Family and skiing.
Parents
My parents met in the mountain town Zakopane in winter. Their wedding was in January 1938 and they spent honeymoon in Zakopane, skiing.
Next year, the II World War broke out. Poland was under German occupation. In autumn 1941, afret invading Soviet Union, Germans ordered that all Polish citizen bring their skis to collection points. My Father asked the housekeeper to chop his and my Mother's skis into pieces. They never skied again.
Children
We bought very early skis for our children. Most vividly I remember spending 2 weeks of winter in mountains in Poland. Ania was 8 y.o. Michael 3 y.o. I advised Michael to squat low and slide down the mountain. Then I tried to teach Ania some turning technique. I could see that Michael ended each slide with a fall in the snow so there was not much time for instruction. I ran down to pick up Michael and carry him uphill. And then everything started again.
In Australia, both children continued downhill skiing but accompanied me and my wife on cross country ski walks in Lake Mountain. So when I registered for my first ski race in 1992, Ania entered with me.
From 1994, we regularly competed in Kangaroo Hoppet. In year 2000 I went with Ania to new Zealand where we had 6 days of downhill and 3 days of cross country skiing including Merino Muster ski race.
Year 2002 was a highlight of family skiing as I skied Kangaroo Hoppet in company of Ania, her husband Peter and Michael. And they all finished the race ahead of me!.
