the past saturday marked my fourth trip snowboarding, and a confusing time for me.
this trip took us to RoundTop (“Where the Logos Are Designed By Hippies” - unfortunately i have no documentation of this), which is the farthest of the Pants-approved slopes. a daring young Kunk joined us on this trip, as well, and i was glad for the company. there is photo and video of this outing, but as i don’t have it in my possession at the moment i must let the suspense build.
it was a 2.5 hr trip out there, after stopping to rescue Kunk from the clutches of the WMATA and fueling ourselves on McDonald’s breakfast chow, but well worth the haul. RoundTop is my favorite mountain of all the ones we have visited. i was sporting my brand-new-i-forgot-to-break-them-in snowboard boots, and Pants had a shiny new just-received-the-day-before snowboard to try out. Kunk didn’t have anything new, but since i was informed this was only the second time in her life she’d gone snowboarding, i figured it was ok.
we rented our equipment, changed our clothes because it was reeeally warm on the mountain, and headed to the learner’s slope. Pants showed Kunk how to skate, turn, and glide, and then there was an actual first-timer’s lesson. this was the FOURTH first-timer’s lesson i’d taken, and the first occasion that i was not the WORST in the class; in fact i was almost the best. almost. we skipped out early (just like the time before with Ms. McHidingersons); Kunk seemed to get the gist of it and there were necessary potty breaks to be had. they don’t stop that class for nothin’.
my favorite part of the class was as we milled around the foot of the bunny slope, and a woman in red, on skis, came toward our group. she was shrieking in these short, piercing yelps, as the instructor up the hill called out encouraging directions. she executed her turn, didn’t fall or collide with anyone, and looked like she had just survived an auto accident, her fists clenched about her ski poles and her body clearly tensed, noticeable even under her fluffy ski apparel. i thought it was funny until i realized she wasn’t relaxing even after stopping, and then i thought maybe she was one of the adaptive learners... well, later on Kunk came to a slow halt (and fall) near the Shrieking Lady and her instructor on the bunny slope, and the Shrieking Lady shrieked (bien sûr) and stared at Kunk, who was sitting harmlessly in the snow, with her eyes wide, her body tensed, unable to flee on her cumbersome skis but unable to realize there was no danger, until her instructor calmed her enough to scoot her away from the location of the trauma. i’m pretty sure she wasn’t one of the adaptive people; i’m pretty sure she was just a little odd.
things went great. Kunk didn’t fall her first time off the lift, and magically seemed to have the hang of snowboarding within an hour. i was furiously jealous and thought about deliberately crashing into her, but didn’t. actually, i’m kidding, Kunk did do splendidly but i was more in awe and pleased that at least SOMEBODY seems to understand this stupid sport. Pants coached her down the slope, and i added mostly unhelpful advice (not quite along the lines of “don’t fall” but pretty close).
we descended the slope with joy, and then descended on some nachos and four dollar sodas. the nachos were delightfully stale, salty chips doused in quickly congealing velveeta; no tomatoes, onions, or peppers in sight. Pants stole an orange soda (thereby making it all the sweeter). he claims it was inadvertent, but we all know the truth.
and then the confusing time. it was just about time for us to leave, Kunk was worn out, and Pants was ready to pack it in... and i didn’t want to go. i begged for one more run down the easy slope, and kindly my companions obliged. Kunk actually waited patiently at the lodge, and Pants accompanied me. i went down the slope again, and almost felt in control. i didn’t panic when i went backwards. the board started doing what i willed it to do. sure, i fell some more, but only when i was a little over my head; i fell when i kept pushing instead of taking the safe route of stopping.
today my calves hurt, but the rest of me is whole, and i want to go again.
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2 comments:
You're becoming a snowsboardin' diva! ROCK STAR!
and here i was, just hoping to become a snowboarding poser, wearing full make-up to the slopes, my hair done up, in some cute snow wear that shows off my tush and an adorable board, preferably with sparkles. go down a slope? oh heavens no! i’ll just sip some hot cocoa ’til the boys return.
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