time (USD 20.- a day for a pair of ski, poles and shoes).

Woon, Angela and Levi will be joining us!! It will be so much fun!!

Take off form home at 06:45...it's really early. Keystone is about 1h30 from home and then we need to get ready, walk to the ski school, register Mila before 09:30...and register Wai Leng before 10:00.

Keystone, CO

Mila was really happy to go to ski and Wai Leng as well. She did not really know how this would work for her until she put a ski shoes on ;-)

Then we walked to the ski school and it was "so pain", "not easy to work with", really hard" and "I am already tired"...well, all sort of complains...

Mila is already used to the system has she went there about 3 times and she really loves going to ski.

Wai Leng got really lucky as she was the only one in her class. So she got a private lessons at the group lesson's rate!!

Wai Leng and her ski instructor

Wai Leng was feeling a little bit cold be cause she did not have the right equipment but she did really really well. I even had the chance to see her going up the "magic carpet" and down using the "pizza slice" technique and she is doing terrific.

The goal has been reach: She is willing to try another time...but not right now...as all her muscles are hurting her.

Mila did a great job too. On the very first lesson, she was a "first timer" (on December 24th '12, Breckenridge, CO). Then, I signed her in as a "sliders" (on January 1st '13, Keystone, CO) and finally she ended up being in the "carpet turners" -jumping the intermediate "stoppers"  category on January 12th '13.

Mila on the magic carpet

Mila going down the trail

This is the very time I see Mila going by herself on a short slope...it's so cute and she really enjoying it!! Congratulations Mila!!!

With the ski pass Mila has, all pictures taken by the ski school are available in high definition quality, ready for downloading and printing. It's really a great idea to make them available to the parents (unlimited number of pictures is @ $30.- per ski season).

Mila at the kids ski school @ Keystone (EpicMix picture)

Mila at the kids ski school @ Keystone (EpicMix picture)

Mila at the kids ski school @ Keystone (EpicMix picture)

I also manage to take a short movie of Wai Leng who really had a hard day. It was really cold, she did not have the right equipment and the ski shoes were hurting her...not to forget that this was a very first time as well!!

When I saw her at lunch, she wanted to rest and she almost "gave up"...but the instructor made it very easy for her as she was her only student and she really taught her the best possible way. At the end of the day, Wai Leng was going up the "magic carpet" (as well) and was able to go down slowly using the famous "pizza slice" technique and even stop wherever she -almost- wanted. Bravo Wai Leng!!!

First time for Wai Leng on a pair of ski!!!!!

What is really cool in Keystone is that you can use they free-wagon to carry your skis, your poles and...your kids:

Mila in  her wagon

...and Mila fall asleep in it before we reached the car!!! She also slept the all trip back to Denver, while we were returning Wai Leng ski equipment and back home!! It was simply the perfect timing as she was really in good shape (and mood) to play with Levi that evening.