Sounds of Skiing

  Preface:  For Christmas my daughter Victoria gave me the book with the title The Sound Book by Trevor Cox an acoustic engineer.   Just the prologue has inspired me to carefully listen to all sounds.   The activity of skiing produces a plethora of sounds.  The  blank verse poem below is the result.  Readers, add to the list in your comments.

The ski locker goes bang.
Booting up produces the buckles snap and a boot bangs to set the heel.
(Geezers bending over let out grunts).
( And maybe other more gross sounds).

Boots squeak on the subzero snow.
A whop, whop as the skis are dropped onto the snow.
A click, click as the boots enter the bindings.

Background conversation and greetings in the lift line.
Hum from the lift.
Bang, bang on the seats to remove the snow.

The chair slaps at the back of your legs.
Down comes the safety bar with a thud.
Wind whistles a greeting too.

Snow makers roar.
Or the new falling snow or sleet whispers a greeting on your coat.
Lift cables and pulleys purr their symphony.

The unloading ramp chirps as you slide off.
Poles give a unique tap, tap.

Carving skis create a swish, swish sound of contentment.
Sliding skis are more raucous with a scraping sound.

Slalom racers punch the course poles -  whack, whack, whack.
Race fans whoop for their favorite contestant.

And ending the day more locker room sounds.
And best of all the tired and contented sounds of a day well spent.