Last Chance to Shred Some Snow...

Well, as you know, the snowboarding and skiing season is a short one. Kind of a November to March, early April thing (if you can find someplace still making snow!).
Unless you live in Iceland or close to one of the poles, it's pretty much getting to be crunch time. Boarders far and wide will soon resignedly hang up their snowboards, and then turn to their "summer sports".

So my snow friends and I have been scrambling to try to get another day or weekend in! This hasn't been easy, because the last two weekends have been horrible weatherwise. Either blizzards, non stop rain, icy conditions, etc. But it looks like we're gonna get to ride in a couple days, cause some good snow's a comin'.

So, while out here Googling all manner of snowboard and skiing topics, I came upon these boards where people discuss their skiing and snowboarding injuries. Not really the best thing to do if you're squeamish, but I'm not. I also read somewhere this blog of a guy who snapped his tibia coming down the mountain snowboarding. I'm like, "damn...that had to be wicked painful". Hmmmmm.... Let's see if we can find a pic of such a break! Well, I dug up not only a tib break, but a fibula AND tibia break in the leg. Check it out!

Pretty gnarly, huh? LOL. Makes you think twice about what yer doin' up on that there slope! I know I plan to be careful as HELL. I'm not getting brought home with one of THOSE. Unh uh! Looks like it would take a damn long time to heal, too. Poor thing! I bet that person was out of commission for months!

Anyway, here's keeping my fingers and toes crossed on my next snowboarding trip! It's gonna be too fun! And DO NOT tell me to break a leg!

SnowboardDiva.com

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"That Snowboarding Afterglow"

Now that I'm back on snowless land, I find myself missing the slopes. That snowboard weekend I just had was awesome, and I am now thinking and plotting on how I can be so much better the next time I go out. I know not to try to rush it, but I'm so used to being good at things, and I guess it's just natural for me to almost overthink things in my attempt to achieve that.

So, I'm happy to say, I get my second crack at shredding some mountains in just a couple weeks. Yep, already booked the next trip. So, I've been out here checking out various snowboarding sites and blogs, checking on how to learn and master certain techniques. Here's a great tutorial on doing those turns:

http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-a-Carve-on-a-Snowboard


Now, let's just hope all that theory turns into reality the next time I'm out there! ;)

SnowboardDiva.com

Just a few of the things I dream about doing......



Yeah, I'm crazy, but I told you that already, right? ;)

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Heel Side, Toe Side, Falling Leaf.....

Omg...I just came back from my first snowboard weekend at Okemo resort in Vermont, and can I just tell ya...

Every muscle I have is killing me!

Um.... Learning to snowboard is....HARD. lol!

But, by the second day of lessons, I began to get it! If nothing else, I learned how to slow down and emergency STOP. A most important element of any downhill type sport!!! As for pics, I was too busy busting my ass to video and take pics. Sorry. That'll have to go down on the next trip.

That's right, the NEXT trip. Cause I'm DEFINITELY doing this AGAIN! It was crazy! I can't wait to go again!

I got a long, hot bath waiting for me. This post will have to be short. My arm doesn't want to lift my hand to type anymore!

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Stealin' My Thunder....

So, I step up into one of my company clubs to teach my usual Wednesday classes, and I notice that there is now a bright orange flyer posted on the glass doors and windows around the studio. "Getting Ready for Skiing and Snowboarding Training", it read. I'm like, WTH?
Hmmmmm.....has some trainer in my co been reading my blog?? Coincidence? Or am I just being paranoid? I can't help but to think about the post I did: "Getting Ready for the Slopes Workout", posted about a week ago. My company, while having a full time schedule of fitness classes with everything from Yoga to Tae Kwon Do, and also an army of personal trainers some 5,000 + strong, is always encouraging us (trainers and instructors) to create "small group training" classes. I wonder if one of my co workers stumbled across my blog and the suddenly formed his/her bright idea to create that class. God only knows! lol

But I tell ya what....I might just have to hold back a FEW of my ideas just to make sure I get to put 'em out there on the world market first. Now, I know I'm not the first person to come up with ideas for ski and snowboard training. There are already instructional and preparatory videos out there by the dozen on both subjects. But the timing on this new class at MY own gym just gives me pause.

