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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#129: Ski Season

For some of us in the Northern hemisphere, the cold wintery months of January and February come with the promise of the ski season — a light at the end of the tunnel of short, dark days. Whether you’re gallivanting around the Alps, or just taking a sledge to your local snowy hillside, there’s definitely adventure to be found at this time of year.

Whether you find the chill bracing, biting, or something else entirely, let’s thaw any ice that formed over your creative spirit this winter with the help of this week’s prompts!

This week's prompts

Begin your story with a character crashing into something (or someone) while skiing.

Adventure – 30 stories

Write about a skier who accidentally strays off-piste.

Adventure – 30 stories

Set your story in a snowed-in chalet.

Winter – 56 stories

Write your story from the point of view of someone learning or teaching an extreme hobby.

Narrative – 19 stories

Your character runs an inn for resting mountaineers. It’s a calm life, until they encounter a twist of fate.

Winter – 47 stories

Stories

“The Confession ” by Moon M.

Submitted to Contest #129

Raving through snowy woods, Annabelle and Seline had nothing on their childish minds, except the destination ahead, the destination ahead that wasn't even a destination at all, though in their case anything could be called a destination. They got lost, clumsy enough in the middle of the woods, on an incredibly cold, icy and snowy day and additionally it was getting very dark now. Seline was the owner of an Inn, not far from these woods that could at least give them a place to stay and hopefully a phone to call their f...

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“The Late Buffet” by Cassi Beebe

Submitted to Contest #129

Lily was brushing down the old wooden desk she used for check-ins when she heard the door open. When she looked up to great her customers, she saw Mrs. Barnschweigel. An older woman, probably in her late 50s, she was particular about her room and everything else. True to form, she headed for the desk and Lily suppressed a tiny sigh – she really didn’t have time for whatever manufactured crisis was coming her way, she had a group of new guests that were due to arrive any minute. But Lily knew the key to the success she had made of the small r...

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“The Final Derby” by Barb Brown

Submitted to Contest #129

They finally found him, but not until he had broken surface with his arm, sticking up at a weird angle, frozen in place like a landmark, or a single goal post, something very lonely. It looked ghastly and sad at the same time. The reclusive Inn was a well-kept secret amongst the regulars and they held their clandestine fortress close to their chest. It was a members' only kind of environment, although there were no memberships held by anybody who came there. Just kindred, kindred's friends and extended family would be there ...

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“APRÈS-SKI OR…?” by Christine Hand

Submitted to Contest #129

It was an early morning start; by half-past six, Matteo had arrived in Chamonix, the base of the Mont Blanc. He was excited, fired up for one of the greatest challenges of his life. He was about to conquer the highest slope in Europe. Matteo was in his mid-forties, Italian by birth, and he skied regularly on the slopes of the Dolomites. This accustomed him to the high-altitude pressures of the sport. It put him in good stead for the day’s activity. The ski lift would make its first trip just after eight in the morning. Matteo made his way i...

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“In the Trees” by Brian Webb

Submitted to Contest #129

In the Trees Brian Webb, January 2022 Having failed at mending fences with Joann, I decide I’ll stretch the President’s Day weekend by taking Friday off. Just a short getaway for some rest and relaxation. “No booze, and no weed,” I tell myself dead-seriously in the mirror as I’m shaving. And I mean it this time. Just clean fresh air, a little skiing, and some healthy self-inventory. It feels like the best thing I’ve done for myself in too long. I pack a light bag and throw it in the car with my gear, then...

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“Snow Days” by Jennifer Brewer

Submitted to Contest #129

“Skiing was so great yesterday. I wish the weather would have held out for another day.”So said the chalet guest, who should have gone home yesterday. But, fortunately, Ben was having such a great time he didn’t want to leave. But at least Jessica is snowed in with him, along with about a dozen other guests. And since they’ll be stuck here for a few days, they may as well have fun. As the snow and temperature continue to fall, the snowed-in guests gather in the great room, taking stock of each other. Tara and Dennis have already decided the...

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“Winter Vacation” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #129

The mountains of Stoney Creek have always been a home away from home for Katie. She loves the outdoors, whether its cold or hot you will always find Katie breathing in the fresh air. It's the middle of January and its time for Katie's annual trip to the Stoney creek Chalet. Her four best friends Mia, Brianna, Vanessa, Selena, along with Mia's and Vanessa's boyfriends Jacob and Samuel. Two days later Katie and her friends are on their way to the Stoney Creek Chalet. In four hours they will reach the Chalet. On the drive to Stoney Creek ...

