“You gotta go through pain, in order to become you.” – S. Carter Snowboarding is much tougher than skiing.
I could’ve gone the easy route and rented skis, but I chose the snowboard instead, out of fear.
No crutches; just me and the board, carrying my own weight to make my way down to the bottom of the hill.
After 20+ falls, a class three laceration (I’m making it sound a lot worse than it is) ¼ inch above from my right eye, and countless soon-to-be bruises, I learned how to snowboard.
Trial and error, learning from my mistakes on previous runs, and adjusting accordingly helped me cruise through what turned out to be my final trip down the slope. With only one* fall at the top of the hill, I felt accomplishment, satisfaction, and exhaustion all at the same time.
The feeling of achievement superseded every bump, bruise, scrape and scar; and personally, I don’t think skis** would’ve given me this same feeling or pain.
The fun was - and will always be - in the challenge.
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*this does not include exiting the ski lift, which I mastered in falling off of EVERY TIME. **at least not on the beginner slope [smile]