Nordic Skiing

Back from my first winter holidays (other than in a warmer place) ever. And back from an invigorating experience of acquiring a new skill from scratch. As a 35-year-old man I wore ski for the first time in my life, which was a kind of scary, yet thrilling. The originator of the trip was my girlfriend, since over 5 years a keen ski-runner. Once the school winter holiday were over, we headed for Szklarska Poręba, a favourite destination of ski-runners in Poland.

Dolny Śląsk is my favourite province of Poland, having its spirit regardless of the season of the year. I ventured there in 2019, 2015, 2013 and in 2009 (this reminds me PES will turn 15 in less than a year) and I am quite likely to return there more often. 

The drive (within speed limits) to Szklarska Poręba takes some 5 hours door-to-door and (sadly) beats the train connection, whose duration is nine hours, if you choose a direct connection. But if you choose the train and get off at Szklarska Poręba Górna station, such splendid view will be the reward for the length of the ride. The highest mountain to the right is Szrenica. Pay attention to the weather – during 5 out of 7 days of our stay we enjoyed clear blue skies and temperature fluctuations from around –10C at nights to close to 0C in early afternoon. The snow had fallen just before our arrival.

Szklarska Poręba is hilly and full of contracts. Many blocks of flats for rent have been built in the recent decade, but run-down old buildings are still in abundance – the one snapped to the right could be turned into a jewel, if properly renovated.

Now a shot for train anoraks, with Newag-built Koleje Dolnośląskie train. Szklarska Poręba Górna is where trains from Wrocław, Warszawa and Liberec terminate. Trains to Wrocław and to Liberec (via Jakuszyce and Harrachov) run once an hour, but long-distance services from the capital can be spotted there only twice a day.

Such enchanting encounter with the nature was probably meant to enchant me. Crisp snow, with ski tracks prepared, forest, sunshine. I am far from the civilisation, far from work, far from things which bother me.

I must confess I had had plans to learn Nordic skiing in Warsaw, but recent winters rarely brought a sufficient deep snow surface and eventually I ended up moving on skis for the first time on 27 February 2023. I took a private lesson with an instructor, which was definitely a good choice. In my age catching the coordination of body movements and learning to keep the balance takes a bit and has turned out not as easy as it seemed. Besides, I had to overcome my fear of not having control of how I slide on skis (no matter how slow my motion was). Over five days I grasped the basics of two styles and trained braking, the effects of which I still feel on backside. I fell over several times, but was fortunate not to have an injury. The next skiing experience is due next winter, I hope not to forget the skills learnt this year by then.