Grays On Trays

Some people say that snowboarding has no relationship with skiing, other than sharing an alpine environment.

I’m not sure that I agree with that statement, but regardless, don’t overlook the significance of that shared environment. Even if that’s all that skiing and snowboarding have together, then they’re close cousins. They both give us a way to enjoy an alpine environment that invigorates the spirit and renews the mind.

David Healy writes about Skiing’s Power To Heal. Though Healy is a skier, riders can appreciate it. He talks about how being in the mountains and sharing tracks with friends old and new made valuable contributions to his life, especially in responding to some significant trials.

Did he overstate the case? Perhaps. Or maybe not. You decide.

The common perception among non-riders is that snowboarding is much too risky of a sport. Maybe something like bungee jumping.

It’s true that injuries do happen during snowboarding. But sometimes the worst risks are those that aren’t so obvious. Take obesity, which is correlated with diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health issues that in turn have bad implications for health.

Writing on the op-ed pages of the Wall Street Journal, Phillip K. Howard explains Why Safe Kids are Becoming Fat Kids, and the item actually has some relevance to adults and their attitudes toward snowboarding.

You can read a summary here, but essentially the argument is that risk of physical harm is one thing that makes physical activity attractive. By removing opportunities for risk (e.g., banning tag at recess), our political and legal system encourages children to be inactive–and obese.

What’s the takeaway for adults? Some moderate amount of risk is still something that makes an activity enjoyable. Without it, there’s no testing of your abilities, and no “I did THAT?” sense of wonder and accomplishment after laying down a series of good turns or taking a pitch a little steeper than you did last time.

And so too many adults say “Snowboarding? Too dangerous. Not for me,” and they miss out on opportunities for personal growth–as well as a way to keep or get into shape.

Tony Snow, political pundit (print, radio and TV) and most famously, White House press secretary, died today at the age of 53. He had a several-year battle with colon cancer, which he beat once–but could not beat twice.

Since this blog is about snowboarding, you might ask … OK, so what does he have to do with snowboarding?

I don’t know if Tony Snow ever tried riding down a mountain or even a bunny hill on a snowboard (though with a name like that, he should have). I’d like to think so; it would have been consistent with his general outlook on life–at least as I understand it.

See, for example, the commencement address he gave in 2007 to the Catholic University of America.

He tells a story about a time of cycling through the Texas countryside with his boss at the time, George W. Bush. It didn’t end up all that well; he crashed into a tree and made a substantial part of his trip with a wobbly front tire.

“The point’s simple,” he told graduates at the end of the story. “When a chance presents itself, take a prudent and interesting risk. If it doesn’t work out, that is okay. Don’t worry about that, either. You see, God presents blessings in unexpected packages. Don’t overlook them. Remember: no guts, no glory.”

“Take a prudent and interesting risk.” I like that.

It’s a good attitude to have when considering whether to start snowboarding, and to keep with you once you are a snowboarder. It will help you, as he told the class of 2007, “live boldly. Live a whole life.”

One great thing about snowboarding is that it can provide the motivation to get fit. And if you want to get into shape, one good guide to doing so is “Open Your Heart to Winter Fitness,” by Lisa Marie Mercer.

I’m only sixty or so pages into it, but it provides both inspiration and instruction. The techno-babble can be a bit heavy in a few spots, but if you can understand that, you’ll have a better appreciation for what the exercises will do for you. If you’re not interested in understanding biomechanics, read the first few chapters and then plunge into part 2 for specific exercises.

One of my favorite types of news articles are the ones about adult snowboarders. They have this “Holy Cow! Can you believe that?” quality to them.

I’ll grant that it’s a rather old story now, as adults have been snowboarding for years now. Then again, you’ll always find stories telling you that winter is here and guess what, there’s an outbreak of the flu. In both cases, old news can be informative (get that shot! give snowboarding a try!), and at least with snowboarding, it can make the winter go (too) quickly.

The latest publication to catch on to the grays on trays phenomenon is Crains Detroit Business. It features Patrick Becker (age 40); Greg Flowers (42); Brad Hynes (44); and Oliver Dixon (42). These men are no slackers, working (respectively) as a vice president of sales and marketing; an automotive designer; a vice president of operations; and a marketing manager.

They’ve got some pretty good skills for grown-up riders. Becker is an experienced instructor; Hynes teachers a snowboarding team at a local high school; Dixon has participated in USASA competitions; and I suspect that Flowers is no slouch, either.

The story offers several benefits of snowboarding:

• Innovation is the spice of life;
• It’s a resume boost [really?];
• A thrill of competition;
• A rush from big air [sorry, I can't relate];
• Joy of playing in the snow;
• Families can enjoy it together;
• The equipment is lighter (no back strain!);
• There are plenty of opportunities to try something new;
• A community of people with a shared passion.

So dads, moms, and just anyone 30 and up, if you haven’t tried snowboarding but find it interesting, find a snow sports school and take a lesson or three. (You might benefit a lot from getting a private lesson from another adult.) It may be one of the best purchases you’ve ever made.

I found another blog that has an interesting post about the role of faith in snowboarding. Not religious faith–that’s something I may want to write about later–but something of equal value.

Snowboarding, like so many other things in life, is about owning one’s fear. Every day I go ride, I grow. My greatest joy comes when I overcome my fear and have faith in my own ability to ride through the moment.

Indeed, progression in snowboarding (and some other sports) presents us with many avenues for personal growth. As they say, read the whole thing.

Given the season (Christmas), it’s appropriate to think about the intersection of sport and spirituality. The latest issue of SkiPress World offers a short blurb on

West of Jesus: Surfing, Science, and the Origin of Belief.

The magazine says that the book is “just your average mix of surfing, searching, science, myth,” and so forth, but says “the boy can write.”