Two weekends ago marked the end of ski season and what a season it was. Ski season 2026. The snow started flying in December and all of January was perfection, as was February. March might have been a little rockier weather-wise but wow the snow was peak almost the entire season with the exception of about a week of rain.
To be clear, I was laid off in late November and that was terrible and a big hit financially. But ski season started maybe 3 weeks into the layoff. THANK GOD. Before mid December the doors were open at our local ski club and I was at the lodge and happy to have a space to carve. I mean this year many ski resorts like this one on the east coast got record snow.
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This year, after a super quick pause to process, connect with unemployment and engage a career support agency, I looked at networking in different ways. Despite being an introvert, I challenged myself to make new connections and to tell people my story. Sometimes that was chitchat on a chairlift or connecting with board members and skiers at events like Ladies Day. And I made a lot of new contacts on bus trips to Blue Mountain with local skiers.
Networking Differently
Honestly, I’d rather not be sitting in a room talking to other people looking for jobs or on a Zoom meeting hosted by a career guru. This worked way better for me and my mental health. So, outside it was. Even on those -20C mornings. If I could get out in my favourite cold weather ski gear dressed for the conditions, then I was out on the hill skiing or practicing until everything else fell away. This is the year I learned javelin turns, balancing on one leg, fixing my balance and leaning hard into the ice.
If you ski on the east coast then you know the conditions are always a mix of wild weather and the positive thing about that is you generally learn to ski almost anything (but for heavy powder.) Typically we go to Vermont for that. No place better on the east. But this was the season we got the heavy powder too. On the days when I went with the bus trip to Blue Mountain we worked hard for those turns and loved the heavy powder at Blue, along with the views of course. Meeting new people and making connections was a true bonus.
Sundays are for the Girls
Of course, there were my Sunday girl days. Just me and Payton. Followed by a T&T trip or a sushi lunch date. Sometimes date night Thursday, Friday or Saturdays with Jim and occasionally the entire family made it out together. The busier and older my kids get, the harder it is to make that happen. Payton is currently finishing her last year of her undergraduate degree and Noah is in school again as well. So times are busy and school takes priority.
Unfortunately one of those Sundays in February I was hit by a snowboarder and I injured my shoulder and lower back which took me out for a few days. Back pain persisted for weeks but seems to finally be vanishing.
New Patterns
This year, I skied by myself often in the morning because it kept me moving and was a brilliant way to start my day. I enjoyed Ladies Day at Boler yet again which I highly recommend every February and I managed to stay active every week with a record number of hours spent skiing.
For the first time ever I did the double black diamond at Boler (Wayne’s) which is honestly not a double black but is labelled as such so I am taking the win. I got over a lot of my fear of tackling new runs and channeled my inner athlete to work on turns, steeper slopes and more challenging terrain. Black diamond runs were less daunting than before as practice and muscle memory kicked in.
Ski Season 2026
At least on the east coast, ski season 2026 was one of a kind. My only regret this year is that we couldn’t get to Tremblant or Vermont. At this time, nobody in my family is travelling to the United States due to the politics involved. Sadly, we miss Vermont and Maine and Upstate New York. And as for Tremblant, this year it would have been ideal as I had the time but the money was another matter.
Every single year as the ski season comes to an end I do not go lightly or easily. I am on my skis skiing until the very last moment even as the mud starts poking through making slopes insanely narrow and ugly.
Until the Summer
It makes me insanely sad when the season ends, like fall into a depressed state sad, but this is my attempt to remember what a great year it was for snowboarders and skiers.
During the spring months which are not my favourite, I will fight to be as physically active as possible for my mental and physical health. Too much rain and too many grey days before camping and swimming season gives me a reason again.
For now I will engage in walks and hikes and anything else that I can find. Of course, a small part of me will be counting the days until December when the snow flies again.
