In the winter of 2007, we tried downhill skiing for the first time.  My wife had never skiied downhill before, and I had only tried a few times as a kid.  We went to Mt. Tremblant and decided to make our first attempt there.  It was a memorable experience -- we had our lessons and the ski instructor had kindly suggested that we should NOT go up the gondola.  Well... we were determined and went to the top and made our way down the La Crete, Nansen S and Panache slopes.   We  were slow, but we made it.  We were slightly... to be honest... afraid, but we made it.  And although I have cross-country skiied many times, that day on Mt. Tremblant will remain in our memories and we're quite anxious to go back.  Here are a few photos... enjoy...

and yes... it took us 2 hours to get down the hill.

Photos #1 to #8 at Mt. Tremblant.

Photos #9 and #10 -- along the trails at the Fairmont Montebello.  If you go to Tremblant, stay here... it's one of my favorite hotels in Canada -- and the log cabin hotel just adds to the winter ambiance.

Photo #1:  winter wonderland

Photo #2:  heading up the gondola, we see snow... lots of snow

Photo #3:  Naomi with her 1st steps

Photo #4 to #7... along the slopes.

Photo #8:  Naomi and Kai survive the slopes

Photo #9:  Skiing on the trails at Fairmont Montebello

Photo #10:  Perhaps the strangest thing I have ever witnessed on a ski trail.  Gas pump... (it's for boats)

-kai

www.kaipetainen.com