Ride to Enjoy

As I think of the many things I "wanted to do" last winter these thoughts cloud my mind...

As I took my last chair lift ride of the season last year, I kept trying to find fault in everything that I didn't get to do. The reality...I had really already come along way and have been riding (snowboarding) at a highly proficient level. Strange thing is I realized for some reason that it was never enough or was it? If you obviously see what's going on in main stream media...the perception of "How people Snowboard" is rather skewed. Seriously from every major consumable we see there's some visual focus, backdrop or imagery of snowboarding. Yes it's a good thing...but when I see people flying through the air doing inverted Ariels to begin with that's irritating. These people are obviously seasoned professionals, or certifiable insane either way.

My point is that with my personal riding I had hit a plateau. Not really aspiring to become a competitive rider, I had almost stagnated. I was one of a handful of "Professionally" Certified snowboarders back in that day, and found some comfort amongst my fellow peers. Strangely enough it wasn't really where I could call home. After that I pretty much let everything certification wise lapse etc. this to many a persons feedback wise was a "mistake". Fast forwarding to my current situation, I ride to enjoy. I have no one to prove anything to, nor do I really care if I ever get the latest and greatest trick dialed in. But where I do see a significant difference is my mind set..

I realized many, many years ago as a pioneer instructor at local Western resort called Swain...that what brought me there was my passion to share. Not only my passion to share, but to educate, to build, to teach, to sharpen, to hone...I love what I do, don't get me wrong here. I put a %110 into my coaching and teaching efforts these days. The big differentiators again is my outlook. I'm very much happy and in tune with my riding...I ride at a level that makes me feel alive, I ride at a level that keeps me here on this earth to alive to enjoy my family and friends. So if your always going to try to live up to the expectations of others and not be happy and content in the moment with yourself your missing a great deal of happiness and joy in your life.

Until then...see you on the snow!!!