Tahoe: Fun, Snow, and a Birthday
This last Friday my roommate and I drove up to Tahoe for a little snowboarding.
Saturday was his birthday (Happy 34th Keith!) and so it was a pretty good way
to spend it. I had been snowboarding just a couple of times before in New York
and since my move out here I was of the “I hate snow, I’m not going near
it” camp. Keith gave me some pretty compelling arm twisting and convinced
me to go with him, Coco, and her friend Lori.
On Saturday we showed up at Sierra-At-Tahoe
to meet a group (that was late, but that’s a whole other story). Keith,
Coco, and Lori all got lift tickets while I got a lesson/rental/ticket combo.
My lesson started at 10am and I have to say that this was a way better
lesson than I ever had in New York. I feel that I now totally understand
why it is you are supposed to do things the way you do them on your snowboard.
The lesson lasted two hours. There was much falling and I got pretty tired.
At one point after the sun came out I was burning up so I took off my jacket
and proceeded to be a steam column generator for about 20 minutes (the Human
Torch extinguished is the best description I’ve come up with).
After my lesson and a long break at lunch I went back out and walked up the
smallest hill they have and then came back down a few times. There was
still much falling and I was worn out from having to get myself back up
over and over. Towards the end I was feeling like I hadn’t really learned
what I needed too but I then realized I was so tired that I was just
making mistakes. Another run down the hill and a little practice in the
flat ski/ride school area and I turned in my equipment and waited for
the others to finish for the day.
All in all it was a great day. I can’t wait to go back and take another
lesson and see if I remember how to ride. I now see what all my friends
see in snowboarding. The right equipment and a good instructor make all
the difference when you’re getting started. I’m also really glad that I
work out as much as I do. I had a few little sore spots on Sunday but today
I’m totally okay. The physical fitness (although I’m still overweight)
helps a lot.
The photo here is from the restroom of a pizza brew pub. It is one of the
holders of the paper seat cover dispensers. I thought it was hilarious that
it was stamped ‘PROTECTO’ so I took a picture (with Lori’s camera because I
was a tard and left mine in the hotel. Thanks Lori!)
