I apologize for the delay in providing episode two, I seem to have developed a snowboarding addiction relatively quickly.

As you will recall, when I last wrote, I was about to undertake the task of learning to snowboard. A minor non-snowboard related accident (both myself and the sidewalk seem to have recovered nicely) hampered my start date somewhat but alas I was able to hit the slopes a few weeks later.

My first mountain excursion was to get the feel of my gear and gain comfort in strapping on my board. I did not enroll in a lesson and instead planned to rely on the assistance of an acquaintance who had previously aided me in my Grouse Grind Expedition.

This was BIG MISTAKE # 1! - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO LEARN TO SNOWBOARD WITHOUT FIRST ENROLLING IN A LESSON.

This first mountain experience lasted approximately 45 minutes and almost resulted in bodily harm to those around me.

A week later (and infinitely wiser) I enrolled in a beginner's drop in class. The class started with a few stretches (no they did not help to ease the pain that was to come), followed by an exercise in gliding, or travelling with one foot strapped to the snowboard in the front binding. In the next two hours we progressed to side slipping on both the toe and heel edge. The most difficult aspect for me, and other class members, was the initial standing up on the board. Eventually, and still today, I determined that the easiest method was to flip over so that I was able to push myself up from on my knees. The downside being that until I learned to turn, all of my downhill motions would occur with me facing up the mountain and therefore unable to see where I was headed without craning my neck around every few moments.

The class ended with a lesson in mastering the tow rope. Although somewhat difficult to learn, it became apparent quite quickly that perseverance to this task was essential when faced with the option of walking up the mountain lugging one's snowboard.

After two hours of struggling, falling, and struggling and then more falling, it was time to call it a day.

The following two days were spent in a state of intense pain. Every muscle in my body ached and even the act of holding the telephone was near impossible.

However.....come the following weekend, I couldn't wait to hit the slopes again!

I hope you will stay tuned to these pages for weekly updates on my slippery slope to snowboarding success!

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