Washigatake Ski resort scared the living daylights out of me. I was ready to call it quits - not for me. Rohan's work colleagues chose this resort knowing that we were not all that accustomed to this new sport of skiing. Ro decided to swop snow boarding for skiing, just so that we would both be in beginner land together, this time; not like the last.

At the front counter, I bailed. Rohan's boss was so concerned, and of course the language barrier didn't help...so to not make anyone worry, I said I would give it one more trial. Almost believing this to be a waste of a small penny. We kitted up, headed out to the finish line to familiarise ourselves with what we were in for. Shiroki San, Rohan's boss, and Saito San his colleague took turns to help push us up the hill a fair way so that we could practise a few techniques as shown. This part is always the easy element. Then at the top of a steep decent, miles from base - the hard part kicks in, when you are out in the freezing cold and having a nightmare of a run down the ski slope!

What a pleasant surprise! This resort has the longest intermediate/ beginner route of 2.8km long and suddenly skiing was all that more enjoyable. Less frost bite; loads of laughs and great memories had. Saito San and Shiroki San are experts at this game, and yet they stuck with us until we had gone seven times and were out of steam. That is when their fun just began! True gentlemen; they rock!