Learning to fall (and succeed!) in Banff

Those who follow me on Instagram know our trips to the Alps for all things snow are a highlight for me, and I can’t wait for our next adventure in a few weeks.

Ski trips have been a highlight since I was young, and I have so many incredible memories of my time in the mountains over the years. One of the best, though, was spending five weeks in the Canadian Rockies studying for the ski instructor examinations — Not just because I grew as a skier, but because I grew as a person.

Goalsetting

My dad taught me to ski as a little girl and I’d never had a lot of professional lessons, but I had years of experience skiing across three continents as a confident amateur. Then after a few years of hard work in the corporate world, I took a sabbatical and of course decided to spend part of it skiing.

I’d never really taken time off like that, and as a goal-oriented gal, it felt uncomfortable to just ‘go skiing’. I needed something to show for it at the end. So, I enrolled in a programme to work my way through the various ski instructor exams. I wasn’t even sure I would ever actually work as an instructor, but I loved having something concrete to aim for. Soon I was off to the Canadian Rockies!

Getting back to basics

For the next five weeks I spent more time on the beginner slopes than I had in years doing the same exercises on repeat. You might think that would be boring – I certainly thought it would be – but it was brilliant. It gave me a safe space to unlearn bad habits and build strong fundamentals; and each day as I returned to more advanced terrain I could immediately see the benefits.

At the end of the first week we had our first assessment day where we were asked to complete a number of exercises across a variety of terrains of increasing difficulty. I completed each challenge and was feeling quite proud of myself. As I sat down with the evaluator at the end of the day, I was looking forward to hearing about how well I was doing.

‘You’re a good skier, Melissa, but you never fall.’  

Um, what?!?! I reflected and then replied, ‘Isn’t that a good thing?’ I mean, who wants a ski instructor who falls?’

‘Well, if you’re not falling, you’re not pushing yourself to be at your best. You might be a good skier but you’ll never be great. And if you’re going to be responsible for others you need to be prepared for the unexpected. You need to know your limits and be able to push beyond them.’

Learning to Fall

For the next few weeks my assignment was simply to fall every day. I wasn’t to fall on purpose but instead to continually push myself that little bit further until I’d finally pushed too far. It seems simple but it sooo wasn’t.

It totally went against my natural instincts. Until then I hadn’t really realised how much I liked staying in my comfort zone. I literally had to will myself to get out a bit of control. Plus, it hurt! Especially at first.

As the days went on, I got better at falling, and at getting back up. And, just as my instructor had predicted, I also got much better at skiing. I finally realised that success is not about avoiding risk but about managing through it. Years later, it’s still one of the best life lessons I’ve learned, and the Canadian Ski Instructor badge I keep in my jewellery box is a great reminder.

Who would have guessed that my biggest hurdle was not falling enough?!

I’ve since seen that many of the world’s most successful leaders are the same people who experienced not one but several significant failures along the way. Just like in skiing, it’s all about going for it, making mistakes, learning from them and coming back stronger!

Mountains, maple and moose, oh my!

Of course spending five weeks somewhere also gives you the chance to learn lots about the area. Here are five unexpected things I learned about the Canadian Rockies that make them truly special:

• Where the wild things are – I’ve seen wildlife occasionally at other ski resorts, but sightings here were everywhere! We saw deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and bears all without trying. They were on the slopes, along the road, and even just walking through town. If you’re a wildlife fan, this is the place for you! You can take guided snowshoe tours for up-close sightings, go dogsledding, or even visit the local wolfdog sanctuary. Amazing!
• Love at frost bite – The snow is incredible in the Canadian Rockies – light, dry and plentiful. But that’s also because it’s cold…like seriously cold! Luckily there were plenty of spots to pop indoors and thaw out for a bit, and it’s important to wear appropriate protection from the elements. I made the mistake of leaving my camera in an outer pocket one day and it went on strike for the remainder of my stay. But of course, the conditions make for amazing powder so layer up and get out there — it’s totally worth it!
• Three for the price of one – One of the best things about the Canadian Rockies was that my ski pass covered not one but three great ski areas. My overall fave to ski was gorgeous Lake Louise which had the most varied terrain and tree-lined runs. It was the farthest from our base at Banff but with frequent shuttles it was still super convenient, and I def preferred staying in the laid-back town of Banff despite the added travel. That said, while Lake Louise was my overall fave, the Sunshine Resort was fab — it’s close to Banff and especially brilliant on powder days with everything from cruisy runs to challenging double blacks. I loved having that variety to choose from.
• What the puck? – I didn’t grow up in a hockey-loving town, but took the opportunity to head to Calgary for a hockey game. OMG what a great game! I was hooked from the start and am still a hockey fan today. Plus, as an American I still can’t hear our National Anthem without thinking of the embellishments added by the Calgary Flames fans – I won’t spoil it by sharing but will say it was fun! Calgary itself is worth a visit on its own, and I’d highly recommend a trip into town for a hockey game. You can even take a comfy shuttle from Banff so you don’t need to worry about parking at the arena or staying awake on the ride back.
• I’m game – If you like game meat, this is sooo the place for you! Not only are there some amazing restaurants that specialise in game, but it’s actually on the menu pretty much everywhere. The only downside for me was that after having elk burgers all the time, it’s kinda ruined plain old hamburgers for me lol. There’s also a great nightlife scene in Banff, whether it’s enjoying the bars and clubs, a bit of night skiing, the awesome hot springs (which in my opinion are at their best at night), or stargazing in the woods. There’s def something for everyone both on and off the slopes!

Conclusion

If you haven’t tried skiing, try it! If you haven’t been to the Canadian Rockies, go!! If there’s something else on your list, what are you waiting for?!? You might fall, but even if you do chances are you’ll come back even stronger!