Hey Ski Fam,

Last week I shared my little theory that the Fourth of July secretly marks the first day of ski season.

Something happened after I hit send.

I started noticing ski season everywhere.

Not in the mountains. Not in a snow report. Not in some long-range weather forecast that's trying to predict December when it's barely July. 😄

Just...in everyday life.

A few nights ago, I went for a walk after dinner. It wasn't anything special. I wasn't trying to train for anything. I just wanted to stretch my legs after sitting at my desk most of the day. Halfway through the walk, I reached a long hill, and by the time I got to the top my legs were burning.

That's when I caught myself smiling.

The first thought that popped into my head wasn't, "I need to walk more."

It was...

"This is going to make skiing easier."

I actually laughed out loud.

Six months ago, I never would have connected a summer walk with a powder day.

Now...

I can't stop making those connections.

❤️ Summer Is Secretly Building Winter

The more I thought about that moment, the more I realized something.

I don't think the best ski season begins when the first storm rolls into the mountains. I think it begins months earlier, when we're doing little things that don't seem connected to skiing at all. We just don't notice it because we're too busy calling it summer.

Every walk after dinner counts. Every hike with friends counts. Every bike ride with the kids counts. Even chasing the dog around the backyard probably counts. 😄

None of those moments feel like ski training while we're doing them. But when we're carving turns on opening day, they somehow show up anyway.

Maybe that's the secret.

Winter doesn't suddenly arrive.

It quietly grows inside us...one summer day at a time.

🎿 The Best Days on the Mountain Don't Happen by Accident

I love opening day.

There's something magical about waking up before the alarm because you're too excited to sleep. The coffee somehow tastes better. The drive feels shorter. Even sitting in traffic doesn't seem quite as bad because you know snow is waiting at the end of it.

You pull into the parking lot before sunrise, breathe in that cold mountain air, and hear boots clicking across the pavement. Then you look up at the mountain and think...

"We're finally back."

The funny thing is, opening day only lasts one morning.

But what makes it special often starts months before.

Maybe it's taking a few extra walks during the summer. Maybe it's stretching a little more often. Maybe it's finally tuning your skis before everyone else remembers they need to. Maybe it's replacing those gloves that have somehow survived five seasons longer than they should have.

They're little things.

Ordinary things.

The kind of things that don't seem important today...

Until they're the reason you're still smiling on your last run of the afternoon.

❤️ It's Never Really About Better Ski Legs

If you've been reading these newsletters for a while, you probably already know this about me.

I've never believed skiing is about being the fastest person on the mountain. It's not about skiing the steepest run or proving something to everyone else on the chairlift. At least it never has been for me.

The best ski days are usually much simpler than that.

They're the days when your legs still have enough energy for one more run because someone says, "Come on...just one more." They're the days when you spend more time laughing than looking at your watch. They're the days when the drive home is filled with stories about that perfect turn, the unexpected powder stash, or the friend who accidentally sprayed everyone getting off the lift. We've all been that friend at least once. 😄

When I think back on my favorite ski days, I never remember how tired my legs were. I remember who I was with. I remember the conversations on the chairlift. I remember laughing in the parking lot while we peeled off our boots and promised we'd come back next weekend.

That's why I think getting ready in July matters.

It's never really about stronger legs.

It's about making sure we have enough energy to enjoy every single minute we're there.

Because in the end...

We're not training for better skiing.

We're preparing for better memories.

🌄 Winter Has a Funny Way of Sneaking Up on Us

Every year I tell myself I have plenty of time.

Then somehow, I don't.

Summer disappears. The kids head back to school. Football starts showing up on TV. The mornings get a little cooler, and suddenly someone posts a picture of fresh snow dusting a distant peak.

That's when every skier seems to remember the exact same things at once.

"My skis need a tune."

"Where did I put my goggles?"

"I should probably replace those gloves."

"I meant to get in better shape."

Sound familiar?

It definitely does to me.

Every October I hear people say the same sentence.

"I thought I had more time."

That's exactly why I like thinking about ski season now.

Not because I'm rushing summer.

Because I know how quickly it disappears.

😊 A Small Head Start Makes a Big Difference

One of the things I love most about July is that there's no pressure yet.

No rush.

No waiting in line at the ski shop.

No panic because the first storm suddenly shows up on the forecast.

Right now we have something that's pretty valuable.

Time.

It's funny how we never realize how valuable it is until we're almost out of it. And when ski season finally arrives, that's the one thing we all wish we had just a little more of.

One small step in July can make opening day feel a whole lot sweeter.

✨ One Small Thing This Week

So here's my challenge for both of us.

Do one thing this week that your December self will thank you for.

Maybe it's taking a walk after dinner a few nights this week. Maybe it's pulling your skis out of the garage to see if they need a tune. Maybe it's finally replacing those gloves that have been hanging on for one season too many.

Or maybe it's simply taking five minutes to picture yourself standing at the top of your favorite run, looking out over a mountain covered in fresh snow.

It doesn't have to be a big step.

Little things have a funny way of turning into great ski days.

Before we know it, we'll be watching the weather instead of the beach forecast. We'll be texting friends about opening weekend. We'll be wondering if this is finally the year we get that early November storm.

And little by little...

It starts feeling possible. ❄️

And honestly...I think that's one of the best feelings of the whole year.

✨ Summer Proverb

"The first run of winter is built one summer day at a time." 🎿

💌 Quick Question

What's one small thing you're doing this summer that your future skier will thank you for?

Maybe you've started walking more. Maybe your skis are already tuned. Maybe you're simply setting aside a little money for that first mountain trip.

Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear how you're quietly getting ready for another season.

Or save this newsletter so you can come back to it later when you need a little reminder that winter isn't as far away as it feels. And if you have a ski buddy who's already dreaming about snow in July, share it with them. I have a feeling they'll understand. 😊

Summer may have our attention today.

But winter has already started finding its way into our hearts.

We'll be back on the mountain before we know it.

— Sasha Everett

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