08-02—-11-02-2016

First day:

This week I will have skiing trip/courses in Evje. I was looking forward for this week, because this is literally the first trip not in Kristiansand and it is all days of skiing. This Monday weather was really not good, dark, rainy and cloudy sky, no snow around in Kristiansand, which made me feel a little bit upset about the trip. So, as usually before the trips I woke up early in the morning, had some breakfast and then left my dorm. This time I was lucky, because some “guys” from outdoor education group got with them their own cars, and in this case one of them took me to Evje with 3 more course mates together; it was much cheaper than go with the bus. Also, night before my professor Len collected all our food, skis, big backpacks with outdoor stuff, and took it to the place where, we will be staying from Monday to Friday, so that’s made our trip much comfortable. We all in the car were quite pessimistic, because as closer we get to the Evje, there was raining more and only a little bit of snow. Finally, when we all arrived to the staying place in Evje-Trollaktiv center/park, we were introduced with owner of this park/ center -Tim. He also tell us about Trollaktiv, what kind of activities it provides, what we are going to do, what’s our plans for coming week and then our outdoor education group settle down in 3 guest houses. After this, Vierleaders of this trip -Tim and Len decided of rainy weather and very wet snow, not to ski this day, just got lectures in the evening. I was upset about this thing, because skiing and improving at it was my main goal in this trip. After while we all met at the main cozy meeting hut. There Len and Tim gave lectures about skis, what is the differences between cross- country and alpine skis:

• Cross country skis are generally lighter and stiffer than alpine skis and have a straighter tip;
• Cross country skis are cambered to arc away from the snow in the middle, that helps to keep skiing straight -and alpine is not;
• Alpine skis are more  maneuverable than cross-country skis and it’s much easier to make turns;
• You can ski faster and get bigger pace with alpine skis…

Also, we were taught about ski waxing, which wax we need to use in different weather, air and snow consistency conditions. They told us about types of wax, for example- grip wax (hard and klister) which provide traction with static friction on the snow that allows skiers to propel themselves forward on flats and up hills, glide wax- which is used to repair ski glides and substitutes like fish sack. At the end of Monday lectures, Tim explain about proper outdoor clothing for bigger and colder trips in to the mountains, about 3-4 layers that could keep our body warm: base-thermo clothing, underwear, socks, mid-sleeves, outer layers-jackets, extra jackets, hats, gloves. After all lectures I get back at our guest house- got dinner, play some games with other house mates to kill boredom , prepared my stuff for Tuesdays trip and went to sleep.

Second day: This Tuesday was different from yesterday’s Monday, because in the morning you was able to see the sun, and there wasn’t any sign of possible rain, but it is still was cloudy. For this day trip our group leaders Len and Tim, decided to take us to Bortelid skiing center for skiing day. When we arrived at the Bortelid, I was so happy because there was a lot of snow to ski. When we picked up our backpacks and skis from the car and the buss that took us there, our outdoor education group separated into 2 groups. For one group leader and skiing instructor was Len for another Tim. I was in the Tim’s group. So, after group split we all waxed our skis with proper wax, that day it was enough of one layer of blue wax. After waxing our skis two groups went in different directions, mine group stayed near the ski center and big slope. There Tim find flat area where he told us to do some warm up with skis, showed some basic movements, like turning on the spot with skis in different directions- left, right, turn around step by step 360 degrees, jump turns, jump with parallel skis left, right, turn around 180 degrees with one step… After exercises with turns on the spot, instructor showed us also how to ski correctly- when you kick, or step with one leg, for example right, you need to use pole, swing it with opposite hand- left. After this, we had to ski in the circle around the flat area. Later when we done with some skiing basics in flat area, we went on the skiing track hill, where Tim showed how to climb properly in 3 ways: side steps, herringbone, touring – (zig-zags). Our group leader also showed how to land with parallel skis, then gave us some exercises like land downhill and stop using ski edges, land with top ski/leg in the front, changing your top leg, land on one leg, land with hands reaching your ankles and after that hands up. I think with all these exercises Tim wanted to see how good we are in skiing, what are our weakness and strengths. He was able to decide if some of us (rookies like me) are ready for cross-country skiing, because in our group were some guys who are very good in skiing, and also it was like a preparation for cross-country trip, balance and movement warm up. After skiing in flat are and downhill practice we got some quick lunch, about 10-15 minutes. This time and for all this week my lunches will be the same- sandwiches, peanuts and canned food. This type of food is not the best decision- not warm, a little bit nutritious, but all the week we will got short lunch stops, we will need to eat fast, so I decided to eat really good meal after day trips. Later we moved to try some skiing in tracks, but after 1 kilometer or less, we went skiing off-piste in deep snow. At first we had to climb on to the hill by touring technique. I was struggling, because I was used to climb by herringbone style (skis in V shape), I was sliding down backwards, even I was unable to use my poles correctly, because snow was deep, but after while I made it. Then we almost all the time were skiing just in deep snow, until we get back on the tracks and get back to the ski center on the big slope. There Tim showed some turning and telemarking techniques- before turning trying to put your body pressure on the turning top leg. Then he gave  us some exercises ,I was doing really not well, but I knew that I can’t learn new things just in one day, so I don’t minded about that and just try to do everything as good as I can.

