The Monday started out with dividing the hole group up into two groups and I got to become a part of Tim’s group. We went over to a small flat area, where Tim tried to figure out our name and see how good we were on the skies. After a while we went slowly off to the tracks, the snow were perfect and the sun came out for a little while. We stopped on the top of a small hill and played around with the technique of downhill riding. Techniques like the pizza, the balancing on one ski and so on were tested out. After a while he took us out on the tracks, or that was what we thought. We ended up going on the off-pist in at least 40-50 cm. Of deep snow. Up a small hill and down another, so much fun. Testing out the telemark positions on the cross country skies. As I was right behind Tim I saw that he was trying to find the perfect spot to take us back on the tracks. And as we got furtur away from the other track that we had left, I came to think ‘this is going to be a challenge for some in our group’. And I wasn’t wrong. I was the first to go down a small forest steep, icy hill. It was not going to be pommes skiies down here, because then I would hug many trees and my stomach tolled me to go easy. That was what I did. I took my telemark position and went down, literally. The skies just went rigth in the snow and got stugg. I got them out and went down. After that the other guys got down to, and most of us with snow all over, a lot of frustration and a little anger I think. Or that was what I saw. But we got out of there and people got pushed in the right direction to become better skiers. No one said «I cant do this», everyone got through and with a little help here and there we came back to the alpine center.

The next days ended up being focused on leading, improving technique skills on the tracks and in the off pist as well as getting the group closer together. Doing the nights we had lectures on waxing the skiis, packing the backpack and the daypack and last but not least avalanches. Some interesting and learning lectures that made a wider perspective and understanding of the winter environment.

– Though I had one of the day that I particular remember. It put me in a position where I needed to look at myself as a team worker, a leader and a classmate.

It was one of the last days out, because we went on a big trip around the area of Bortelid. I was feeling really sick, but didn’t want to stay in bed. I went out with the team and Martin was leading the first bit. We went up and down the hills and talked about how to see on the environment where the wind has been blowing. I told a few of the guys how I was feeling, so I wouldn’t «be a hero», and at the first small break I said to Julian ‘I should have stayed in bed’ and he just told me: «then go back»…

I don’t know what I expected, but at some point it kind of took my mind to another place then on how I was feeling. I was feeling like shit, but I had made the choice of going on this trip as I made the choices of how to be apart of the group that day. It got me to reflect over how the week had been, because we all have an effect on each other. The roles that we have been put in to and the leaders that we in some way were pushed to be. Finding the balance of being a good leader, having fun and supporting others wishes and decisions it FREAKING hard. But never the less it’s one step in the right directions that I’m getting aware of my own position and what I need to be doing to develop and learn the most.

The basic skiing trip was a blast and we all learned a lot, and I definitely believe that our cohesion within the group is really good.