Snowolf

The thing that I find so compelling about our sport is the diversity it offer to people with many different interest in regard to their riding. Whether it be hucking yourself off a 40 foot cliff or gently carving a groomed run, there seems to be something for everyone. Additionally, I see this sport as something that a person who remains reasonably physically fit can do well into old age.

All of us have something or several somethings that we cherish most about snowboarding. I thought it might be fun to start a thread where everyone can share their passion for their riding and provoke thought for trying some new things in their daily riding to expand their horizons a bit. If I have done this correctly, there should be a poll where you can select as many riding styles as you want. I thought it might be fun to see what the most popular riding styles are.

To start this chairlift running, I will start by saying that for me, it is the feeling of total freedom I get from snowboarding that keeps me stoked. The fact that 90% of the population feels trapped inside by winter weather, while we as snowboarders relish it and get out more in the winter than we do in the summer is liberating in and of itself. For me, the best day of riding is one where I get to be part explorer and part snowboarder. I live for back country wilderness riding and the effect is like a drug. Nothing beats finding steep, challenging chutes and open glades in untracked powder. At the resort, I am a true all mountain rider and I like to include a little of everything in my day`s riding. One of the things I love about this sport is the complete lack of limits as to how far you can take it. Only your physical ability can limit what you can do on a snowboard. Every time I ride I set a goal to challenge myself with something difficult to learn. The only bad day snowboarding is the day I did`nt motivate myself to get out and go. Let`s hear your stories!

N~R~G

i would agree that i've looked forward to winter since i started riding. before then, winter was a time of indoor shows, bonfire gatherings, rebuilding stock for the upcoming festival season & a chance to recoup from the present year's festival season. but now that i ride, i can rage all year long! haha.

what i really dig about it though is the feeling it gives me. overcoming my fears/inhibitions, pushing my limits & finally, accomplishing it with steeze (not that i can do much, but all in good time). aside from that, it's hella fun

boarderaholic

Everything in the poll, and the fact that there are NO ALLERGIES!!!!

N~R~G

there's definitely something addicting or preoccupying about it also

killclimbz

The first five would top my list and hey it let me vote for 'em.

The thing that probably stokes me the most is the scenery you get to play in. Everytime I take a moment to look around it blows me away. Sometimes it's hanging out on a 14er or the Continental Divide. Other times it's in a thick canopied forest. Storms, sunshine, a mixed bag. One of the reasons I really dig backcountry is you can take your time and enjoy what's around you.

REKER

Living in the MidAtlantic region of the east coast limits us. The mountains close to me dont really have any type of "back country" riding (that I know of atleast), but when I watch DVDs and look in magazines and see the pro's hitting all those back country kickers, it gets me amped up for the season. Right now, I can only imagine how fun backcountry is.

With that said, I look forward to spending more time in the terrain park and half pipe this year. Last year was my first time in the pipe and I fell in love with it. But, there are those times that I like to just pick a really long run and just flow down that and throw in a few ollie tricks and manuals. Same goes for night riding b/c the crowds die down and although its some times icey, I like to session the sides of the trails and hit the natural jumps/jibs.

Also, sometimes I like to just sit down and chill at the top of the mountain and take in all the scenery and fresh air. That gets really relaxing.

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Deadly when I pull the pin out.

bravo_castle

I voted for the top 4. (btw how bad ass is that I didn't have to choose just one)
My post will slightly echo others... but any who...

I love the "getting away from it all" aspect.
No matter how dramatic/problematic life can get, it all gets left behind in the city.

Meeting up with like minded individuals who enjoy riding as much as I do.
I'm all to use too friends who can't & won't understand the drive/passion... fuck'em.

Then there is the feeling of ripping some great runs through the trees or in the cirque.
Stopping & realizing where I am & how stoked I am.
Soaking in the great scenery, you've gotta stop once in awhile & admire how B E A UTIFUL it is.
Oh and calling a friend who is slaving away at work from the 'middle' (figuratively not literally)of a good run.

Then there is the feeling of accomplishment. the "endorphin" high at the end of the day.
Being sore & muscle fatigue from riding/hiking is great compared to a sore back from sitting at my desk staring at a PC all day.

Snowolf:
I get a good laugh out of how people feel so trapped during winter & when it snows.
I'm ALWAYS that retard who gets too excited at the mere mention of winter or a snow storm.
I've actually had people (friends/co-workers) get mad at me because I always wish it would snow more!

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Just my 2¢ & YMMV
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#1 rule of survival: Sometimes you die.
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PaoloSmythe

i guess the simplest way to describe the attraction for me, is that a plank piece of virginal powdery snow, provides a canvas for self expression, thru physical excertion.

the reward for this, is made thru the chance of enjoying the right weather, in the right environment at the right time, with me performing to the necessary level to meet my expectations and desires. alot of variables have to coincide to produce the perfect effect; not an easy thing, and therefore a rarity, but something that is even more delicious when realised.

i don't like the the pistes too much, but they do offer a chance to duck off the edge and so you can redefine what that piste means to you. the park and kickers etc are the worst of all, as the points at which you can express your sideways persona is strictly dictated to and determined. of course, given the right level of skill and confidence, your expression is in the form of rotations, flips and grabs.

i lack the courage i guess, to indulge in such high risk expression; but the thrill of conquering a thus far untouched steep, or traversing to that aspect no other managed to, just to lay down a few turns and natural hits, is more than satisfactory.

and so i ticked the first 6 boxes (except for the trees and glades)

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Just coz you don't understand it
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alaric

I'm on the same track as Reker. Living in Central NY, I don't get to experience chutes, or long backcountry runs or any of that good stuff. I want to be able to do that stuff some day, but I can't now. What I do get to do has gotten me hooked though. I have fallen in love with jibbing and the park. I know you, Paolo, don't believe there's much chance to express yourself in the park and on kickers, but I disagree. It's the simple things that a person may add to a hard trick to make it theirs. I love sliding down a rail and at the end adding a little spin, or whatever to add some expression.

And bravo, I agree with you totally on the feeling of accomplishment. It is a high when you land that trick, or finish that full run, or just come off from a great day of boarding. The pain, the broken bones, sore body, busted face, or whatever happens is totally worth the high and feeling after anyday of snowboarding.

Sitting on the top of the mountain and just taking in the scenery is great. Even at Greek Peak (otherwise known as a hill... it's what we got) it's great being able to sit up top, look down and around and see white.

I'd take a shitty day boarding (if there is such a thing) over sitting in an office anyday.

I checked the last 6, not including the nightlife.

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Snowolf

I totally understand where you are coming from! I am not a big park rider; mainly because I am just not all that good at it yet and the only urban feature I hit are the boxes for the same reason (I still really suck at them ) I get that high you describe from getting more air than I expected and sticking the landing or when I did my first rainbow rail this year. All season long a picnic table at Meadows taunted me and finally on my last day I said "what the hell, I can only die once.." I had to ollie higher than I had ever done before to make the table top and I made it, then slid off the side and dropped onto the bench and off the end without killing myself. It was a huge sense of accomplishment both for riding and landing it and for overcoming my fear of hitting it. Jibbing and park riding I think involves more mental struggle than anything and overcoming a mental thing gives great satisfaction

Oh yeah, I love night riding under the lights the best of all. Here on mt. Hood we get most of our snowfall after dark so I have had epic pow nights!