Snowboarding in Joetsu

Jan 27-28, 2007

I can ski. I can surf. You would think snowboarding would be a piece of cake. BUT IT’S NOT! I don’t know why I insist on bludgeoning myself half to death trying to snowboard when I could have a relaxing day of skiing. But that’s me: I always have to make things difficult. I just can’t let it get the best of me, soo until I master it, I will be battered and sore. Do you know the WORST part of it all? After all was said and done, I thought that I would at least have some cool battle wounds to show from it, but there isn’t a bruise/scratch/bump on me! All that pain and nothing to show for it! OH WAIT…except a bruise on my face from where a piece of ice hit me when we were riding the ski lift. It just fell out of the sky and hit me on the face! It really hurt but Ros assured me that I was being dramatic…sure enough the next day I see a bruise. My only war wound – from riding the damn ski lift. I think me and Johanna escaped with the least amount of damage though because Natasha had severe whiplash and Ros fractured her rib—again.

Most embarrassing part of the day: having a hot professional snowboarder dude (who has most likely taken numerous spills and dives in his time) watch me fall, wince and say, “daijobu? “ (Are you alright?) – then I proceeded to crawl back up the mountain to collect the various articles of clothing that went flying all over as I went tumbling down, of course, cursing the entire way! Good thing these people cant understand English.

Highlight of the day: When I finally got the hang of it and went through ½ of the run without falling a single time. All day Ros kept saying “bend your knees, shift your weight.” I WAS bending my knees, damnit! Or so I thought -- Then at the end of the day, I GOT IT and was like: “Why didn’t you tell me to bend my knees?!?” Poor Ros!

Most anticipated part of the day: The onsen (hot springs) afterwards chopping it up with the girls and comparing aches and pains.

Pictures before the frustration = all smiles:

Let me introduce you to the girls:

Ros

NatashaJohanna

And ME!

This is me afterwards…still trying to look genki. Waiting to go home…

The Japanese have to have a mascot for every thing..It was soo funny. This one was trying to get up over the curb and fell flat on the ground...after laughing @ it shamelessly--we asked to take a picture with it anyways!

Otsukaresama deshita ladies!