This sums up pretty well how I feel learning to snowboard and looking at my progress. Like I didn’t just magically not break my neck hurling myself down mountains, I actually moved my body with intent even when I’m not consciously thinking about it. I just blindly trusted myself not to fuck up even though I landed on my ass pleeeeeenty of times. This understanding is starting to leak into the rest of my life. But I'm starting to come around to the fact that I didn't fluke into my life, I achieved it by being brave enough to bet on myself. It's a weird fucking feeling.
I decided to learn how to snowboard this year. My buddy that has been an instructor at Banff and usually boards in the Himalayas has been teaching me. (He said seeing us fall while we learn is more fun than going down our crappy hills). So far, I've only gone down the baby hill and it's super different from skiing. Wish me luck on not breaking my neck! I've been enjoying it!
My ass was super bruised after my first weekend learning to board. At Tremblant. More than I ever thought I could be bruised. The learning curve is easy for most so it is a good skill to have but I still prefer skis. It is fun! I just finished your Burn video. I believe you are right that the right question to ask about an experience is: why not? From watching your vids I thought you have had that attitude already. My first time truly travelling alone I was 20, had a backpack, money and a return ticket for 3 months later from an airport thousands of miles away. My first night was the first night in my life that I was ever truly scared. Fuck I am in a foreign country, I do not know anyone, no one has my back and I can't go home no matter what. I am responsible for everything. How the fuck am I going to do this? As you might predict, 3 months later I was not ready to go home. That;s really just a seque to my point. When I got home, I had a high school friend ask me: Why would you want to do that? I still regret my answer which was: Bob if you have to ask that question you will not understand the answer. You do it because you have the opportunity to do it and you want to experience the world and what it has to offer.
It was right though a bit too blunt. Bob is a good hearted guy but all he wants to do with his life is to have a steady union job, own a house and afford a classic car as his one extravagance. He has never left the country and probably has only been to big city less that a dozen times, maybe for a Bon Jovi concert or something similar. A perfect example of the Delta people Orwell described in 1984; the menial laborers who are perfect;y happy doing what they do and can not understand why anyone would want to even have the responsibility of being the manager at the factory. We got several inches of nice light snow today so I was out playing in it today! Have a great weekend and happy holidays.
I could see that, I feel like I'm ruining the ski hills back home (Ontario) by learning out here. The chairlift to the green runs that was already longer than any I had been on had another chairlift at the top, but I've mostly been on the bunny hill too which will hopefully change tomorrow with some new boots. It sounds like you're in good hands so your neck should be alright but wrist's are a different story, my wrist guards are up there with proper fitting boots on the list of things that will make my season not suck. You'll kill it, I hope your season is full of pow days and not injuries !
It is hard to learn to board in Ontario as I think boards are much better on powder than ice/hard pack. I suck at skiing in deep powder because of that but on a board it is awesome. And the ass bruising is very real when you are beginning to board. I had wrist guards but needed hockey pants instead. :)
Thankfully we got some fresh powder the day I went on the bigger run to break my fall but not too much that it was a totally different experience. We are expecting more over night so tomorrow should be awesome especially with my new boots. If I wanted to toe carve on the ones I had I would stand on my toes in the boot and twist my ankle so they were maaaaaybe a bit loose. I think it can be a little more intimidating out here when you see how big it is but the fluffiness of the snow does really help calm that anxiety. I honestly had moments of looking at the ground and thinking well might as well try that thing I’m afraid of because it won’t hurt to fall.
What hill? Soft boots? I had only maybe 20 days on a board when I went out west for a road trip with some pro boarders. Started at Nakiska, then Banff. Lake Louise. Marmot, Fernie, Cranbrook, etc. And the highlight was a couple of days heliskiing with Weigle. I thought it would be a learning experience but I could just not keep up so switched to skis. Except when in knee or waist high pow. But generally everyone had to wait for me to flub my way down. No need for any fear in deep powder as long as you avoid the rocks! It is a whole new beautiful world.
Lake Louise is my usual hill. I’m hoping to take a little trip out to Revelstoke when it’s at its prime. Just crappy used boots I bought to get me on the hill until I could afford good ones that fit better. I’m loving the ones I got this time, they definitely weren’t cheap but it’s worth it considering I was easily going to break a bone with the ones I had. My friends were spending a while waiting on me too. Ever thought about splitboarding ? Sounds like you might be into that.
Have tried the split and Nordic. It is pretty good but skinny, Great in couloirs though. Prefer super soft boots on a board and super hard on skis. With no socks for some reason. lol. Too bad I am going South Americas this winter or I would join you.