So sorry for the delay on this post however I spent a lot of time in bed this weekend… in pain. Sometimes you have to take a fall in order to figure out how not to take a fall, or in my case about three. This weekend I ventured to Loon Mountain with some friends of mine who ski, might I add they ski very well. I have always heard that working on skills with people who are better than you can help you learn faster than learning aside those who are at a lower level, so I challenged myself to keep up with the guys I went with. Normally I avoid turning at fast speeds or down steep hills, but the only way I was going to keep up with them was if I did. I was doing pretty well until the mountain became crowded and my attention started to split between my technique and avoiding other people. In one encounter, a guy was doing a trick in the middle of the open and forced me into an unplanned turn, i lost my balance while my board was wedged in-between two moguls and was propelled forward into what I describe as a mix between a cartwheel and a belly flop. I had people around me asking if I needed ski patrol but I got right back up and snowboarded away, mainly so people would not watch me cry but also because I didn’t want one bad fall to set me back. Unfortunately, as the day went on the ice became packed and slippery and I experienced the same phenomena although this time it was a blow to my side as I fell and more gracefully slid to a stop. After that, I figured I should let myself recover because my body might not be able to handle another blow. It was a smart move because by the end of the day I could feel my hip was bruised and my neck stiff from whiplash. Although it was not my greatest day, I am proud for trying and was able to get some good runs in. Hopefully next weekend I will feel back to normal and try again.