February 07, 2007
Snowboarding Trip 2K7
I was in CA a couple weeks ago for the Annual[0] Snowboarding Trip that I've been doing with friends for the last few years. I got 3 days of riding in at sunny Heavenly resort in Lake Tahoe, CA/NV. The weather was nice, the snow was decent and the trees were avoided. Sorry, I had to put that in there to curb any comments from the peanut gallery about my long recorded history of running my person into trees whilst snowboarding. No injuries were sustained to my person I'm happy to report. I plan on keeping it that way.
I decided a while back though that I was going to spend a fair amount of time out there, so that I could see friends that I haven't seen for over a year. I lived out in CA for 3 years and I missed people. I didn't get to see everybody while I was out there, and I'm sad about that, but I guess I'll just have to make another trip out there. I stayed for 10 days (leaving on Thursday and staying until the following Sunday). It was an excellent trip and I really liked spending time with all my friends and hitting the slopes a bit too. Indiana definitely needs to import some mountains so I can at least get part of the CA experience here in the Midwest.
[0] It's pretty much annual, we didn't have one last year though.
Posted by Michael at 02:15 PM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2006
Thank you eHow
I must try this on my trip. =)
Posted by Michael at 02:12 PM | Comments (2)
It's been too long
One of the disadvantages to living in Indianapolis over San Jose is the proximity to mountains. I have not been snowboarding this entire Winter. A sharp contrast to last year, when I had been up to the mountains at least 6 times before Christmas. Then again...last year I _was_ on a mission to make up for lost time.
In any case, this coming weekend will be my first snowboarding trip of the season. I am quite excited.
Posted by Michael at 09:09 AM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2005
Vail Pictures and more
Since I did in fact promise pictures from Vail a week or so ago (most likely more), so here we go!
Me doing a carve after this jump.
Stanley got stuck in a tree after a jump by Matt and I went a little bad. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained.
The cliff that we[0] all jumped off. Here[1] is a bunch of shots of me attempting the jump.
And finally here are the 3 brothers.
I went to Sugar Bowl snowboarding today. It seems it will be my last day of snowboarding this season. All things considered, it was a great season, I got 2 powder days in, including that _amazing_ day in Vail. I did a total of 19 days this season, and I am very happy about it. And I'm looking forward to next season too.
No more snowboarding posts for about 6 months....probably...maybe....well, ya never know. =)
[0] Me, Matt, Stanley, John, Cory.
[1] This one is somewhat large, but I didn't want to make it too small.
Posted by Michael at 11:49 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2005
Survival
I'm back from Colorado. No major injuries were sustained by myself or any other parties during the trip. I'll be posting a report of the trip along with pictures and possibly some video. Stay tuned!
Posted by Michael at 10:49 AM | Comments (3)
March 18, 2005
Game on
I leave this afternoon for Colorado. It's the 3rd Annual Ski/Snowboarding trip. I'm all packed and ready to go.
Here's hoping that all goes well this year. =)
Posted by Michael at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)
March 15, 2005
This coming weekend
It's that time of year again. Time for the annual snowboarding trip. The plan is to go to Vail but there are a bunch of mountains around there. Vail hasn't gotten a ton of snow this season, so we will basically go to whichever resort has the best snow. I am leaving Friday afternoon and will return the following Wednesday. I took my precious into the shop last weekend so I could get the edges sharpened and a wax done. It probably didn't need the wax, but it's not going to be bad in any way, so it can't hurt.
I am stoked about this trip. I have been wanting to go ever since I was stupid and broke myself last year.
Music: Remy Zero - Garden State - Fair
Posted by Michael at 01:30 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2005
One year later
So, 1 year ago today is when I broke my leg. So I celebrated this weekend by going snowboaring both days. =) Probably not the wisest thing I could do, but when has doing the "smart" thing ever been my thing? Exactly.
But it was a great trip, and the snow was awesome. I tried pulling a frontside 360 a couple times, but couldn't land it. =/
Posted by Michael at 09:49 PM | Comments (1)
December 13, 2004
Season pass
My season pass has already paid for itself. As of this weekend's trip, the amount of money I would have spent buying lift tickets each day is now higher than the amount that I paid for my season pass. =)
I pretty much get to go for free[0] for the rest of the season.
