I was never any good at it. Lots of injuries, but I was young and stupid.
Then, while stationed in Germany, my friends and I found an Olympic Training slope that was mostly abandoned. It was not in use any longer and was open to the public. It even had a big ski jump! One of my friends was our Company Supply Sergeant, and he "acquired" for us some inner tubes for 5-ton trucks. Now that was fun!
We had a game we would play. Place a bottle (or two) of Apfelkorn schnapps in the snow at the top of the slope. Take a big gulp, then ride the tubes down the slope. Then grab your tube and hike back up the slope (no lifts run there any longer). When you get to the top, take another big gulp of schnapps and ride downhill again. Rinse and repeat until you can't climb the hill anymore.
Eventually, the schnapps takes control of things like common sense and awareness of personal safety, and you start trying things like standing on the tube on your way down, or trying to fit six men and women on one tube, etc. It made for some hilarious moments and a lot of fun. Fortunately, only minor injuries to ourselves and others using the slope.
