Darrell Davis: My double-black diamond days are done

Wish me luck.

Ten years after my last ski trip, I’m going skiing. Ten years older, more brittle, out of shape and out of practice. One son is working at Castle Mountain Resort, near Pincher Creek, Alta., so the other son and I are going to meet him for a few days of spring skiing. After a season on the slopes he’ll be so far ahead of us, we’d better not try to keep up. But we’re ready for some sunshine and just like the old days, I’ve been watching the weather report and cheering for the resort’s fresh powder.

Believe it or not, I was a Crazy Canuck before anyone heard of Ken Read or Steve Podborski. Not intentionally, mind you. We used to make regular trips to the mountains and I used to enjoy double-black diamond runs, with lots of moguls and a steep pitch that sometimes allowed gravity to take over. I now wear a helmet but I’m not sure how I’m going to protect my back, my legs, my knees and wrists. Maybe I’ll slow down, find the gentle, bump-free, green-circle runs to make sure it’s an injury-free trip. Not as fun or exciting, but much smarter. And safer.