Personal Narrative: Snowboarding

Throughout time, the progression and evolution of snowboarding has increased greatly. It has gone from non existence in the late 1970’s, to one of the most watched action sports in a matter of thirty-five years. The upward takeoff and popularity of snowboarding relies on two people, Jake Burton and Shaun White. Jake Burton back in 1977 had the vision for what snowboarding would be, but Shaun White had what it took to manifest that vision. Evidence has shown that time brings change in sports, history has repeated itself with snowboarding, this history reflects the time & changes that has occurred in America.

During ski season, I spend an average of 22 hours a week with my teams. The sport of ski racing has taken up a huge part of my life, and thus has affected my life in innumerable ways. I have been skiing since I was four years old, but started racing in 7th grade. My freshman year, I quickly realized that hard work was necessary to get what I wanted. I had to choose between skiing on both teams, my grades, and other activities if I was going to pursue them with the dedication with which I wanted. It really wasn’t a choice to me. I chose a hard course load and skiing over a number of other activities that I could have pursued. Staying involved while maintaining my 3.78 GPA has taught me a lot about time management and leadership, and has

First and foremost skiing helps you conquer fear. Everyone and I mean everyone is scared their first day on the mountain. You have to get all bundled up in these special clothes to keep you warm and big ski boots that hurt your feet and are hard to walk in. Don't forget your gloves otherwise, your fingers will fall off. Once you get past the fear of the cold you rent your skis and you have to get past the fear of the ski lift ride to the top of the mountain. You don't expect the ride to the top of the mountain to be scary so you get on the lift. Then about five minutes into the ride to the top of the mountain you start to get tons of butterflies in your stomach as you look back over your shoulder and see the cars in the parking lot get smaller and smaller and the buildings start to disappear as you reach the summit. When you step out of the gondola/chairlift you are at about 11,000ft elevation depending which mountain you are on, and sometimes you are above the clouds. It's a euphoric view, but unfortunately, this is where the real fear starts to kick in. As you put your skis on and get ready to go down the mountain you have to conquer the fear of each turn and the fear of going down different trails with each having a different difficulty level. It's amazing, once you get the basic motions down and conquer the fears that come with them you’ll be flying down the mountain carving every trail in sight (green, blue and black). Being able to overcome fears of skiing can help you in your real life. I just recently went on a trip to Wolf Creek Colorado and climbed to the top of the largest peak

The first time I went snowboarding I was 9 or 10. Me, my mom, my dad, and Lucas drove up to Mars Hill, North Carolina. The place we went was a small resort named Wolf Ridge Ski Resort. Wolf Ridge has 15 trails including one bowl, one black, nine blues, and four greens. The black diamonds are the equivalent to blues in colorado or utah. Since it was my brother and I’s first time we found a rental place the night we got into Mars Hill and rented boots and boards for the very next morning. We were so excited, my brother and I got up super early in our family's hotel room and drove the short 5 min drive up through the mountains. We got there around 7:30 and the lifts started running at 9:00. We had brought skateboard helmets, small jackets almost hoodie

Snowboarding is an activity where an individual descends down a snow covered hill standing on a snowboard which is attached to the individual’s feet. Snowboarding has become a big sport around the world. It is an Olympic and Paralympic sport. Snowboarding was developed in the United states based on the recreational activities skateboarding, surfing, and sledding. You can slide off of snow filled jumps and do flips and you can also slide down metal pipes to do twists. It can become a very intriguing sport to watch and to become an expert at. The inventors of the snowboard narrowed it down to a small board that is about three to four feet in length and attaches to special boots you wear on your feet. I interviewed Cole Dimeglio on the sport of snowboarding, he taught me how he has been enculturated into this sport growing up.

