I set my alarm for 7am last night, knowing that if there’s one day you want to get up early during the ski season, it’s Opening Day on the mountain. My beloved board is propped in the corner, and I marvel at the level of affection I hold for bit of wood and P-Tex. I would honestly cry like a baby if anything bad happened to her.

Her edges are razor sharp and the base has been perfectly waxed and buffed, ready to take on everything and anything Fraser Mountain wants to throw at us. I’m meeting Stevie at Travis’ house because Travis decided to buy a second-hand car and has offered to drive us up to the DayLodge. Apparently, it’s a rust-heap, but I’m not going to say no to a free ride. The hitching post will be rammed today anyway.

I put on my thermals, a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, baggy waterproof trousers, black jacket and pick up my gloves, helmet, and most importantly, the small piece of plastic that is my ticket to ride for the season - my lift-pass. No point getting to the first chairlift and finding it’s missing. Been there, done that, not fun.

I lace my snowboard boots nice and tight, making sure there are no wrinkles in my socks that can cause sore sports later. I cram my favourite stripey beanie low on my forehead, attaching my helmet to the straps of my daypack. Why do I need a woolly hat and a helmet? Because frankly, I’m vain. Helmet-hair is really never a good look, so I always stuff a hat in my pocket before I ride. Finally ready, I give myself a mental shake, pick up my board and try to make it down the small stairway without tripping over myself. I’m sweating by the time I get to the kitchen.

Jenn, being the angel that she is, has put a package on the counter with my name and a smiley face written on it, which I’m guessing is my usual breakfast treat. The café isn’t open yet and I can’t see Jenn anywhere so I unzip my pack and toss it in, before opening the back door and trudging through the thick and fresh snow on the wooden decking. I can feel the excitement buzzing in my veins as I flick on my iPod and choose a playlist of stand-out tunes from my favourite snowboarding films. This is my ritual. The music pumps me up before I ride and conquers any of those confidence wobbles. I haven’t ridden since the charity gig at the SnowDome and the nervous tension is fizzing up my insides.

‘Here I come, ready or not…’ I mutter under my breath as I heave my board under my arm and start walking to Travis’s house.

By the time we bundle into Travis’s tiny Honda, the excitement of it all has completely overtaken any of my nerves as the car slowly crawls up the winding road that leads to the base of the main ski area. I say slowly, because Travis is coaxing his frankly miraculous piece of Japanese automotive history up the mountain in the dim light, with what amounts to a Fraser traffic jam in front of us. Having looked at this car in the dim light, I didn’t think it would make it round the corner, let alone up a mountain road.

It’s hardly like rush hour on the M1, but it’s definitely busy. Travis manages to find a parking space in the staff area and as we walk from the ticket office I look ahead at what seems like a completely different mountain to the one I saw a few weeks ago. Again, I wonder where all these people come from as I watch the crowds stomping around in ski boots, throwing snowballs, falling over, whooping, laughing and catching up with old friends from last winter.

Most people are wearing the usual neutral colours like black and green, but I spot a few others going for the retro look with fluorescent ski suits and crazy hats. Sam and Joe would fit right in. I pass an older man with a monoboard – a rare sight on a ski hill – wearing pink salopettes with flared bottoms and a rather fetching lime green jacket with purple diamonds scattered all over it. He must have clocked me staring and gives me a big grin and a wink as we walk by. I think his outfit and his board are older than most of the people I’m with.

‘Lex! Trav! … Oi! Lex! We’re over here!’

Taz’s unmistakeable accent floats over the crowd and I see she’s stationed at her chairlift, waving frantically at us. I attempt to jog over, which proves to be difficult with a board under my arm and my boots sinking into the snow with each step.

‘Phew!’ I puff when I reach her. ‘It’s so busy already!’

‘Yeah, I know, right? I’m so nervous and excited at the same time!’ she grins, pulling me into a bear hug.

Travis steps around, lifting his goggles onto his forehead before giving her a kiss.

‘Is that strictly allowed on duty?’ I ask, grinning. They are really loved-up, all smiley and giggling. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside - probably a good thing as it’s properly freezing.

‘Are you ready to go?’ I ask, my breath coming out in smoky puffs. ‘You’re looking pretty steezy in your outfit there, Taz. Worth getting up so early?’

She does a little turn and takes a bow as we give her a round of applause. I’ve seen Taz in her uniform before, but now that she’s actually stationed at her chairlift, it’s much more impressive.

