By Cameron Piland, Staff Writer
The beach is a great place to surf and skate, but what happens when winter comes around? Some people just put on a
wetsuit and hop in again. But off of the beach is where some people find excitement in snowboarding, skiing, tubing, sledding, and ice skating through the winter season.
Multiple people go to Snowshoe, Massanutten, or Wintergreen, but there are many other places around to go to for some winter fun.
Junior Avery Harrison, who started snowboarding a few years ago, said that the hardest thing about snowboarding is falling. Once you fall, it can be hard to get back up and keep going, but quitting isn’t an option when you are on top of a snowy mountain. There is only one way down.
Many people who enjoy snowboarding or skiing start because their parents like to do sports in the winter. Harrison said her dad introduced snowboarding to her and that’s where her love for the sport began. Others go on trips with friends and have so much fun trying something new that they’re hooked.
Another obstacle to get past when doing snowy sports would be committing to what you are doing at least, that is what junior Vance Plevyak thinks. No fear, just confidence. Just like when you’re surfing all summer, but realizing that cool moves on the snow like a back 360 might be a little harder to learn than the ones in the waves.
Luckily for Outer Banks kids, so many winter sports involve the same skills as surfing and wakeboarding: a board and some balance. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be an instant star on the slopes, as sophomore Riyah Ritchie found out.
“I got into snowboarding and then I kind of sucked at it, so I went skiing. After that, I started doing other hobbies like skating and surfing on the side,” Ritchie said. “Then I started snowboarding a lot more and that’s what I still do now.”
And at least when you tumble on the hard-packed snow you have an oversized puffy jacket to break your fall.
The weather conditions also play a role in how hard the landing is and how much fun you can have. Fresh powder and light snow falling while you whip through the wind down the slopes are nice, but sophomore Nathan Tsonev said it’s always fun to snowboard in a blizzard.
While some snow resorts have lights to make the fun last as long as you want, eventually, being out in the cold all day long gets tiring. Night- time traditions at the lodge are another fun part of the winter sports outings. Junior Ava Nultemeier said she always likes to go to the waffle cabin after a long day of snowboarding. For freshman Michael Batchelor, there’s a more traditional way to relax.
“I want to get warm and drink some nice hot chocolate after being out on the slopes all day,” he said.
Sophomore Cameron Piland can be reached at 25pilandca25@daretolearn.org.
