Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

I grew up in a ski family and started when I was about three-years-old. Mike started skiing later in life, but by the time we met, we were pretty well matched. He was a little faster but I had better form, so we both challenged each other.

We’ve spent the past ten years going on a yearly ski trip in March with Mike’s cousins. When these trips started, his youngest cousin was six-years-old. He’d bring up the rear when we all skied together or go off with his dad when Mike and I wanted to ski harder slopes. Over the years, we have watched him steadily get more advanced. He’s now sixteen and just as good as us. I’m sure in a year or two, he’ll get even better as we start our steady decline.

Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

Last week, we took Mazzy to Park City for our annual ski trip. It was her fourth time on skis. What’s great is that I’ve posted about every trip on my blog so it’s easy for anyone to look back and track her progress.

Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

There was the time she wouldn’t even put on her skis.

The time I almost killed her.

The time it was too cold to ski.

And last year when we put her in ski school for the majority of the trip and then skied with her the very last day.

Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

That day was the first hint of what was to come. Mazzy could ski. Not only that, she was cautious and liked to be in control so I started to trust her to watch out for herself as she went down the mountain— not the easiest transition for a parent.

Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

This year, we put her in ski school the first couple of days and then skied with her the remaining two. It was, in a word— AWESOME.

Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

Not only can she ski, she can ski almost as fast as us and on some pretty challenging slopes. It wasn’t like we were waiting for her or going on bunny trails to appease her. She could ski right alongside us, like she was part of the group.

Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

Mazzy’s favorite thing was finding paths through the woods to take her on little off-slope detours (she called them “tunnels”); something I always loved as a kid too.

Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

But rather than explain in detail just how impressed I was Mazzy’s skills, I’ll just post a video so you can see for yourself!

See? I wasn’t exaggerating! For once.

The other great thing about the trip was seeing Mazzy get closer with her cousins— who are from Mike’s side of the family and range from eleven-years-old to over 50. I think just as Mazzy turned a corner with skiing this year, she turned a corner with them too. She’s at an age where she is now realizing the significance of extended family and I could see her opening up to really get to know them as people— not just as the older kids and adults in the room. As for our cousins, they were seeing Mazzy’s real personality come out for the first time too. It was really special to watch.

Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

Now we just need to get Harlow in ski school next year so she can catch up and we can all ski together like the ski family we were meant to be!

If Harlow hates the cold (which is a large possibility), I bet she’ll love the hot tub.

Après-ski is where Mazzy does some of her best work too.

Mazzy Tearing Up the Mountain

————————

To see more pics and videos of my family, subscribe to the Mommy Shorts YouTube channel and follow @mommyshorts on Instagram.

For real time videos, follow ilanawiles on Snapchat.

To subscribe to my blog, click here!