It had been a long drive. The weather was not horrible, but it had been slow. The recent snowstorm had complicated things a little bit more than I was expecting. The roads were thick with people attempting to go out in the snow. It never ceases to amaze me how people drive when the weather goes just a hair shy of normal. Whether snow, rain, or even a little bit of wind, people never cease to prove how bad they can drive. Snow being the culprit this day, I did not mind a little slow driving. It was still tiring to deal with all of it though. Of course, without it, I would not have made the trip in the first place. Or set up the arrangements for this lesson.
I am not an expert snowboarder, but I tend to hold my own in some crazy situations. I have not found a slope yet that I could not handle. Though, I did find a frozen waterfall in Canada that I would not go near. Watching people attempt to navigate from the ski-lift was very entertaining. I am not completely convinced I could not do it; it was just not something I am quite ready to try. That and the sign at the top saying that taking this trail is putting your life in your hands, is a bit of a deterrent. Though, difficult slopes do not deter me. Sure, you must take some things a little slower than others, but that is part of the learning process. Snowboarding for 8 years has taught me a few things, and some of those things I like to pass on to others from time to time. Which is why I made this trip in the first place.
Snowboarding on your own can be a lot of fun. However, nothing can quite compare to snowboarding with someone. There is a certain amount of camaraderie on the slopes that just cannot be explained. Not to mention the fact that when you get into a "hairy" situation, you want someone to have your back. At the very least, it is nice to have someone to laugh with about the stupid stuff you just did. Unfortunately, it is quite rare that I can just find someone walking off the street that can keep up with me. I am not trying to say that I am good, but most folks that I ride with cannot keep up. So, I relegate myself to the role of teacher with the occasional solo jaunt at breakneck speed so that I still feel like I am doing something for myself.
Teaching someone how to snowboard is not an easy thing. Nor am I the best of teachers. But if someone is willing to listen to the things I have to say, and follow in the moves I make, they might pick up a thing or two. Knowing that, I quite often volunteer to instruct people I know.
That is how I wound up making this trip up into the mountains. Traffic had not been too bad, but it had been frustrating enough that I was glad to be out of the car and at my destination. I took a minute to stretch my legs and reach for the sky. My back popped once, eliciting a sigh of relief. I gazed up at the sky, watching the clouds drift by. The air was cold and crisp, and it was perfect weather to snowboard in. It had been cold in these parts for a respectable number of days, and the snow was sure to be fresh, soft, and ready for us.
The hotel was not a large or grandiose place, but it was nice. It had that down-home look that some places manage to keep while still being a busy hotel. With a bag of gear slung over one shoulder, and a board over the other, I made my way into the lobby. A quick check with the receptionist gave me the room number of my student, so I headed upstairs.
Before any true lesson can begin, you must get the person fitted into their gear. Being comfortable on the slopes makes an enormous difference when trying to learn. Any time I endeavor to teach someone, I always meet them before going to the slopes to make sure all the gear is set up to make them as comfortable as possible. This would be no different, except that we are meeting at a hotel to get set up before going to the mountain.
Wearing dark blue sweats, a white T-shirt, my heavy snow jacket, and a Nike running hat, I am not exactly the mark of high fashion. Again, comfort is the key here. Not that I would be wearing this on the slopes, I have a pair of snow pants in the bag that I will change into later. Soft "Ugg" boots are also necessary. Easy to change in and out of, and comfortable for long drives. Not to mention they keep my feet quite warm while walking in the snow. None of this would normally even cross my mind, but my student is not a typical one. This one was a woman I have never met.
Talking to someone online about meeting and doing something is never quite the same. Especially since there is a certain amount of flirtation that takes place online with the assurance of anonymity. Taking things into real life crosses certain barriers that some people have a tough time with. Not to mention it is like a blind date. You never know exactly what you are getting into. It is hard to say you know someone until you meet them in person. So, this trip is a double whammy. Not only am I meeting this woman for the first time, but I am going to teach how to ride a snowboard. Not an easy task, but one I am sure I am up for.
I found the stairs to the second floor of the hotel with ease. I could take the elevator, but something about climbing a flight of stairs just makes me feel more alive. Sure, with all this gear, it would have been a lot easier to take the elevator, but I never did like elevators. Given a choice, I will pick the stairs every time.
The second floor of the hotel is quiet and small. Soft lights are spaced down the hall in a zigzag pattern leaving small pools of mellow darkness around some of the doors while bathing others in light. The effect struck me as odd, but pleasant. The carpet is soft and plush beneath my boots, and I wonder what it would feel like barefoot. Later I will have some time to test that, but right now, I need to meet someone, and have them try on some gear.
It occurs to me that I really have no idea what time it is. I had stopped wearing a watch many years ago, and my cell phone is sitting in my car. When wearing sweatpants, one is slightly limited in locations for the placement of a cell phone. I suppose I could have stuck it in my jacket pocket, but that thought had not occurred to me when I got out of the car. Oh well. I had told her 11am and I really had no clue what time it was.
Her room was about halfway down the hall, and I stopped in front of her door. I debated for a moment whether to set the snowboard down and lean it against the wall or continue to hold it. I will simply have to pick it up again anyways, so why bother? It is not exactly a comfortable position to hold the snowboard against my left shoulder by the binding, but years of practice have taught me how to hold it so that the binding does not crush my shoulder, or my hand. Just one of those things you learn over time.