‘Too right I’m ready. You’d better be careful though – some of the people in line are shooting you evils.’

Travis rolls his eyes. ‘What’s the point of dating a liftie if you can’t cut in?’ he asks.

She gives him a little nudge. ‘You know the rules… Now get to the back of the line!’ she yells, clearly loving her new position of authority. She gives Travis another kiss and me a hug before we make our way to the back of the queue of people, all waiting patiently for the clock above the lift station to read 09:00am.

I spot Dan a few places in front of us and chuck a snowball at him, which thankfully lands right on target on the top of his woolly hat. He turns and sees us both, before un-strapping his bindings, picking up his board and moving back through the crowd to join us. He’s wearing his red instructor’s uniform and looks just as snazzy as Taz.

‘Morning!’ he smiles. ‘Ready for your first run?’ He gives my helmet a sharp knock. ‘I’ve been waiting for you to show up.’

‘Hiya, check you out in the uniform!’ I smile, giving him a hug. ‘You didn’t have to give up your place in the queue.’

He shrugs. ‘No worries. You’re only about two chairs behind where I was. I doubt all the snow will be used up – there’s plenty for everyone. How are ya, mate?’ he knocks fists with Travis.

I look up at the intimidating mountains in front of us as the light grows stronger every minute, revealing snowy peaks that rise up to meet the grey sky. I start to feel nervous again as the clock reads 08:45am. If I go up for my first run with Travis and Dan, I know they’re both going to be a lot faster and a billion times better than me. What if I totally embarrass myself and fall down just getting off the chairlift? It’s been known to happen if everyone pushes and shoves and cuts in front. Or there’s someone standing right in the way when I try and glide off, trying to look as if I know what I’m doing… I’d never hear the end of it from Dan, for starters. Maybe I can skulk away for a peaceful morning of riding alone when we get to the top. I know it can be dangerous, but I like riding by myself and going at my own pace… it suits me.

‘Ooooh, look!’ Dan exclaims, interrupting my train if thought. He points past the chairlift to the top of the nearest run and I can see what he’s looking at. Two skiers are coming down the mountain, closely followed by a small dot of black that must be one of the Patrol dogs. As they get closer, I can see the elegance in their sweeping turns – they make skiing look like the ballet. I love watching skiers when they really know what they’re doing… I carry on watching as they come to a stop near the chairlift and I see that it’s two of the ski patrol team. The dog comes to a less than elegant stop nearby and gets called to heel. They click out from their skis and walk over to the small hut that forms part of the chairlift before going in.

‘Guess they’re doing the final checks.’ Travis says. ‘I hope it’s as good as I think it’s going to be. They’d better not have groomed everything, eh. I keep telling ‘em to leave a few of the slopes alone but they don’t listen.’

‘Too right.’ Dan nods. ‘I don’t want corduroy everywhere.’

If Dan and Travis want to go off and find some powder stashes, I’m definitely leaving them to it this morning. Riding deep powder all day when my legs have hardly been on a board for the last year is not a great idea. I’m sticking to the groomers for the time being.

The clock keeps ticking, now showing 08:55am. Only five more minutes and the tranquil slopes of Fraser Mountain will be transformed into a skiing and snowboarding playground. I hope the local wildlife is happily tucked up in their burrows before all hell breaks loose.

The door of the hut opens and one of the patrollers comes out, followed closely by the dog. It’s definitely Mojo so Aaron must be hiding behind the large black helmet and goggles. As he passes us, he does a double take and looks over. I immediately remember what he said about not making a fuss of the rescue dogs when they’re working, so I take a step back, not wanting to encourage Mojo, who is wearing the most adorable little orange bib. Aaron grins when he sees me looking down at the dog with a mushy look on my face. It’s taking every ounce of my willpower for me not to make a fuss of him, but I remember Aaron’s warning.

‘Hi folks.’ He smiles, lifting up his goggles. His green eyes are shining with excitement. ‘How you all doing?’

Travis and Dan bump knuckles with him and I’m not sure what to do, so I just give a little wave, trying really hard not to look anywhere in Mojo’s direction. Luckily, he is being good as gold, sitting obediently by Aaron’s ski boots and looking up at him. If I was responsible for hurting a dog in any way, I’d be so upset.

‘We’re good, mate. How’s the hill looking?’ Dan asks.

