SNOWBOARDING!

Hey everyone!

So.. this weekend (04/05/2013) I went for my first ever lesson in snowboarding. A couple of things to note, but let me tell you first off, IT IS NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS. In fact it's really freaking hard. We had 20-30 minutes of equipment/health and safety talks first, because your feet are literally strapped to a really big heavy board, and if you fall, your feet stay attached to a big heavy board. So I think that if you're thinking of taking up snowboarding, take it seriously, or you're gonna hurt yourself. Now unfortunately, my technology brain failed me that day, and I didn't get any footage of me snowboarding on my trusty GoPro. But to be honest, you don't do much except be guided down the slope until you can manage going forwards or backwards alone anyway, so not a huge loss. But next time..

So. To start with, the instructors at the Snowdome in Tamworth are sound. Funny guys, very good at what they do, really put you at ease. Which is nice, as you're quite possibly about to hurl yourself down an icy slope. They start off by telling you the stance you need to be doing, and walk down with you whilst you're doing it. You start off doing it backwards, then they do the same going forwards.

There seemed to be a definite divide in what people could do. I managed on my 3rd go down to go down backwards all by myself. I was thinking "holy fuck. Something i'm instantly fantastic at, where have you been all my life." Any euphoric smugness instantly dissipated, however, when on my fifth go down going forwards, that I was going so damn fast that the instructor helping someone at the bottom had to hop out of the way before I took him out. I then landed on my knees and bounced onto my arse. It hurt. A lot.

It is comforting to know whilst you hurtle to the bottom in spectacular fashion, everyone does. There wasn't a single person, in a group of varying age and fitness, that didn't in some way end up at the bottom in a heap. So don't think you're gonna be the only spanner that face plants. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful, but just accept that you're probably gonna look silly along with everyone else.

I'd recommend it to anybody looking to improve their general fitness and build up a new physical skill. I'm sure when you know what you're doing that you'd have a lot of fun. I know this blog is meant to be about things that you can do that are relatively cheap and easy, but having just had a quick google of skiing/snowboarding holidays, it looks like you can get a 7 night stay at peak time for around £500 per person, flights and accommodation included (from the UK). That's a lot of money, but in replacement of the annual holiday, it's a way to keep your family fit and healthy, even when they're relaxing.

Stay cool.

(attached a quick clip of what I did manage so you can look at the training slope. Not all that scary. )