My experience on Snowboarding.

So today was our very first snow day, freaking sweet, yeah? YEAH! Of course the first thing you have to do on a snow day is sleep in until you can't sleep any more. Then afterwards you go about the house in your pajamas in disbelief that you're uptight superintendent actually finally gave a snow day. Once done with wathing a little tv you eventually change into clothes (or don't whichever) and find something to do.... Like get on the computer and browse the internet for hours. After most of this is done, it's kind of crazy.. but it's around 3. You wonder why every day can't be like that, and realize you've wasted the majority of your morning sleeping. Of course, well, who cares. It felt good, and that's awesome.

This is my normal snow day experience. Now for my today snow day experience. I did most of the things above but instead of internet browsing for hours, I only browsed for about one hour. This was when I decided I wanted to go snow boarding! I have really been snow boarding before and I figured wouldn't it be so dandy to go out and attempt to snowboard. I've heard snowboarding can be quite the difficult thing to learn, but I figured I could at least give it a try. After struggling with my boyfriend to find all of the proper attire to wear to this cold and generally uncomfortable experience we were finally ready to go out to Snow Trails and hit the slopes. Of course not until after hitting up the local McDonalds for a delicious snack wrap (duh).

I do believe that getting to snow trails was the most difficult part for me. Now normally a person who has actually traveled to snow trails before would have taken the smart, direct route via Opposum Run Rd. (possum run) but I, I did not. I took the long way, the very very very long way. The way in which I take 97 or 95 (I can never remember which is which) to Butler and then to Bellville. Of course from there you take a right get onto 13 and eventually reach Opposum Run Rd (sort of). Of course I didn't do that either because I was under the delusion that I needed to get to the other 71 exit because I knew Snow Trails was close to 71 but I didn't know which exit it was. Well, I was wrong, and pissed off. I had to turn all of the way around to take Rt. 13 to the other 71 exit just to realize wow... I took the very scenic and very not gas efficient route to Snow Trails. I even remember passing the turn to Opposum Run Rd. thinking, "Hm, I know that Snow Trails is on this road... but maybe it isn't..." and by the time I got done thinking that at about 60mph the road sign was already gone.

Of course don't let this detour lead you to believe it ruined my day. It did NOT. I was still ready to learn how to snow board and I was still ready to do some back flips and other sweet tricks. Needless to say this didn't happen, but let me go in order. Kyle and I get there, we aren't frequenters so we do not have a pass, or even any gear such as the snowboard or the snowboots. So we have to buy a lift pass, and rent equipment. This did cost quite the pretty penny (115 to be exact). I don't know about you, but I almost wonder if going outside and running down the hill behind the high school and then falling onto my knees/butt at full speed would have been about the same experience. I would have even been able to possibly by myself something useful with that money, like more IB Profen. Of course that's just me being negative. The snowboarding experience wasn't really that bad.

Kyle and I upon exiting the rental station head towards the hills, I mean SLOPES (gotta sound cool and experienced) We decided that we don't need to practice on the baby hill in which there is a cute little carpet that takes you up the hill and you go down a hill about 15 feet. So we go to the next highest level where I don't really understand, but the hill from the baby hill to the bunny hill well it pretty much is ten times larger. Well, after struggling up the lift.. because man.. Snowboards are a lot heavier than I thought. Like really really really heavy and really really really awkward to walk in. I struggled into the lift, and was of course absolutely freaked out. Upon reaching the top of the hill.. I go to get out of the chair and needless to say fall pretty much right onto my face. and then roll down the hill with a very heavy awkward snowboard attached to my already aching ankle. I get the snowboard attached to my other foot, and with full spirit I have at the slope for about.... 3 feet before I fall again, this time onto my ass. Lets put it this way.. I was on my ass a lot more than I was actually snowboarding the first time down the hill. Every time I'd get going I'd almost hit a kid, try to turn, and then land on my ass. Of course the people that I tried to miss would kind of stare and laugh. But oh, oh if they only knew I could have hit them and it would have hurt.

I didn't really let this get to me, although it thoroughly hurt both my ankles, knees, butt, and wrists to fall so frequently. I kept going, and I'd have to say that I went down that mf'ing hill at least 20 times. I eventually mastered that damn lift thing. I also mastered falling on my ass. I, however, did not master the whole snowboarding thing where you start at the top, and make it to the bottom without falling and getting snow in your face. I did make it to the point where I only fell once or twice, and that was a huge advancement for me. I felt accomplished. Of course Kyle showed me up by going down the hill once without falling at all (show off).

Overall, the experience was a good one. I doubt I'd go again this year, not because I'm afraid to, or because I didn't have fun... Okay maybe sort of because I don't like being hurt, but it's mostly because it was freaking 115 dollars. We weren't even there for more than 4 hours! That's absolutely ridiculous! Otherwise, I'd go up more often. I'd school all of those 10 year olds who put me to shame today, and then throw snow in there faces. I'd do sweet 360's and other sweet stuff that snowboarders do.. But, I just don't have that type of money. I don't think I liked the experience enough to even go out and buy stuff or get a season pass. Maybe once a year, but that'll be all.

Essentially the moral of the post is? George W. looks like a monkey with a balding head of grey hair. =) Okay, maybe not that, but more like.. Snowboarding is fun if you can put up with the pain and the possibility of having to ice a knee from constant high pressure impacts (which I did, my knee is still swollen) then have at it! Unless of course you're already really awesome at it and have a pass and go like every day.. then sweet.. More power to you.