Snowboarding

“I can’t really say what happened or where my fool-proof braking plan went awry, but the next thing I know, I’m tumbling rhythmically down the hill, folded in half, snowboard knocking me in the forehead at regular intervals, for what seemed like 19 long years. For one fleeting whisper of a moment, I looked to my right and saw my cousin clinging to the side of aforementioned cliff, like Scar at the end of Lion King.”

“Still not having learned how to steer (or to do anything else for that matter) we headed down the hill just as before. Just as before, I lost sight of my cousin almost immediately. Just as before, I began moving at a speed that I was sure would kill me. But this time I had a modified breaking system. The snow was deep and fluffy and forgiving, and this gave me a confidence that would condemn me in new and interesting ways.”

“I found it very odd, getting used to balancing on the snowboard. Our instructor, Shane, was patient in telling us to start with one foot strapped in and the other pushing off the ground, which I got good at after 10 minutes or so. I even sorta kinda learned how to turn while moving. It was when we put both feet onto the board that I had trouble. I couldn’t get enough momentum to get going, and stopping was a little tough. Still, I managed.”