It was tempting to practice some Lake Placid Hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) and stay tucked-in my cozy home yesterday. I didn’t, but I imagine I am not the only one who hustled to dig out of storage clothing appropriate for outdoor recreation in the10-degree cold.

The first ski of the season is a special one. I enjoy sliding on snow more than any other form of locomotion, and there is nothing that mimics that ineffable pleasure, not roller skiing, not trail running, and certainly not cycling. The first kick and glide or downhill run of the season also reminds me of ski muscles that have not been used since last spring. This is when I think of the training advice from a Swiss-born world-class ski instructor at Whiteface Mountain that I take to heart: the best way to train for skiing is to ski.

Snow Makes Everything Better