PARK CITY — Eight of the 23 Westminster College students who participated in a beginners ski day Saturday at Deer Valley were Chinese exchange students, seven of whom had never skied before.
Hongao Ci, of Shanghai, said that although there are lots of ski resorts near his home in China, he has never been skiing because ski gear is too difficult to obtain.
"I know it's very difficult the first time," Ci, 37, said. "Hopefully how to stand on the snow will be the first lesson."
Ci, who is a business student at Donghua University, came to Utah with four other students from his university in Shanghai to participate in a semester-long program at Westminster. He hoped to "go whoosh down the mountain" by the end of his three-hour lesson.
Yongqiang Wang, another student from Donghua University, had wanted to visit Utah for a long time and was anxious to hit the slopes.
"Utah is beautiful," Wang said. "I saw the Olympic Games on television in 2002."
Wang, 35, was not worried about his skiing abilities because of his active participation in other athletic activities.
"I like sports very much," Wang said. "I like to take some risks. I like to challenge myself very much. I think maybe it's not too difficult."
Mi Lilly, from Beijing, who has lived in Utah for 18 months while she earns her MBA from Westminster College, has wanted to ski since she moved to Salt Lake City.
"Salt Lake City is famous for skiing, and I want to make new friends," Lilly said of her reasons to go on the ski activity. "I'm an amateur, but I've previously practiced long distance running and I love outdoor activities, so I might be good at this."
Jianming Miao, 20, was the only exchange student who had skied before. Originally from Kaifeng, China, Miao attended high school in Milwaukee where he skied once two years ago.
"I heard in Utah the snow is pretty good," Miao said. "So I thought I should try (skiing) at least once here."
Miao said he hoped his experience at Deer Valley would be better than his first experience skiing.
"I got to the top of the mountain and went straight down and crashed into the parking lot because I forgot how to stop," Miao said. "What I want to learn is just how to ski, and to stop. That part is hard."
The hardest part of the day took place in the lodge, even before braving the chilly winter morning.
"I am trying to learn how to wear the ski gear," Ci said.
Miao agreed that strapping on his boots was quite a process.
"If my boots gets easier to put on, I will ski more," Miao said.
The students will have more opportunities to experience "firsts" with Westminster's Outdoor Recreation Program.
Westminster offers regular outdoors programs such as hiking, camping, skiing, snowmobiling and ice climbing. The programs are open to students, as well as their friends and family members.
"The exchange students do a really good job of taking advantage of programs with us," said Liz Rogers, director of outdoor programs. "They really do want to make the best of their time here."
e-mail: ejames@desnews.com