‘You’re in for some solid good times. It’s pretty nice up there. You okay, Lexie?’ he asks, looking directly at me. ‘You look a little tense?’

‘Me? Tense? Really?!’ I squeak, trying to sound cool as a cucumber. How come he can see right through me? ‘I’m really great, thanks. Very excited about my first venture to the top of the mountain.’

‘Great!’ He grins.

I slump my shoulders instantly. ‘Mojo’s not going to come under the bars and near my board, is he?!’ I ask. ‘He looks so great in his uniform. You seriously have the best job in the world.’

He chuckles. ‘Relax. He’s not going to come anywhere near you. Watch, he’s completely focused on the job right now. Lisa and I have been doing some pretty intensive training with him in the last few weeks and he’s turned it around, so we’re all good. Just because I said you can’t pet him doesn’t mean you have to run in the other direction.’

‘Can I make a fuss of him in the office if I drop by?’

‘Absolutely. Drop by when you like….’ He turns his head and I spot people ahead of us have started shuffling forward to board the chairs. The line starts moving so Travis and Dan drop their boards and start strapping in. I follow their lead, anxious not be left behind.

When I raise my head again, I see the other patroller has joined Aaron. Mojo’s tail starts to wag, even though he stays where he is. I’m guessing this must be Lisa, his other half. She isn’t wearing a helmet or goggles and as she turns to face me, even I can see how attractive she is underneath the black woollen hat that’s yanked down over blonde hair.

‘Hey Irv… you ready to get moving again?’ she asks, giving his shoulder a squeeze.

‘Sure thing. Let me introduce you to Lexie, Dan and Travis. They’re all here for the winter.’ He gestures towards us. I can tell the boys like what they see, as they both give her their best grins. She offers her gloved hand and I give it a firm shake.

‘It’s lovely to meet you.’ I say.

She gives me a wide smile, looking even prettier. ‘You must be the one Irv here was talking about – apparently Mojo can’t leave you alone.’

I laugh, slightly thrilled that Aaron’s already mentioned me. I must’ve made a good impression. I look over at Aaron, who looks a little flushed underneath the beard.

‘Yeah, that’s me. But, see, he’s totally moved on now.’ I say, gesturing towards Mojo who is still sitting patiently on the snow and ignoring everyone else. ‘I think I’ve officially been dumped.’ I add.

‘Don’t worry about it!’ she laughs. ‘He’s like most men – completely fickle. I hope you have a great day up there. It’s looking pretty sweet.’

Travis and Dan seem to have lost the art of speech as they gaze at her, so I nod. ‘Absolutely, we’re all really excited.’

The bodies around us move forward again as we edge closer to the lift.

‘Well, enjoy yourselves. Stay safe.’ Aaron says, putting on his gloves.

‘And no speeding please.’ Lisa adds, looking pointedly at Travis and Dan.

Dan puts on his best ‘Who? Me?’ expression.‘We’ll be good as gold, love.’

She smirks. ‘I don’t doubt it.’

Having a large plank of wood strapped to one foot suddenly feels heavy and cumbersome as I try to glide effortlessly towards the loading area of the chairlift, almost losing my balance as I try to keep pace with Dan and Travis. I hope Lisa and Aaron haven’t stuck around to watch me make an arse of myself. I must’ve done this a million times, so I have no clue why I always get so jumpy getting on and off a ski lift.

‘Lisa seemed nice.’ I say, as Dan steadies my arm as we move to the front of the line, my front leg firmly pressed against the small barrier that holds us back.

‘She’s smoking hot!’ he replies, as we all wave at Taz as she sits inside the glass-fronted office next to the chairlift. She gives us a thumbs-up and blows Travis a kiss. We scoot out onto the loading area and wait for the next chair to swing by and pick us up.

‘Graceful as a flat-footed camel’ I mutter to myself, thudding down on the seat. Dan scooches along next to me, grinning from ear to ear and getting comfortable. He lowers the safety bar as the chair reaches the end of the loading platform and we swing forwards, making the climb up to top of the mountain.

‘Did you catch the ‘no speeding’ message? Talk about the fun police.’ Travis drawls, lifting up his goggles. ‘I work for RFM… it’s not like I’m gonna ride like an idiot.’

‘They’re just doing a job, Trav.’ I reply. ‘I’m sure she wasn’t suggesting that you’re reckless.’

Dan laughs. ‘Well, she got that wrong then, mate, hey?! Travis is a total speed freak.’

