Snowboarding Essay

Now before I jump into this essay, I will first give you a background on the history of the sport. The original concept that the snowboard is based upon is the “snurfer”. Developed on Christmas Day, 1965 by Sherman Poppen in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1968, Tom Sims furthered the sport by developing the very first snowboard. Then in 1977 Jake Burton Carpenter developed the first bindings and changed the sport forever.

Snowboarding is one of the most enjoyed international pastimes. It presents you with this feeling of freedom and raw power as the cold air hits your face while you carve down the almost vertical mountain face dropping over steep clips and carving trough trees. These are just a few reasons why so many people internationally flock to the mountains to partake in this sport. Snowboarding provides people an escape from there comfort zone by pushing them to take on risks they would never have thought off before.

These principles are similar between the two sports, but their biomechanics are far from the same. It is easier for an amateur skier to keep his center of mass tucked away safely between the skis, this helps to avoid falls even when turning. The snowboarder, on the other hand, has constantly to

I used to be very self-centered and outspoken around my family. When I became a preteen, I started to worry more about what my peers thought of me, and I often would apply the looking-glass technique. I started to gain a more negative self-concept since I thought others perceived me as weird, but luckily this idea went away as I got older. I realized I needed to be nicer to my parents because they only want what is best for me. Playing games with me when I was a child must have been horrible.

It was pleasant enough to be able to stand comfortably outside in a light jacket or sweatshirt. A perfect day to glide down a powdery mountain along with my best friend. The anticipation was building as I sat in the back of Mrs. Smith’s eighth grade classroom. In a matter of minutes I would be packing my gear into the car and traveling toward impending doom: Sundown Mountain, twenty one runs of exhilaration and danger. At that point in time I didn’t know whether to be excited or nervous. Snowboarding was completely new to me, not too much different than skiing except for the fact that my balance would be shifted differently. I struggled enough as it was keeping my balance on skis. How could I possibly be able to successfully maintain my balance on a board?

Imagine being at the top of the world, on a bitter cold mountain, over top of an enormous crowd. The lustrous lights are shining below on the massive jump created for the professional snowboard competition that will decide whether you win or lose the competition. I have dreamed of being a professional snowboarder as my dream job ever since I have been introduced into the sport of snowboarding. Being on top of the enormous slope and strapping into my bindings instantly makes me feel relaxed and puts a grin on my face. While gliding down the mountain I become focused and dialed in on my riding. Being a professional snowboarder as an occupation, I would compete in large competitions such as the X- Games or the Olympics to win prizes and gain popularity. The excitement from the crowd and the view from the course would give me goosebumps as I race to the finish. This would give me the rush of happiness and excitement every time I strap into my bindings to compete and make it seem like I would never work a day in my life. Competing in snowboard competitions as a professional snowboarder would be my passion and dream job in life all while traveling and being with friends.

Waking up and looking outside, the snow is several inches deep covering the grass, the street, and the snow-banks are knee high. These are the perfect conditions, for one thing, snowboarding. A snowboarder knows the prime conditions to ride and will do anything to make sure they are on the mountain ready to go when those conditions arise. In preparation for snowboarding, you’ll need to consider the temperature, where you will be riding, and what type of gear is needed for the conditions.

Falling over and over onto the dense sleet surface, with snow penetrating what’s left keeping you warm; your initial experience of snowboarding. Similar to other learning experiences, but perhaps not as harsh. Learning is a journey filled with challenges and sometimes failures. What determines the outcome is whether you can persevere and receive the everlasting reward of success. Learning is what you make of it, may it be learning to snowboard or applying it into the classroom setting. It will be an enriching skill you will be able to apply universally.

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.

Shaun was born with a congenital heart defect. Before the age of 5, he had two open heart cardiac surgeries. Shaun first learned how to skateboard before he learned how to snowboard. He learned how to skateboard before he learned how to snowboard. He learned how to skateboard when he went to the local YMCA that was closest to his house. His big brother Jesse was going to learn Skateboarding there so Shaun decided to follow him to the YMCA and join the class too and learn. He finally learned how to snowboard when he was 6 years old. His mother thought he was going tho fast and she was scared something bad might happen to him. He had already suffered through his years of being a baby and she was scared something might happen to her youngest son again. Cathy was scared there might be a second chance of losing Shaun. Shaun's mom told him to find something else to do, something that wasn't dangerous. She wanted him to find something to do as his career in life, but his career turned out to be snowboarding.

I talk to the kids about my passion for snowboarding and I ask them what they like to do. Some say reading and some say cars, and some say they don’t know yet. I tell them to pursue the things they like because when you find something you love, doing it gives you joy like no other. If they haven’t found that passion yet, I encourage them to search for it and to try new things. I also tell them, if they ever want to strap a plank to their feet, I’ll be by their

Snowboarding is a sport where you can just let yourself go and be with nature up on the snow-topped mountains. Banning snow is a crazy act but in 1992 on March 30 Syracuse, New York outlawed any more snowfall until December 24, 1992. Snowboarding brings many people together and is a really great way to take advantage of the snow. Even though snowboarding has not been around very long it has sparked a lot of debates and thrill for many people and come along way.

My background behind Nordic skiing is fairly simple. At the age of four, I was put on my first pair of nordic skis. My family does not have any relations to cross country skiing, besides touring around. At age six, I was signed up for my first race. I vaguely remember my first races as a child. I spent my childhood racing for a club team (Polar Bear Ski Club) and enjoyed racing in the Bill Koch (Olympian, 1976) League. I adored the sport and kept with it throughout my childhood

The cost of skiing, ski equipment, left tickets, traveling to the mountains, and staying at a resort it far too expensive for the majority of black Americans to attain. Skiing is an economic investment that many African Americans cannot invest in. Also, black people do not reside in the rural mountainous areas where skinning occurs, so they have no familiarity with a sport like skiing. A Canadian survey studied in 1995 revealed that skiing is passed on for generations and that longtime skiers were exposed to skiing as a child. The thing is that when there’s not a family history of participation in skiing the likelihood for most African Americans picking up skiing is very slim. Jennifer Lee explains how the everyday racism that is experienced by African Americans while they are alone or in small groups is the reason why they avoid to visit or be part of a white constructed environment. Having only 2% of blacks in the sport, is a major reason why they avoid the sport. If they don't feel comfortable rather discriminated, skiing is not a sport they will consider joining. Let us take it back to the 1950’s, African Americans and Jews were not allowed in restricted southern ski lodges and hotels, and still today blacks are not very welcomed in ski resorts. They are widely excluded from privileged spaces. Harrison states that if there were no socioeconomic barriers in sports, we

As in to social interactions, I have had 3 kids since then. My mind and mentality is a lot more mature and understandable. The fact that I was changing with all these people that I affiliated myself with has shown me I have grown tremendously and I will guide my children now the right path, but not be too strict because I knew how I felt coming up as a child, how parents made me feel when it came to anything. I have been challenged with a lot of reality issues , even when it comes down to see the kids now that are my age when I began to act up, I want to just take them all and put them in my pocket just to show them the