I got into skiing late in the 2021-22 season at the age of 36. It’s become an obsession actually, and I never saw it coming. In February 2022, I would have said that tropical people like myself don’t belong on snowy mountains. We’d just get cold.

It started with a 4-day weekend trip to Whistler, Canada. My close friends, Roy, Vishal and Pooja, were set on going. Vishal and Pooja got into skiing last season. They struggled with it, but it became their primary winter pastime. Roy skied ages ago but hadn’t gone recently. All wanted to take a 3-day lesson, so I figured it was an excellent chance to dip my toes into it.

I picked it up quickly thanks to the excellent instruction and bunny hill at Whistler along with a healthy dose of aptitude. By the third day, I was skiing with my friends at around the same level.

Another trip a few weeks later to Mount Baker solidified my love for the sport. It’s breathtakingly beautiful up high on these mountains, the daredevil in me loves to YOLO down at high speeds, it’s a rewarding feeling to carve a perfect parallel turn, and one always goes down the mountain – never up!

Before I knew it I had all the gear: skis, boots (heat molded), poles, jacket, pants, goggles, helmet, layers. And all with end-of-season sales to boot!

Thanks to a La Nina year, the PNW stayed cold and got lots of snow late into spring. Thanks to that, we even got to ski at Mission Ridge near Cheryl and Won’s place!

I don’t see myself or the squad slowing down next season. And I couldn’t be more thrilled!