Everything I Ever Learned About Skiing I Learned From a
SNOWBOARDER By Bob McCray
Woodstock Inn and Resort, Vermont
A
As a skier, my first encounter with a snowboarder was getting knocked down from behind. It was like getting hit by a rowboat.
It was Christmas Day, and I was in a charitable mood. Maybe the guy didn’t celebrate Christmas. He mumbled something like “Get out of my way old man.” Of course, years ago, ski areas banned snowboarders. Skiers complained they trashed the moguls. But, while parents cherished the time-honored, two-legged sliders, their skateboarding kids glommed onto snowboards. By 2004, snowboarders outnumbered skiers 6.5 million to 6 million. Nevertheless, for hard-nosed curmudgeons like me, skiers and snowboarders were natural enemies—like the cattlemen and sheepmen in the classic westerns. “Can’t we all get along?”—No! 6 ❖ MIDWEST SKIER
Pico Mountain, Vermont
I was skiing a Midwest ski slope. I got up, brushed myself off and started putting my ski back on. Then, just as I was ready to go, he hit me again, this time knocking me out of both skis!
My awakening came when I discovered a guy in our sailing club was a regular at our local ski area, and we decided, come winter, to go up together. He was a late riser, and I was an early-morning guy, so we drove up separately, planning to meet midday at the lift. 2009/2010 DIRECTORY ❖ www.skicmsc.org