March 27th, this is the date the Mission Ridge Park closed this year. I really had a good time there. I came to Canada in August 2013. I have gone through for winters here in Regina. The former three winters I was just staying at home after school. I did not go anywhere because it was terrible outside. I hate snow, wind, and freezing cold. I changed my attitude during this few months learning how to snowboard.
Although I’m still not so good at it, it is now one of my hobby and skill. I can skate with snowboard; I can get up immediately when I fell down; I know how to heel slide and toe slide when snowboarding; I know I should use my upper body especially my wrist to change direction and keep balance; I know I could stop with my heel or toe digging into the snow… Unfortunately, I still did not figure out how not to fall down in “C” posture. Next winter I need practice edge control. Short-term goal: hope I can move to blue run next winter, and black, maybe. Also, learn how to ski as well. Long-term: Banff. I heard from my friend that Banff would let we know what real skiing and snowboarding mean. Thanks Google and YouTube, they helped a lot. I found a bunch of articles and videos teaching how to snowboard. Those reading explain snowboarding in words; videos show me how to do it. I appreciate my experience of learning snowboarding with the help of Internet. In the future, I’m going to teach students how to learn a new skill by Google, YouTube, and other tools. Thanks for reading!
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You may probably think I'm weird when you look up my title." What? Are you kidding? You are not happy with Spring coming?!" I got a complex feeling about winter since I learned how to snowboard. Honestly, I don’t like winter, and you know how terrible Regina winter is. I was the one who want to scream when I see the temperature reached to almost 10’C. But not anymore, because I can only snowboard in winter! Now spring is coming! Less and less time left:(
Anyway, just have fun while I can have fun. This week my friend (Alex) and I did not drive to the Mission Ridge Park directly, we went to a lake not so far from Mission Ridge. The whether was so nice. We were so relaxed. I felt I was free. I free myself from exams, essays, papers… It felt so good! I sew people stand on the lake. You know, we can stand on the ice and don’t have to worry about fall into water. Then we drive around to check out the small town. It was 2pm when we arrive to the Mission Ridge Park. We bought the half-day ticket. When I walk into the rental room, I felt like I was home, haha. There were lot people waiting for stuffs to help them finding their equipment. I got my pink helmet, size 7.5 boots, and right forward snowboard by myself; I knew where they are… This time I did not practice first under the mountain. I took the lift and reach to the mountaintop. I was not afraid anymore. People would grow. I decided not to worry about practicing snowboarding skills, think about how to not fall down in “C” posture. I just wanted listen to my body. Let it go and let it fall. I cleared my mind; just enjoyed playing snowboard. So happy and so relaxed. Alex tried the Black run, the hardest one. He said it felt crazy but so good: “I feel like I have nothing to be afraid now”. I promised to myself: next winter I will go hit the blue run and hopefully black run as well. The mission of this week is to learn edge control . “You’ll start off learning to snowboard on your heel edge. This means digging your heel into the snow with your body facing downhill. Start easing your weight off your heel edge and begin to press down with your toes. The board will start to move downhill. To stop, press the weight back into your heels.” Like the direction said, I started to practice in the beginner field. If you watched my previous video, the one I was snowboarding. You could see that I could control my heel edge nicely with my body facing downhill. But which you can’t see because I didn’t record are my “falls”. The reason I felt down was, I would lose my balance every time when I was in this position. The picture shows down there. Yes, I would fall when my body was like letter “C”. And then, my butt was feeling like broken. I don’t know why, why my balance off every single time with this “C” position? That was one of the major causes me fell down. I kept practicing avoid balance off when my body turn into “C” position. I failed. I’m done. I mean, my butt was done :( This week I was working on how to Skate in flat area. Skating and it the first skills we should learn on snow. I didn’t, but now I know. That’s why besides YouTube, I should read articles as well. Thanks Google. Step 1—Stance First stand in an athletic snowboard stance. The proper snowboard stance is: feet about shoulder width apart, back straight with shoulders square, hands at your sides and ankles, knees and hips slightly flexed. Step 2—Practice the movement by tracing a line in the snow Plant your front foot in the snow and keep your knee nice and bent. If you are regular, this will be your left foot. If you’re goofy, your right foot will be forward. Now use the heel of your back foot to trace a line in the snow. The line should be between 16 and 20 inches long (about as long as your stance is wide). When you’ve got that down, trace a line behind you with your toe. Buckle your front foot into your binding and trace the same line while strapped into your board. Remember, you only need to trace a short distance. Step 3—Skate To get moving, apply the same motion you used tracing, but this time dig your back foot into the snow. Get traction and you’ll start to move forward. If you are having trouble, focus on moving your back foot a short distance, too much will cause you to be off balance. I found a flat area around the beginner field; started practice how to skate on my snowboard. I took out my phone and reread though the 3 steps I found on the web again. Okay, first of all, Stance. “Feet about shoulder width apart, back straight with shoulders square, hands at your sides and ankles, knees and hips slightly flexed.” All right, next, tracing line in the snow. I’m the goofy, so I set my right foot forward. I started to