During my trip back to Washington, I spent some time with my family which can always be interesting. The question got brought up if “I was still snowboarding and when it was going to end, when I would be done with it?”
I think my reply was something along the lines of no, never quitting and I’m happy with what I do. To some people it’s a hobby you might grow out of or something you do every now and then. I don’t think I could be that person that grows out of snowboarding and quits it like I was asked about.
I can’t imagine quitting something I love, am passionate about and live to breathe it. I can think back on one of the most negative times of my life when I went through knee surgery and being off the mountain, away from the shred, away from shred friends and how miserable I was during that time and think to myself that I never want to go through that intentionally. I’m sure I could have knee surgery again but I’d never want to forget about snowboarding.
I’m sure eventually I won’t ride as much, that there’s always the possibility that I could grow up and live off the mountain…but I see people who are double my age still snowboarding, living the shred and kicking my ass on the mountain and they inspire me that I never have to grow up…that I can still play, have fun and be happy.
Being able to talk about snowboarding and to just keep doing it, makes me happy. I was telling Dan from Casual Industries during my seattle visit, that I had one year where I was tired of snowboarding. Where the last thing I wanted to do was snowboard because of personal issues going on but once that stuff ended, the next year I was even stronger and more in love with it than ever. Since then I hadn’t looked back on that downtime except to contemplate and really think about what makes me happy…and that I won’t let someone take away from me.
I’ve never been one to follow the paths of others, I like to tread my own way and be independent because I know I can trust myself, my judgement and live life how I want to…not by others expectations. So I’ll continue to be that chick on the mountain, 25 years old and still being that snowboarder living life and happy.
Is snowboarding something that really ends? I guess that’s my question for everyone.
Jonny
March 3, 2009 at 10:08 amBest post yet.
Marc
March 3, 2009 at 10:26 amSnowboarding ends when it stops being fun.
Anonymous
March 3, 2009 at 11:08 amSometimes snowboard starts up again when it stops being fun. I like tons of people wanted to be pro guy, I tried but it didn’t happen and remembered that riding isn’t about being pro, the lifestyle or the industry…it’s just riding and that I need and want it. I’ve missed seasons from injuries as well, I didn’t care of I was limited a bit, I just want to ride. Now I’m on my 22nd year of riding, I ride more and love it more now than I did during my little hay day. It doesn’t end unless you want it to.
E
Anonymous
March 3, 2009 at 11:34 amyou look haute in that picture!
Han
March 3, 2009 at 12:50 pmof course going pro is just some fantasy i have but lets be honest, each year the riding gets so progressive its unreal. breaking into the industry is also really hard to do. just seeing what shayboarder has done with a blog (i dunno if you have worked in the industry before). and even more its hard to get support from family and friends who all have seemed to “move on” after college and what not. with gas prices going up its about $100 round trip from San Francisco to tahoe and jobs harder to find, who would help support thee habit?
Anonymous
March 3, 2009 at 1:31 pmI’ll be 50 in June, but riding only for the past three, so I’m hoping it never ends.
Great post, Shay!
david
Anonymous
March 3, 2009 at 3:23 pmI just had a friend that got the “when are you going to get a real job” talk from his parents. It was really hard on him, because he is so close to them and respects them so much. It’s hard for him that they don’t understand his choice, and that they thought it was a phase. For some people it is, but others like us, it’s a conscious choice to live this way. Some people have a connection to the mountain that others don’t have, and it’s hard for some to grasp. And they don’t have to I guess, we do. We respect that some people want to live in cities, or on beaches. We may not understand but I’ve never seen anyone give a lecture “now son when are you going to move to CB and shred everyday, huh?”. But it’s easy for people to judge what they don’t understand. Fortunately snowboarding I think gives or attracts a pretty staunch independence in it’s followers. Gives us the strength to do what makes us happy!
scott
March 3, 2009 at 5:05 pmi would have to snowboarding never ends, it ebbs and flows.I agree with most of the people, theres times when you cant wait to go, and then theres times when your just not feeling it… i hope shredding is something that is in my life for a very long time.
Hugh
March 3, 2009 at 7:24 pmI hope the answer is never. Great post!
Justin
March 3, 2009 at 7:39 pmIt's ebbed and flowed for me. Not that I wasn't stoked once I got to the mountains, but after my first few years in CA, driving to Tahoe every weekend, got suuuper burned out on the drive and went back to just every so often. This year has been one where I >>thought<< I was going to jump back in bigtime, but sadly haven't made it as often as I'd like. I need to just stop working a real job and get a job at the mountain again….
BigNolDogg
March 3, 2009 at 11:44 pmI don’t think I will ever get burned out too much to stop me from boarding a powder day. snowboarding is what i do when I AM burned out, from life, etc……..
Shayboarder
March 4, 2009 at 12:43 amIt’s great to hear everyone’s opinions of riding and when it ends.
The riding to be pro is always interesting to hear about. I always am amazed at the level pro riding has become and how few riders out there can achieve that level.
Han, very good point. I’ve been writing about some of what you brought up and how it’s perceived in the “industry”.
Snowboarding is not cheap, while I am able to live and afford my life a lot of stuff helps in making it possible. At the same time, I have no safety net which sucks. If my truck breaks down or huge medical bills then I really need to plan for it…and sometimes you can’t plan for that stuff.
The real job talk is what I got, the whole moving on growing up, following the routine. Its just me so this is really the time to enjoy it, take it in and not settle for anything less than what I want right now. I lived in the cities and moved away from them. It’s good to hear that it’s not just me being questioned on my choices.
I hear you guys on the drive, from living in WA the typical drive was 1.5 hours to the mountain each way give or take. I found it easier to live in the mountains and drive into the city when I needed to. Eventually the move to Colorado made more sense so I could really live in the mountains. Now a 5 minute drive downtown is insane, a 1.5 hour drive to summit county is every now and then and that’s a long drive for our standards.
Glad someone liked the photo, I can be very photogenic and that was a good day on the mtn when I snapped a photo of myself on the chair.
Nicole Roundy
March 4, 2009 at 1:57 amI think this is something that crosses everyone mind now and again. Its crossed mine a few times this years and It’s nice to hear other people getting nudged by it too.
One of the greatest things about the snowboard culture is the passion that surrounds it. The majority of us don’t make a lot of money but we ride because we love it, because its fun, because it reminds us to savor the little things. Sometimes we just gotta remember why we ride.
Taiguy
March 4, 2009 at 3:04 amlive the dream. no reason to stop just because you’re “expected” to, what a load of hooey.
han
March 4, 2009 at 3:15 amagain shayboarder, SUPER-INSPIRATION!i was about to sell my truck to a dealership today just to support the habit. and i have been getting the grow up talk every week for the last two months. super burned out…