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Right Coast Wahine: Snowboarding

This Christmas, instead of putting on my wetsuit and surfing some waves, I decided to switch things up and grab my snowboard and head to the Indiana hills. After everything I have learned, this one has stuck with me – water is way more forgiving!

Snowboarding was very different from anything else I have done. The snow was very different from the water. Wakeskating is very similar, because they’re both strapped in, but one is being pulled behind the boat and the other is going down a hill. Snowboarding was similar to surfing in a few ways. I noticed myself moving in the same motions when I was surfing and snowboarding. Carving and turning on a wave almost feels the same when you’re carving and turning down a hill.

The biggest challenge of snowboarding for me was getting down the motions of using my toes and heels. To be able to turn or slow down you rock from your toes to your heels. I also had a very hard time stopping. You have to really push your board out in front of you and lean back toward the hill in order to stop. 

The faster I went snowboarding, the more power I had and the better I did. Once I got the hang of the toes-to-heels movement and learned how to stop, it was on! In other words, that means I finally got off the bunny slopes.

Before my trip, I had never been on a lift. For those who don’t know what a lift, is they have them at ski resorts and it’s a chair you sit in that brings you to the top of the hill or mountain. The view was so beautiful and I could see the whole park, trees and lake. Getting off the lift, however, I couldn’t seem to manage!

If you are interested in maybe hitting the slopes while it’s still cold, I recommend you check out the perfect north slopes in Indiana. Finding a hotel close by should be no problem and everything in the area is only a mile away including restaurants and a movie theater! Maybe I will get to see you out there! 

Shakka Shakka Brahda!

~ Marley Scott

Marley Scott AKA the Right Coast Wahine. She is 14 years old and this is her 4th year writing for ECC. Her hobbies include surfing, skating, drawing, dancing, writing, singing, gymnastics and acting.

Read more from East Coast Current’s youngest columnist here!

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