When I’m snowboarding, my body feels like it’s flying and free. I just have to trust my body and my board, and I’ll be okay…I won’t fall or injure myself. Sometimes I do get nervous of course, but actually when I relax I notice I snowboard better than when my body is tense and nervous. When I’m in the zone, it’s exhilarating and it’s just me and the mountain. My mind is calm and I just want to go faster.
Learning how to snowboard has been a huge accomplishment for me because I only started really learning 3 years ago, and I have had to let go of thoughts of self doubt and wanting to give up. Snowboarding is really hard to learn at first because you’re just afraid to fall and you’re trying to balance on a thin board down a mountain! I remember on my first time I was so frustrated with myself for always falling. I felt like I was never going to get it. But I was determined and every time I went, I created myself newly, created that I would have fun.
Now I’m proud to say I’m pretty good at it. I’m still getting better and mastering it, but I have come a long way. Now I can keep up with Larry, my fiance, and his friends. My goal now is to be able to go faster and faster.
-Stephanie Wong, Age 31
Thornton, Colorado
