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| Wednesday, 29-Dec-2004 00:00 |
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5th Year of Snowboarding
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Ryou Ropeway Station
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Looking at the sky
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How's my new jacket?
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Beshpwen.... :)
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Bored of snowboarding.. Lets mountain climbing!
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The Cool GUyS
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Burried in snow (2nd day)
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Resting
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Outdoor cooking
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Cooking in total darkness
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Hakuba 47
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Penguin???
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Expert Course??? Nahh.. wouldn't wanna kill myself
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On 25th & 26th December, went snowboarding at Kitashiga Ryuo Skipark. While other guys went with bus, Ajarn & I went there ourselves with my car. We started our journey 2 hours later than the bus but manage to shorten the journey from usual 7 hours to 6 hours and arrive at Ryuo 1 hour after the bus arrived. To our dismay, there was no snow at sight along the road.
As soon as we arrive, we changed to snowboarding cloths and went straigth towards the ski park. It was terrible. Grass and stones were seen along the courses, lots of people on the skipark fall. Looks dangerous. It seemed at this condition, even some of the good boarders around can't surf smoothly. It was plain ice on the grown, not snow. The lines to ride the lift are crowded. We were told only about 4 path were open that day.
Ajarn & I decided to go to the highest peak at Ryou where they have panorama course. We went straight to the ropeway. Ryou has a world record of having the largest ropeway that can hold up to 166 people. Heading towards the ropeway, we saw Salina, Otot & Osh. Osh decided to follow us. As soon as we arrive at the peak, I was shock to see soo many people. As soon as I get on the board, I was too terrified to slide. I kept on breaking. Its not that I 'm afraid of falling or making silly moves, but I was afraid that I would hit someone. The path was soo crowded. We can't even slide fast enough to enjoy the view. Osh told me, how come I went snowboarding soo many times, I was was afraid to move?... Deep in my mind, I hate this condition. I was not in the mood to snowboarding. But I manage to slide smoothy sometimes.
At the end of the day, we headed straight back to ryoukan to catch Asar prayer.
Tomorrow morning, I was reluctant to wake up and play but suddenly a view at my window made me stood up. It was snowing heavily. It was a total miracle. I thank God soo much for the beautiful snow God gave us although I know what we were doing is something that will not benefit to religion. But snowboarding is one of my deepest interest in my whole life. It was wonderful.
This time we took a different course. The course was not the highest but it is not certainly crowded. It was wide, there are some powder at the side of path. It was not that easy either, a bit challenging. As we ride on lift, I saw some guys jumping while sliding downhill. Some even look like dancing. I told Ajarn, oneday I would like to do that.
When we went downhill, I felt beneath my board was a pure soft snow, not some hard slippery ice. I let my left side weight turning me downhill. The board started sliding fast, as soon it was fast enough I turned left. It was a wonderful feeling, than the board began to dance. I was turning 360 degrees without falling. I was not afraid anymore of hitting people. The course was soo wide, I could surf at any speed I want.
I saw Ajarn was excited to... he tried to do some jumps. I told him to try Ollie first, then jump. At first few tries, Ajarn falls badly but manage recover back. Then I saw he succeeded in making a small jumps. I felt in envy and determined to the same thing. I told him lets try some jumps near the powdered area. At least if we fall, it wouldn't be so bad. At the powder area, it was harder to control the board. We kept falling down due to the board that was stuck under the thick snow.
This time, I'm not gonna let some snow riding with me. I'm gonna ride on the snow, not the snow riding on my board. After few tries, I thought it was an unwasted effort. We rode on the powder like it was a normal path.
It was 3 o'clock. The other guys had to get back to the hotel. Suddenly we saw Yocha. I asked aren't you gonna follow them. He told that it was Ok.. he still wants to play. We told him, lets tried some jumps. He was so excited. It was his 2nd season but unlike most guys that went that day, Yocha was really good at snowboarding. When I talk about good, it is not just a beginners ride but much more about be able to turn around beautifully without falling down. Ajarn showed some jumps, then all of us were suck into the excitement of experimenting small jumps. It was not as good as the the pros or ametuers but a small progress that with grew more more later on.
At the end of the day, we stood a very steep slope. I was afraid and before this was unable to turn at steep slopes without falling down badly. Yocha looks afraid too. I told Ajarn to go first. 3 of us stood at one straight lined. Ajarn went first, he glide down beautifully making U turn. I took a deep breath and followed him. My eyes enlarged as the board slide faster. At high speed, I suddenly felt free and make a U turn. Turning around, I saw Yocha succeed too going down the steep slope. All 3 of us break with style infront of other people.
It was soo cool. Then we headed straight back to hotel. There Ajarn & I said goodbye to the other guys. We we're so hungry. Ajarn said he wants to cook beside our car. I said, that is crazy. Is cooking allowed on skipark??? Anyway we were too hungry to think about it anymore and started cooking. Today's menu is burger and sausages.
After dinner, we headed towards Nagano. On our way, the car skided 90 degrees. Ajarn was totally in shock for it was his first time and he was driving at that time. We nearly hit a bus. Despite the danger, I felt so excited. It was like an adventure. Ajarn decide to put the tire chain on. It was tedious.
As soon as we arrived Nagano station, Ajarn contacted Bare. Bare invited us to dinner. There he told us the shocking news about Indonesia was hit by earthquake and tsunami. Malaysia was effected too. It was shocking but not that great. But as soon I read the news on the internet at Aya's house, I found that it more that shocking. It was devastating. I thought, while God gave us some snow to us, but God have the power to destroy. The earthquake was only a small power that God put on earth. I can't imagine the judgement day.
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