On Sunday, I got on a snowboard for the first time. I headed out to Mount Brighton (really, a mound of snow rather than an actual mountain) and signed myself up for a group beginner snowboarding lesson.

The one-hour lesson took place on the bunny hill. It was a little humbling to watch all the ten year old girls in their color-coordinated snow suits swoosh right past effortlessly. But to my credit, by the third time up, I was getting pretty good at riding the tow rope. Hehe.

I fell about a dozen times. After each spill, I got right back up again. As our instructor said, if you’re at the top of the slope, you should be at the bottom, and if you’re at the bottom of the slope, you should be getting yourself right back up.

My best performance would have to be the very last ride. I was crouched on my board facing the hill. I stood up slowly with my toes pushing down on the board. I looked over my left shoulder and let my left heel drop, turning the board counter-clockwise. The movement swiveled me parallel to the slope and I immediately took off. I sped down the hill, leaning towards the front, gaining speed and control. Woohoo! I could feel it – I looked cool. As I reached the bottom, I turned the board to stop… and ahhhhh the ground flew out from underneath me. I fell hard all along my left side. But the nose of the board hit the ground and I bounced right back into the air and… wham! I was down again with my back on the snow. I lay there for a few seconds while I processed what just happened. Hehehe, oh man, that must’ve been a most awesome wipeout! I wish I had it on video. It would’ve been a really funny thing to see!

Two days later I am still in pain. I have ugly bruises in different places all over my body (inset: left hip). I can barely raise my arms nor sleep on my side. Who knew that after snowboarding, my arms would actually hurt the most?

I think I’m going to do it again.