Who would have thought that the first time I went snowboarding would be in China of all places! Taking a risk and going on the
last day of the season, the snow was hard, to be honest it was ice and dirt but what could be the worst that could happen?
It started off successfully; until I had to stop…I had no idea how to stop, so instead I threw myself on the ground, possibly not the wisest thing to do. After a couple more attempts I decided to watch some of the more professional snow boarders. They made it look so easy! It can’t be that hard I thought. Alas I was wrong!
This time I fell hard, and my knees were definitely damaged. I lay on the ice snow trying to find the strength to get up as people whizzed by me, no one stopping to help! I made my way back up the hill and collapsed on the snow, no more I thought! We decided to stop for lunch, most of us hurting in some way or another. Realistically snowboarding without any guidance is actually impossible. Back on the snow the thought of landing on my knees again made me shiver so I took the easy way and sat on my board, using it like a sledge and going down on my bum! The best thirty minutes of the day!!! We raced down the hill like kids, no one was telling us we couldn’t do it and if they said anything we could play the ignorant foreigner routine that always helps you out of an awkward situation! Soon our time was up and we had a three hour wait until the bus left, so we sat with a couple of beers, enjoying the sun, enjoying being out of the city and loving the ski style of the locals! Check out this website, if like me you want to wreck your knees: http://www.nanshanski.com/05nanshan/winter_e/introduction.asp
last day of the season, the snow was hard, to be honest it was ice and dirt but what could be the worst that could happen?
It started off successfully; until I had to stop…I had no idea how to stop, so instead I threw myself on the ground, possibly not the wisest thing to do. After a couple more attempts I decided to watch some of the more professional snow boarders. They made it look so easy! It can’t be that hard I thought. Alas I was wrong!
This time I fell hard, and my knees were definitely damaged. I lay on the ice snow trying to find the strength to get up as people whizzed by me, no one stopping to help! I made my way back up the hill and collapsed on the snow, no more I thought! We decided to stop for lunch, most of us hurting in some way or another. Realistically snowboarding without any guidance is actually impossible. Back on the snow the thought of landing on my knees again made me shiver so I took the easy way and sat on my board, using it like a sledge and going down on my bum! The best thirty minutes of the day!!! We raced down the hill like kids, no one was telling us we couldn’t do it and if they said anything we could play the ignorant foreigner routine that always helps you out of an awkward situation! Soon our time was up and we had a three hour wait until the bus left, so we sat with a couple of beers, enjoying the sun, enjoying being out of the city and loving the ski style of the locals! Check out this website, if like me you want to wreck your knees: http://www.nanshanski.com/05nanshan/winter_e/introduction.asp