The crisp, refreshing air of a winter
day. White snow sparkles in the
afternoon sun. It’s a bluebird day at
Brimacombe. I strap on my bindings,
tighten my helmet and stomp my board a little.
The hill stretches before me. I
can see every bump reflecting in the winter sunlight. Every curve taunts me. I exhale, my icy breath hangs in the
air. I position my board down the hill
and begin my descent down my nemesis – Bambi.
I’d been trying to learn to snowboard off
and on for years. Anyone over 30 will
agree – you don’t bounce like you used to.
I had decided after a two year hiatus that 2012 was the year I would
finally figure it out. I was tired of
the “falling leaf” – a step in the learning curve that I was stuck at. Fairly new to the area, I asked around and
everyone agreed that Brimacombe was a great place to learn at.
February came before I summoned the courage
to hit the hill and give it a try. I
made my way out to the magic carpet lift with toddlers, children and other
adult beginners like myself. I was
daunted and slightly embarrassed. The
lift staff were helpful and kind. They
didn’t even so much as giggle when I asked how to use the lift. I worked for hours and after several spills
and a sore bottom I could ride on both edges of the board. I didn’t pick it up that first afternoon, but
I did have a great time slope side in the fantastic weather.
Over the next few weeks I kept returning
and trying to pick it up. After several
runs I was able to turn from my front edge onto my back edge. But I was still having difficulties linking
my back edge to my front. One fateful afternoon
amid a crowd of school kids I heard an instructor shout “Look up the hill when
you turn”. It worked! And that was it – my snowboard epiphany. From that moment on I can finally say that I
am a snowboarder. I am grateful to the
staff at Brimacombe every time I “shred the pow!"
Lisa
