Before I begin my first column here at DCSki, I feel some an introduction is due. It’s always good to know a little bit about the author. I’ve been skiing for well over 11 years now. I may only be 17, but I have much experience skiing in many places other than my home territory at Seven Springs. I’ve been out West more times than I care to count, and I’ve even been up to Aleyska, which I’m sure most of you know is about 45 miles from “beautiful” downtown Anchorage. But that’s for another time.

The ski season is finally under way here in western Pennsylvania … well, sort of. I made my way up to Seven Springs last Saturday for my first official ski day of the year. I was really happy to be started so early. We usually don’t open around here until December 15th or so. Many of you may be sitting there right now wondering whether or not to head to the resorts on opening day.

Well, stop thinking about it already! Just go! Opening days can be some of the best skiing days of the year. My experience last week was very pleasant: Low lift ticket prices, few people on the mountain, and it’s SKIING! You may have to deal with your fair share of bare spots or exposed rocks, but that’s all the more fun. It just depends on what kind of challenges you like. Oh yea, I don’t recommend that you take your skis to the shop to be sharpened and waxed for opening day. I think you can live with slow skis for a day and save yourself a few bucks and another trip to the shop. Let the ski shop deal with those opening day battle wounds on the bottom of your skis.

Mother Nature always seems to play a cruel trick on us east coast skiers. I wanted to head up to the mountain this past weekend for a second day of skiing. So what does Ma Nature throw my way? You guessed it … rain! A full day of non-stop rain. Oh how I hate thee rain.

Anyway, I’m sure the rain will turn to snow soon enough and our season will start in full force. My first day was great and I hope I have many more to come this year. If you don’t have the best of first days, just remember, as my good friend and fellow DCSki columnist Roger Hallman says, “Skiing is skiing is skiing.”