How I Learned to Snowboard

Ok, so I am the last person that anyone would have thought they would catch snowboarding. I am really more of a sit on the sidelines and drink beer, while watching the sports kind of girl. As it turns out, learning to snowboard was one of the best things I have ever done.

My husband came home for leave this February. He loves to snowboard and it pretty good. I have always stayed home with the kids whenever he went because I didn't want to slow him down, or have to get someone to watch the kids. But, because of the leave time and our anniversary falling within it, we decided to go on a mini romantic vacation.

Well, I can't say that the actual learning how to snowboard was anywhere near romantic. It was painful, difficult and frustrating. I actually thought that I would quit after the first day.

We were to spend two nights and three days at the resort. This would be our first real vacation ever, including a honeymoon. I was concerned that being without my kids would distract me from having a good time, but still, we set out very early the first morning of our trip.

The first step in my learning to snowboard was for me to have a lesson. By the time we got there we were running a bit late, so we hurried on to get my gear and check in. I kissed my hubby and told him I would be fine as he set off for the lifts, and then I headed over to start my lesson.

I didn't know what to expect from a snowboarding lesson at all. My instructor proved to be very patient and positive. The first thing I had to learn was to set my board down upside down when I wasn't using it.

Then I had to learn how to fall. Sounds easy right, think again. Always fall backwards onto your butt if you can, and not on your wrists or you'll be sorry later.

Next, I had to learn how to step into it, which turned out to be something I couldn't even do the first few times without falling on my butt. By the time we moved off the flat area and onto the beginners level one, I was already sweating.

The next step was for me to learn how to move forward with my board across the slope, which is also how you slow down. Basically it's a matter balancing your weight and lifting your toes.

I know, I know what you're thinking, that it still sounds so simple. Well the only way you can really know is to try it yourself, but I will try to explain it a bit more.

Your body always has a natural reaction to everything and the natural reaction to facing a down hill slope that you could hit your face on, is to pull away from the danger, and that is why we fall.

You have to try to go with the terrain, let the board take you while still having control. It's way easier to say that then to actually do it.

You have to stand with your knees bent and back straight, which is sort of hard to do when you're nervous about falling. It is instinct to prepare for the fall. If you look the direction you want to go, you will go that way. So that takes us back to that balance thing.

If your going down facing forward down the hill and give it too much toe, you will crash. But, if you give it too much heel it will cause you to crash too. So you have to find a comfort zone in between.

So once I learned how to go forward comfortably, I moved on to side slipping. That is going from one side of the run to the other, then back again while moving down the hill. I took to that quite quickly and then it was the end of my lesson.

I met my husband and he asked if I was ready to go on the bunny hill. No way, I told him. I didn't want to go anywhere but level one until I knew that I was comfortable enough to control the board.

At the time I would freak out and fall if I started going to fast. I would freak out and fall if my board turned and pointed itself down hill. I couldn't control it enough to turn it across and slow it down.

So while my husband did the advanced runs I stayed on level one. It was the hardest thing having little kids wiz by and laugh at me because I had fallen, but I stuck with it. If I fell I got right back up and tried again. Over and over, all day long I practiced my side slipping.

By the end of the day I was tired, sore, and ready to be done, but my husband wanted me to try the bunny hill. I relented and told him I would try it Oh boy was that the wrong decision, I should have just called it quits.

It started off fine, but I didn't realize that it would be as steep as it was. I ended up going a little ways then stopping. This went on repeatedly until almost the end of the run. My calves were throbbing with pain and so was my tail bone. I saw my husband standing there beside me and I just couldn't keep it in any more.

I started crying, sobbing actually. It was horrible. I sat there balling while my husband tried to make me feel better and people flew by on their skis or boards. I just didn't think I could make it down the rest of the way.

Finally someone from the lift yelled up at us that if we wanted to ride up we needed to get on the lift. They were closing it. I started crying all over again because I hadn't learned how to get on and off the lift yet. They actually had to stop it completely to let me on and off. I felt very small.

So all in all it was a rough day of learning. That night we relaxed in our great big bathtub that was in our room and had dinner in their cozy restaurant. Before we went to sleep I realized that even though I was sore, I couldn't wait to get out there in the morning.

Next morning, we showered up, had some coffee and headed back to the slopes. Well, my husband headed out to the slopes while I went back to level one. Same thing, all day, I practiced and practiced. I did get good enough to go down the bunny hill at the end of the day with out breaking down in tears, but that didn't make my tail bone or wrists feel any better.

That evening we had pizza and played some pool in the lounge. I was really, really tired, that is until we discovered the Jacuzzi and heated outdoor pool. There is just something so incredibly awesome about sitting in a hot tub at night with snow all around you, watching the groomers prepare the runs for the next day.

Snowboarding was all I could think about. I couldn't wait to get back out there, I even dreamt about it.

The next day we got a late start and needed to check out of our room. As much as we wanted to stay, we needed to get back to the kids. We had already decided to come back next week with the kids. I even had such a great time and knew I was going to keep boarding that I asked my husband if we could go buy some boots so I wouldn't have to rent next time.

When we did go back with the kids, we got them all lessons except our two year old who had to stay in the daycare. Just like last time I got a lesson and my husband went off to the lifts.

I had the same instructor and we worked on turns this time. He said I was doing really well at the other stuff he had taught me. The turns kicked my butt though, I was afraid to do it. Afraid to let go of my fear of falling down and just do it. I left that day really disappointed in myself. But, I still felt this crazy urge to keep going.

Yet again we wanted to go snowboarding before my husband had to go back over seas. This time we took his brother so he could have a riding buddy. Finally, Finally I had my click day. I did it.

I rode that bunny hill with them, determined that I was going to do a turn. I kept up with them almost the whole way, but toward the end I fell and when I got up I tried to turn. I fell again, so I got up and tried again. I fell.

It went on like that until I was almost right in front of them; they were watching me from the bottom, near the lift. Then it happened. I turned, and then turned again. Two whole turns.

It was the most awesome thing I had ever done in my whole life. I went fast and I turned. All I could talk about on the lift back up to the top was how good I felt and how happy I was. I had never felt so proud of myself for sticking with something.

I overcame fear of getting hurt. I gave into myself and just let go. Never in my whole life had I felt an adrenaline rush like that. I can't wait until next winter when I can have all season to practice and get better.

Finally my husband and I have found something we can do together that we both enjoy. So if you want to learn to snowboard, if you have ever even thought about it, you should try. At least then you can say that you have tried it.