Snowboarding
Snowboarding is one of the biggest passions in my life. It makes me feel more alive then just about anything else I do. It gives me the opportunity to spend time outdoors in some of the most breathtaking environments possible. It teaches me the value of incremental progression and development. It builds my confidence by allowing me to push myself and succeed. It gives me an opportunity to use my body when so much of what I do is all about using my head.
There is a line, almost like a mantra, that I came up with sometime back that has helped me in many situations…
“Let go. Just be.”
Snowboarding is all about that.
After being so busy with work and school my brain needed a rest and my body the opposite. I desperately needed to escape the noise, bustle and pollution of the city. I craved the clean fresh mountain air and pushing the limits of my body. I rode both days last weekend, the first with friends the second alone. I adore riding alone. I ride very differently when I’m alone. My awareness is much more inward focused. All the energy that is spent tracking people, discussing routes, waiting, when riding with other, is saved. I love the freedom that comes with being able to make split second decisions, it teaches me to trust my judgement.
I rode from 10am-4pm with only two small breaks, completing 14 runs, the most I’ve ever managed in one day. I pushed myself really hard, challenging myself wherever possible to try new things. It was seriously my best day riding ever, the conditions were bliss, 14 cm of fresh powder, the sun came out for a time.
I was on Whistler. I came up Creekside, rode Big Red a few times till a realised the line-ups were silly long from all the people coming up the gondola so I slowly worked my way round the mountain, I rode Emerald, Harmony and finally over to the new Symphony bowl. The last time I rode alone I had managed to get a few runs in Symphony and I was eager to get back there. For my intermediate level this new area is perfect, wide open bowl leading down into tight tree runs with lots of opportunities to have fun adventuring off in the trees. The best part about it was there were no line-ups at all. Also the snow here was the deepest I’d found, thigh deep in places, the kind of stuff that makes your heart skip a beat when you almost get stuck in it, just before the fits of giggles take over.
My second run there was the best riding I’ve ever done in my life. It was the middle of the day, I was well fuelled from lunch, my body was warmed up and I was not yet fatigued. I came down the blue run by the lift and then felt brave and went off to the right into the trees, not really knowing where I was going. My heart quicken as the trail narrowed, forcing me to make faster, tighter turns to avoid the trees. Some areas are flat here and with the super thick powder I had to stay focused to stay on track. The path lead me like a rollercoaster down into a gully about five feet wide with high banks either side. It took every ounce of my concentration and technical ability to navigate at speed though this track but I loved every second. Not having the time to think about what I was doing or know what to fear removed my usual feels of worry and concern. I was truly living in the moment, utterly focused on what I was doing. And in that moment I excelled! I was popping airs off the rollers and landing each and every one of them. The excitement and joy I felt was overwhelming, the run felt like it went on forever, probably because I was concentrating so very hard. And physically it was demanding, what a workout!!
I tried to find that gully again but by that point part of me was sacred too. Now that I knew what it took I doubted that I could live up to it again. It was far easier when the danger was unknown and this was a lesson to me.
Alone on the lift I contemplated how much I enjoy riding alone, what great company I was!!! I was able to appreciate what a pleasure and joy my company was. Its odd how the word ‘alone’ or ‘by myself’, is somewhat negative, it invokes pity, shame really, I think if more people were able to value their own company the world would be a better place. I took a moment to thank myself for being kind to myself that day, for being forgiving and supportive. I didn’t get mad at myself when I made mistakes (even when I smacked my head hard with no helmet falling backwards off a rail slide). I maintain a positive attitude, I felt loved and it made me tear up a bit on the chairlift. It really felt like a first step towards self acceptance, increased self esteem and really genuinely learning to love myself again as I once did when I was young, before I learned to fear and worry so much.
Tigers
I work with a few Chinese girls, once they realized a was a Tiger (in the Chinese zodiac) they kept telling me how much I suited the characteristics of the sign so I decided to read up on it and I have to admit it really is me…
“Magnetic and self-possessed, Tigers are born leaders. They have an air of authority that prompts others to fall in line, which is exactly how they like it. Although they are magnetically charming and fun to be around, Tigers like to go it alone sometimes too. A Tiger's main interest is in following its ambitions -- and maintaining control.
Tigers are courageous beyond compare and generally come out ahead in battle, be it in the boardroom or the bedroom. Seduction is one area where the Tiger is definitely king! Noble and warm-hearted, Tigers have a natural, raw appeal that's extremely attractive to other Signs. They're not just about attraction, though; ever on the side of right, Tigers will fight the good fight to the bitter end if the cause is worthy. Opponents are wise to fear this feline.
They experience mood swings and often feel things more intensely than others, the latter quality being both good and bad. They can react poorly under stress and are prone to emotional outbursts. This Sign's bristling sensitivity can send friend and foe running for cover.
Tigers are unpredictable, always tense and like to be in a hurry. Tiger people are difficult to resist, for they are magnetic characters and their natural air of authority confers a certain prestige on them.
They are tempestuous yet calm, warm-hearted yet fearsome, courageous in the face of danger yet yielding and soft in mysterious, unexpected places. Tigers are very confident, perhaps too confident sometimes.
Although they love adventures, and are addicted to excitement it is better not to challenge a Tiger's confidence. They like being obeyed and not the other way around. Because Tigers are urgent people and always in a hurry to get things done right, they usually choose to operate alone. Tigers like to work, they are hard-working and dynamic. If you assign a task to a Tiger, the job will be undertaken and accomplished with enthusiasm and efficiency.
Tigers make money, but they are not directly interested in money. Still, the Tiger needs not worry about money: just when they fear the money is gone, more seems to show up. Tigers are sensitive, emotional. They are capable of great love, but they become too intense about it.
As lovers, Tigers are passionate and romantic, but the real challenge for the Tiger is to grasp the true meaning of moderation.”
I do have one final topic… I’ve been catching up with appointments this week and it’s made me realise how lucky I am to be so healthy and fit! I have to say I’m chuffed with myself! I have better than 20/20 vision, my teeth are almost perfect, the dentist said they were fab. My chiropractor commented on how fit and flexible my body was and gave my spine an A. My mind is sound, two people have commented on it the past week, one said I was ‘dauntingly intelligent’ and my doctor, after a 10 minute appointment asked where I was schooled, when I asked why he replied that my vocabulary was far wider than most Canadians. I feel like I’m at my peak right now and it feels good, I have a hell of a lot going for me, I just hope to one day find someone to share my life with.
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Published by moselle23: 1:59 AM
Updated On: 6/9/2007 at 7:53 PM
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