Coolboarders! 2008 Version

Two years ago I snowboarded for the first time. And it was really good. You really didn't think I'd lose the opportunity to do it again after returning to Japan, right? So, this time I didn't only go again, but went twice!

The first one was on January 19th and 20th to Madarao (Nagano Prefecture), organized by Tati (deep thanks to you!). The group gathered most Brazilian students in Kyoto and friends. Just by considering the group, fun was granted.

It was a two day trip, so I decided to give it a shot for skiing on the first day. It's easier to balance and control speed, but I think it hurts more when you fall... Or it might be because it was my first day and I was trying to go at full speed... A "crash course", literally.

No fighting, please...

More fun at night at the local "bar" after someone found out we had discounts for some drinks... while watching pro snowboarding videos (those guys are crazy!) that stimulated people for the next day.

Second day; back to snowboard. That's probably where I belong... This time I managed to go through some different tracks almost undamaged... sliding the coward's way (breaking continuously).

Not everyone, but a good number gathered to face some tracks together...

The group was tired when the bus came to take us back to Kyoto. But it was a trip worth every second!

The second trip was on February 16th and 17th to Takaifuji (Nagano Prefecture). The funny thing about this trip is that the members were called what here might be called the "gaijin way" (because so far I've only seen foreigners doing this kind of thing. I really hope I'm wrong, though). Kennedy organized the trip (thanks!) and called some friends. Some of those friends called other friends who may have called other... Well, you got the idea. The result is that no one in the groups knew all the others at the beginning, but by the end of the trip we were good friends.

Lunch

This time I decided to go with snowboard all the way. And it was a good idea, since by the end of the second day I got the hang of it. I could go through easy tracks with no problem and some intermediate with few accidents.

Preparation for the Intermediate course

But this time situations and discussions that happened when we were not skiing will mark that trip... haha! The right people will know what I mean.

Anyway, the two trips were great and well worth the time and money spent. Bonds of friendship strenghtened, new friends made, learned a new skill and good memories. I still have the "snow fever", but I think I'll call it a game for now. Next year I'll be back sliding/falling around!