Show us what you see!!!

[Coult45]

For the first time in a few years, there's finally enough snow to bust out the snowshoes. I snuck up on a Wild Turkey (yes, i'm bragging) in the woods this afternoon, and got a quick look at a Northern Flicker too...

 

[2kwik4u]

Took the oldest to go snowboarding. Kissing Bridge is only about 30min from the house. Was a decently warm day (around 25), and it dumped an extra 6in or so on us while we were there.

$55/EA got us both a 90min lesson, boots, boards, and helmets. Spent another 3hrs or so on the bunny slopes afterwards. I've been riding a wakeboard for decades now, this was weirdly different. The whole "standing on a board that's sliding" is the same, but weight placement and turning is pretty different. After the first lesson I had it pretty figured out, but I need a LOT of practice before we graduate off the bunny slopes.

We fell a couple times, and once I re-aggravated my neck injury. Totally worth it for the oldest to tell me "Best day ever dad" on the way home!

replying to myself here for context. Tagging in some others for fun

@YoDaddy292 @Thermobrett @Coult45 @AZMark

We went back yesterday. Little bit different deal this time. $55 for board/boot/helmet rental. $15 for "bunny slope" lift ticket. Got there around 1pm, left about 5:30. Not a terrible $/time ratio at about $120 for the day for both of us.

We didn't do any lesson this time, just a bunch of runs on the beginner slope. It's really shallow, and not very long. Only made maybe 10 runs total because of the time it took to get back UP on the magic carpet thing. After about the 5th or 6th run we decided to traverse over to the other "more aggressive" slope that is really just the last little bit of a much larger slope. The steepness was intimidating, but we both did it 2-3 times and didn't crash. Speaking of which, I went the whole session without falling on my tailbone. I was concentrating hard on trying to learn how to get myself to be "toe side" towards the hill, and made a commitment to myself to only "fall forward". Seemed to work, and was nice to not come home with a sore neck/back bone re-arrangement.

We both decided at the end of the day that next time, we're getting a proper lift ticket and we're going to go on the big hills. We don't have to be fast, or completely comfortable at it, but the small slopes aren't giving us enough time to actually practice anything. We can stand, and turn, and stop now; without hurting ourselves. We have enough control to not be a nuisance on the slopes to others. We're both pretty certain we just need mileage now to "figure things out" better.

The oldest is even more hyped about it now too. Spent the evening glued to his phone watching snowboard videos, and then started asking how soon we can get back, and that sort of thing. Not gonna lie, I'm fairly excited about it as well. Might have found our "winter thing to do" in the area (not like we looked that hard to be honest). This is pretty odd for his personality as well. About the only other thing I've seen him "obsess" over like this is skimboarding. That kid just absolutely THREW himself into that, and loves it to the point of begging to spend time at the beach every time we go. Got really good at as well, despite having about 10hrs total practice over ~4 years.

SO.....because it's a picture thread, and I didn't take any pictures yesterday. Here's one of him with a skimboard from this summer.



And yes, I promise I feed him as much as he's willing to eat!

 

[Coult45]

Great picture! And I think you're right, time to get up on the hill and get some longer rides in. You guys are ready. Couple of suggestions...take more lessons periodically. If the instructors are any good, they'll keep your skills growing way past beginner, and you'll progress WAY faster than all those self-taught riders. And - remember that it's the opposite of wake boarding. Standing up straight is the enemy. Stay coiled all the time. Legs bent, dynamic body positions the whole time. Your quads should scream if you're riding the right way.

 

[YoDaddy292]

replying to myself here for context. Tagging in some others for fun

@YoDaddy292 @Thermobrett @Coult45 @AZMark

We went back yesterday. Little bit different deal this time. $55 for board/boot/helmet rental. $15 for "bunny slope" lift ticket. Got there around 1pm, left about 5:30. Not a terrible $/time ratio at about $120 for the day for both of us.

We didn't do any lesson this time, just a bunch of runs on the beginner slope. It's really shallow, and not very long. Only made maybe 10 runs total because of the time it took to get back UP on the magic carpet thing. After about the 5th or 6th run we decided to traverse over to the other "more aggressive" slope that is really just the last little bit of a much larger slope. The steepness was intimidating, but we both did it 2-3 times and didn't crash. Speaking of which, I went the whole session without falling on my tailbone. I was concentrating hard on trying to learn how to get myself to be "toe side" towards the hill, and made a commitment to myself to only "fall forward". Seemed to work, and was nice to not come home with a sore neck/back bone re-arrangement.

We both decided at the end of the day that next time, we're getting a proper lift ticket and we're going to go on the big hills. We don't have to be fast, or completely comfortable at it, but the small slopes aren't giving us enough time to actually practice anything. We can stand, and turn, and stop now; without hurting ourselves. We have enough control to not be a nuisance on the slopes to others. We're both pretty certain we just need mileage now to "figure things out" better.

The oldest is even more hyped about it now too. Spent the evening glued to his phone watching snowboard videos, and then started asking how soon we can get back, and that sort of thing. Not gonna lie, I'm fairly excited about it as well. Might have found our "winter thing to do" in the area (not like we looked that hard to be honest). This is pretty odd for his personality as well. About the only other thing I've seen him "obsess" over like this is skimboarding. That kid just absolutely THREW himself into that, and loves it to the point of begging to spend time at the beach every time we go. Got really good at as well, despite having about 10hrs total practice over ~4 years.

SO.....because it's a picture thread, and I didn't take any pictures yesterday. Here's one of him with a skimboard from this summer.

View attachment 231275

And yes, I promise I feed him as much as he's willing to eat!

Like a lot of sports, a little more speed actually makes it easier, and as you mentioned just the time to make 20 turns for practice vs. 4-5 is incredibly helpful. Snow sports definitely reward aggression which is tough because it is counter-intuitive to throw yourself down a hill lol.

 

[2kwik4u]

Great picture! And I think you're right, time to get up on the hill and get some longer rides in. You guys are ready. Couple of suggestions...take more lessons periodically. If the instructors are any good, they'll keep your skills growing way past beginner, and you'll progress WAY faster than all those self-taught riders. And - remember that it's the opposite of wake boarding. Standing up straight is the enemy. Stay coiled all the time. Legs bent, dynamic body positions the whole time. Your quads should scream if you're riding the right way.

My quads were screaming at the end of the day yesterday. I think as much from bending over to attach the bindings to the boots as the riding, but that's a "beer belly" issue more than a talent and exercise issue.

The "weight forward" is VERY VERY disconcerting at first. I'm getting used to it, and learning how just shifting the weight and effect direction as much as which edge I'm on and how I "carve" (if you can call what I'm doing that at any level)

Like a lot of sports, a little more speed actually makes it easier, and as you mentioned just the time to make 20 turns for practice vs. 4-5 is incredibly helpful. Snow sports definitely reward aggression which is tough because it is counter-intuitive to throw yourself down a hill lol.

It is completely counter intuitive, but I can already see that being true. I'm in this weird place of having enough balance and skill to stay on top of the board, but not enough confidence to pitch myself down the hill and just "trust the board". I'll get there I'm sure, but we're far enough into the season now if we get another 3 trips this year I'll be impressed. Then I'll have to relearn it all over again.

 

[zpaul]