Riding with music

Before the 2004-2005 season I never listened to music while snowboarding. I was a firm believer that it was dangerous since I couldn’t hear people around me and I didn’t think I would like it.

In October 2004 I came back on the slopes after having ACL/Meniscus surgery…and every sound around me freaked me out while riding. I had gone from very confident on the slopes to very scared of people skiing/riding around me.

I’ve heard that in collisions of any kind…the people who are relaxed have a better chance of coming out without injuries. If you tense up…your more likely to get injured. I don’t know how true that is…but with snowboarding for me…I’d rather be taken out without knowing that it’s about to happen.

I heard from a friend that I should listen to music while riding. With music I wouldn’t concentrate on the sounds around me…and it definitely helped me relax while riding.

I rock the Burton headphone beanies so I can listen to my music without drowning out too many sounds on the mountain. I don’t like having earphones cause they hurt my ears so this solved that problem.

I used to have the ipod shuffle on the mountain but it got washed with my laundry. I liked it because of the size and I could have a good amount of songs for a day of riding…but I like seeing what songs i’m listening to and having a play list for certain occasions. So I was pretty stoked when I was able to pick up a new ipod after the shuffle.

I currently have the Ipod Nano right now which I love. I have room for 1,000 songs and I only have 300 on it right now.

I haven’t had any issues with my ipod on the mountain. I keep it in my breast pocket so I have easy access to it while riding. Even on the coldest days it lasts throughout the day so I can ride with music.

When I’m free riding I have the volume pretty low and I usually turn off the sound when I’m on the chairlift with friends so we can talk. The only time I play the volume very loud is when I’m riding half pipe so that’s the only thing I concentrate on is the tunes pumping me up.

You can usually tell that I’m listening to music so if I am on the chairlift or in the gondola needing to zone people out…I just turn up the volume and listen to my tunes. Even on days where I’m riding alone…it feels good to have something to keep you company on the mountain.

The best part is adding songs to my play list. Alot of my music influences come from snowboard movies or friends.

Here’s my current play list for snowboarding:

Artist/Song Title

• ACDC – If you want blood
• Beastie Boys – Sabotage
• The Faint – Agenda Suicide
• The Faint – Sympton Finger
• Joan Jett – Don’t give a damn about my reputation
• Architecture in Helsinki – Like it or not
• Le Disko – Shiny Toy Guns
• New Order – Age of consent
• Architecture in Helsinki – Heart it races
• Architecture in Helsinki – Frenchy, i’m faking
• Joan Jett – I love Rock and Roll
• Madonna – Hung up on you
• Teddybears Stockholm – Yours to keep
• The Bravery – Honest Mistake
• Matchbox Twenty – How far we’ve come
• The Von Bondies – C’mon C’mon
• Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song
• Bush – Machinehead
• The Caesars – Jerk it out
• The Cars – Just what I needed
• The Clash – Should I stay or go?
• Deltron 3030 – Mastermind
• Eight Dayz – What’s so strange about me
• Gwen Stefani – Sweet Escape
• Louis XIV – Finding out true love is blind
• Modern English – Melt with you
• Outkast – Hey Ya
• Postal Service – Such great heights
• The Raconteurs – Steady as she goes
• Ratt – Round and Round
• Rick James – Superfreak
• Soul Coughing – walk around in circles
• Styxx – Lady
• The Strokes – Last night
• Thirteen Senses – Into the Fire
• Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag
• Weezer – Island in the sun
• The White Stripes – My doorbell
• The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army