Ira Riklis loves to ski and his favorite ski resort Vail, Colorado. He has been skiing for almost 45 years. He calls himself “a mountain cruiser” skiing on steep groomed slopes. Funny enough he skis on racing skis and doesn’t do moguls. Like in his business life it’s all about the speed. Not one to show fear or hesitate, he started going fast right from the beginning.
In his own words Ira Riklis tells this hair raising story of learning to manage speed on the ski slope:
“I’m finally ready to ski. I point my skis down the slope and I begin to move. I feel the exhilaration of flight and I’m hooked. I’m just lovin’ it. I know that I’m going to be coming back again and again to get this feeling.
Nothing could diminish my thrill and pleasure, except . . . . It suddenly occurs to me, I don’t know how to stop! I’m headed downhill at what seems to me an incredible speed, I don’t know how to avoid the people in front of me and that’s not my real concern. I’m headed straight for the base lodge; this can’t end well …
God was watching over me because I was aimed directly at the entrance door to the lodge and there was a canopy over the entrance with supporting columns. Just before I was to hit the door, I grabbed onto one of the columns and was able to bring myself to a stop. It is amazing but I didn’t hit anyone else, I was uninjured, and there was no property damage –go figure.”
What I want to ask Ira is: how does your style of skiing reflect your business practices?