Level 3 Exams - The Bittersweet End

I woke up raring to go on Sunday. My mantra: I love the bumps. I love Waterfall. I am going to love the bumps on Waterfall. Also, the two bump runs could possibly be my last runs of the season so let ‘er rip and hold nothing back. No regrets.

Tom, a member of my cell, and I both volunteered to go first for teaching today but I let him go as he was teaching Fast Track to Parallel and there were two FTTP lessons in our group that day. Plus I had gone first the day before. I wasn’t as worried about my lesson on Day 2 as I at least knew everyone’s names. When my time came I was a bit nervous when I first explained to the group what I was looking for but as the lesson progressed I was able to forget the examiner was there and focus on teaching a lesson as I would ordinarily. I started the lesson on Waterfall thinking that by putting them on the steepest run I would set myself up well to detect things I could work on in their skiing. It was a suggestion by Ben Prudhomme, an instructor I had on Level 3 prep. Doug Leeming, the examiner I had on today suggested later that I shouldn’t have started them on such a hard run. You can’t win! My group did not make it easy on me as they were all skiing very well. Luckily I was still able to find things for each to work on and the lesson progressed smoothly.

The morning passed by quickly and soon we were through our lessons. As we had a long break before the bumps ski-off I headed back out after lunch and did a half dozen or so practice runs down both sides of Waterfall, not knowing which side the exams would be on. Imagine my surprise when the first ski-off run was actually on the relatively flat top section where I had yet to ski! I wasn’t sure how I felt about this decision as this year I had been finding the steeper bumps easier to navigate than the flatter, closer bumps that require fast feet. But the flatter terrain did give me confidence to go faster. My practice runs in the bumps were not great. I picked a bad line on the top section that didn’t have great rhythm. On the bottom section my legs were screaming and I actually skied out of the bumps rather than finishing the whole run. I was beginning to question my decision to do as many bump runs as I had.

As we waited for our chance to do the ski-off in the top section I asked the others if anyone had found a good line. Allison, from North Toronto, volunteered that the line just to the skier’s left of the lift towers was a good one. Man, am I glad I asked. I had a fantastic run. I was able to look ahead and pick a line that was smooth and rhythmical. I felt like I was taking a leisurely ski down a green run. Our order was reversed for the next run and I went from being one of the last to ski to one of the first. Not much rest for us! As I felt pretty good about my top run I decided to really go for it on the second run as well. I let out a “whoo hoo” to start and tackled the MUCH bigger, MUCH steeper terrain. I actually felt better on the steeper top section than when it got less steep as the line I chose wanted to take me out of the bumps. I worked my way back in and stayed with it. What a relief to have those two runs over! It could have been the adrenaline but I almost felt like doing them again!

With the exams complete, the examiners convened inside and most people went in to get changed. I figured it would take a while to get results and elected to do a couple more runs while I waited. I was joined by Michele Jacques from MSLM who is a great skier. I think those were two of my best runs all season because I could finally RELAX. I’m looking forward to getting more skiing in over the next few weeks where I can seek that feeling.

Perhaps the hardest part of the weekend was waiting for results. I felt pretty good about how I had skied. It wasn’t my best skiing but felt pretty solid. My lessons had seemed to go well. I felt it was within my grasp to get the whole thing but didn’t want to get my hopes set too high. Results for getting half of it are announced first. Then those who got the whole thing were announced. So you want to hear your name but not too early. Alas, I was the second person announced for Teaching. So I passed the teaching but not the skiing. It was bittersweet. While I was thrilled that I would never again have to take the teaching I was really hoping I had done enough to get the whole thing. My marks indicated that I was close. For each run there had been two or three of the five examiners that had passed me. Of all things I actually passed the moguls! The examiners were all great. Brian and Sandy especially sought me out and told me how well I had skied. It is hard to take though, knowing that you skied well, but not well enough.

So, where do I go from here? Well, first off I need a new pair of skis. Mine are DONE. They have no energy left. And I’m going to have a few days of spring skiing for the FUN of it. I’ll refocus over the off-season and decide how to tackle getting the skiing. Thanks everyone for your support on my journey.