Ouch!

[cycopath25]

Snowboarded for the firs time today in Red Lodge, MT. I didn't do too bad (according to the people I went with. I was carving more than I was snowplowing.), I did the “Bunny Slope” a few times, and my friends thought I was up for something a little more challenging. Well . . .on my last run I took a huge fall. I went head first heal side. Long story short I ended up hitting hard with the back of my head first. I am not sure if I went unconscious, for a second or not. I vaguely remember my buddy coming back to check on me. Needless to say I finished my run in a cloudy daze, and headed into the lodge. I think I got a minor concussion. It took me some hard thinking to remember if it was Saturday or Sunday. I had a big headache, and the lodge area seemed foggy to me.

Just thought I would let you know how my day went.

 

[AirWalke]

Ouch, indeed! I don't think I could ever snowboard. I'm too used to skiing, going down a hill sideways would throw me off.

 

[jumbopackage]

Sounds like a night of drinking Old Crustacean to me.

 

[clone2011]

That sucks, hope you feel better soon. Snowboarders take a ton of tumbles when learning compared to skiers. My brother convinced me to buy a helmet before my first lesson---I put up a fight, thinking I won't be going as hard or fast or crazy as he does, what's the point? My first day, fell all over the place, didn't hit my head, but my brother took me to a store that night and wouldn't leave until I bought a helmet. I got the cheapest thing, thinking I'd wear it once, show him I was fine, that'd be the end of it.

The next day, I was linking turns but still falling...was facing up hill across the fall line, lost my balance and caught my heel edge, did two backwards somersaults on an icy slope, end up sliding downhill headfirst on my back--I stopped when I hit a log. Put a solid dent in the helmet. Bought a high-end helmet that night and now it's the first thing I pack for a trip.

I cringe when I go somewhere and see parents putting their kids in first-timer lessons without helmets. Helmets are like $5 for rental and ski places push them hard--some even offer them for free as part of the rental package. "Lids on Kids" is one of the best programs to hit the ski industry, IMO.

/soapbox

 

[IcSyU]

I cringe when I go somewhere and see parents putting their kids in first-timer lessons without helmets.

Wish we'da remembered this before we were jumping off our 6' ramp a couple years ago :no:

 

[cycopath25]

Lucky for me I had a helmet on. Also it was way cold today. Wind chill was in the negatives most of the day I believe.

 

[joefrog]

Helmet is a must when starting out. I learned the hard way: on my back staring up at the sky with people standing over me laughing.

It gets way better. Once you get it, snowboarding is amazing. I think it is more fun than skiing, and easier on the knees for us older and husky folk. First day is the worst, then all of a sudden you figure out how to hold that edge.

 

[clone2011]

Helmet is a must when starting out. I learned the hard way: on my back staring up at the sky with people standing over me laughing.

It gets way better. Once you get it, snowboarding is amazing. I think it is more fun than skiing, and easier on the knees for us older and husky folk. First day is the worst, then all of a sudden you figure out how to hold that edge.

Exactly. Skiing is easier to learn, harder to truly master. Snowboarding is tough to learn, but once it all clicks, it's so easy to progress to the next level.

 

[cycopath25]

Ibuprofen and maybe a shot of whiskey to put me to bed tonight.