The International Olympic Committee held the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PeongChang, South Korea yesterday to officially kick-off more than two weeks of athletic competitions.

For many years, I was not terribly interested in the Winter Games except for the ice-skating, since it is very similar to dancing, which I love.

The other sporting events never really caught my attention.

In Mississippi, there is not much chance to experience snow, much less pop on a pair of skis or snowboard down a mountain, but having an understanding of these sports changed when I had the opportunity to go on a family ski trip.

Some in my family had already made trips to the mountains and had learned, if not mastered, the art of skiing.

Not me, I was truly a beginner and had to sign up for lessons.

For the first couple of days, the instructor worked diligently to try to help those of us in the class learn how to stand up on the skis and “pizza wedge” our way down a small hill.

Pizza wedging is where you point the skis in front of you together, forming an inverted V. I guess calling it a pizza wedge is more understandable for children and some of us adults!

After two days of ski school, I was eager to try out my skills on one of the beginner slopes.  So after successfully getting off the ski lift without falling on my face, I was set for my first downhill run.

By my standards, my inaugural run was great. However, those who were speeding past may have had differing opinions.

To them, I was probably viewed as more of an obstacle than a fellow skier since I was slowly weaving from side to side in my “pizza wedge.”

But you know the old saying, “Slow and steady wins the race,” and I made it down the mountain without any major falls.

Since that first ski trip, my family made subsequent trips to the mountains, and because of this, I gained a greater understating and appreciation for participating in some of the activities associated with the Winter Olympics.

Now when I watch athletes like Lindsey Vonn, I am awe struck at her ability as an alpine ski racer.  No pizza wedging going on there.

And after my nephew became quite the snowboarder from his time on the family ski trips, I have enjoyed watching Olympian Shaun White. He can make the most gravity-defying flips on his snowboard.

There is one sport, however, that I still have a difficult time appreciating.  It is curling.

To be honest, I have trouble focusing on a game that looks a lot like sweeping mixed with slow motion bowling.  When the family was on a ski trip in Canada, hubby got hooked on watching the sport, so he is excited about watching the upcoming curling competitions.

This year’s games are sure to be exciting, and like many, I plan to catch as many events as possible.

Go Team USA!

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.