Boldly Go Solo

For me, love of travel includes daydreaming about where I might go next, and what I might do. At the moment, I’m in Park City, Utah with friends. We’ve skied Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons. The snow has been awesome. (that’s ski-dude speak for "awesome"). So we’ve been having a great time. Except for the crazy $79 a day lift tickets. Youch!

In between slaloming down mountains (in my intermediate sort of way) I’ve been thinking how fun it would be to try snowboarding. In October, I met someone who works at Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont. She told me that several times a season, the resort offers special packages for women to take snowboarding lessons over two, three or five days. 

I’ve looked it up online and it looks pretty reasonable. A little over $300 for two days, including lift tickets, lessons, breakfast and lunch daily and video analysis of one’s technique. And an optional morning stretch class. Although, those are midweek prices.

Still, for me, Vermont is a whole lot closer to home than the West Coast, so a trip of a couple of days isn’t out of the question.

Continued…

For years, I’ve wanted to try snowboarding. I’ve
been told by many people that you have to take a lesson and you have to give it three consecutive days before giving up.

The first day you "whomp" a lot. Lots of face plants and feet out from under you, forcing you to take a seat. Hard. The
second day, you kind of get the hang of it but there’s still a lot of falling down. But by day three, you love it and
wonder what took you so long to try it. So they say.

I may or may not get to Okemo this year. But it sure is fun to think about. This kind of daydreaming can provide hours of entertainment during Metro rides and while waiting in line at the grocery store.

Almost forgot to mention the solo part. I’d go by myself. I’ve already talked to my friends about wanting to try snowboarding. No one’s interested. I’d have no problem going on my own. I suspect people at "camp" would be welcoming. And I’m pretty sure that falling down together a lot is a bonding experience. 

Photos: Ellen Perlman. The Canyons ski resort, Utah.