I do both

I learned to ski at age four. My family skied a lot considering we lived more than an hour away from the nearest ski hill: up to Wisconsin for day trips, the upper peninsula of Michigan for longer trips and out to Colorado. We were responsible, aware and fast. We could ski any black diamond in the Midwest, even if there were obstacles to making it to the bottom.

My brother and dad started snowboarding and Sam I gave it a try. We weren’t very good and chose skis over boards.

The last time I did either was 10 years ago. High school sports took up weekend and vacation time. I went to college 30 minutes fro a ski area but never made it there. Then I moved to Missouri and Louisiana — not exactly meccas of elevation and fresh powder.

And now I live 10 miles from Hogadon. So I bought snowboard equipment and a season pass. When I got my season pass, the woman asked if I skied or snowboarded. Both.

I ski to spend time with family, boost the ego and confidently breeze down the slopes. I know how to shift my weight, alternating in a rhythm proportionate to the incline.

I snowboard, it seems, to beat myself up. I do it for the challenge of doing something that doesn’t come easy to me, to fall down and get up a little weaker but more determined. I suck, but that’s okay because I’m going to get better. In the mean time, I’ll try not to fall on my knees so much or whack my head.

hello, bruises.

I went out for the first time in 10 years on Saturday. I didn’t do so bad, was only minimally sore on Sunday morning. So I went again. This time I made sure to bruise my knees up good and hit my head at least once. I’ll be back next weekend.