This weekend family and friends went up to Big Bear Lake, California to ski/board Snow Summit. We went with three other couples, lot’s of teenage boys and 3 pre-teen girls. I brought my MacBook so I could keep up with all internet connections. As soon as I pulled out the old “Apple” I was informed that this was a vacation and no working allow – put the computer away!! Aughhhh! I tried getting an internet connection anyway – but nothing. Front desk tells me WiFi only works in the lobby, and with so much working against me, I reluctantly put anyway my laptop.
Sunday morning 6 AM – everybody still asleep, zonked out from hard skiing (old age, out of shape skiing kinda hang over). I’m up and sneaking down to the lobby, laptop tucked under my arm – I will connect!! Guy at the front desk sees the “Apple” and says “Macs don‘t work here” – sounds a little like discrimination – don’t quite believe it but I leave anyway with just a coffee in hand for my efforts. Get back to the room and decide to write and then just copy to blogs when I get home…
On the slopes, the majority of people are snowboarding. I’ve skied all my life, growing up in New Hampshire that’s what we did all winter long. I practically skied before I could walk, and way before I rode my first horse. Once I tried to snowboard thinking it couldn’t be that hard if all those people were doing it. I failed miserably at it…slide six feet, down on my butt, slide six feet, down on my butt…and down the slope I went spending most of the time on my butt!! I just couldn’t get it!!
Still, I look at those snowboarders with such envy – they look so graceful, so fluid as they slide down the mountain, shifting balance to maneuver a turn, they look like dressage riders – they are “one with their boards” – communicating with a miniscule shift in balance, a slight twist of the body – they glide beautifully; then the burst of energy as they explode off a rail, method grab, then land, to continue their smooth glide down the slope.
Method Grab
Skiers don’t look as graceful, (in my opinion) nor as balanced, they look…gawky next to boarders. (Now remember – I am a skier!!). I think if I could learn to snowboard, it would help my horseback riding because of the tremendous amount of precision timing and balance required - shouldn’t this translate over to potentially improved riding ability? Of course, any cross training will help an athlete perform better, but I think snowboarding looks particularly beneficial because of the importance it puts on balance, timing and core strength - all particularly important in riding well.
I tried it once, I think I’ll try it again – for the sake of improving my riding.
Plus it looks like a heck of a lot fun!!!
