I started snowboarding in 1997. My friend Ty Horton prompted me to give it a try and so I did. We were out driving around and decided to go look at snowboarding gear. We drove up to this skateboard/snowboard gear shack and in we went. I started talking to Ty and he said I should just buy all of my stuff then, even though I had never gone before. Talk about a way to ENSURE you try out the sport...buy the gear first. Some $1000.70 later, I was an authentic looking snowboarder... without all the body piercings. The first time I went, we went up to Steven's Pass in Washington State. Could I have picked a worse time to learn? No, probably not. The slopes were icy and, since it was the opening day, everyone and their kid were there. I couldn't go more than 50 feet without some little sucker getting right in my way, which caused me to fall. Every time I fell I felt more empathetic towards WWF wrestlers getting slammed on the mat. I came away from that mountain hurting and disappointed in equal amounts. I thought I had made a huge mistake buying all that gear and coming away not liking it. I gave it another go at Mount Spokane three weeks later. The conditions were perfect! The sun was out, the snow was thick and sticky and, since it was a weekday, hardly anyone was up there. Within an hour, I looked like I had been 'boarding the whole season. I was taking jumps and racing down slopes with little regard for my mortality. This was exactly what I needed to get me interested in this sport. I went five more times that year and had a blast at the snowboard park on Stevens Pass. For those of you who have never snowboarded, and wish to try it, I must caution you that it is NOTHING like skiing. Your balance is completely different and you have to keep an edge down or you'll end up on your face. I would suggest at least watching some of those snowboard instructors teaching class or if you have a patient snowboarding friend have him/her teach you.
