Joanna Fletcher

Battle scars

joanna.fletcher@archant.co.uk — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:32:00 GMT

I would like to report that after four or five months of this snowboarding malarkey, I have received my first snowboarding related scar in the form of a chipped tooth.

And to go along with said chipped tooth I have a very bruised backside and a sore neck.

However I have finally linked turn (singular though, not plural) so things are looking up!!

The tooth isn’t as bad as it sounds though. When I was on the slope on Thursday, I was buzzed by a speed skier in the middle of a turn which made me jump, catch an edge, fall very heavily on my bum (thank goodness for crash pants), hit my head on the slope (thank goodness for helmets) and slam my jaw shut.

My initial reaction was that I’d knocked my front teeth out, but it turned out to be a millimetre by millimetre square from one of my bottom teeth so really not too bad.

So I think I’m going to give my poor body a rest now and concentrate on turning in Italy – one week to go!!

The linking turns came on Sunday. I can do toe edge to heel edge (which is supposed to be difficult) and need to do some work on heel edge to toe edge (which is supposed to be easier) so if I hit the nursery slope the first day we’re in Abetone, hopefully I can still enjoy a full week of riding with the guys.

I’ve been desperate to start packing and making lists for the trip since Christmas and now that pay day has finally come I can finally finish off getting ready.

I guess this will probably be my last post before I go away, but I’ll put some pictures up on my return and tell you all about the trip!

[:D]

One month to go...!

joanna.fletcher@archant.co.uk — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:51:00 GMT

Bad news. I didn’t make my goal of linking turns by Christmas. I’m really, really close though so hopefully it will all click soon.

All I have to do is to get my brain and my feet to engage for one small movement and I’m there but it’s going to take a bit more work.

I put it down to confidence because I’ve not done something like this before. I’ve also been told that this snowboarding malarkey is much easier on the snow than it is dry slope so fingers crossed if I don’t get it beforehand it will click in Italy.

So far I am able to ride down the slope, and turn my board so it is facing nose first down the hill. I can also point the board down the slope and turn my board so I’m on the heel edge – it’s just a case of putting these two elements together...easier said than done!

[:D]

Tackling Obstacles

joanna.fletcher@archant.co.uk — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:26:00 GMT

I’VE been riding a couple of times since I last wrote and I’m pleased to report that progress is being made.

I’ve acquired some new gear including a board (which needs a name – suggestions please!) and this is giving me some motivation to go to the slope as regularly as my finances will allow.

I seem to finally be conquering my fear of picking up speed and I’m feeling much more confident and in control.

This could well be down to the fact that I wear a helmet, crash pants and knee pads (I feel like one of those men in padding that train police dogs).

Even the stray skier that used me as a crash barrier on Monday couldn’t break through my armour!

I’ve been working on going down the slope on my heel edge, which has been a bit of a nemesis of mine up until now.

On Monday evening I had plenty of obstacles to steer around including a large group of beginners having their first snowboard lesson and the jumps that the guys had put out to do some tricks on.

Having physical obstacles to negotiate will be good practice for Italy when I came face to face with trees and rocks.

At the moment I need to get more confident riding at speed before I can link turn, because turns don’t really work at snails pace.

Its two and a half months until I go and the more I progress, the more excited I’m getting.

I’ve been looking at the webcam in the resort and it’s already beginning to snow and I have it on good authority that this year will be a good snow season.

Sloping off to train harder

joanna.fletcher@archant.co.uk — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:14:00 GMT

Next February myself and five friends will be travelling to a small resort near Florence, Italy, for a snowboarding holiday.

The only problem is I’m still learning to snowboard, while the rest of the party have either been ‘riding’ for years or have picked up the art a lot quicker than I have.

I’ve had four lessons so far from a tolerant, patient friend at the dry ski slope in Brentwood, Essex.

One problem I do have is staying calm when the board begins to pick up speed.

Another issue is that I’m stubborn and become frustrated with myself if I don’t see any progress instantly.

I can, however, get from the top of the slope to the bottom, albeit slowly, without falling on my face – which is always a bonus.

My goal is to be able to snowboard before the six of us jet off to Italy in February.

Specifically, I need to be able to link turn, which is riding down the slope in a S shape to help avoid obstacles on the mountain such as rocks and small children.

So, over the next three months I will keep you updated with the number of bruises and tantrums it takes me to reach the target of linking turns before Christmas.