Skiing is an activity for which you must be present and you must be in balance. When we are always moving quickly, we rush past things that could be important: nature, friends, flavours, scents and culture. Slow Living does not mean you have to say no to modern life, but that you find your own tempo and are present in the moment. By slowing down and feeling, reflecting, we can discover a unique opportunity to live a more balanced life.
Our ten-point manifesto for Slow Skiing rests upon three cornerstones: attitude, experience and environment. These comprise the book’s chapters, in which we expand upon the items in the manifesto. Each area concludes with a summary and advice. You will discover that it is not just about skiing – it is about life itself.
Evelina Nilsson, professional skier and yoga instructor
Alex Hakel, The Bunch, professional skier
We are two passionate skiers who, over the last few years, have felt the need to look at skiing from a new perspective. To give greater space to the feeling of presence, the experience of nature and the meditative calm that can come from physical activity.
On one occasion, we were on a ski lift in the Alps when we noticed that the skiers below us appeared to be stressed, despite actually being just where they wanted to be. This feeling led to many discussions about stress, being present, and performance. Then and there, our thoughts on Slow Skiing began to take shape in a way that focuses on presence and experience rather than performance. Slow Skiing is a way of observing life, one that can be applied to many different things. For us, it is important that our skiing considers humanity and the environment – a more sustainable approach from many perspectives. When we’re not skiing, we work in our joint company, Erwald Group. Click on the link to read more about us.