European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 13, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ngo things Thatro Thunkin beware it could be an apprentice skier by Effie Batman staff writer any fool can put on a pair of skis Streak Down a Hill and go splat. That was the Sage advice of one experienced ski instructor As our bus made its Way through the austrian Alps. The scenery was stunning. Peaks towered above the Roadway. In some spots streams were Frozen in place As they stepped Down the hillsides. Small farms laced Snow covered valleys curls of smoke trailing slowly from their chimneys. The Sun was Bright the air Crisp and we were going to learn " to ski. At least that s what we had signed up for with the armed forces recreation Center at Chi Emsee a Lake in Southern Germany. But in Early december there was t enough Snow on the nearby bavarian slopes so that meant a two hour trek into Austria to the ski resort at Ober tavern. Day 1 doing the Hoke Pokey out of the bus when we attempted to take our first Steps in boots the size of microwave ovens we had immediate second thoughts. Heaving our skis Over our right shoulders and juggling poles added to Pur misgivings. And with the 100-Yard stumble and slide to the training slope came the horrifying realization that this ski business could mean a lot of work. Heel toe Heel toe is How you walk in ski boots explained our arc instructor Dave Formby a Liverpool England expatriate. He had thumbed his Way to Bavaria eight years ago and stayed. And those poles Are not for poking each other in the bum Dave was the epitome of patience repeating even the most Basic instructions Over and Over. Don t sit  look up. Look  wedge. Wedge.  a Hundred times a thousand. We did t know it then but later when we had Only ice and thin air to cling to those words would be ringing in our ears like a broken beatles record. Too too ooh what is skiing people who know frigid Winters understand Best. They know that breathless moment when you slip on a piece of ice and your feet Fly out in front of you but just before you land on the hard pavement with a thunk. That s skiing except you Are Given a whole Mountain to take the fall. Lesson one included control which Means staying breathless longer Riding sort of Knobby kneed with your skis in a wedge tumbling into a Ball and then going thunk. The next part included steering stopping and going thunk. We even Learned How to stand in place on the snowy Hillside and go thunk. Dave used any number of instructor s tricks to help us continued on Page a a View from near the Bunny run looks toward the Village of Ober Taucan above. Instructor Dave Formby shows beginning students the right Way and the wrong Way. Is photos by Ken George january 13, 1994 stripes Magazine