use my left foot to trace a line in the snow. The movement just made me feel, weird, LOL. May be because I wear the snowboard. I was a little scared because I was afraid to lose balance. After practicing, I felt better. Then I trace line with my toe, that felt much better! Next, step 3, skate. I started to move faster and see how long I could go. Finally, I got it! Yes! After done my skating mission, I went to the mountain again. Yes, second time. My friends forced me. Just kidding. They said: “you would learn more from falling down.” This time I felt more comfort than the first time. I was not that nervous because I know my way now, I know where I go. Remember the last time I was extremely exhausted? This time, although, fall over lots, I was not so tired! And I got more courage in me and kept practicing balance my body and avoided falling down. This time, I snowboarded faster than last time! Good job, Cat! I found two snowboarding websites, one is Transword snowboarding; the other is Mpora.com. The Transword one offers the information about advanced snowboarders including videos, photos, events, etc. Most videos showing how those professional snowboarders make actions like “big air” or showing they play snowboard on jokul, icelandic mountains… They are far away from me. I mean, I’m not sure if I could reach their level in my life. However, those videos are pretty good. They encouraged me, somehow. The other one, the Mpora, this one offers many good articles for learners to read. You may think videos are good enough, but sometimes, readings do help, in a different way. There are lots articles for beginners. I found one: “Snowboarding Beginners: 10 Best Tips For Learning To Snowboard”. It suggests: 1. Get a proper snowboarding lesson (I didn’t, I watched YouTube, kinda taught myself) 2. Wear the right clothing (That’s true, clothes should be warm and waterproof.) 3. Wear protective gear (Helmet and goggles are needed as well. Yes, I got them) 4. Work out whether you are goofy or regular. People who ride with their left foot forward are regular footed, right foot forward are goofy footed. (Yes, I’m the goofy one) 5. Learn to fall properly. When you fall, try to avoid putting your hands out to break your fall. You could end up with a broken wrist. Instead, keep your hands close to your body, crossed over your chest. (What? I didn’t know that, Okay, now I know). 6. Learn to skate. When you are stopped on a flat area of the mountain or you are moving towards a chair lift, you will need to unstrap one foot from your bindings and skate along the snow. (That’s helpful, last time I stopped on a flat area, I had no idea how to keep moving) 7. Learn the piste symbols (Yes, I did that, in Mission ridge, the green run is the easiest, blue is harder, black is the hardest) 8. Look where you want to go (Definitely! It is important to know where you go) 9. Learn edge control. You’ll start off learning to snowboard on your heel edge. This means digging your heel into the snow with your body facing downhill. Start easing your weight off your heel edge and begin to press down with your toes. The board will start to move downhill. To stop, press the weight back into your heels. (Good stuff! I’ll practice next time!) 10. Have fun. (Yes, I was tired, but so enjoyed!) I rear through those tips as a check list, what I did and what I need to work on. I’m going to practice skate and edge control next time! http://snowboarding.transworld.net/ http://tiny.cc/rczmky Because I promised myself I would go to the mountain when I can successfully complete the beginner run without any falling down. I was so excited. It was my first time! I practiced a few rounds under the mountain before I go. Then, I said to myself: “It’s time.”
It was not easy to sit on the cable car because it keeps moving. Hopefully I did it. I felt good. I laughed at my friend who sits with me because he has a fear of height. It’s interesting that most guy I know has the fear of height, girls are not. Yes! We girls are braver! The view and landscape on the top of the mountain was excellent! My good mood was almost gone when I was looking at the route I was going to take. The green run, the easiest one. But for me, it was definitely not easy. I was really nervous and my legs started to shake again. My friends laughed but comforted me: “ It’s okay, Cat, we go with you, no worries.” “You can do it, Cat”. I worried because I have no idea about the way I was going to go through. Unlike beginner run, I couldn’t see what’s going on there on the mountain. I didn’t know what my way looks like. I would be nervous when something is unknown or unsure. However, I had to go, I couldn’t stay there all night. It’s Friday night and it was getting darker. After a really long breath again, I decided to move. My friends were so nice. They stayed with me, encouraged me to get up every time I fell down. It was terrible, really terrible! I kept falling down in every few seconds! God! I was exhausted! Why should I do this! I didn’t I stay at home watching movie? Why I came here?... I couldn’t count how many times I felt down, tons, I’m sure. But I did not take off my snowboard and walk down instead. I felt I was dying and almost “power off”. I screamed: “I did it!” when we arrive the ending. I felt sore all over my body. I have never experienced this kind exhausting before. But it was a good start! I said I wouldn’t give up! I fell asleep when we get in our car. When I got home they said: “Go to bed; tomorrow would be worse, hahaha.” Yes, it is, but I’m happy I made a big move! One of the employees of the equipment rental place recognized me: “Oh, I remember you, the girl always wear pink coat an picked pink helmet.” I came here almost every week and asked pink helmet every time, haha. Snowboarding has gradually become one of the important things I do weekly; it became part of me. Snowboarding makes me more me. I’m not a sport person. I jog for exercising; play badminton with friends sometimes. I can swim, but not so well. However, I fall in love with snowboarding now. I keep falling down, but I don’t want to stop. I set a goal before I started practicing: not to fall down. Good news is that I can get up on snowboard immediately when I