Later in the evening, after really nutritious and full of good fat and energy dinner (rice with curry sauce of fish, coconut milk, vegetables), we got lectures with professor Len about injuries, diseases related with winter or trips in cold weather conditions and first aid. Len taught us how to recognize frost nips (white spot on fingers, cheeks or somewhere else), frost bite (darkened limbs), exhaustion (hyperthermia, person doing strange things), hypothermia (head ache, person get cold, tired, shivering), and how to behave in these situations, how try to treat them – shelter, warm food and drinks, give to people sweat things with sugar, call for help… Also he explained how to call the help, and what we should care in our first aid kit bag- cures and drugs for allergies, headache, diarrhea, anesthetics, splints, sports tape, vaseline, multi tool, knife, fire starter, rope and many more things…

So all in all, I was happy about this day, because I got chance to ski and improve in it, I learned some new techniques in climbing on to the hills, get the background in turning when you landing from downhills. Also, I felt a little bit what it means to hike in deep snow and I learned many new things in evening lecture. After the day I was happy about planning and choices, for example Tim don’t force rookies  to land from the top of the slope, he was learning us turning below on the slope, and when he noticed that better skiers can do tasks really easy, he let them play on the top of the slope. The basic skiing tasks and off-piste for me was really good, because of this I could improve, show my skiing level and get some advices, and felt a little bit  what the future trip to the mountain holding for me.

Third day: Wednesday morning was nice, sun was shining and I was ready for another day of skiing. This day we get back to the Bortelid ski center, split in the same Tim and Lens groups like yesterday, waxed our skis and decided to ski on the track around area about 8-10 kilometers and let to some guys of the group with maps lead the way to some points. Today I was ready for a little bit easier day, because I was wearing much lighter rucksack than yesterday (without storm kitchen, some clothes and without sleeping mat), I thought that’s why I was falling down so many times on Tuesday… But it wasn’t true, because this day I was falling down with my skis when landing from downhills too. So we started our route from skiing center and tried to keep up all the time on the skiing tracks. On the road there was many uphills and downhills, so after we were going up, all the time, we know that at some point there will be fun at landing down and backwards, after landing down there somewhere we are going to go uphill. I loved to land down, because I’m always crazy about the speed and pace, but the thing that made me really upset was- I always was falling down on the turns while landing down with skis. Even some falls was on my head :D. My biggest problem was there that I always was starting to turn at the last moment with top speed, and trying to do that with parallel skis without pressing the turning leg. After while I was really frustrated, because I saw that I was only person in the whole group that was falling down on every turn. But after every mistake I always was instantly getting up and trying to do it again by watching and observing how other members landing down. On this route Tim tried to show and teach classic skiing techniques because It’s more enjoyable than just stepping and walking with skis-like many of our group rookies did. At some spots Tim also told to our group to do some off-piste skiing in deep snow, he lead us on some peaks to practice telemarking and landing, there I was doing not so bad. After off-piste we got quick lunch, back on tracks and after some time went back to the ski center. There our group Leader tried to taught us turning with skis and telemarking again, and I was doing a little bit better than yesterday J. After some exercises both group Leaders Len and Tim decided to prepare us racing game like slalom from the slope. All our outdoor education group and even leaders was hyped and excited about that. We got lots of fun there, and the best thing was that we were practicing turning without thinking about that, it is like exercise, but in shape of the game it is way much more fun to do that.

In the evening after dinner, like always, we got some lectures. This time Len was talking about snow avalanches, what cost them ( wind, temperature, weather, people, nature itself,  when someone cuts, releases snow from the top snow), how it forms- when all the time new snow covers old one, how we can recognize some dangerous places, distance safe from avalanche. Also Len explain us how to act if you get into snow avalanche (try to do the same movement like you are swimming backwards on your back) , what to do if avalanche caught other person, how we can help him, and what chances are that he is stay alive based on persons depth and time under the snow.

