A New Love For The Slopes
I have just gotten this post from a good friend of mine, I thought it was great and you should all read it!
I finished University around May of last year and was completely clueless as to what to do. The only thing I knew was that I wanted a year off from anything and I wanted to learn something new. I picked snowboarding.
The first few weeks were a very challenging time, I found it difficult to gain any balance, I fell over, a lot and I got very frustrated. I usually pick up sports and activities quite quickly and so the extra learning that was required to snowboard successfully was trying my patience. However I stuck with it and soon things started to fall into place.
After a couple of months I was able to board with some confidence, I couldn’t do any tricks or anything really extravagant (and I still can’t) but I was happy to coast down some minor hills at a meagre pace. Getting to the bottom without falling over for the first time was a thrill I can’t describe with words.
Later on in the year I decided to make a trip to Canada. I knew some people there and it would be a refreshing change of scenery for me. Also a massive positive in going to Canada was the chance to try out my new snowboarding skills on some real slopes, as opposed to the weak ones we have in England.
I initially arrived in Edmonton and stayed there for a few weeks, the weather was insanely hot for a little while and there was no snow. However, soon it became cold and the snow came down. I had been told by my friends that Jasper national park was a great place for skiing and snowboarding and so, when we were all set, we had a mini road-trip up to Jasper so I could show off what I had learned.
I ended up having a great time and my love for snowboarding has only increased because of this fantastic trip. My friends couldn’t get me off the slopes for the entire weekend we were there and I definitely got better. Now I neither want to leave, nor do I want winter to end. Here is to snowboarding and the joy it has given me.
So, if you have all remembered, it is my birthday next week and in case you are wondering what to buy me (that means you Ash) I have had my eye on that dvd set for Xena Warrior Princess, just in case you couldn’t think of anything…