The Story Behind The Story

I was introduced to snowboarding in the winter of 2004. Over the past few years, snowboarding has become more than just a sport to me. It’s a passion. In the beginning, I could barely make it five feet down the mountain without falling, but that didn't matter because I was in my element when I had a snowboard strapped to my feet.

Of all the sports out there, snowboarding has been my one love for about five years now. I am so passionate about snowboarding that I feel like it’s a relationship to me. That may sound odd to some, but if you have ever done something that you absolutely love, and you focus time and energy to continually grow and make it better, then it is like a relationship. For me, it’s been the best relationship ever! All reality gets put on hold when I turn on my Ipod, strap into my snowboard, and hop on the chairlift to head up the mountain. Snowboarding gives me an opportunity to put all my worries behind me for a couple hours, and I have found that it's one of the best stress relievers in the world. No worries, no stress, and lots of fun...what more could anyone ask for?

I set a goal every time I hit the slopes. Whether it's attempting a new trick or just trying a new run, I won’t leave the mountain until I reach my goal for that day. The adrenaline rush I get when accomplishing my goal is almost indescribable, and it leaves me with a great feeling of satisfaction. One of my most recent goals is still a work in progress. I am teaching my nine-year old brother how to snowboard, and he is doing very well. Snowboarding seems to come naturally to him, and he gets right back up when he falls. He keeps a good attitude and doesn’t give up. These are very important qualities to have when learning how to snowboard. I am having fun coaching him, and I hope that his passion for snowboarding grows as mine has over the years.

I love to push my limits in life, testing the capability of my body and mind, both of which I can do through snowboarding. I can see snowboarding always being a part of my life because it keeps me in competition with myself, and I believe that a person’s strongest competitor is him or herself.