Utah, Day 2, Snowboarding, Day 1
So I’m laid out on my hotel bed, or at least half on it anyway, trying to write something that may actually capture plummeting down a mountain, trees flying past you, board whisking semi-gracefully over snow, knees aggravated from the random lumps of snow and godforsaken moguls, but it’s quite difficult. Today was my first day of snowboarding Utah. We, me and four guys I met (that go to my school), drove to Snowbird, our gear crammed in various nooks and caddies of S’s mom’s mini-van.
The runs were great, it wasn’t like Breck and Keystone but they were pretty good. I think Breck is just great for snowboarders or something, I don’t really know, but there is just something about it, and Keystone has so many scenic runs that it’s amazing. I remember one I did there with the x was like a catwalk - this fairly narrow path, typically low speed and only slightly sloped - except a bit crazier. It was down the side of a mountain and you dropped in between the trees onto this semi-narrow path that u-turned about every 100 feet or so (my measurements may be way off, who knows, but you get the idea). It was difficult as hell for me at the time - mainly just the u-turn part - but it was absolutely beautiful out there.
Snowbird though, it’s crazy steep and really open. Breck had some open spots like that but mostly it was covered and trees and the paths were obviously created to some extent. So much of Snowbird just looks natural, even a lot of the moguls - which I have definitely never seen (not that I have much experience in snow travels). Plus, even better, the lines are virtually non-existent. On the runs, you rarely have to worry about running into people or vice versa. It’s pretty great for that. Plus, from what I hear, they get a pretty awesome amount of snow out here early and late in the season. Anyway, Breck’s still the favorite for me, but so far the trip is worth it. My toes hurt from these new boots though, Christ I hope they pack down quick. The front half of my foot went numb after an hour or so, thank god, but then after a lunch break, I could feel it again. I forgot to get a sticker for my board too, damn.
About halfway through the day, or maybe a little more than, C had a pretty hard fall on a jump. S and A told me he got about 7 feet of air and landed flat on his back - sounds pretty sucky. S’s boots were eating his feet (they, like mine, were new and hadn’t packed out yet) so he and C decided to call it quits. We did a few more runs and at about 3:30 A could barely stand on his board and J’s legs were finished. I’m pretty sure my toes were just starting to go numb again. Anyway, we went to Wal-Mart. It wasn’t a supercenter though, so we left, they didn’t have lunch meat or granola bars. Now all I gotta do is get over the whiplash A gave me when he fell into me coming off the lift. So yeah, now I’m here, in my room, thinking I may go get in that really dirty hotel hot tub, or maybe not. My body is screaming do it, it's in some pretty good pain. Of course, public and bathing suits aren’t really compatible for me, plus, there seems to be hair swimming in the water…
p.s.
The other day, in the plane, I started writing my Ghana journals so I’ll be trying to post those up here sometime soon. I have to type them first though, so it may actually be awhile.