Ski Festival The children of Nishiokoppe Elementary School held their annual ski festival to showcase what they learned in ski lessons ⛷ The recent warmth had turned the snow into a hard, crunchy surface. There were worries it might be difficult to ski on, but the participating students steadily warmed up and skied smoothly. Once everyone was ready, the younger grades started their runs. Their names were announced along with each child’s stated goal for how they wanted to ski, and then they set off. When the younger children skied, instructors sometimes skied alongside them to provide close guidance. Even on less-than-ideal snow, the instructors skied backward with poise and stability. Impressive work. - As a side note, it was a clear, sunny day. The sun was just above the slope when you looked up, and many parents wore sunglasses 😎 Not only the children skiing but also the staff filming for the village broadcast were bathed in sunlight. - As the grades went up, more children skied at faster speeds. After finishing their runs, the children cheered from the bottom of the slope for those coming down. The final skiers, the sixth graders, came down with such momentum that they stopped just at the edge of the area where their juniors were seated, kicking up snow in a dramatic display. You could hear bright yellow cheers. When everyone had finished skiing, we enjoyed cocoa prepared by the parents. The cocoa, warmed in a pot, warmed us through with its deliciousness. Well done to the children, the teachers, and all the parents. #Ski Festival #Ski