Anyhow, I'm about to hit the slopes, y'all! I''m too excited, and I'll be back with cool as hell video and pics. PROMISE!

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My "Getting Ready For the Slopes" Workout

I am really into prepping for things. Must be the Virgo in me that has me crossing every T and dotting every I whenever I do ANYTHING new.
So, I'm thinking....I need to be in snowboard shape before hitting the slopes. Now, mind you, I realize that just because you're fit in one sport or area, it doesn't mean you're just going to automatically come up aces in everything else. Just doesn't work that way, usually. Now, if we're gonna be kickboxing, stepping or jumping rope out there on the mountain, I've got it locked. But ya know it's not gonna be like that! ;)

One fun thing I'm doing is working out on my trampoline. Jumps, runs, and 180 and 360 degree turns (in the middle of a jump). I want to be able to do 180's and 360's on my board when I get the basics down. Yeah, I'm always a show off, and I HAVE to have neat tricks in my arsenal. I also want to be able to jump up on elevated surfaces like I see the other, more experienced snowboarders do. Hey, my health insurance is already re upped for the year, 'kay? lol. I've also been drinking milk. I think my bones can take it. ;)

By the way, I really don't expect to be doing all that crazy stuff my first few times out, but the minute I'm feeling like I've hit my stride, I'm damn sure gonna try! I'm a complete acrobatic ham on my rollerblades, so I can't imagine not being the same way on a snowboard!

Right now, I'm building up my jump muscles on the tramp, remembering to lift my knees up just about waist high when I jump-turn (an over exaggeration of the real jumps I'll be doing). Doing high jumps with the knees up is not only prepping me for the things I'm going to want to be doing, but it's a damn good heart rate elevator. I feel SO invigorated and worked out by the time I get through 25 minutes of jumping (which is how long I'm doing now), and am sweating nicely. It's so much fun, I'm going to start doing it twice a day; once in the morning and once at night, increasing the time to 30 mins, and then 35 or 40. Next week, I'll strap on ankle weights starting with 2lbs on each ankle, and then eventually increasing the weights to simulate the weight of the board (and boots + bindings). THAT's gonna be killer at first, but once I adjust, it'll be great.

I love these new workout sessions! I just put my music on, jump up on that trampoline, and GO! I alternate between high knee runs, fast paced Urban Rebounder style down jumps, my 180 & 360 degree jump-twists and turns, and high bounces pushing off the balls of my feet. Not only is it fantastic cardio, and somewhat sport (trick) specific, but it's also a super core tightener, and great core strength is essential in sports like skiing, snowboarding and surfing. It's also fun as hell! In fact, as soon as I finish this post, I'm going to pull out my tramp and get to work. Just WAIT til I hit that powder~! I'm gonna rip it UP!

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"These Boots Were Made for Shreddin'......"

That's the new tune I'M singin'! Got my first pair of snowboard boots!!!! Aren't they cute?

Also got my cool as hell snowboard pants, a great insulated jacket, my goggles, face warmer, and a slew of other miscellaneous snowboard stuff. Betty is ready to ride! :)

So, my first crack at it comes up in two weeks at Okemo. I can't frickin' wait! I plan to take plenty of pics, and maybe even shoot some video. We'll see!

I must now give respect to the incredibly sturdy and detailed construction of snowboard clothing. Man, those pants I bought are SO tough I think they'll last about 70 years. The jacket too. And there's a pocket for everything you've ever thought of! They don't play when they make this clothing. I think that you can get dropped out in the cold, Arctic wilderness wearing snowboard gear, and do just fine. That's how intricately reinforced and insulated it is. Cool damn stuff! Can't wait to sport mine and test it out for real!

I'm doing two snowboard weekends back to back. Okemo first, and then Windham. A friend of mine told me I should do it the other way around, because the mountains at Windham are easier, but the die is already cast. I always prefer to take the harder route anyway. I'm betting on surviving the first (lol) so that I can really rip it up on the second. If the difference between the two is as my friend said, it should go exactly like that! Once again, WE WILL SEE! And, BTW, any advice from you veterans out there is welcome!

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