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“Image of Evil” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #129

Ben pulled on his boots, parka and gloves and headed outside. He paused on the deck to admire the view. Despite the cold, it appealed to him in a perverse way, suiting his mood. The pristine white snow was spread over the mountain like a soft cover, smoothing out the contours of the land. The car was just another mound of snow. The dark figures of trees stretched their slender limbs to the bruised purple sky. The moonlight was almost as bright as day. He headed to the shed behind the chalet where the firewood was stacked. He smiled wryl...

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“Sweet Dreams” by Joosep Kivastik

Submitted to Contest #129

Marv tried to figure out what Jayne was saying, but judging from her facial expressions, the words did not seem kind. So, he just tried to smile and nod, hoping to pacify Jayne for a bit. Marv beckoned her to continue moving. Although he might have seemed like he was in control and knew exactly where he was heading, he really didn’t. Marv just kept hoping to find something, which was difficult with the blizzard only allowing a few meters of visibility. Better hold Jayne’s hand. He kept trudging through the snow until a chalet just appeared ...

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“It Could of Been a Lot Worse” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #129

“I can’t hear you” I yelled as loud as I could, his words echoing along the line but drowned out by the howling wind. “He said there is a chalet not far from here and we should head towards that” was the relayed message from the person at the front of our group to me at the back. It was hard to walk into the blizzard and took all of my strength to push forward. The backpack I had on weighed enough without the thick layer of snow added on to it and I could feel my shoulders sagging and aching. The snow smacked into my face with vengeance feel...

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“The Storm” by J.M. North

Submitted to Contest #129

It was still alive, twitching and squealing in its trap, its broken leg twisted at an unnatural angle. I looked into its dark, bulging eyes, feeling nothing but pity. Killing it was as effortless as twisting open a bottle cap.“There we have it! The chalet is officially mouse-free!”“You better wash your hands!” my wife yelled from the open doorway, peeking inside, “And get rid of it!”She was wearing her outer jacket that made her look like a puffy canary bird, flustered face peaking from underneath her beanie. She was bringing two large bags ...

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“AND SNOWFLAKE FLEW OUT OF THE WINDOW” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #129

AND SNOWFLAKE FLEW OUT OF THE WINDOW The fire crackled in the hearth, the flames, rising and falling, colored red the walls of the room. It had been snowing continuously for three days now The Robbins chalet, which stood on the slope of the great mountain, at a considerable height, was almost submerged in snow. They, the Robbins, father, mother and three children, really couldn’t leave their precious refuge, they even could not think at all of setting foot outside their little castle, indeed neither ...

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“Saved by the Seat of my Pants” by Dru Sumner

Submitted to Contest #129

I’ve been skiing. I wore a ski sweater I’ve had for five years and thermal underwear covered with little pink flowers. The tag inside my jacket says, “ski jacket” and my red-bibbed pants I found in a thrift store are designed specifically for the purpose of skiing. I even rented the boots, skis and poles and came down a hill. So, officially, I have been s...

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“Mount Lion's Head Chalet” by Mark Andermann

Submitted to Contest #129

“Kids, good work today. Get psyched for our competitions tomorrow!” As I finish talking, the last of the kids on the Silvermount Ski Team skied up to the ski rack and removed their gear. I start herding the kids toward the Mount Lion’s Head Chalet, run by my sister Chloe. The chalet has been run by my family for decades, and this year I was appointed the head ski instructor and coach. I hold the door open for the nine and ten year old team, and we troop down to the lobby where the parental units await. While the team starts walking to...

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“Ginger and Peppers” by Maya Mason

Submitted to Contest #129

“So how does one get into this line of work,” I asked nervously. Sitting across from me was a thoroughly intimidating woman. It wasn’t so much her appearance. It was just her presence. Something about the way she sat in the room. She was very fit and pretty trim but somehow, just seemed to take up space. Her hair was thick and a striking ombre jet black to crimson red. The type of hair that made an impression. And then of course, there was the room itself. Not by any means a traditional office, something of an alcove off to the side of an in...

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$250

Prize money

182

Contest entries

92

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 21, 2022 EST

Won by Erica Vogel 🏆

Title: At the Whitemare

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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