How to make 2023 the best ski year ever.

Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s to another successful journey around the sun. 2023 stretches out before us fresh and unspoiled, like untracked powder on your favorite run.

I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions; to me, they seem pretty arbitrary. If you want to change, you should do it whenever you’re ready. Nonetheless, I’m sure that all of us can think of things we could do to make our ski days better, and the new year seems like a good time to talk about them. So here are some things that you might consider to make 2023 your best ski year yet.

• Ditch the negative people: Nothing can suck the fun out of a ski day more than someone who’s always negative. So instead of letting them ruin your day, ski with people you like to be around. I have a bunch of friends who make me smile, both on the hill and on the lift. Make people like this part of your regular ski crowd.

• Don’t be so hard on yourself. While you’re ditching the negative people, ditch the negative thoughts about yourself. Too many of us focus on only the negative aspects of our skiing. Focus on your achievements and abilities, instead. That trail you couldn’t do last year? You’re rocking it now! That bump run? You own it! Give yourself some love. You’ve earned it.

• Think quality, not quantity. Turn off your ski app, and instead of counting your runs or how much vertical you’ve done, count how much fun you’re having. If you take 3 runs that make you hoot and holler instead of 7 that are just so-so, then that’s something to celebrate.

• Wait for the slow pokes. Here’s the truth: I never mind waiting for people who are slower than me. Because as much as I enjoy speed, I also enjoy skiing with people I like, whatever their ability. You’re not in the Olympics, this is not a race. Keep that in mind.

• Stop and take in the scenery. One of the main reasons I love to ski is that I get to see things that non-skiers never do. There’s nothing like standing on the summit viewing row upon row of mountains fading into the distance, or standing in a silent glade of trees as the snow drifts slowly down. Never be in too big of a hurry to take it all in.

Stratton, Vermont

• Try someplace new. I ski a lot at my home mountain, but I really enjoy getting away to someplace new every now and then. It doesn’t have to be the biggest place or someplace far, far away. Plane rides are not a pre-requisite to having a good time.

• Take a lesson: Lessons are like a magic pill. Take one, and you’ll be able to ski more confidently and cover more of the mountain than you could in the past. Lessons can do a lot to amp up the fun. Try one and see.

• Get a good friend skiing. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could get your best friend — the one who doesn’t ski — out on the slopes?  It’d be an absolute blast, wouldn’t it? January is officially Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and there are great deals out there for never-evers. Go here for more info.

• Be grateful for any day on the snow. Sure, conditions aren’t always great and the day isn’t always fantastic. But truly, this is a first world problem. Consider yourself privileged to be skiing at all. Be thankful that you’re healthy enough to be on the hill, and that you have the means to pay for your lift ticket.  And as part of this…….

• Thank the ski patrol and the lifties and the people who make it happen. Sure, being on the mountain is their job. But if it weren’t for the patrollers, lifties, snow makers, groomers, and so on, operations at your favorite mountain would grind to a halt. So don’t act like an entitled bitch. Give them the respect they deserve, smile and be nice. It goes a long way.

• Feel the joy. Skiing is supposed to be fun. Never lose sight of that. Instead of thinking about the fall you had this morning or the traffic you’ll hit this evening, revel in the moment. And if it stops being fun, stop skiing. There’s always another day.

Wishing you a safe, happy, and injury-free 2023
with lots of great skiing.