HITTING THE SLOPES: OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN

When I was four years old, my dad bought me my first pair of skis.  That winter, I spent most afternoons going up and down our backyard bunny hill.  Of course, my favorite part of skiing, was my matching teal and purple ski attire.  I frequently went down the hill with my dad guiding me, until I thought of the most brilliant idea!  I would be the one to guide us down the hill.  It was great, other than the fact that my face was squashed against my dad’s jacket the entire time.  As we were nearing the bottom of the hill, I fell.  And the tears began.  My dad assumed it was a bruise and that I would be fine after a bit of rest.  He brought me inside and propped me up on the couch to watch TV. 

A few hours later, my mum returned home.  Right away she knew this was not a bruise.  In the blink of an eye, she created a brace with the last small issue of Yankee magazine.  After a trip to the emergency room, I returned home with big white cast.  Everyone came to visit and sign it!  Getting around was challenging, but I quickly resorted to my toddler days of scooting through the house.  The most disappointing part, was that I was unable to go into our Preschool rocket ship.  It was so cool!  A magical contraption made of recycled boxes and other art materials.  Then there was ballet.  I remember attending my classes and watching my fellow students bounce around like young bunny rabbits, as I sat on a nearby bench with my mum. 

Skiing was on the back burner until the second grade, when my school hosted weekly trips to a nearby mountain.  After a winter of Friday night skiing with my friends and mum, I was back on the slopes for good.  Today, I find myself with the itch to hit the slopes.  A fresh coat of snow or a sunny winter day and I am wishing I could clip on my skis. 

Every morning I walk by a framing shop where the window display often features colorful vintage posters.  Currently, they are showcasing a series of vintage ski posters.  Perhaps it’s due to my lifelong interest in the sport or my love of graphic design, but I am intrigued by this display.  Vibrant colors, bold forms, and exciting lettering harmoniously suggest a trip to the slopes.  With the first Olympics to host women’s ski jumping, just days away, these posters seem even more relevant.  Here are a few vintage ski posters to start the countdown to the Sochi Winter Olympics. 

 

 

Images via Pinterest