‘Tis the season: But for what?

When I know winter is coming, I get so excited! No, I’m not talking about “Yeah! Presents!” excited, I mean “as soon as there’s snow on the ground I’m going to be all over the mountain” excited.

Yes, the season is upon us, but the season for what - skiing or snowboarding? I must say I am a dedicated boarder for life. Though it’s not because I’m ignorant about skiing. I skied for two seasons before I learned how to board. Any boarder who has never skied has no room to declare which sport they think is superior. Many people started boarding because it was “cool,” and then they brag about their skills and mock skiers. On the other hand, most skiers think that boarders are losers, even though they’ve never tried the sport. Those people are sadly mistaken! Countless snow riders have formed their opinion without understanding the other side of the argument.

Truth be told, I used to be a proud skier, and I really did enjoy skiing. Then, I saw the light! On a trip to visit family in Oregon, my step-dad decided to take us snowboarding. I was really looking forward to it; I’d get to try out this sport that was totally new to me. The place I learned to board was Mt. Hood, a magnificent mountain with superb runs (it’s pretty much been dominated, the ski to snowboard ratio is low). Ever since then I’ve been addicted; yes, I have been totally captivated with snowboarding.

I almost get depressed in the summer, just looking at my poor snowboard, sitting in my bedroom being neglected. When you’ve got that board strapped on your feet, you curve, you glide, you fly. When you ski, the experience is just no match! Boarding is more of a challenge. Skiing is like having extensions on your feet, when you board, there is a whole new instrument your body has to work with. Literally, it becomes a part of you! Skis are designed to pop right off if need be, but a board with its bindings (either step-ins or strap-ins) is designed to stay on no matter what.

Now, though, it seems that there are a ton of other snow sports being invented. There’s ski-boarding, which is “radically changing the sport of snowriding.” There is also snowshoeing, as well as a ton of other weird ways to get from the top of the mountain to the bottom. Personally, I’d rather just stick with traditional snowboarding (or skiing I guess).