‘Danno, I’m hardly Evel Knievel… I just hate it when people look at me and judge, y’know?’

‘This is so beautiful…’ I sigh, deciding to change the subject and taking in the scenery as the chair takes us towards my idea of nirvana. I breathe in the cold air and gaze at the vista of snow covered peaks and pine trees below and ahead of me.The skiers and boarders who were ahead of us in the queue are making the most of the empty slopes underneath us, carving advanced lines or making their first tentative turns.

‘Welcome to the rest of your life.’ Dan says, a wistful look in his eyes. ‘This is what it is all about.’ He gestures at the scenery around us with his arms. He’s absolutely right, even if I am feeling slightly nervous again about the morning ahead. Then again, this kind of commute is a billion times better than sitting on a stinky tube train. I sit back and try to relax, wondering what Henry is doing right now. Why he suddenly pops into my head, I can’t say. I wonder why we never considered working a winter season in Europe when we graduated. I suppose because it was the summertime and we were so wrapped up in our big move to London and finding proper jobs. I think about Dan and Taz and all the other people I’ve met in Fraser who are so young and full of energy. I’m envious that I can’t carry on with this new life this for as long as they can. I’ve got a horrible feeling that May is going to creep up on me incredibly fast, so I resolve to make the most of every day. I want to remember these first day nerves and shove them to one side. I want to make every turn count, tackle any black runs that come my way, conquer any jumps and rails in the park that look too scary. I can feel the anticipation building inside and I feel ready to take on the snow.

Then I look down and clock a skier with blonde hair flying behind her, speeding across the slope in complete control. There’s a gradient change where a cat-track meets the slope and she crouches into a jump, sailing into the air and crossing her ski tips, giving a large whoop of joy as she lands perfectly. Travis and Dan clap loudly, following her progress as she speeds off down the slope and out of our view. I am definitely nowhere near as good as that, feeling a twinge of panic in my chest. I really hope that wasn’t Emily. Everyone on this mountain is going to kick my arse and I’m going to look like a prize idiot.

‘God… look at these people. They’re all so good….’ I murmur, peering over the safety bar.

Travis gives me a reassuring grin. ‘Would you rather be back in London right now?’

I shake my head vigorously. ‘There’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here.’

‘It’s not a competition.’ Dan adds. ‘You can’t start comparing yourself to everyone on the hill.’

‘I’m just a bit… scared I guess.’

He gives me a nudge. ‘You want to ride with us? Promise, we’ll go slow?’

‘Aw, that’s sweet of you guys, but I really don’t want to cramp your style. I thought you were looking for some deep powder. Travis mentioned something about hiking Snake Glades?’

‘Well, we can always do that tomorrow, right Trav? … Besides, I’ve to got a family lesson booked in at ten so I’ve only got an hour to kill.’

Against my better judgement, I think it might be a good thing to spend the morning with Travis and Dan. There’s nothing better for progression than riding with people who are better than you, but just hope I can keep up. If Dan has to leave by ten, then I’ll just have to suck it up. How bad can it be?

‘As long as you don’t mind?’ I look over at Travis.

‘No problem.’ He shrugs.

I turn back to Dan. ‘How are you feeling about your first lesson? Here I am, wittering on about my nerves and forgetting that you must be a bit apprehensive too?’ I ask.

Dan sighs, brushing some snow off his glove. ‘The first lesson of the season is always a bit of a nightmare – you want to get your legs on, if you know what I mean…?’ I nod, guessing he means that he needs to get his muscles used to riding again, even though he seems in really good shape to me. ‘…But a family lesson… that’s always a nerve-wracking experience. The dad’s always thinks they’re the mutts nuts and mum’s more concerned that the kids aren’t getting cold. Meanwhile, I’ve got to keep everybody happy and smile my arse off…’ he jokes, his teeth looking even whiter against the black of his large goggles.

I’ve never really considered that someone as confident as Dan might have moments of doubt but I guess anyone can fall flat on their face getting off a chairlift if a child decides to cling on for dear life. If I’m feeling pressure to look good on my first day, then it must be really hard for an instructor. Before I know it, we’re yards away from the chairlift exit. I pull up the safety bar, anticipating that Dan and Travis are probably so laid-back that they like to leave it to the last minute.

Dan grins. ‘Alright, kids. You ready?’

Here goes nothing, I think, my heart hammering in my chest. Using the