I was given Snowboard lesson vouchers for my birthday one year. These were for Tamworth Snowdome, not far from where I lived in Lichfield. I had always fancied giving it a go but wasn’t sure how I’d get on. I’d always been a skier and I’d been told that snowboarding was a completely different technique more akin to skateboarding. Although it was pretty popular for a few of my mates when I was at school I had never tried getting on a skateboard. I couldn’t see the appeal. Falling off on to concrete just didn’t sound like a barrel of laughs. Not to be put off I enrolled in the lessons with every intention of becoming a snowboarder for an upcoming holiday in Cervinia, Italy.
I ended up doing three lessons in total. It was true that the technique involved is quite different. In skiing I was used to putting my weight forward on to the front of my feet, but snowboarding seemed to involve the weight shifting to your heels. I can’t say I was a natural. I got the basics but it was obviously one that you need to persevere otherwise you end up constantly face planting and eating snow. However, after the lessons I felt capable enough to try it out on holiday.
I made the mistake of hiring out skis for the first two days of the holiday. By the time I hired the snowboard on the third day I was completely used to skiing again. I spent the whole day on my backside. I also found it frustrating when the piste flattened off. Without ski poles to push myself along I ended up unclipping and walking to the next downhill section. After falling down for the umpteenth time I decided to take the board back and get back on to my trusty skis. Probably not quite as cool as the boarding scene, but it all just seemed like far too much hard work to me.
Attempt failed. This wasn’t for me.
Lessons learnt for Ironman? Er…don’t change tack at the last minute and wimp out on your plans? That’s all I can think of, but that’ll do.