My foundational “slope”

This photo shows the hamlet and the house where I grew up. My parents’ house, built in 1938, was sitting on the edge of a first slope that was followed by a much flatter part before plunging into a yet steeper incline that ended near a last flat area where the Dranse creek flowed. 

As you can see on this picture from the mid 1950s, this two-stage slope would have a significant impact on me. First, as a five year old, I would travel the 200 + vertical feet of that steep slope as an unwitting passenger of a three-wheeled contraption that would eject me at the ultimate slope transition before stopping shy of the creek bank. I was lucky to be alive! 

Then, as my skiing skills developed, I used both sections of the slope (but stayed mostly on the upper one) to train for slalom, with big twigs I had collected instead of real slalom poles (wood was the material in those days). 

Setting the course was much tighter than a modern slalom course is, as I would make four turns in the physical space used for just one. But remember, I was a small kid, it made me turn a lot and it was excellent practice. 

I side-stepped to climb back the slope, which also kept me warm and packed the snow a little bit harder at each passage, a true win-win situation! I did that when I had no regular access to lift-served slopes and well into my teenage years. 

I thought it was a good substitute and that probably was right as it helped me develop into the resilient and resourceful skier I still remain today. So as you can see this slope was placed by the Creator in the right spot at the right time. How lucky was I!