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We set off just after 7am and got some food for breakfast from a petrol station, we both had steak pies for some reason and mine was disgusting, I didn't eat it, it was just full of fat! We got to the ski resort about 8am and drove up the mountain to the car park, it was 12km up the mountain and I was pretty scared at times there is just huge drops and if you drive off then you're a goner! The road is unsealed too, which meant we weren't insured driving on that road. It was so bumpy that one of the cupboards sprang open and loads of food fell out! Weirdly, the olive oil and chilli powder which were in glass bottles didn't smash but the tomato sauce which was in a plastic container split and tomato sauce went everywhere!! We were one of the first to arrive so we got in the top carpark which was good, we parked next to a couple of other campers who had clearly stayed the night in the carpark as the windows were all frozen up! We headed in to the rentals part and got our boots and boards etc then had about an hour to kill before the lessons started. We got a brew from the cafe then went back to the camper for some weetabix! We headed to the slope about 10ish and stood in the group lesson bit, when we were talking about the lessons before today we wondered how many people would be in the groups and Adam said hopefully just us 2 but there was so many people there for first time lessons!! We got split in to about 6 or so groups with about 8-10 in each group. Our instructor Lauren was really nice, we started off just learning how to move with the board attached to one foot and turn around etc, then we went on to going down a really small incline on just one foot with the other just resting on the board next to the bindings. Typically, Adam picked it up really quickly, whereas I on the other hand wasn't getting it too well. I picked up turning and stopping on the toe edge a lot better than on the heel edge as on the heel edge your constantly in a squat position and I just kept falling over! Eventually she took us up a bit of a steeper hill and said she would help us all down the hill one by one with both feet in the bindings. Once again Adam was really good and picked it up swiftly and I just sucked!! I was getting really frustrated that I couldn't do it, more so cos Adam could too. Lauren suggested, which I had considered too, that for my remaining lessons, I switch to skiing. She had said at the start of the lesson that skiing is easier to learn but harder to master whereas snowboarding is harder to learn but easier to master. She said she could see how frustrated I was getting and she would rather I enjoy myself if we're only here for a couple of days than hate it and not be able to do it. Knowing that I physically was not going to be able to do it as I couldn't hold the squat position I went and changed my board and boots for skis, boots and poles. We had lunch in the camper, noodles, which were terrible and then some soup. We headed back out for the afternoon lessons and split up, I went to the skiing bit and Adam went to the snowboarding bit. It turned out that I was the only person in my ski lesson which meant that it only lasted for an hour, I could pay $20 and have it for two hours, which I initially said I would do. My instructor was French and he was really nice but afterwards I didn't feel very confident in what I had learnt... We went through the basics as we had in the snowboard lesson, move around with one ski on and then on the other foot and then just moving around on flat with 2 skis on, we then made the motions with the skis which you would do to stop. The whole time I was doing this my lower legs were on fire, I just assumed my legs weren't used to the motions. We then went to a small incline and practiced stopping there. When it got to the end of the hour my legs were hurting so bad that I said I wouldn't bother with the second hour as I didn't think that my legs would take it. Adam had all the money and the van keys so I couldn't go and change my shoes or even get a drink! I went in to the rentals place and dropped the skis and poles etc at the storage place to pick up again tomorrow. I asked the guy at the counter if beginners boots always hurt and he said no they shouldn't and said I should be totally undoing them to walk around and just have them tied up when on the skis. He also said they might just be a bit small so I went and asked for the next size up and they felt a bit better so I hung on to them for tomorrow. When Adam came from his lesson we dropped his board off and headed to the camper. We went back to Wanaka as its easier to get to and from the mountain from there. We called at the supermarket and got a few bits and then called at the Water Bar for a couple of drinks in happy hour. We then headed back to the camper and I was so tired that we pretty much ate and went to bed.
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