About Me
Originally from the southeast, skateboarding was my first love (I was 11). However, 3 years later I tried surfing and it became an obsession. I eventually moved to and lived one block from the beach for 5 years, but now live 2 hours inland (still get about 30 days a year).
Went skiing a couple of times in my teens - fun, but not enough to pursue. I even tried snowboarding once in 1990, but still wasn't inspired (probably because of the rental).
Cut to January, 2006
I was invited to Tahoe with some gambler friends (they don't ride), and thought: "O.K., I'll just rent one of those snow skates I've been wondering about". No one told me it was the best day of the season during the best season of all time and that snow skates basically don't work in powder (poor shop advice or not enough research). Because I didn't want anything strapped to my feet, I wasted that whole day hiking around the mountain, determined to make that iced up thing work...it didn't! (talk about paying your dues). I finally realized bindings are there for a reason and, the next day, rented a snowboard. It all clicked and I've been obsessed ever since. I now go to Tahoe with the gamblers twice a season (x-mas and spring break) and jam the 2 hour drive up to my local mountain whenever there's fresh.
One thing I learned is that wearing anything that lessens your visibility on the mountain is a bad idea (the recent fashion has been neutral colors, tans, actual camouflage, and, even worse, pure white). That first year, I wore a dark blue jacket that I conveniently already owned. Well, one day, I was riding down the edge of practically empty groomer (always in control and aware) when, out of nowhere, this guy rams the shi*t out of me - he, somehow, managed to slam the tip of his board square on my a**hole and I was f**cked up. I had seen him seconds before, in my peripheral vision, all the way on the other side of the groomer - he must have traversed the entire width at about mach 1. I berated him and finished the day with what I'm sure was a sour look on my face, but the next time I went snowboarding, I had the brightest red jacket I could find (one less excuse).
