When Learning Becomes a Legacy

How One Lesson Became A Lifelong Tradition For My Family

By CYNTHIA CENDREDA

As a writer for Tahoe Donner News, I was elated with the task of joining Camy Bretin in her lesson. Like Bretin, I was a native of Southern California whose first skiing experiences were at Big Bear Lake. And much like my lesson partner, I hadn’t touched a pair of skis in almost 30 years.

Our instructor Jim Hentz was friendly, funny and very knowledgeable, but what struck me was his admission that he had only started skiing at 43. Granted, now at the ripe age of 75 that was over 30 years ago, but it served to remind us that we can learn new things at any age!

Hearing that also reminded me of my own mom who, on a courageous whim, decided that she wanted to learn to ski at 40. An immigrant from the tropical islands of the Philippines, skiing was a concept as foreign to her as the snow itself, but she was determined that we would all take a lesson. At 10 years old, I remember our trip to the sporting goods store for rental gear, the two-hour drive to our local mountain and my first ski suit – a one-piece the color of purple and pink highlighters! But what I truly won’t forget any time soon is how my mom fell in love with skiing.

From that first day on, skiing became our family’s winter tradition lasting well into my college years. We would spend every other weekend in Big Bear or Mammoth and even take an occasional vacation to Lake Tahoe. Even my dad, who is decidedly not a fan of the cold, prided himself on his grand cabin breakfasts to load us up for a day on the hill. Some of our best family memories were made on these trips.

Some years after my first lesson, I eventually hopped on the snowboarding trend. In college at UC Santa Barbara, I competed in a collegiate boardercross league, commuting on the weekends to Mammoth. When I met my husband during this time, I learned his family also had their own rich history with the sport of skiing.

When our kids were born, we continued the tradition of weekend ski trips, and eventually decided to move to this mountain paradise full-time. I’ve cherished watching my children develop a love for the sport, first in lessons, then on teams and now with their dad, who is also a ski coach. Skiing has become such an integral part of who we are as a family, much like it did when I was growing up, that I find myself compelled to return to where it all started – with a lesson.

As author William Arthur Ward aptly stated, “curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” To lean into our curiosity and learn new things is to enrich our lives and the lives of those around us. What we learn can become our next passion, a new tradition or perhaps even a legacy for future generations. I’m thrilled that my kids can witness their mom learning to ski in the same way that I watched mine. I’m proud to set the example that it’s okay to be a beginner and that trying something new takes a little courage – or a lot – but we are all capable of learning at any age, and throughout every stage in our lives!

Continued from page 13 instruction allowed Bretin to learn at her own pace. As she clicked into the bindings for the first time Bretin says, “I was a little nervous to get back on skis, but the rental staff helped me select the right equipment, and my instructor Jim Hentz’s sense of humor (and amazing mustache!) helped put me at ease.”

Learning With Confidence

Beginning with basic terminology, proper posture and stance and progressing into moving and stopping, instructors like Hentz teach the fundamentals in an easy-tounderstand and relatable way. According to Bretin, “Re-learning the proper stance was extremely helpful. I felt like I was more in control, which helped calm my nerves. But also hearing that he learned to ski as an adult reassured me that it wasn’t too late for me to learn too.”

Few activities allow you to fully immerse yourself in your surroundings. Skiing offers a unique perspective of the mountains that you wouldn’t be able to experience otherwise. For Bretin, a lesson helped her ease back into the sport in an enjoyable way where learning the basics became part of the fun. “I look forward to going out more and continuing to progress, but being taught the correct form and going through exercises to reinforce the basics has really helped my confidence the most.”

Lessons and Packages to Suit Your Needs

The Downhill Ski Resort prides itself on tailoring instruction to beginners of any age so that they develop the proper fundamentals for a lifetime of enjoyment! Private lessons start at just $189 for members ages 3 and up, and ski/ snowboard packages (including a lift ticket, group lesson and rental) start at $185 for members ages 7-12 and $209 for ages 13 and up. Break out of your comfort zone without breaking the bank, all while learning a sport the whole family can enjoy for years to come.

To learn more about the Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort and its current programs, visit tahoedonner.com/downhill