So I learned why I shouldn't Snowboard

[bigbair]

I'm following up a post from last week where I was heading out to Vail, CO for a weekend of snowbording. This sport kills me. I mean literally, almost killed me. I spent the first 2 to 3 hours of the first day on a very subtile section of the green line slopes where I was introduced to the basics of the sport. Went so/so, then we headed up the mountain for some steeper greens and blue line slopes. This is where the day went bad.

To start, the ski lift was a bitch. Our first trip up was OK, b/c the lift paused for about 1 to 2 seconds and I had time to pop up and slide gently for about 10 feet (well out of the way of the lift) before I fell. The next trip up wasn't so purtty. My buddy failed to tell me that this one didn't stop. When we reached the top, I poped up and waited for the lift to stall, but it didn't. Instead, it swiped my feet out and I was half on the lift/half off and trying to make up my mind which way I wanted to go. I snagged the corner of the chair with one hand and hung on, slowly realizing that the ground was sinking away from me. According to my other two buddy's who were seated on a bench waiting for us to arrive, the lift chair was all cock-eyed with me hanging on one side. All I remember hearing is one of them point and say in disbelief " Oh my god, he held on!"

In a moment of desparation I had a decision to make: continue dangling from the lift as it rounds the corner and heads back down, or let go and deal with the fall. I chose #2. For those of you who've boarded before, you know that the foot strapped in is in some odd ass, pigeon toed angle and you can probably imagine what it was like landing on this foot. My hip popped and went numb (a nerve I guess) and my knee buckled. I layed there on top of some cones outlining the lift's path before I shook it off and got up.

The trip from this point back down the mountain was equally eventful. I've heard numerous times that the faster you go, the easier it is to learn. Bullshit. After a few trial and error attempts, I went with this advise and was traveling just short of the speed of sound down the first slope when I realized the inevitable; I'm gonna fall. You see, staying upright wasn't so much the issue as steering and braking was. I took on a real Kamakazi style of boarding. When I began drifting near the tree line of the path, I figured I should go ahead with the back brake like I was taught. When I spun my hips and got the board sideways on the mountain, my weight shifted ever so slightly, allowing me to catch the front edge of the board. Nice. The next thing I remember was laying on my back, eyes to the sky, with my ears ringing like crazy, and one of my buddies running up on me asking if I was OK.

Once I was pretty sure I didn't break anything, I headed on down the slopes to where it leveled out. Only this time, completely fed up, I sat on the board and rode it down. The most fun of the whole day. When I got down there the ski patrol guys apparently had witnessed my display of skill and asked if I wanted to ride the lift down. I didn't hesitate. I think they were as concerned about everyone elses safety as my own.

Apparently carrying your board on the lift isn't real cool in Vail. After explaining to the guy operating the lift what he could do with my board and that I wan't puttin' it on for him or anybody, I loaded up and had an easy ride down.

I spent the next hour poppin' hydrocodones and chasing them with bourbon, while my buddies boarded the rest of the way down. This was by far the highpoint of the day. I know this was a little long winded, but I had to throw it out there for those that were previously interested. Hope some of you get a laugh out of this. Looking back on it, I do too.

Bigbear

 

[gtrcivic]

i had somewhat a similar experience as you did the first time i snow boarded in Beaver Creek Colorado...granted only skied 2x before ever....seemed easy dicking around where the ground is level...then decided to ride the lift up to the top....was told by the operators to jump off to the side... did that and flopped to the ground..had a bitch of a time undoing one boot to move so i wouldn't get run over....

decided to make a run on the trail back down..what should only take 15min, took 1hr ..would go about 10-15 yards then fall...use my elbows to push back up. then repeat.. fall ,get up..damn out of breath, asthma kicks in and at so high and elevation thought i would suffocate...by the time i got down, my gf and her sis already skied 2x already....

called it quits, ass hurt, hip hurt, wrists hurt and pride as well...one run $45 lift ticket...spent the next 2x at the first drop off.. did slightly better....just couldn't turn to stop and nearly missed running over a few people...

 

[Beachbum1546]

LOL, good story. i remember that your first thread. i even gave you some advice on how to board. it's too bad you didn't catch on becuase it's the coolest damn thing ever.

when you go heelside to brake you need to bend your knees so your weight is to the back. more you brake more you need to bend and lean. that was what i said in your first thread. i also said you needed to learn how to do that on the bunny slope first then learn how to carve on a steeper slope. i.e., learn how to stop was the first thing to do then haul ass to learn how to carve with no worries on how to brake.

i still think you should stick with it. the worst is over. the next time you go you will catch on and be pimpin it will snow bunnies. word.

 

[Judo Tom]

sorry to hear about that...

you gotta start slow

you should see if you can get a buddy to run along side you a few times this way you will get a better understanding of your balance and edge control.

if you were doing anywhere near decent at first you shouldve just stayed there until you could turn and stop to one direction once u can do that with confidence then u should attack the mountain but not until then

also your buddies shouldve helped you with the lift.. there are a lot of tricks to help someone get off a lift at first like holding onto them, strapping them in before the lift is at the top, etc

and that fall u described is the abs9olute worst thing that can happen. blazing down the mountain then catching your toe edge.. bad news..glad your ok

 

[bigbair]

I think it could be cool, but DAMN it hurt. Admittedly, I should've kept to the bunny slopes for a bit longer. I told my dudes that I wan't ready for the bigger slopes once we got up there, but then again what you gonna do once your already there???? I may do it again, but I think trying it in one day intervals until I get the hang is a good idea. It took me 15minutes to get out of bed the next day.

 

[Lestat]

Good story man.

It was your first time, its always a bitch, and you did a lot more then most first timers do.

Getting off the lift is the toughest thing for newbies hands down.

Forget going fast, practice your control on slower slopes and master stopping and turning.

Don't give up man, once it "clicks" you are set.

 

[bran987]

biggest word to post ratio in a C&C thread since the election