I finally got it!! I am a 'Snowboarder'
My journey to successful snowboarding began in British Columbia about 7 years ago. I was out there visiting my aunt for a much needed vacation. And really, who can resist the call of the mountains out west in March?? So, I suckered a guy I'd just met (son of my aunts friend) into driving me to the ski hill and hanging out with me all day while I took a snowboarding lesson and attempted just one run down the mountain. Sadly, even with a 4 hour lesson under my belt and my seemingly strong athletic inclination, it took me 2&1/2 hours to make it down the mountain and I did most of that on my butt. It was fun, but I vowed to remain a loyal skier and not switch teams just yet. Snowboarding just wasn't for me.
Almost 2 years later one of my best friends (an avid boarder and instructor) convinced me to try it again. She promised to stay with me the entire time and 'teach' me how to board. To her credit, she tried REALLY hard, I just couldn't get over the idea of having both of my feet strapped to a board and flying down a mountain. It looked fun...and I WANTED to learn but after a few hours on the bunny hill, a couple of pretty good wipe outs, and a bruised ego, I conceded that I'd likely never get it and switched back to my trusty skis for the rest of the outing.
Now, 5 years after that, a month before my 31st birthday, I have managed to figure it all out. I went to Liberty Mountain (in Fairfield PA for those that don't know where Liberty is) this past weekend with an amazing group of friends. Since my skis are still stored up in Canada and my friend had an extra board and boots that fit me I decided to give boarding another go rather than renting skis. The first couple hours were rough, I could barely stand up, let alone get down the hill. If you know me at all you can imagine how frustrating that was for me.
Noticing how incredibly hard it was for me to manage to do ANYTHING on the snowboard, my friend suggested having the ski shop change the direction of the board... and wouldn't you know it - turns out I am NOT GOOFY after all (at least not on a snowboard).
Once I changed directions everything clicked. Ok, so it really wasn't immediate, but I got much better at it really quickly. By dinner time I was coming down the hill (the little beginners hill - one step up from the bunny slope) without falling (most of the time). I even did one full run (a green one) from the top of the mountain.
I still can't get off the chair lift without crashing, and the idea of going down a "Blue" run makes me a bit ill, but I did it! I snowboarded!! And, I LOVED it!! I am 100% still a beginner but I WILL do it again, and who knows... perhaps it's time for me to consider switching teams!!
Almost 2 years later one of my best friends (an avid boarder and instructor) convinced me to try it again. She promised to stay with me the entire time and 'teach' me how to board. To her credit, she tried REALLY hard, I just couldn't get over the idea of having both of my feet strapped to a board and flying down a mountain. It looked fun...and I WANTED to learn but after a few hours on the bunny hill, a couple of pretty good wipe outs, and a bruised ego, I conceded that I'd likely never get it and switched back to my trusty skis for the rest of the outing.
Now, 5 years after that, a month before my 31st birthday, I have managed to figure it all out. I went to Liberty Mountain (in Fairfield PA for those that don't know where Liberty is) this past weekend with an amazing group of friends. Since my skis are still stored up in Canada and my friend had an extra board and boots that fit me I decided to give boarding another go rather than renting skis. The first couple hours were rough, I could barely stand up, let alone get down the hill. If you know me at all you can imagine how frustrating that was for me.
Noticing how incredibly hard it was for me to manage to do ANYTHING on the snowboard, my friend suggested having the ski shop change the direction of the board... and wouldn't you know it - turns out I am NOT GOOFY after all (at least not on a snowboard).
Once I changed directions everything clicked. Ok, so it really wasn't immediate, but I got much better at it really quickly. By dinner time I was coming down the hill (the little beginners hill - one step up from the bunny slope) without falling (most of the time). I even did one full run (a green one) from the top of the mountain.
I still can't get off the chair lift without crashing, and the idea of going down a "Blue" run makes me a bit ill, but I did it! I snowboarded!! And, I LOVED it!! I am 100% still a beginner but I WILL do it again, and who knows... perhaps it's time for me to consider switching teams!!
posted by Jo | 5:16 PM
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