I often compare learning mahjong to learning to ski. Mahjong and downhill skiing both require a patient instructor, the right gear and lots of practice in all types of conditions.
Let’s start with the similarities in learning. It is possible to teach yourself to ski or learn from a very skilled friend or family member. Your instructor must be patient and spend hours helping you learn the basics. I mean hours. You won’t just ride the chairlift to the top and be able to ski down the entire mountain. And just because you are dealt into a mahjong game and have your own card, it doesn’t mean you are ready to start the Charleston.
A professional ski instructor, like a professional mahjong instructor, has been trained in how to teach and often knows tips and tricks to make the skills easier. Just because someone can ski and, even if they are considered experts, that person may not be able to teach it well. Mahjong has a lot of nuances and etiquette like skiing. If my dad started shouting out pointers and correcting me on the slopes as a child, I immediately grew frustrated. If an instructor corrected me and offered me an easier tip, I listened. Learning anything complicated can be frustrating, so you need to trust your instructor is the right person to teach you.
Once you have been hooked, on either mahjong or skiing, you need the gear! For skiing, the aesthetic of skis and boots are less important than the outfit. Whether you are slowly gliding down the mountain or hitting jumps, you need the basic ski pants, gloves, helmet and goggles. But let’s be honest, wouldn’t you rather be wearing a bright matching outfit with coordinating gloves and designer goggles? In mahjong, you could set up with the traditional tiles and basic tablecloth and you can play the game just fine. But wouldn’t you rather set up a set of pretty tiles that represent your personality with a mat to match? I thought so.
Once you have the basic training down and the perfect accessories, it is time to practice. If you are skiing, you will need to practice on bluebird days and in a blizzard. When the conditions change, the sport changes. In mahjong, practicing in all conditions is equally important. You will need to play with beginners and advanced players. You need to be open to playing fast, slow, with lots of table rules and with alternative cards.
In anything, practice is the opportunity to try new things and make mistakes. The first time you ski a black diamond is like the first time you try a concealed hand. It seems scary at first, but when you finish the run or complete the line you truly feel pride. The repetition of the basics is really the key to mastering anything, including downhill skiing and mahjong. When the first deal is great, the Charleston can be compared to skiing the first groomed run on a bluebird day. When the first deal is a bunch of mismatched singles, the Charleston is like a blizzard in early January. You will only improve as you practice in all conditions.
If you see the connections to skiing and mahjong like me, you may be also ready for the shift in your mountain vacations. I enjoy a perfect day on the slopes. I love to spend time doing something fun and exciting with friends and family. As someone that has skied my whole life, I admit I am an excellent skier. These days I am skiing at a leisurely pace while my husband and kids want to only ski back bowls, trees and hit jumps. What am I to do when we split up after lunch? Play mahjong, of course! It is the perfect way to enjoy an Aperol spritz in the sun and a game of tiles with new friends. If the weather calls for an especially cold and windy day, you will find me in the lodge with a game near the fire. Mahjong is the newest twist to après ski!
As we close out another year on the slopes and introduce a new NMJL card, consider the similarities between skiing and mahjong. At the end of the day, we all want to challenge ourselves and have fun!