fell down. I’m making progress. This week I fell down at least twice per round in the area beside the cable cars. Then I recalled what I learned from YouTube and tried to figure out why. I soon realized that I was too “straight”, especially my upper body. Also, I need to learn and practice using my waist to change direction and keep balance. My body was too hard and inflexible. It’s worthy and helpful to find the reason of falling down. I was learning from myself as well. Just get up from where you fell down and try not fall again. I tried to stoop a little bit on my snowboard and turned my waist to move better. I was getting better! As you can see in the video; the second half I didn’t fall down till the end. I fell down because I was afraid to collide the boy in front of me. I was so happy! It was like a victory. I made it! One of my friends suggested me to try snowboard. He likes snowboard and thinks it’s easier. But I thought snowboard is harder. He said it depends on people, some may think skis are easier; some prefer snowboarding. He told me: “You know, the point it that you have to learn how to stand up when you fell down. Just try snowboard and see if you can get up by yourself.” I found a video that showing how to start, stop, and get up on snowboard. It says, “the technique [of getting up on snowboard] is similar to getting up off the floor.” I tried on the floor and it worked. We could either get up from our back, knees, or use “around the world” method. If I want stand up from my back, I got to make my snowboard perpendicular to the hill, dig my heel into the snow, bend my knees and try to stand up. From the knees is the opposite way of getting up from the back: bend knees and make the body like a frog, then lean backward to get up. Around the world is like shift weight to either side of the body and place the hand on the snow to support the body, then slowly bring hands in the front and ready to stand up. Unlike skiing, we could either facing, backing, or side facing where we go in snowboarding. I watched videos and learn how people moving their body to keep balance and control their snowboards. I decided to give it a try. Two days latter on the weekend, we went to the Mission Ridge Winter Park again. I rented snowboard and boots this time and I got a lift ticket again. When I put the snowboard boots on, I felt much better than wearing the ski boots. Ski boots are so tight and hard to walk with them. Equipment ready and we went to beginner ski run. First step, no doubt, learning to get up. I tried different positions, unfortunately, not worked. I end up with a silly one: lying down, turning over my body and the snowboard, and bending my knees to stand up. It looks not so good, but at least I could stand up by myself. I was so happy. Then I started to practice snowboarding. I learned back to the hill first, which required elevating my heel while going down. I should move my upper body to change my direction at the same time. For beginner, it is better to make the snowboard moving like a "S". In other words, I should keep shifting my weight to either foot while snowboarding. I moved faster when my snowboard parallel the hill. I was easier to fall down when it go fast. But I felt much better than skiing. I think I get it now, just need more practicing. Yes! I did it, I can snowboard now! I just got a 15s video of me, unfortunately, it's not so good. In the second video, the girl with pink coat and pink helmet, that's me. I took a long long breath when I first saw the mountains and ski field of the Mission Ridge Winter Park.
I put my helmet, got ski boots on, take my skis and poles, and ready to get it started. It was a nice day, not so cold. I was a little bit nervous. I took a long breath again and set myself onto the conveyor. I remembered in the video, the first step of learning ski is to know the equipment on me. I walked with the skis a few minutes before I go. I looked at the ski run in front of me and my legs started shaking and I couldn’t stop them. “Come on, you can do it, Cat”, my friend tried to encourage me. Yes, it’s gonna be alright. I can do it. I made my skis like a piece of pizza and started moving down. Three, two, one, I fell down. I felt funny and couldn’t stop laughing at myself. I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t. Then my friend helped me up. The longest time I insisted was six seconds. I fell down again and again, but couldn’t stand up by myself. Like the video shows, use the poles and put forth. I struggled again, again, and again. It was weird; there wasn’t any strength in my arms. I was so tired. I lay down and tried to figure out in my head. I mean I could imagine how I supposed to stand up, but in reality I can’t. I bought a lift ticket because I thought I could at least go there once before we leave. I must be dreaming. I wasted the ticket. I mean I really wish I could get there as soon as possible, but I realized that the great wall is not built in a day. I was happy, though. It was a good start. I won’t give up! It took me a long time to decide what I want to learn because there are tons that I want give a try. I want to learn piano, painting, yoga, knitting, and so much more. I watched videos and tried to make a decision. Finally, when I look through the widow staring the snow on the roof of my neighbour’s house, I questioned myself: Why don’t learn how to ski? The first time I when to ski was two years ago. I kept falling down and could not stand up. Then I quitted, but it’s a pity for me. I was born in the middle of China; we don’t have much snow during winter. People living in northeast of China may know more about skiing, but I have no idea what skiing is when I was little. I’m not a very good sport person so skiing is hard for me. But I like challenge! The first step I think I should do is building more understanding of skiing. I opened up the YouTube page and typing “How to ski” in the search box and started to watch videos. I'm so excited and can't wait to try. So I call my friend:" Are you guys go skiing this weekend? Can I join?" Videos are from www.youtube.com |
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March 2017
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