Snowboarding

[borg]

Last season the borg clan decided to take up snowboarding, we took a couple of basic courses & we were on our way. That was the first year for the boys (7 & 8 yrs old) snowboarding, the year before that they took skiing lessons but they always prferred to snowboard. Mrs borg ski's downhill & cross country, while I've never done anything of the sort until I took snowboard lessons for the first time.

It has become one of our favourite winter outings & the boys really enjoy it, so after a season & a half of renting equipment we took the plunge this month & bought our own gear. We hit a local shop which was having a sale on snowboard equipment, got all geared up & we headed for the hills.

This is my board, what do you think?

[borg]

walking up to the lift.

[borg]

action shot 1

[borg]

action shot 2.

[borg]

A trip to the Rockies has to be one of the main benefit of partaking in a winter leisure/sport

[borg]

How about skating on a frozen pond?....actually that's Lac Beauvert.

[borg]

Playing hockey on Lake Mildred..........he shoots, he scooores!

[borg]

Slow moving traffic keep right.
Apparently this herd of mountian goat didnt see the sign.

[borg]

ANother fun filled wild adventure comes to a close......until next time

[john802]

Nice adventure with the family. May I ask what is the brand of your snowboard and where did you take the family for snowboarding? I snowboard and ski alternately for the past 8 years but I've been skiing for the past 28 years. Have you snowboard in Lake Louise or Banff yet?

[borg]

Originally posted by john802
Nice adventure with the family. May I ask what is the brand of your snowboard and where did you take the family for snowboarding? I snowboard and ski alternately for the past 8 years but I've been skiing for the past 28 years. Have you snowboard in Lake Louise or Banff yet?

The board: GNU Altered Genetics, I would have preffered to get a free ride board but availabilty & selection wasnt that great so I ended up with the GNU which is a free style board but is also excellent on the trails. Maybe someday I will be good enough or brave enough & use it @ a park & pipe........NOT!

We took lessons @ a local ski hill & practice @ different spots around my area but the last trip to the Rockies was to Jasper, which according to experienced riders is a better place for beginners compared to Banff or Lake Louis.

The only experience I have with Banff/Sunshine Village was 2 yrs ago when the boys took their one and only skiing lesson, it was spring break then so it was very busy. I didnt pay much attention to anything else then because I never thought I'd ever ski or snowbaord, they did have a nice lounge though.

[john802]

Nice board that you got. I think it's rigid enough for you to take it to the park & pipe. Is your board directional? I've never snowboard in Jasper but the family ski/snowboard in Norquay and Sunshine Village three years ago.

[a2Pilot]

Wow, Borg! That's really cool! My son is 9, and LOVES snowboarding too. It's about time we got him to a real resort like that. But we don't have "real" mountains in Michigan!!

Great pics! Looks like you guys had a great time!

[kemosabe]

Once again, excellent pictures, borg!!!

Thanks for sharing -- my two boys are still too young for snowboarding right now, but in 5 or 6 years...

[borg]

Originally posted by john802
Nice board that you got. I think it's rigid enough for you to take it to the park & pipe. Is your board directional? I've never snowboard in Jasper but the family ski/snowboard in Norquay and Sunshine Village three years ago.

I think the board will take the punishment if taken to a park & pipe.....by an experienced boarder. Me? I'm sticking to the mountains where the powder offers a softer landing surface, which is crucial since I spend much of the time on my butt than on my board. The board is not directional which is OK because I'm still trying to figure out what stance is best for me, right now it's set up for regular stance (left foot forward) but when I get going I spend half the time in a goofy stance (right foot forward).

The skiing conditions in Jasper is similar to Banffs, it's just that most people say that Jasper is not as crowded, you should give it a try next time your up here for skiing/snowboarding, I really think you'll enjoy it.