I’ve fallen and I can’t get up

Okay, that’s an exaggeration. I can get up. I’ve been hurt and sick all week, pardon my silence. I’ve been a wreck for the past seven days. It all started when I decided to go to barre class the day before a snowboarding trip. I am not usually that sore after a class unless I take a class with one of the hard teachers (*cough* Teresa *cough* *cough* Jeanette) so I figured I would be fine. WRONG! The instructor introduced a new variation for thigh work and it BURNED LIKE THE FIRES OF HELL. I was seriously grimacing during the exercise.

Then after foolishly staying up until midnight playing plants vs. zombies, I woke up at 5 am to get ready for the road trip. I got to sleep in the car so I was good and ready to go when we got to Heavenly. As V and I were putting on our gear, we realized something was terribly wrong. I had forgotten to bring our snowboarding boots! *facepalm*

So V and I had to settle for rental boots. I never appreciated my own boots so much as I did this past weekend. I couldn’t get the rental boots laced tight enough without cutting the circulation off my feet. But riding with loose laces wasn’t a good option either. So I rode through the discomfort.

It was also my first time wearing a helmet and I wasn’t used to the extra weight on my neck. Two days of neck strain resulted in stiff, immovable neck on the third day. As if muscle soreness and stiffness wasn’t enough, I came down with a cold. I am so looking forward to the three-day weekend so I can recover and get back to normal.

 

 

 

 

Time to hit the slopes!

V and I bought season tickets to Heavenly this year, I can’t wait to go snowboarding! I missed the entire season last year due to a series of unfortunate events and I’m determined to make up for lost time. I’m hoping that all the thigh work we do at the Dailey Method will pay off.

We’ve been going to the south shore for several years now and we have our routine down pat.

breakfast: usually McDonald’s. This is usually the only time we eat fast food. It’s hard to have a decent breakfast when you have to wake up six hours earlier than usual on a weekend. We usually combine this with a gas stop.

lunch: I don’t like buying food at the lodge. It doesn’t taste good and it’s overpriced. I usually bring a peanut butter sandwich from home. Sometimes we bring cheese, fruit and breakfast bars. V likes to bring tuna and crackers too.

dinner: V likes getting the prime rib dinner at Lakeside Inn. I’m not into prime rib, but their other menu items are good too.

post-dinner: hot tub! Before going to bed, I usually have to apply Bengay all over my sore muscles.

Then on our way back home, we usually stop at our favorite cheap sushi place in Davis.

Awesome weekend

V and I went to Tahoe this past weekend for some snowboarding fun. It was the BEST SNOW EVER. There was a small snowstorm over the night so we had fresh powder waiting for us in the morning. Fresh powder is really soft so I was really confident about going faster than my usual speed since I knew it wouldn’t hurt to fall. The best part is that I didn’t even fall that much because the fresh powder was so forgiving.

The day was perfect. The sun was out, I was snowboarding well and I was dressed properly (not too warm, not too cold) On the way home though, we had to go on an epic run that lasted an hour. The run was so friggin flat, I had to unstrap several times and walk with my board. Then I fell hard at the bottom of the mountain where the snow had turned icy. Then I slipped on the ice in the parking lot. But even that did not mar that awesome day. That’s how perfect the snow was.

If I go to a resort like Whistler or Vail Colorado, do you think the snow will always be powdery? I don’t want to snowboard in non-powder anymore.

Rituals

V and I have been together for almost nine years. Over the years, we have developed joint rituals that mark special occasions in our lives. Our winter ritual is the waxing of our snowboards.

Waxing a snowboard isn’t difficult but it takes about 30 minutes per board and it’s a messy process. We could pay to have it done at a shop but we like to do it ourselves. It sort of makes you feel more connected to your board. Plus you get to see the scratches on your board and admire the battle scars.

melting the wax

Snow fun!

I finally get to go up to the snow this season, woohoo! In preparation for the snow, I started packing my gear bag this weekend. Let’s see what’s in it.

Socks and gloves. My snowboarding socks are soooo soft. They’re the softest (and most expensive) socks I own.

Knee pads and ankle braces. I got these when I was learning how to carve and since I still fall from time to time, I still wear them. It helps cushion the impact to my joints.