[0] Essentially. I still have to pay for gas.
Posted by Michael at 03:16 PM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2004
Pic of my new snowboard
We loves our precious....
Posted by Michael at 04:44 PM | Comments (2)
November 23, 2004
It seemed like a good idea at the time
Driving up and back from Tahoe 2 days in a row seemed like a good idea at the time, but turned out to be very draining and a very bad idea. Never again. Next time I'll just stay up near Tahoe.
Posted by Michael at 01:42 PM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2004
New entry on the side
So I thought I'd put up an entry on the side as to my snowboarding exploits. I am going to keep track of the number of days I have boarded as well as which resorts I have gone to. I'll also put some other tidbits of info up there as well. Look for it in the coming days.
Posted by Michael at 09:13 AM | Comments (0)
My precioussss
I got my new snowboard this weekend and let me say "wow". This board kicks all sorts of ass. I have so much more control and response with the new one. It's a Ride Prophet 156cm, and it has become precious to me. I could easily tell the difference when going down the runs and could even handle some moguls[0]. I'm no expert yet, but this board is definately going to help me control myself as I hurdle my body down the mountain.
[0] I don't fall nearly as often as I used to on moguls now.
Posted by Michael at 09:11 AM | Comments (2)
October 28, 2004
Yet another trip to the mountain
So I think I may head up to Kirkwood again this weekend. Only a couple people are coming with this time, not the full carload that went last time. Saturday is probably going to be the day of choice, seeing as how everybody has plans on Sunday. Besides, it's probably not such a good idea to have to do it on a Sunday and then have to work the next day. I could only imagine how much that Monday would suck.
I put my new bindings on my old snowboard. Allow me to explain. I bought new bindings, not because I "needed" them, but mostly because they were really cheap[0] and this way I could have 2 fully functional snowboards and wouldn't have to change bindings back and forth if I wanted to use my old board. Also, if someone I know who doesn't have a board wants to go, they don't have to rent the board, they can simply use my old one. I haven't gotten my new board yet, but I expect to get it next weekend. Then I just need to put my good bindings on it and I am set.
I'm still not 100% going this weekend, but it's a "most likely" at this point. I got a season pass to Kirkwood so I am planning on making a butt-ton of trips this season. To make the pass worthwhile, I only need to go 5 more times, so I'm probably going to have "paid for" my season pass by Christmas. =)
[0] $110 on sale for $55.
Posted by Michael at 04:44 PM | Comments (2)
October 24, 2004
Survival of the Smartest
I survived snowboarding yesterday. No injuries, no trees. It was a lot of fun, and there weren't a whole lot of people there. There was a fair amount of people in the morning, but after lunch I didn't even have to wait in lines to get onto the lift.
The snow was falling all day, so there was an ample amount of powder to board through. I missed boarding so much.
Posted by Michael at 01:54 PM | Comments (2)
October 22, 2004
It has begun...
Well, as an after-effect of the weather we had the other day, Kirkwood is opening a month early. I am attempting to grind away at my friends collective willpower so that one or more will accompany me on Saturday to snowboard.
Now you're probably thinking, "Hey dumbass, remember what happened last time you went snowboarding. A little issue of a tree and your leg not agreeing..."
To which I respond, "Yes, smartass."
I plan on doing the utmost to avoid trees this season, since I tend to lose in that specific situation. But I have been waiting to snowboard again since last January and I plan on making up the months I didn't get to snowboard.
I keep telling my knee that it will be ok and I promise to take care of him this time, although I am not sure he believes me. I beg and please and insists that it was a fluke incident and will never happen again. Gonna have to earn that trust back. =) I'm not 100% going, as I really don't want to make the drive there and back (in 24 hours) by myself, and I'll be sure to keep you all posted on the outcome.
Posted by Michael at 01:21 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2004
Man down... [part 3]
I am going to chicago tomorrow morning to see a different doctor [0] and most likely have the surgery there. I would expect surgery will happen on Saturday, but I will keep you all posted as to what exactly is going on.
