I have gone snowboarding three days already. Yep, the doctor cleared me when I saw him! I was so stoked. I literally sat in Hellcat, my truck, and a few tears of happiness may have snuck out. I was just sooo happy. I did have to work the next day at noon so I planned to get to Copper at around 10am and take a lap or two before going to work. I was told to take it easy, no park or jumping for 4 weeks. I can only cruise around on greens and blues.
I headed out on the cloudy, flat-light morning of Tuesday, February 25th, and as I was driving towards Copper, I got all nervous and excited at the same time. I had no idea what it would be like and I was expecting it to be super hard and that my knee would be really sore. A few friends who had hurt their knees and returned to snowboarding told me that I will hurt and I will be only able to take one run.
I realized I forgot my jacket when I got on I-70. Damn. No turning back, it was time to go snowboarding!
I got my boots on and grabbed my snowboard and walked towards the chairlift at Copper. I was so, so, so fucking excited. It felt so unreal. I put my board on the snow and stepped my front foot in. I bent down to strap in and as soon as the ladder on my binding went into the ratchet, the sun broke out from the clouds. I took this as a good sign and got stoked all over again. Shit, man, it was a little hard for me to skate to the chair. My bad knee is my back leg and I skated slow with short, quick steps. I made it to the chair and got on. Oh man. Excitement. Definitely no turning back now!
The sun continued to shine among the clouds as I ascended. I was still going from excitement to nervousness. As the unload area came into view, I prepared myself to get off the chair. I figured it would be easier for me to just coast straight until I stopped considering that it was my back leg that was hurting. I got off just fine, and my hands shook with excitement as I bent over to strap my back foot in. I stood up in disbelief and took a deep breath.... and off I went!
Wow! It was easier than I thought it would be! I did nice, gentle turns all the way down and went at a considerable speed, I even passed some people. I surprised myself... and I was smiling so damn hard the whole way down. I made it to the base and I was just so overwhelmed with happiness. This is why I live here, for this. Snowboarding just soothes the soul like nothing else can. It's indescribable. It is my escape, my solace. I raised my hands to the sunny sky and let out an exhale of relief. I then thought to myself, "I'm going again!"
I took two laps on my first day and felt like I could have done more but I had to be at work! I was so happy and told all my coworkers and friends that I rode that morning and it was totally bitchin'!
I went again two days after the first day, and it was just as great. I took three laps and felt great.. even went to the gym after snowboarding and did my work outs. Cobie came out on Friday night to snowboard with me on Saturday, it would be our first day snowboarding together since I tore my knee. We absolutely could not wait to ride together again! I did have to work Saturday from 6:45am to 1pm but I thought that was better anyways because... SATURDAY!!!!!!! GAH!!!! Lots of people and I figured it'd be empty as people started leaving around lunch time.
Wrong. It dumped like a foot in an hour that morning. What the hell. It barely started snowing when I left for work and when I was off, Hellcat was totally buried. Cobie came to work to meet me since it is on the way to Copper and he was all surprised, "Did it start snowing this morning? Your truck is totally covered."
Ha! I got off work an hour early at noon and we went straight to Copper! Cobie went straight to the ticket windows to grab his free ticket while I got my boots on so "we won't have to fuck around over there" hahaha. As I was all done getting ready, Cobie came back. Perfect timing. We walked to the chairlift and took our first chair ride up. I was so fucking stoked, man! Cobie was too!
It was so windy and shitty but I managed to take two laps. Cobie was really impressed and I guess I rode better than he thought! The snow was packed powder and it was so bumpy, it was a little tougher to ride compared to the smooth groomers I rode the last two times. I was definitely a little slower and felt a little discouraged but Cobie seemed to be really happy to just snowboard with me and didn't mind at all. We even found some pockets of powder in some areas and I got the taste. Holy fuck, I can't wait to ride powder and trees again.
After the second lap, we went to the base to sit down and take a break. I finally told Cobie, "I think I'm done, I'm gonna call it a day... it's sooo bumpy and I don't wanna push it... my knee is feeling a little sore... plus there's so many damn people." Yes, there was still a lot of people, fuck. That's what happens when it snows. Every time, without fail. He was totally cool with calling it a day, and even declined when I told him he can take more laps if he wanted. He didn't even go in the park, he stayed with me the whole time. It was awesome.
I still cannot believe that I am snowboarding again. It is unreal to me. I think I will go again tomorrow, I have the whole day off work. WEEEEEEEEEEEEE :D
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