Kate didn't always like skiing.  In fact, up until the end of last season, we MADE her go.  Then she discovered powder and tree-skiing (and bringing a dozen donuts helps too).  Ever since then, she's been hooked.  She is an amazing tree-skier.  We have all learned just to let her go first in the trees.  It's funny when someone new joins us and they try to go before her in the trees.  They learn quick where they stand in the pecking order (having someone tailgate you through tight trees in pretty unnerving). 

Skiing brings out qualities in Kate that I rarely see anywhere else.  For example, we'll be standing around at the top of the lift asking "where should we go this time?", and Kate will quickly speak up "I know where we should go.  Follow me!".  Then she takes us on some crazy excursion where she zips around trees and bumps and the rest of us end up crashed or with pine gum all over our mittens.

I was very surprised one day when skiing brought out a competitiveness in her that I have NEVER seen.  We have been skiing this year with some neighbors.  They are great kids and loads of fun to have around.  I wasn't with them on this particular run but Allen told me about it.  One of the boys that goes with us sometimes, is around 14 and already "knows everything".  At this point, he had only been snowboarding a handful of times.  He is picking it up quickly and is pretty good, but he isn't as good as Kate yet.  Anyway, Allen said they got off the lift- its a fairly steep run and I guess Kate just took off and toasted ALL the boys. In fact, Allen said he was a little nervous watching her but also impressed.  He said "I don't know what they said but whatever it was must have really bothered Kate because she showed them!".  Later that evening we were talking and she said "He just bugs me sometimes".  I pressed further and she finally said "He thinks he's better than me and he is not!". 

Kate is truly great!