I am ZIM!

Dare led me past the Bunny Hill and showed me the medium track. There were lots of kids everywhere, so Tak couldn't hide here.

"I've been to Mammoth Mountain in California, so I know a bit in skiing and snowboarding."

"Can you show me?" I asked. I didn't really know how to ski, so I was desperate.

"Sure; you can put your skis on now." I put them on, but I was kind of worried at how tough Dare would train me. "I'll go your speed, I won't leave you,"

"Thanks, for this,"

"No prob," She stepped on her board and pulled the goggles over her eyes. I did the same with the goggles. "I'm just warning you, you might not be able to here me that well because of the wind, but I'll stay close to you,"

"M'kay,"

She pushed us off the hill and I almost fell backwards. She leveled my body easily.

"Easy there," she said, "this isn't that fast; if you fall now, you'll be laughing stock,"

"Uh..."

"Sorry, that was mean... I'll speed us up a little; it's a bit steep." She held my hand as she pushed off the ground a few times. I think we were going about 5 mph or something now.

"This technique only works with skis, but when I ride skis, I think of pizza/French-fry."

"Wha'?"

"Put your skis together into a triangle." I did, but I went a little slower than her. "That's pizza, it's how you go a little slower; now try making your skis parallel." I tried that and I went faster. "That's-"

"French-fry?"

"... Yeah. See? You're getting it!"

I smiled.

"TREE!" she screamed. She yanked my arm and led me out of the way from a really big pine.

"Hey, thanks," I said.

"You're welcome; that brings me to another thing: turning,"

I laughed a little at that.

"But," she continued, "If you do want to go faster, don't push it. If you keep stamping your foot trying to go faster, the ski will get stuck in the snow and you'll wipeout."

I blinked.

"And if slower, don't bring the skis too close together, or they'll get caught in each other and... You'll tumble,"

"Oh... Thanks for telling,"

"But back to turning;"

She showed me how to turn and for the remainder of the hill, she let me on my own.

And I did pretty freaking good!

She showed me where to go and I followed her perfectly.

We reached the end of the hill and she hugged me. "You did great," she encouraged me.

I hugged back. "Thanks; you think you can show me how to do trick now?"

Her eyebrows rose, but not her eyes. "No way, you're still considered a beginner," she taunted playfully.

"Really?" I smiled at her.

She changed the subject. "I'll race ya,"

"You're on!"