That's right. The Ski Mom - the Swiss equivalent of a Soccer Mom. Having been a Soccer Mom before moving to Switzerland 3 years ago, it's just a little bit more complicated.
Let’s start with The LOCATION. From Zürich, the nearest slope is at an hour away. Luckily the Swiss are extremely efficient in clearing the snow on the roads. While I carry snow chains, I’ve never had to use them.
The EQUIPMENT. 14 precisely PER boy (yes I counted) including 8 pieces not counting gloves: underwear, thermal top, bottom and socks, fleece jacket and the ski pants/jacket. Plus balaclava, helmet, goggles, ski boots, skis, gloves and poles. During the boys’ first season, I used to put each boy’s ski clothes in a hamper and tell them to wear everything that is in it while I go and load the skis in the car.
The TRAINING SESSION itself is not too bad. It’s the getting the boys ready and getting them there. Once boys and equipment are finally in the car, it’s just roll up and unload boys. Put on equipment – click on skis, helmets on, zip up jackets, gloves on and ski poles last. Hang around until they’ve found their coach. All this, before 9am EVERY Saturday morning during ski season which is generally from December to March. Then – this is the best bit – a café crème and a gipfeli (croissant) in front of a roaring fire at a rustic wooden chalet of a restaurant. Two if it was a rough morning.
The SKI RACES - that is another matter. It usually means driving to another resort. Last Saturday was a 2-1/2hr drive to Madrisa near Klosters – 120miles away. Gone is the coach unless it is arranged privately. I queued with the boys alongside 300 other children who participated - to register and get their racing numbers. Then the boys inspected the course – side slipping on the race course itself taking note of the trickier bits. Then the boys did a few warm up runs – practicing their tight turns, poles tucked and bum in the air.
For Ski Mom, it’s the endless waiting around for the race to start – and Saturday’s was in blizzard conditions. This was hardcore stamping-your-feet-to-get-warm business – for a race that is over in less than a minute. My son’s time was 54:74. He finished 12th in his age group out of the 17 who finished and 20 who started the race.
Like any sport that the boys get into, there is always that question of how seriously do they (and Mom) get into it. I was once rummaging in the trunk of my car looking for a missing glove when a van pulled up alongside my station wagon. Let me call her -
The EXPERT MOM. The van disgorged 3 kids dressed in their tight-fitting aerodynamic racing skins. My boys still wear the standard bulky ski jacket. When you fit their snug racing numbers over the jacket, they look more like small Michelin men!
Expert Mom opened the trunk and a tailored steel shelf organized the 3 sets of ski equipment. I looked at mine which is a tangle of skis and poles and hung my head.
Expert Mom and her expert kids have spare racing skis. They do their practice runs in one pair and change into the racing pair with the wax still intact. Expert Mom then skis down with the spare skis slung over her shoulder.
While my boys who are half-Swiss easily took to the snow, Mom who learned to ski as an adult is less keen. As for getting into serious ski racing, I will have to take the boys’ cues. But to ski down with an extra pair of skis slung over my shoulder? Never going to happen. I'm just trying to stay upright here! Unless Dad stops travelling and takes over?
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