Is it worth it?

Right now I'd have to say, "Not really."  I am in pain.  So much pain that I can't cross my legs without the assistance of pulling my leg up and over with my arms.  

Yes, I'm another fool who tried snowboarding this past weekend.  I do have to be thankful for the gorgeous, fresh powder that covered the beginner trail at Squaw Valley.  It saved my butt from turning black and blue. 

I tried skiing several years ago.  I didn't do too bad.  I basically made it to the beginner/intermediate level within 3 - 4 days total of skiing.  Unfortunately, one trip landed me with two torn ligaments in my left knee.  I stopped for about two years and then after one more try and another big tumble down the mountain (without injury, thank goodness), I walked away from the snow and didn't look back.  The fear had grabbed a hold of me and I lost all my confidence.  I knew what it was like to get hurt.

It's been six years and suddenly that little voice inside me was reminding me how much fun it was to swoosh down that snow when I was doing well.  There's nothing like that feeling, as a beginner, to make a hard stop where you make a giant snow spray.  And when that mist settles, you're still standing.  Yeah...  That was my one skiing moment I'll never forget.

Instead of skiing, I wanted to try snowboarding this time.  Don't ask me why.  It seemed like an awesome idea at the time.

Off we went to Squaw Valley.  We stayed at the lovely Resort at Squaw Creek.  All I can say is, it's a beautiful resort.  The furniture in the rooms is not my style, so I can't say much about that.  The grounds, however, are amazing.  Two big pools, three hot tubs, ice rink, several restaurants, several stores, giant outdoor fireplace to cuddle next to, and the thing most appealing to skiers and snowboarders alike... ski-in/ski-out lifts right on the property.  Hubby LOVED that.  Unfortunately, since I am a beginner, my journey began with a ride on the resort shuttle to Squaw Village for my board rental and lesson.

The next two hours, I can't even describe it.  I took a lesson for snowboarding.  I guess I was lucky.  The two kids that were in my group picked up on the boarding so fast, I basically had a two hour private lesson with the instructor.  The kids were brothers, and one of them had never even seen snow before.  To be fair, they have ridden skateboards and surfed, so it was no surprise that they did so well.  How well?  One brother was attempting jumps within the first hour of the lesson.  Show-off.  ARGH!!!  I spent most of my two hours falling on my a$$.

A quick lunch with hubby and I tried boarding for about one more hour before I called it quits.  I do have to say, I did a quick walk through The Village, and it is VERY nice.  Next trip, I plan to take a little more time to enjoy the area.  Maybe get a drink and enjoy it while sitting next to one of the big fire pits there.

Back to the resort and my husband has the CRAZY idea of going to the hot tub.  Hello?  Did you not see the snow falling?  Is it not 30 something degrees?  Lemme tell ya, it is the most wonderful thing in the world to be out there in the falling snow, in your bathing suit, sitting in a bubbling jacuzzi.  

That night and the next morning... I could not move.  Turning over in bed was pure torture.  Trying to stand after sitting on the sofa for more than a minute was next to impossible.  Raising my arms to wash my hair was a nightmare.

UGH!!!  I really didn't learn much from boarding except that it's true what people say - you fall a lot in the beginning.  That is not an urban legend.  Have I completely given up on boarding?  I don't know.  I want to learn it.  I really hate ski boots and I hate carrying around two skis and two poles (real pain in butt).  Nothing beat being able to walk around in those snowboard boots and just carrying one simple board around.  

I did better at skiing.  All in all, I've only fallen a few times (with the one big one) - so I don't feel like I'm wasting my time when doing that.  I don't know...

Well, I have until next Winter to decide.  But at this exact moment in time, to answer my own question of whether it was worth it, I would have to say NOOOOOOO!   Now give me more ibuprofen.