Experienced player: Skiing is just a cycle.

Editor's pick: Skiing is all about cycles—whether it’s the balance, speed, teaching and learning, or even gear and poles, you’ll find yourself back at square one in the end. That’s how the cycle keeps repeating…

Center of gravity:

——At first, you can only switch between left and right.

——Slowly add the top and bottom.

——Then add the before and after, making it increasingly complex.

——After the adjustment, there’s no more left or right—just feel around your hips.

— There’s no front or back left; it’s all on the board.

——There’s no longer any up or down—just following the feeling, bending your knees slightly on the steep slope.

——Finally, only the lower half—from the waist down—remains still, while the upper body is completely motionless.

——Reincarnation: It’s back to fine-tuning the feel—adjusting left, right, forward, and backward based on varying slopes and snow conditions. But this time, that sensation in each turn could be entirely different, constantly evolving as you go.

——Finally, the center of gravity settled back into place, and boy, did that feel stable—because, let’s face it, we’re getting on in years!

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Speed:

——The more you practice, the faster you glide—and it’s totally addictive.

——Then start slowing down and carefully analyzing the movements.

——Then it speeds up again, because some movements and sensations simply require a certain pace.

— It’s slowing down again, probably because of fear; after all, many movements can still be executed slowly.

— It’s getting faster again, because many technologies require speed to be perfect—and even more enjoyable.

——And then we slowed down again, because we’re getting old!

Equipment:

——For beginners, it’s all about going bareheaded, wearing a down jacket and jeans—plus tucking those jeans right into your snowshoes.

——Then it’s off to gear up with snow suits, snow goggles, helmets—and of course, the backpack is always ready by the time we hit the slopes.

— Then there are snowboards—people buy them in pairs or even triplets, ranging from basic packages to top-of-the-line models. Whether it’s for all terrains, giant slalom, or park and backcountry riding, skiers often end up lugging a whole cart full of boards, each tailored for a different spot they plan to hit next.

——Then came the snowsuits, snow goggles— the fancier, the better! Boys went for bold blue and green, while girls rocked vibrant red, deep purple, stark white, and even eye-catching floral patterns.

——After a while, they started sorting through the snowboards—some were sold, others were given away—until finally only one was left, and even that one didn’t get carried along every time they hit the slopes.

——In the end, our clothes have returned to black, gray, white, and blue—because we’ve already grown old!

Teaching and Learning:

——The stage of recognizing someone as a mentor: "Big brother, please teach me— I’m already struggling to stay on my feet!"

——The stage of taking on a disciple: "Your move should be like this, like this, like this~~~." If you can’t find an actual apprentice, you’ll just bring along a colleague—or why not just satisfy your urge with your wife or girlfriend?

——Resuming the stage of recognizing someone as a teacher, "This bottleneck is so tough—Master, how did you manage to master it?"

——The quiet, introspective phase sets in; after hitting a few tough spots, there are fewer and fewer people you feel comfortable asking. Even when others don’t ask, you mostly keep silent—feeling like you’re just barely scratching the surface, with only a partial understanding at best. After all, skiing is a vast, intricate discipline with countless styles and techniques. To get it wrong would not only mislead others but also embarrass yourself, wouldn’t it?

——In the silent improvement phase, unless you have a particularly strong rapport, you’re often reluctant to share even when asked. Partly it’s because you’d rather avoid arguments, and partly because you just don’t feel like teaching—especially when some beginners insist on trying to learn intermediate techniques right off the bat, making it nearly impossible to guide them effectively. But honestly, deep down you know it’s all just an excuse; at the end of the day, you’re simply afraid of wasting your precious time. After all, there’s no better use for your time than riding trails, hanging out with friends, or maybe even picking up someone new—far more enjoyable than trying to coach others!

——It’s time to shift back to the stage of openly accepting disciples, welcoming anyone who comes along and fulfilling every request. Personally, I’ve already stopped pushing myself to the on the slopes—better focus on making more friends and even striking up conversations with some cute girls (though that’s strictly for a select few). Meanwhile, some folks have already started teaching their kids how to ski; having a few more apprentices would just be the icing on the cake.

——Back to the quiet, introspective phase—our apprentices have all graduated, the kids have grown up, and we find ourselves appearing much less often. It’s clear: we’re truly getting older now!

Snow poles:

— Snow poles or walking sticks?: Essential for both walking and standing, starting right from the moment you put on your snowshoes.

——Snow poles, snow poles, I love you: You’re my lifeline for moving forward, turning, speeding up, and even braking—after sliding in the snow all day, my arms are more exhausted than my legs!

— It’s like using your left hand to feel your right: increasingly useless, only occasionally helpful when you stop or start moving.

— To stay together or break up—that’s the question: It’s really annoying; if it weren’t for everyone else holding onto it, I’d have thrown it away ages ago.

——Lift your hand again: turning requires using your pole.

— Once again, ski poles, I love you: Without them, it’s nearly impossible to turn—especially when carving in a short-radius turn.

— It’s once again like trying to touch your left hand with your right: most of the time, it’s just a superficial gesture, or even just for show—especially when doing big carves.

——Once again, snow poles, snow poles—I love you: Even dotted points count, but solid ones matter even more, especially when navigating through mushrooms and forests.

— Snow poles or walking sticks?: When we get too old to ski, maybe we can still hold onto a pair of snow poles!

So, if you're at the beginner level, I sincerely congratulate you!