What was I thinking?
Here I am on the slopes (ski slopes. ski ski ski slopes.). That's not the sky behind me, that's beautiful Lake Tahoe, smooth as glass. Lovely, isn't it?
What we didn't capture on film was the activity from the day before... when I took a beginning snowboarding lesson.
I know, I know. What was I thinking? Reality set in (slightly) when I was filling out the waiver form for the lesson and had to specify my age.
A voice in my head said in increasing volume, "What do you think you're doing? You really shouldn't strap yourself to a snowboard... it's a baaaaad idea... you'll fall a lot and you might even hurt yourself. Okay, do I have to say it? You're too old for this."
Too old? Okay, yes, maybe I'm a tad old for snowboarding. But it's something I've wanted to try in spite of seeing all the beginners sitting on their butts at the top of a run.
So I proceeded to join the other beginners in the lesson. No, I wasn't the oldest one there. Not even close. It's clear that temporary insanity was contagious that day. I'll spare you the details of the 4 hours that followed, but let's just say that I didn't give up and I did make it down a green run without the assistance of a snowmobile or a sled.
Conclusion: The boots are great, the equipment is minimal, but snowboarding isn't for me. Logically it made sense but I was having the hardest time getting my body to do what it was supposed to do to make the board move the way I wanted it. And more importantly, I don't like falling down... over and over and over and over again. But, I'm glad I did it. Really.
Thankfully I was still able to knit (slowly) after the experience in spite of a bruise that covered 30% of my left hand. It's a little hard to see, but it goes from the left edge to the bone of my middle finger, with a matching bruise on my palm.
Two days later the soreness in the muscles began to subside and I was able to move without too much pain or wincing, and the bruises started to heal.
So for now I'll continue to cheer the Olympians on from the stands.
What we didn't capture on film was the activity from the day before... when I took a beginning snowboarding lesson.
I know, I know. What was I thinking? Reality set in (slightly) when I was filling out the waiver form for the lesson and had to specify my age.
A voice in my head said in increasing volume, "What do you think you're doing? You really shouldn't strap yourself to a snowboard... it's a baaaaad idea... you'll fall a lot and you might even hurt yourself. Okay, do I have to say it? You're too old for this."
Too old? Okay, yes, maybe I'm a tad old for snowboarding. But it's something I've wanted to try in spite of seeing all the beginners sitting on their butts at the top of a run.
So I proceeded to join the other beginners in the lesson. No, I wasn't the oldest one there. Not even close. It's clear that temporary insanity was contagious that day. I'll spare you the details of the 4 hours that followed, but let's just say that I didn't give up and I did make it down a green run without the assistance of a snowmobile or a sled.
Conclusion: The boots are great, the equipment is minimal, but snowboarding isn't for me. Logically it made sense but I was having the hardest time getting my body to do what it was supposed to do to make the board move the way I wanted it. And more importantly, I don't like falling down... over and over and over and over again. But, I'm glad I did it. Really.
Thankfully I was still able to knit (slowly) after the experience in spite of a bruise that covered 30% of my left hand. It's a little hard to see, but it goes from the left edge to the bone of my middle finger, with a matching bruise on my palm.
Two days later the soreness in the muscles began to subside and I was able to move without too much pain or wincing, and the bruises started to heal.
So for now I'll continue to cheer the Olympians on from the stands.
5 Comments:
owe!
By
Pixiepurls, at 2/15/2006 7:13 AM
Yikes! That bruise looks big. I've heard that snowboarding takes several days in a row to learn (which involves constantly falling on your ass). If you stop after one or two days, you'll forget everything. You gotta go whole hog.
But what do I know? I've never tried it.
By
Anonymous, at 2/15/2006 10:21 AM
Oh most definitely, it would take a few times (and a lot more falling) to get the hang of it. I was warned. But between the sore muscles and the bruises (that was the only one that I could show you), I decided to cut my losses and step into the ski boots & bindings which of course got a whole 'nother set of muscles sore. But it sounds a lot worse than it is/was... I'm just whining.
By
Bogie, at 2/15/2006 10:44 AM
I tried snowboarding a couple years ago and took a class and everything. I kept falling, too. I was getting frustrated and mostly JEALOUS of the two-plankers that were jamming down the hill. Then something on my snowboard broke and I used that as an excuse to trade the snowboard in for some skis so I could actually enjoy my day!
By
Ilona, at 2/15/2006 11:01 AM
Ouch!
By
Abigail, at 2/15/2006 5:40 PM
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