I must just have a long learning curve. Yep, that is what I will chalk up all the cruddy days I spent struggling to figure this damn snowboard thing out.

If you have been following my plight you will know…it has been long. I can’t even remember how many times I have gone riding, I mean falling, over the last two seasons. Last season I even had four lessons at four different locations: Alpine Valley, Raging Buffalo, Chestnut & Bittersweet.

It all started over again at the beginning of this season when I was dissappointed on my first trip back to the snow hill. I kept falling and it was so irratating after the many times I have already been. This trip though I kept forcing myself to go the right way down instead of going to falling leaf as my safety.

The worst part was that I would go up the lift and have this horrendous anxiety as I slowly, and I do mean slowly because the dang green lifts are SO slow, ascended to the top of the run. The anxiety made it hard to breathe and I would shake uncontrollably. Panic attacks are definitely not awesome. I literally was facing fear ever time I strapped on my binding, skated up and went on the lift.

Why did I keep going? Why, because it was a challenge, and the challenge was all me. That was the most irritating factor too of course.

After having an emotionally rough holiday I ended up going to Granite Peak with my two best friends. It was great, but the riding wasn’t. What riding really on my end? I honestly had a string of bad things happen to me on this trip and I was completely discouraged by my continued lack of progress at this thing I really enjoyed doing and wanted so badly to do well at and still wasn’t.

Things I learned the hard way on this trip:

1. Don’t fall off the lift. It really hurts your ass. Really.
2. Strap your foot into the PROPER binding. The front foot goes in, not the back. It leads to falling off lifts if done improperly.
3. Buy proper fitting pants. The hill will not melt and/or flood, nor is it necessary for everyone to see your baked goodies (aka muffin tops) while you are strapping in.
4. Buy a long enough jacket. Snow is cold and muffins like to be warm.
5. Helmets that are too loose do not protect your head, they just become visual impairments. This is especially bad when increasing your speed down the bunny hill.
6. Itchy, scratchy, burning & watery eyes should come from allergies not from bombing hills. Wearing goggles increases your visibility by an immeasurable amount.
7. Sanding the hills is not necessary. Waxing your board properly will prevent any unnecessary shredding.
8. Giving up is lame. Feeling shitty sucks even more when you do it to yourself.

I bascially went up like 8 times this day, and I was miserable the entire time. While I learned a few things I also felt bad for the boys since they were having a blast. I was cold, sore, my clothes were uncomfortable and I was totally over sucking! This is what us girls like to call being bitchy, crabby, and/or cranky. Whichever term you prefer. I didn’t even go riding the next day with them, they were better off honestly. #8 above came into play a lot this weekend.

I must say though the most memorable part of my trip was when all three of us went up the lift that day together. I got off at the green run stop without falling and they went up to the top. I was supposed to strap in and watch them bomb the black run up above me where we would then meet up and ride down as a group.

Just as I sat down to strap in the lift the boys were still on stopped briefly. That is when surprisingly the fireworks show began just to our lefts on the run next to ours! It was beautiful with the city lights in the background, I wished I had my camera. The view was magical.

Shortly after stopping the lift started again and I soon saw the boys descending quickly. I stood up and we all rode the rest of the way together with the fireworks still going off just to our left. We stopped at the bottom, unstrapped, watched the finale and wished each other a Happy New Year.

That it was going to be, a HAPPY New Year indeed! Sucking was about to officially stop. I wanted to ride with my friends. I wanted to go up the same lifts as they did and ride down the same runs as they went down. I wanted to be at the top with them during that fireworks show, not alone on a green run. It was my fault I was alone and I wasn’t having it anymore. I had had it with sucking.

Sucking officially stopped Friday January 15th when I started to show some minor improvement. That’s right, I remember the day, the time the place like it was yesterday. It was the day that changed my world, lol! So dramatic right I went with my ex on this day. He had invited me to go up to Devils Head for the day so I went. While we have been through a lot this last year it was nice to finally have a good day with him. Plus I must say he did put up with me dragging ass to get up on the lift and with my ‘cranky’ attitude towards still sucking. On this day it was commendable to be around & put up with me.

Luckily the crankiness went away once I was forced into going down my first blue run after accidentally going up the wrong lift. I cried. Yep, I cried like a whinny baby for like a minute. I was pissed and felt like an idiot very quickly. I realized very soon that there was only ONE way down. Me on my board.

To my amazement I began going down and I was actually doing it! I was carving, toe side, heel side, and not falling! I mostly plowed the entire time, this is when you go heel side A LOT to check speed, but regardless I was doing it! I was SO proud of myself!

The next wednesday I was asked to go riding again by my brothers from other mothers. We ended up at Alpine that evening. The last time I was at this place I was flicking off the camera and still banging my head on the ice. By the way, banging your head on ice hurts. Two concussions later and I wear a helmet.

I made the boys go by themselves for one run while I collected myself. By the time I strapped in at the top though they were right there at my side. I took a deep breathe and just went. I showed them I could do it! I only went on a couple of blue runs when Josh talked me into going up to the terrain park. I was one of those annoying riders going thru without hitting anything. I didn’t care as long as I could ride with them all night.

At the end of the night I asked Josh if I could try out his new Burton Flying-V Reverse Camber board. He was so rad and said yes! When I strapped it on I was like a whole new boarder! It was amazing! I couldn’t get enough of it. I would strap in and be going down before the boys! We just kept going up the lift and carving down over and over until we were pooped.

Within the last two weeks I have been a few times and each time I get better and better. I have only one other thing in my life that makes me this happy and I am almost about to say my love for snowboarding could easily tie for first place with photography, I never would have thought!   The sound the snow makes under my board and the wind on my face as I go down a run puts a smile on my face something fierce!   I have fallen in love, but FINALLY I am not falling head over heels…as much

I have also been riding with different people each time and watching different techniques from every person I ride with. Everyone has their own style and way they handle their boards. It feels amazing to meet new people and experience something only a snow rider can understand – the exhileration of riding.

I am so grateful I was asked two Novembers ago to tag along with the first group of riders I ever went with. I am grateful for the concussions and the bruises and sore tailbone because I know after working so hard I have finally achieved something I wanted very badly. Could I have worked harder some days, sure, did I quit, never.

I knew I would love snowboarding, I just never realized how much it would actually mean to me! Riding is a personal venture and each goal i set I know I only have myself to get me there.

Here are some images from my last trip to Devils Head Resort up in Wisconsin just yesterday. I have a new riding outfit I bought at an outlet store in Gurnee called Zumiez. Their sale prices were awesome. I have been told I look like Papa Smurf or better yet…Super Mario! LOL!

Snowboarding RULES!!!!   Let’s Ride!

R

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Studio R
www.studioRblog.com