So this day was a bit harder than other days for me, skiing fails (group members for my skiing stile gave nick name “Yeti”), only little breaks, even for lunch, all the time on the pace, but I still was enjoying with the fresh air, Bortelids nature, of course skiing and the games in the end. I was happy about

Fourth day: This day our destination was in the same Bortelid ski centers area ski about 12-15 kilometers and get on peak of the mountain. Today was more sunny day than other days we got here, only sometimes clouds was covering the sun. So this morning we get to the Bortelid by two cars, prepared our skies, then Tom to our group explained todays rout and after that we started our Thursdays trip. Today I was landing from the skiing track downhills without any silly fall downs, even on turns, because yesterday I asked for advice one of my group member, who are very experienced in skiing. He told me what I’m doing wrong and what I need to do on the turns while landing down, so now I was feeling much more confidence and could enjoy with proper landings. This day Tim let to lead time to time to all of our group members, so we could all practice some orienteering. While we were skiing on the normal tracks I was really enjoying with the nature and the view, because higher we get, the more beautiful landscape appeared. Tim has established really intense pace this day, so we got about 2 short 10 min. stops and one 15 minute lunch, where he asked some of our group guys prepare the place for snow avalanche demonstration. Then after preparation  vierleader asked one guy to stand up on prepared place and jump on it to make artificial avalanche. We also were able to see many snow layers and understand more about avalanche thing. This kind of explanation in my opinion was smart move, because sometimes picture, image equal to 1000 words, and by doing experiencing we learn much effectively. When we done with lunch, our group came back on the tracks, and time to time was doing some off-piste, practicing telemarking, no matter even that many of us couldn’t even do that properly. After while we finally by doing off-piste get to the peak of one mountain. There, the landscape was incredible for me, because I never seen something similar. From above I was able to see other mountains and beautiful mixture of trees, lakes and rivers. After taking some pictures and enjoying the view we decided to find tracks and get back to the ski center. Of course we done that by skiing down the peak in deep snow and playing which means practicing too. After we get to the final slope, Tim for better skiers let get down from the highest, fastest and steepest point, and for the rest he offered to get little bit down for another big slope, which is still steep enough and big, but safer. When we get there, I was standing on the top of the same slope where we was practicing telemarking down below all days before. Tim recommend me to land down without skis, but I was too ready , to hyped and excited to do that. Then vierleader just wish me luck and be careful. I started to land by turning from one slopes side to another and trying to do telemarking. I was falling down after every turn, sometimes 2 and even 3 turns and after every turn I was able to reach greater speed. I was very happy and proud of myself, because some of my group members landed down without skis, and I made that, no matter the fact that I felt down maybe more less 10 times, but after this I was just smiling and enjoying the moment, and happy because I don’t broke my skies  .

Later in the evening we got something different, It was games and fun night. We met at the same place where lectures was held every evening before. This evening each country members ( group of Germans, Brits, Scandinavians, Americans, Czech, Lithuanians) had to prepare something- national games, dances, songs or maybe something else and represent, play  them. Every country prepared some games, so we was playing all evening. I think It was good decision to do evening of fun, because we got a chance to look at other countries culture, we come together as a group more, and It was something different so It means interesting.

Fifth day: Friday and the last skiing day. I was feeling a little bit tired, because I have never done anything similar (skiing) all 4 days in a row, but that didn’t bothered me. Today our destination was to ski about 6 kilometers just for pleasure. The weather was the best compared to last days, because it was warm, Sun was shining all the time and sky was without clouds. Snow was icy and hard, so we were able even try to do some skating with skis. On this snow conditions we should used very strong green wax, but no one had one, so we were ok with 2-3 layers of blue wax.  Our group leader Tim today was doing many stops in which was talking about and explaining many things, for example about rocks, how to recognize in which direction wind was blowing last day, about animal footsteps, snow conditions, about skiing technique, how skiing sport was changing over the years and much more. The pace today was not fast too, so we could, like a said before, ski for our pleasure. After while we met with Lens group and together got long lunch. I and one guy from Lens group almost all the lunch time were skiing and playing around. I was trying to learn skating by observing better skiers, and trying to ask them advice. After lunch Tims and Lens groups split up again, and we went off-piste on the small hill, were Tim was trying last time to learn rookies turning with parallel skis, because for good ones he let go where they want, don’t waste their time with us. After while we get back to the Trollaktive camp, clean our apartments, packed stuff and gear, which Len collected again. Than all of us got last lesson from the Tim how to repair our ski soles, which is messed up after 3 days of intensive skiing and one day skiing on really hard and icy snow : firstly scrap and remove the old wax from the skis, than with hot iron rub glide wax on ski glides and green wax rub in to the center of the skis ( between shoe heel and one foot from skiing boot lock). After that, we all said goodbye and thanks for Tim and we left home.

To sum up this skiing course trip, for me It was something new and amazing. The nature, beautiful views and landscapes, mountains left me really big impression. Group Leaders prepared for us perfect plans and skiing routes, without pushing anyone and trying to share with knowledge they know. Maybe it was a little bit boring for good skiers, but latter they could do different things than rookies.  Also I learned so many practical things about first aid, clothing in different conditions, ski waxing, skis- types of it, avalanches, how to call help. I could felt stronger and stronger group cohesion with every single day. More than this, the best thing was that I got so much experience in really short time, I knew and felt that I improved in skiing, I could easily do cross-country skiing without any struggling, I learned basics for telemarking and turning in off-piste. For me this trip was quite hard but the best of all I already got.