How four days at Blue Mountain helped me embrace winter in Canada
How hard is it really to learn how to ski? The Weather Network's Michael Vann goes to ski school at Blue Mountain Resort - will he be a pro by the end?
Being a newcomer to Canada comes with many challenges. If I’m being honest, some are good and some are bad. For most of us, learning to embrace the chilly winters of the Great White North shares in that split sentiment. That’s where finding an outdoor activity you love in the winter can really help.
For me, I’ve always wanted to learn to ski or snowboard. There was something about seeing people effortlessly glide down a mountainside that I just wanted to be part of. The “après ski” bit was appealing, too!
Since arriving in 2019, I’ve attempted to snowboard twice and ski once. Snowboarding was really mostly just me tumbling around the tiny hill at ski school. I decided that perhaps boarding wasn’t really in my future. When I tried skiing for the first time, I at least managed to stay upright. A little glimmer of hope sparked that this might be an iconic Canadian winter activity I could enjoy!
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But there are lots of challenges when it comes to learning to ski: it can be expensive with lift tickets, rentals, and driving to and from the resorts. Not to mention finding time in our busy schedules to try something you may or may not be good at. There are a lot of variables that can keep you off the mountains.
Last fall, I was at Blue Mountain Resort—a proud member of the Ontario Snow Resorts Association— working on a couple of stories about foliage and a predicted “snowy winter ahead.” Not to pat ourselves on the back, but we certainly got that one right! Tara Lovell, the public relations manager at Blue Mountain, asked me if I skied, and I felt a little embarrassed to admit I had tried but wasn't good at it. She had some great questions on my past experiences learning, and being a team of ski and snowboard experts, she knew there was a better approach.
A plan was hatched: I’d spend 4 consecutive days at the resort learning to ski. The thought process is that you can develop techniques and build muscle memory better over the course of a few days, as opposed to just a day here and there. It seemed like an exhausting challenge to learn to ski and document the process into a video series, but given such an amazing opportunity, I was up for it!
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On the morning of my first lesson, I was up early and wandering around the village. A few eager early birds were already suited up and headed to the hills with their gear. Watching them walk past with the warm glow of the sunrise bouncing off the snow, for the first time I thought to myself, “I’ll soon be one of them.” But there was still work to be done.
I met up with my instructor, Ludwig Van Bryce, who would be my guide for the next four days. We’d have one hour and fifteen minute morning lessons, and then I’d be left to my own devices to put my learnings into practice in the afternoons. I quickly learned that Ludwig is a kind, patient, agile, and extremely jovial instructor. What more could I ask for?
Michael Vann (left) and ski instructor Ludwig Van Bryce. (The Weather Network)
On day one we covered the basics: getting in and out of the skis, “french fry” (moving forward), “pizza” (stopping), making small turns, and where to position your centre of gravity. It was a great session, and I felt I was getting the hang of it. I put in several hours on the carpet and even made it to the “undergraduate hill” by the end of the first day.
Day two started out with a couple more runs on the “undergraduate hill,” and then we moved over to “graduate.” This is a longer, more challenging run that is classified as a green hill. It’s still short compared to the other green hills at just over 250 metres long. I even got to take a lift for this hill. But suddenly there was a view, and the inclines were more difficult to navigate. It all felt a bit overwhelming to start.
Day two of Michael Vann learning to ski at Blue Mountain. (The Weather Network)
Ludwig was there to guide me over the fresh corduroy, which also proved a challenge. I fell twice before we could even get the camera set up to record anything. During the entire morning lesson, my body felt more tense, and the moves weren’t flowing as easily as the day before. After lunch, however, I just kept at it. Finally, the pieces were coming together, and I was building confidence.
Unfortunately, fatigue, sore muscles, and anxiety took hold on day three. Ludwig had high hopes I’d be able to tackle a longer green hill, but my body was fighting the whole lesson. It was honestly the worst lesson of all. My feet struggled to make turns that just the day before I was doing with ease. It was frustrating, it didn’t make sense, and I was worried I wouldn’t make it as a skier after all. Ludwig, being the genius instructor that he is, asked me if I trusted him. Of course, I said “yes” before knowing what he wanted me to do. He basically had me lean forward at the top of the run into my ski boots while he skied backward and guided me the entire way. He did this so I could relax and feel the movement as it should be.
Michael Vann overcomes fatigue and anxiety on day three at Blue Mountain Resort. (The Weather Network)
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Miraculously, it worked! That afternoon turned out to be the best run I had. What’s more, I was skiing solo and ended up riding the lift over and over again with strangers who were also mostly beginning. I struck up conversations and quickly realized most people on this hill were newcomers just like me. Everyone was so open and willing to share their stories about learning to ski.
Day four arrived, and it was the big one! After one last run down the “graduate,” we headed to my very first full green hill, “Happy Valley.” Standing at the top and looking out over the Nottawasaga Bay for the first time knowing I was about to ski to the bottom was nothing short of thrilling. All of the dreaming, hard work, and battles of the last four days had brought me to this moment. Ludwig led the way, and we took it slow down the mountain. I didn’t fall; he taught me some additional techniques, and I looked around to see other skiers finally feeling like one of them. We even tackled a “black diamond” section of the run to learn how to do hockey stops!
The day ended in my first blue hill called “Legacy.” If I’m being completely honest, I fell not once, but twice. The good news is these were caught on camera for the world to see! Seriously, though, it’s good for people to see me failing and falling, as it’s part of the process for everyone. Words cannot express the joy and sense of accomplishment I felt in the final 200 metres of that run. I had conquered the mountain, and it felt better than I ever imagined!
Michael Vann conquers his fears and first blue hill at Blue Mountain Resort. (The Weather Network)
I now feel confident enough to say I know how to ski. I also understand that it is a skill to be practiced, honed, and regularly enjoyed. I also know I miss it through the warm weather months. The team at Blue Mountain Resort really knows what they’re doing when it comes to instruction and ski education. While it may seem a bit of an expense to spend four straight days learning to ski, it was really equal to the four times I’d tried over the last five winters. The difference this time is that I actually learned to ski. If you really want to become a skier, this is the way to do it.
Perhaps most surprisingly in this process I discovered access to something many newcomers to Canada struggle with: community. From lunches with the amazing public relations team, new friends I met at ski school, and the strangers I connected with on the lifts, I felt like I was part of something greater. Each person loves the snow and winter weather enough to hit the slopes, enjoy an après ski caesar, and share a laugh with a new friend. For any of you other newcomers out there dreaming of embracing the winters of the Great White North, what are you waiting for? A new community and sense of belonging just might be there for you, too.