Vail is BIGGGGG!!! Way bigger and longer than any of the slopes i have ever skied on in Minnesota,Wisconsin or Michigan. The gradients of the black diamonds are pretty much the same but the length of the runs leaves you with wobbly knees towards the end.There are tons of ungroomed terrain which is difficult on your knees and legs and i realized my leg and knee strength was pathetically inadequate for skiing on a mountain this big.BUT,I know what a black diamond is on the big mountains now and what to expect.
Vail is basically two huge mountains,the high point being 11,250 ft with spectacular views of colorado 14ers. Its so huge that the two days we had planned was grossly inadequate even to cover the front face of the mountain,we covered maybe 65%. You need probably a week or two to pretty much cover all the runs and i am not even talking about the double black diamonds here which is plenty.
Like i stated our jerseys were a big hit among the skiers.Many took photos,there were cheesy lines thrown across while standing in lines waiting for the ski lifts, surprisingly many people knew Bangalore and inquired whether we really came all the way from Bangalore to Vail. People stopped by to tell about their travel to India and how wonderful they found our country was. They shouted 'Bangalore ski team' from the top of the lifts,when they passed by,waved at us from high on the hills. It was really fun and we loved every moment of it!
I believe at a personal level i felt blessed to be skiing in such magnificent mountainous surroundings and i couldn't ask for more from life.My outlook on skiing changed quite a lot,i knew what i was capable of and what i was not and what i had to work upon.
I saved the best news for last - I GOT ENGAGED.Yes!! I got engaged to my sweetheart Jasmine while i was in Vail.Though i was 10,000 miles away, my family got together in Nagpur,India and had a small engagement ceremony and my girl looks gorgeous in those pics. Love you the most my dearest and looking forward to spending my lifetime with you. I will never ever forget that i got engaged while i was in VAIL - Like nothing on earth!
