A Breath of Fresh Air in Sofia: My Journey from Boardroom to Ski Slopes

A Breath of Fresh Air in Sofia: My Journey from Boardroom to Ski Slopes

For the last decade, I’ve been on a personal mission, an odyssey of growth, investing in myself through new skills, certifications, and adventures that stretch both mind and body. Each year has been a fresh chapter, a reminder that learning is not a destination but a lifelong rhythm. My recent visit to Sofia, Bulgaria, was no exception. What began as a routine business trip soon unraveled into something far more exhilarating: my long-awaited initiation into the world of skiing.

Sofia: Breathing Business and Renewal

Sofia greeted me like an old friend, its streets echoing with history yet pulsing with modern ambition. Between boardroom discussions and strategic conversations, I found myself inhaling the crisp winter air, each breath carrying a quiet promise of renewal.

One of the most meaningful parts of this trip was the business meeting itself, our first time gathering as a team from across the globe. For months, we had collaborated virtually, building strategies and solving challenges through screens. But nothing compares to the energy of being in the same room, sharing ideas with eye contact, laughter, and the subtle nuances that technology can never fully capture.

I’ve always been a huge believer in the power of personal connection. Face-to-face conversations unlock a different level of trust and creativity. You achieve so much more when you can read the room, feel the pauses, and celebrate the small moments together. Beyond the agenda and presentations, what truly mattered were the bonds we built outside the boardroom, the coffee breaks, the shared meals, the stories exchanged about families, travels, and passions. These moments create a fabric of connection that goes far beyond work. And when that bond is strong, working together becomes easier, more joyful, and infinitely more impactful.

It was in this spirit of renewal and connection that I decided to double up my trip, to finally chase the thrill of skiing, a fascination I had carried silently for years.

Bansko: Where Snow Meets Soul

My compass pointed me toward Bansko, a jewel nestled in the Pirin Mountains. Fate seemed to conspire in my favour: I arrived just as the first snowfall of the season blanketed the town, turning cobblestone streets into a canvas of white. The air was charged with anticipation, as if the mountains themselves were inviting me to step into their embrace.

Bansko isn’t merely a resort, it’s a gateway to the Pirin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where nature stands majestic and untamed. The weather was brisk, the kind that makes you feel vividly alive, and the warmth of the people contrasted beautifully against the shimmering snow.

Guides Who Became Companions

I partnered with Ski Point Coaching, and from the very first handshake, I knew I was in trusted company. Martin and Smiley, my guides, weren’t just instructors, they became companions in this adventure. Smiley, with his calm patience and reassuring smile, had a way of dissolving my apprehensions. His quiet confidence set the tone for the four days ahead, making the mountain feel less intimidating and more like a playground waiting to be explored.

Falls, Glides, and Life Lessons

The plan was simple: two hours of training each day. But my enthusiasm was anything but contained. I stretched those sessions into six-hour marathons, driven by a hunger to learn, to conquer, to glide.

What began as tentative steps on the beginner slopes soon transformed into bold manoeuvres on the red zone trails. The rush of speed, the sharpness of the slope, the sheer thrill of manoeuvring at pace, it was intoxicating. Each fall became a lesson in resilience, each glide a whisper of balance, each turn a reminder of the joy of learning something new.

Skiing wasn’t just about technique; it was about surrendering to the mountain, trusting the process, and embracing the unknown with open arms.

Reflections: The Joy of Being a Beginner

Looking back, my journey to Sofia and Bansko wasn’t simply about adding another skill to my repertoire. It was about rediscovering the joy of being a beginner again, humbling myself before nature, celebrating small victories, and finding exhilaration in persistence.

Skiing became a metaphor for the last ten years of my life: investing in growth, embracing challenges, and finding beauty in the unfamiliar. Sofia gave me business, Bansko gave me adventure, and together they gifted me memories etched not just in photographs, but in the very rhythm of my heartbeat.