Snowboarding

I learned how to ski when I was five years old. I loved going up to the mountains and riding down the slopes, but riding up the slope was a different story. I hated the ski lift. I always got nervous that I would fall out of the chair and getting off the lift was a struggle every time. There was one time my dad and sister rode up on one chair together and I had to ride up by myself and I just didn't get off. It was so embarrassing because I had to ride the chair all the way back down the hill with everyone staring at me with pitying eyes.. I was eight years old and mortified. 

As I got older I made less of an effort to go skiing and once I moved to Hawaii for college, I didn't have the option at all.  Now that I'm in California, I decided it was time to ride the slopes once again, but change it up this time. 

Snowboarding has been on my bucket list for a while and this year I was determined to check it off.  Luckily one of my friends graciously offered to teach me how. We went up to Northstar Village in Tahoe, rented gear and were ready to go.  The adrenaline was definitely coursing through me and I was anxious to get started, there was just one thing in the way... the ski lift.  Not only had I not been on one in years, but now I'm going up with gear I've never used in my life.  I tried not to think too much about it, sat down on the chair and miraculously got off the chair without a hitch!  I quickly realized that the ski lift didn't scare me anymore.  If I fell getting off, I just got back up and kept going.  Sometimes you face the things that make you uncomfortable and realize they don't hold the same power anymore.

I do have to say that now I am officially addicted to snowboarding. I have yet to leave the bunny slopes and after my first day, my arms were extremely sore from falling and getting up so many times... but I finally feel like I'm getting the hang of it! 

Are you a skier or a snowboarder?