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I'm crazy..........looking to try snowboarding
By The Mana Knight 10-18-2010 08:41 PM
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1643 views |
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I know, this is another very random blog people may wonder how I thought about this and why I'm discussing it.
 I just had a talk with one of my CAG friends recently on AIM, who happens to not live very far from me about purchasing some snowboard gear. I asked about whether there may be snowboarding mountains in my area. He mentioned a few and I honestly never heard about them. We talked about possibly going sometime. I have never snowboarded once in my life. I use to live in an extremely flat state which lacked any mountains to snowboard, unless I drove way up north possibly (or went elsewhere). Despite never snowboarding, I always really liked snowboarding video games and watching snowboarding on TV a lot. I honestly always wanted to try snowboarding REALLY badly most of my life but never did it (partially because I never lived near a place I could do it). Now that I do, I'm really thinking about giving it a shot. Only kind of winter activities I ever did in my life was cross country skiing (went down a small hill, but that was back when I was 11 years old) and tobogganing. When I snowboard, there are just a few things I'll have to do before hand. I'll probably need a jacket for it, along with snowboard, hat, and other things. I honestly don't expect the gear to be cheap, but I honestly don't care about spending some money since trying it has been one of my biggest dreams in life. I honestly expect to fall a lot. I've kind of done some wake boarding/water skiing and it wasn't pretty. I only plan to try like a bunny hill. Only other kind of extreme style sport I've done is a little mountain biking. At first I did horrible, but second time I did much better willing to try most anything. If anyone has any tips on snowboarding, I'd be very happy to hear them. Hopefully if I can make a trip to go snowboarding, I'll blog about the experience. Snowboarding is really the other extreme sport I really care about getting into after mountain biking. I find surfing really cool, but I honestly don't think I can do it (I honestly can't swim too well, lol. Not like I can't do it, just not great at it). I find skateboarding cool and wish I could be good at it, but never really tried out. Skateboarding just didn't have the same appeal as snowboarding did to me on TV. Anyway, I'm going to make snowboarding one of my goals to do in the near future along with new things to try. I'm going to think of other new things to try which get me out of the norm of playing video games, watching anime, watching basketball/football games, browsing the internet, working on electronics/programming, etc. Only three concerns I have about snowboarding are I might break some bone in my body although I never have in my life (oh well, sometimes I gotta live life on the edge). I remember on Rocket Power when Otto Rocket broke his leg snowboarding. My next concern is that I'm not as fit as I use to be due to staying in and playing a lot of games (I gained just a little weight recently). I gotta get more fit soon, but that's not a big problem. My last small concern is that I wear glasses (most of the time) and don't have contacts yet. I should be able to see good enough without them, but things can blur from all distances (due to the condition I have) and I do get headaches leaving them off. But if I can go a week without them (while being replaced once), I should be all right. Anyone on CAG snowboard? |
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Posted in Life |
 Comments (Total Comments: 20) |
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dv8mad
- 10-18-2010, 09:00 PM
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1NintendoFan
- 10-18-2010, 09:08 PM
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I would definitely do it if I were you! I have always wanted to go snowboarding, but never had the chance to. I think it would be snow much fun, since I love snow and cold weather anyway, I think it would be perfect for me. I have always wanted to go skiing as well, but haven't had a chance to do that either.
As for your glasses, I think I would wear them if I were you. If you are going to do it, you want to enjoy it and not have to deal with headaches and/or not being able to see right. I think they make special equipment for people that wear glasses so that you can keep them on. I think that would be the best option because I don't think you would have as much fun without them. I really think you should do it though. You have the opportunity to do it so there is nothing holding you back and as you said, you need to live life on the edge sometimes. You may find something you really like doing! I remember that episode of Rocket Power, I used to love that show! |
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JMEPO
- 10-18-2010, 09:37 PM
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Let me just tell you that it's a lot harder than it looks.
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The Mana Knight
- 10-18-2010, 09:43 PM
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@JMEPO I'm definitely WELL aware of that. I learned that alone for all the extreme sports I did on water.
@1NintendoFan I LOVED Rocket Power and many of its episodes. It had a little inspiration in me wanting to do some extreme sports back in the day. |
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PrarieD0G
- 10-18-2010, 09:44 PM
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^ what he said. I tried it once and I eventually gave up and switched to skis after a couple hours cuz I kept falling every 2 seconds. You will definitely need someone to show you what to do (along with a lot of patience).
I even used to skateboard when I was younger, and this felt nothing like it. |
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MattJ1991
- 10-18-2010, 10:22 PM
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there is a couple things you need to know about snowboarding.
1 - it is HARD 2 - if you can get good (or even decent) at it, you'll look like a badass |
dodgeme
- 10-18-2010, 10:31 PM
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Snowboarding has to be one of my favorite things to do. Looking to get a new board, boots and other gear this year. But anyways your first 1-2 years unless you are born to be good are probably going to be tough. Doesn't help that I taught myself and skipped out on lessons but thats besides the point.
You'll be extremely sore but once you learn to be able to swerve toe side and heel side you'll be all set. I had the hardest time learning the ability to go toe side which cause me a year of trouble going down hills. One of the most common injuries with my ski group at school has to be the Broken Collarbone and that is what I fear the most. So far I have been good for 4 years but who knows what could happen. |
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megma42
- 10-18-2010, 10:44 PM
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The most common snow boarding injuries are wrist fractures. You are less likely to injure your knees though if riding a snowboard.
