Forget Style, Strap on that Helmet

I took a major fall today, maybe the worst I’ve ever taken.

I had just finished a difficult run and was at the bottom of the mountain when my ski got caught, I’m still trying to figure out in what.

I was going pretty fast in slushier snow (my first mistake), so when one ski lodged, I was propelled forward, my other ski flew up, I did somewhat of a twist somersault in the air and crashed, my head smacking hard against the ground.

I laid there in shock for what felt like forever but was only a minute. My brother and a family friend were at my side in two seconds, they had watched the entire thing, and were worried.

I’m actually a pretty good skier and have been zipping down the slopes with the boys for the past few days, so it’s ironic that I crashed on flat ground at the bottom of the mountain. Others have taken some spills in much cooler places.

“Are you OK Nat, you hit your head really hard,” my brother nervously asked while I lay on the ground motionless and contorted. It took me a minute to respond and another minute for them to get me up.

All I can say is THANK GOD I was wearing a helmet. When I first got to Aspen, the guy who fit me for skis had to force me to rent one, he even gave it to me for free; I complained like a child for hours about having to wear it.

You have no idea how long it took me to pack cute ski outfits, I means it’s Snowmass, but after today, you won’t hear another peep out of me about that helmet…lesson definitely learned.

Two hours later, I've still got a little headache, feel weak in the knees when standing and look like I've just seen a ghost. I'll have to be more careful tomorrow.