I just spent 2 days and over $500 on an unexpected venture to Nagano, Japan. One of my co-workers spontaneously invited me to go. I had no equipment and less than a comfortable budget, but I accidentally said yes before getting all the details. I was just excited that she invited me to join her.
The price estimate was over $200 off...the trip was an hour longer because we got on the wrong highway...the first day there was a blizzard...and they served fish for every meal. BUT I am so glad I went. It was gorgeous, I had so many firsts, and I was doing pretty well by day 2. Too bad I have no strength or feeling left in my tail bone, wrists, neck, or knees...
The trip ended up being with 3 experienced snowboarders, so they made me stay back and take a lesson - good idea. However...they had no English speaking teachers, but she still insisted I try. So I did. The teacher could say "Lefto" and "Righto"...but beyond that, I just relied on watching him....Which was difficult given the blizzard (do keep in mind that I had no idea it was a blizzard...I just figured when you go thousands of meters into the mountains, it was bound to be snowy). Needless to say, it took me and my peer about 2 hours to get down once. The worst part was starting and stopping, starting and stopping. I mean, falling sucked too (as my tail bone will attest), but I am not a strong person. By the 3rd time trying to lift myself back up off the ground, my arms were dead. It was so embarrassing being so weak (the other student fell just as much, but had no problem jumping right back up).
Anyway...we finally made it down, frozen and sore and exhausted. I met up with the others for a late lunch and found out that they had only been down once, too - they said the weather was too bad to be boarding in. Good to know!
I went to an onsen (Japanese public bath/hot spring) with the fellow teacher that night. It wasn't too bad because I didn't let myself chicken out, just stripped down as fast as possible and thanked God for the surplus of steam! I will admit it was incredibly nice after a long day in the snow. My muscles appreciated it.
Day two was MUCH better. I went off on my own again while the others went to the highest lift. I could actually see where I was going, I learned (by trial and error) how to turn and how to slow down (the teacher hadn't forgotten those details, but it's hard to "show" how to shift your weight, especially in a blizzard). I also made it a complete time down without falling! I almost cried with joy. Oh, and I made it down about 5 or 6 times in the same amount of time I went down once the previous day.
It was a huge waste of money and my body is in terrible pain, but I would definitely do it again...
5 comments:
HOORAY!!! this sounds so so so so fun!! i'm incredibly happy you went, even though it cost a million bucks and you hurt all over*
Awesome. I am even more excited now to go to Nagano. You are incredibly brave; I would never head down those mountains on a snowboard.
I am impressed!!!
You must be way better than me. When I tried snowboarding, I couldn't make it down once. I'll stick to skiing, thank you very much.
Was it huge? Probably nothing like Jumonville! ;)
And that picture of the mountains... did you really see that? That's amazingly beautiful.
yesssss you did the bath thing! i told you that you could do it! ;)
You look like a true snowboarder!!! that's awesome! you will have to show us your skills next winter!
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