I would say go for it. I learned when I was 18 and love it. No lessons and fell almost constantly for the first 2 days. After that pretty smooth sailing. I would say to give it a go so long as you have several days on the slopes and can handle falling a lot. My wife took lessons and said that they helped her. I think that ripsticking is as close as you can get on land to a riding a snowboard. Not that it is the same, but closer than a skateboard. |
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BlueLobstah
- 10-18-2010, 11:17 PM
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I actually have an older snowboard to sell, but I doubt you'd be interested if you've never been before.
If you do decide to do it, take lessons and plan to be sore. The first few days you'll be more on your butt than standing up, but once you get the hang of it it's a lot of fun. I believe you can also get prescription goggles? But I wouldn't have any idea how expensive they are. And skiing/snowboarding are one of the most dangerous sports out there (as far as risk of injury). With a snowboard, you're more likely to get upper body injuries, especially from your shoulders out. |
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the_grimace
- 10-18-2010, 11:17 PM
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I never did skiing or snowboarding as well, despite growing up in a very big snow centered area. (most of Northeast america is huge for snowbaording and skiing) Tons of mountains, and often a good 6 months with snow on the ground.
I did use to go sledding and snow tubing a lot when I was younger, and I actually enjoyed playing in the snow a ton too in my teens, but around 17 or 18, I just began to hate the cold, so I started avoiding it at all costs, even not going out with friends to sled or stuff. Now I hate hate hate the cold, so obviously a hatred for snow just happens to come along with that. Don't think I would ever try it.. |
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QiG
- 10-18-2010, 11:45 PM
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Definitely go for it. I always wanted to and finally dove in and bought a season pass about 5 years ago. Take a few lessons to get the basics down. I was talked into going into the bigger hill on my first night and tumbled almost all the way down until I was finally able to stay upright... unfortunately I didn't know how bad an idea it was to go straight down and built up enough speed to have my legs go out from under me. (You want to move down the hill from side to side like a leaf falling until you know what you're doing). I busted my tailbone pretty good and it lingered all season but I had fun regardless. If you go now while you're still relatively young those kinds of slips and injuries aren't as big of a problem as they could be when you're older.
I got about 10 sessions in before they closed for the year in March because the snow melted (a week before spring break and a huge snow storm). But one of the last times I went everything clicked and I wasn't tumbling off the lift and I was changing my stance and steering with my toes pretty damn well. I'd like to go back again but no one I know was into it so the desire faded. Get yourself a decent base layer at the local sporting goods store and you'll be sweating in the middle of winter on the hill and stick with it, you'll have fun. |
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paz9x
- 10-18-2010, 11:46 PM
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Ive snowboarded for about 13 years or so. I worked at two ride shops for about 4 years.
I will tell you that traditional lessons given through a resort are not only a waste of your money, but they dont teach the fundementals of riding. Ive taught tons of people to snowboard and everyone of them has been able to ride freely down the mountain within the first half of the day. I once had some friends from out of town stop by my shop to get some equipment early in the morning. they insisted on takign lessons until I could meet them around lunch. When I got up there one of them was still trying, one was done for the day and the other was throwing up from eating shit so much. The guy who was done sat at the bar and got wasted, I took the other two down one run and they were riding confidently. The next run I wrecked pretty good and destroyed my arm which was not awesome. Anyway sorry for the length, but I wanted to impress upon you that lessons are a waste and I know what im talking about. If you decide to go feel free to message me and ill explain some concepts that should help. Snowboarding is probably the single most enjoyable thing ive ever done in my life. Like mentioned above, you will be sore. youll be sore in places you didnt know you could be sore. |
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Lost_In_Shadows
- 10-18-2010, 11:48 PM
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Are you trying to kill yourself? I wouldn't do it myself. I don't wanna live to the extreme. I wanna live! xD
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kburns10
- 10-19-2010, 12:19 AM
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Always wanted to try this! I plan to live vicariously through you so please try this lol
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SteveMcQ
- 10-19-2010, 10:02 AM
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There were actually some really good spots in Indiana, especially if you're a first-timer. That said, don't go out buying boots, bindings and a board. Just use the rentals they have to see if you'll actually enjoy it. I'd also suggest getting the smaller board. The longer ones are more stable, but they can be hard as hell to turn for a beginner.
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x-striker
- 10-19-2010, 11:31 AM
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If this is your first time snowboarding, you will fall, and you will fall a lot. The next morning, you are going to be sore all over. If you don't give up and you actually learn to ride well, you might just enjoy it. I personally love it, and wait for winter every year for it.
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DurbanBrown
- 10-19-2010, 02:11 PM
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Sounds like alot of work, just rent a snowboarding game and be done with all this nonsense
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MiNuN
- 10-19-2010, 07:01 PM
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I support this.
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Bonesinski
- 10-23-2010, 11:46 AM
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Most of the guys here are 100% right! It is hard, you will be sore and hurt after the first couple times going, but once you get a decent feel for it it can be one of the most enjoyable things in the world. Go for it! Just be be safe and start on some easy runs until you get a feel for it. I made the mistake of going straight up my first time and causing a pile off the chairlift.
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fusion0fangels
- 10-25-2010, 01:16 AM
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Geez this is a late response, but I snowboard in Cali whenever snowboarding season starts up. I know California doesn't have all the really great mountains and stuff, but I live here so beggars can't be choosers. It really isn't too hard to learn how to snowboard, at least for me it wasn't. I don't perform any tricks or go through halfpipes and stuff like that, but I've tried a couple of jumps. Overall, snowboarding is fun and I look forward to snowboarding seasons.
Take lessons, as they help you learn the basics and how not to get injured. If you don't take lessons, just remember not to fall on your hands; you'll break something in your arm pretty easily like that. And on your head, obviously. Get a helmet (or not, if you want to be one of "the cool kids"...I don't have a helmet =/ ...) and a snowboard you'll like, gear you'll be comfortable with, and have fun. |
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