I don't know what is going to happen with work, although I am going to try to work remotely. Blah, stupid broken body making things difficult.
edit: [0] someone that my step-dad went to med school with recommended this doctor
Posted by Michael at 10:17 AM | Comments (1)
January 20, 2004
Man down... [part 2]
I just got back from the doctors a little while ago. Yes, that was plural. I had a appointment with an orthopedist this morning at 9am. The result of that appointment was that he wanted me to get a cat scan of my knee at a different doctor's office so he could see the break better and determine the best course of action. That doctor gave me 3 possibilities before I left for the cat scan:
1) Put a cast on it next week [0]
2) Minor invasive surgery to put several (approx. 3) screws in my leg to make it heal properly
3) "Hardcore" surgery to put a plate and screws in my knee
The result after the orthopedist saw the cat scan was somewhere between #2 and #3. I need surgery to repair my leg. The doctor doesn't _think_ they'll be any long-term affects of this injury, but I still worry.
As far as work goes, I don't know if I am going to take some time, or try to work from home. Updates coming soon.
[0] After the swelling goes down, my knee is huge at this point
Posted by Michael at 12:45 PM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2004
Man down... [part 1]
Well, I was hoping that I would return from my snowboarding trip this weekend with some excellent stories about runs I did or tricks that I pulled. I mean, I could tell you about them, but that wouldn't be the most important news. Long story short, I broke my leg. It sucks.
I have an anterior tibia plataeu fracture on my left leg. Basically, the part of the tibia [0] that comes in contact with the femur [1] has a crack in it. It is not a complete break, which is good, but I have to take special care to keep my leg horizontal at all times.
I was going down a tree-run, following a friend of Jason's [2]. He took a tree run that was fairly narrow and not very straight. I kept up with him very well until the last turn of the run before the run opened up into a clearing. I lost my edge and my body went horizontal as my left leg slammed into the tree. I felt a pop and couldn't move my leg. About 5 minutes later when my brothers caught up to me, I was on the ground and I couldn't move my leg. The Ski Patrol came about 10-15 minutes later, affixed me to a sled and brought me to the first aid station/clinic that was on the mountain. After waiting about 45 minutes, I finally got into the clinic to have x-rays taken. It was confirmed that my leg was broken. My boarding trip was cut short.
I spent the remainder of the trip on the couch taking care of my leg, keeping it iced and taking ibeuprofin to keep the swelling down.
I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning with an orthopedist (sp) to determine the best course of action to take with my leg, whether that be casting the leg or whatever.
My mom is out here in California now. She is spending a couple days here to take me to the orthopedist [3], and help me get situated to only having one usable leg. On one hand I really want to be able to be independant and be able to take care of myself, no matter what happens, but on the other hand, I think that I could really use some help these next couple days.
[0] the bone bewteen your kneecap and ankle
[1] the bone between your kneecap and hip
[2] Jason's friend is an awesome snowboarder and it was probably a bad decision on my part to try to keep up with him and do the runs that he was doing
[3] it's hard to drive stick-shift with only 1 leg =(
Posted by Michael at 11:56 PM | Comments (5)
January 15, 2004
Annual Snowboarding Trip
Hey all, I am leaving this afternoon for my annual snowboarding trip. We are going to Winter Park in Colorado. I will be back Monday night (hopefully in one piece). I am taking my digital camera with me, so I hope to have many more action shots. I am not sure what kind of tricks I am going to try to pull, but I'm sure I'll think of something. Maybe a 360, although I'd like to pull a backflip. But I could get very hurt doing that, so I am not sure about the whole backflip thing yet. We'll see how I'm feeling or if I can find a kicker [0] with some powder to fall into instead of very packed snow.
[0] A jump made to get the rider a lot of air.
Posted by Michael at 10:35 AM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2003
Suicide Saturday
This is a term used [0] to describe going up to Tahoe and back in a day and spending the whole day skiing/snowboarding. That is what I did this past saturday. My older brother Matt was in town [1] for a Biochemistry-conference-thing and I told him to come up a day early so that we could go snowboarding in Tahoe.
My brother got some really nice shots of me doing some rails and a jump. I felt really accomplished after pulling some of this stuff off. All in all, it was a blast to go. And I would just like to point out that I pulled all that stuff off on my first day back on the slopes this season. I do have to admit though, on the first picture, I didn't land after the shot was taken, but the picture is just too cool [2] to not include.
[0] By the locals...although I guess I am a local now...or something
[1] His conference was in San Francisco
[2] In my humble opinion
Posted by Michael at 12:56 PM | Comments (1)