Between my first and second ski lessons, I was practicing on the beginners' slope at Mammoth Mountain in California. I began to pick up speed, and suddenly I realized I had forgotten how to stop. That same moment, I saw a young couple standing motionless directly in my path. "Look out! Get out of my way!" I yelled.
They did not heed my warning, and a moment later the three of us were up to our ears in snow. As we were untangling poles and recovering skis, I apologized, explaining that I did not know how to stop.
"That's okay, ma'am," said the young man. "We didn't know how to move."