Over and over we went up and down this mountain all day through the terrain waiting for the rails, and every time we reached them our skis would slip out from under us leaving us on the hard wet snow. When my brother Brendan came through and did everything so easily, it made me want to go back to our

When I was six years old, going to Breckenridge was something I did out of obligation, and not out of choice. I spent the four hour flight and the two hour drive that followed focusing on and complaining about my extreme boredom. When we finally reached the hotel, I didn’t even have energy to jump on the bed that I would later be crammed into, along with two of my cousins. I tried to get excited by focusing on the goal of our vacation, skiing, but I wasn’t truly enthusiastic about that either. Before we could ski we had to go rent our skis, which meant waiting in a thirty minute line so that a guy with a goatee could ask me how tall I was and then hand me a pair of skis that were extremely heavy for my small arms. Then,

I heard a soft whooshing sound as my skis slid across the soft powdered snow, which glistened in the winter sun. I felt practically no wind and it was the perfect temperature to prevent both slush, all in all the conditions were perfect for a day of skiing with my family. I was accompanied by my mom, uncle, and about 8 cousins. We had all woken up at the crack of dawn and began the hour and a half journey to Mount Sunapee, which for us is the prime skiing location. About eight at the time i had only been skiing for about two years and i was still very weary of my skiing skills and i often fell. Today though was going well, i had not fallen once and i was getting into the groove. I had a few close calls but i began to grow confidence in myself

I love roller blading. Skating is like my number one thing I love to do. Skating is the reason for the most memorable day of my life. When I was 13 years old, I was selected to compete in a skating tournament. Although I came in 4th place, I was just happy that I was chosen to be there. I was just as nervous and scared that day, as I was the first time I put on the blades.

The the darkness of the black night seeps through the walls of my house, engulfing the hallway to my parents room in shadow. I walk tentatively, towards the open door, a tension and sense of anxiety building in my chest because I know that what I am about to say will invoke anger from my Father. “We can’t go skiing” I blurt out, explaining to my parents that I have a midterm next Thursday in AP U.S History so I can not go on the family skiing trip that had been planned for over a month. My father’s frustration becomes apparent to me, his sharply voice raising, his tone becoming stern and his brows furrowing.

After two years and a lot of hard work, I signed up for my first competition. Ice skating is amazing. When people ask me why I love ice skating, this is what I say, “The way the blade connects with the ice is like a symphony. All the jumps and all the turns are like individual notes on a piece of paper. When you put them all together, it forms a beautiful and breathtaking song. I joined ice skating because I wanted to be breathtaking and smooth. I wanted to get everyone’s attention in the audience and make them look up.” For me, ice skating tells a story, not just a bunch of meaningless moves smushed together to look elegant.

I stared up at the hill and swallowed hard. Having just skied down the hill successfully, I was proud but worried about getting back up. The smell of cold stung my nose, making it feel as if I would sneeze snow if I sneezed. I wrinkled my nose and blinked the snow out of my eyes. Why did it have to be so windy today? Urgh.

I am good at shooting I have done it since I was little. I am part of the city rifle league and have been champion 3 years in a row. I also like to hunt anything if it flies it dies. I also like to fish just about anything also. I like to do anything outside. I love to work doesn't matter what as long as it puts money in my pocket. Snowmobiling is like life I always ride all winter

I have been skiing for the past ten years. For most of these years, I have been skiing recreationally and through lesson groups at Smuggler’s Notch. Since last school year, I joined the Essex High School Alpine Ski Team. Joining EHS Alpine has been an enriching experience for me socially and personally. I have improved my skiing techniques significantly and gained confidence through my practices and competitions. I build friendships with the members of my team and acquainted myself with other skiers from other teams across the state through our practices and competitions. This experience helped me to develop myself socially and personally.

We started going up to Beaver Mountain just like any other normal Saturday when we go skiing. But little did I know that I was in for a big surprise that day. It had snowed a lot and the mountain was covered in new snow like... We got to Beaver, parked the car, and got all ready to go fly through some powder. As usual we always had to wait and help my brother get his stuff on and shimmy up the hill since he was a big marshmallow walking in ski boats. Once everyone was ready, we found the rest of my extended family near the ski lifts, and were ready to start the ski day.