School of Hard Knocks

Last Wednesday evening I departed for what I knew would become an amazing trip. The people were just right, though we missed a few. Timing couldn't have been better, the snow was just right, and the temperatures weren't too low. Things, I knew, would turn out great. But that's another story.

While everything did turn out great for the most part, you always need to expect something to go wrong, or someone to get hurt when you go on a snowboarding trip. What I'm about to tell is one of those times things didn't turn out so great. There's a lesson to be learned here, kids, so pay attention.

Something Always Goes Wrong
You see, Friday, one of our best riders got hurt after trying to spin off one of the hits. It was bad, he needed some extra help. Turns out he bruised his back...really bad. He was down and out for the rest of the snowboarding. Looks like he'll be okay, just sore for a while.

Unexpected Twist
The trip to First aid for extra help turned out to be quite informative. When he showed up, the first aid people asked if he was part of the group of people going huge in the park--which he was. Apparently people had been talking about our group of "ruff riders", because we were rocking the biggest hit in the park--possibly up to 70 feet long. How cool is that?! People knew who we were--we had recognition and respect in the park!

Another Turn for the Worst
Obviously the next day, Saturday, we were stoked. What made us even more excited was that we were going to video tape ourselves going huge. We sent our Valued Camera man, down ahead of us to clear the way and prepare to film us launch off the monolithic jump. Unfortunately, some people choked up the runway to this jump. I came down first. When I got to the runway, though, I had to stop to avoid these loiterers. So I told these people to clear out so that my friend could hit it. They kindly moved aside. They must have recognized who they were dealing with ;)

ANYWAY, this other guy just comes skiing through, doesn't hit the jump, but mosey's over onto the landing transition of this jump. In the meantime, my friend had already come charging down the runway, and was in the air! When I saw what was happening, I thought the worst. I watched in horror as our guy came down on top of skier, first hitting him in the helmet with his board, and then proceding to land his board on the skier's back! We caught all of this on tape!

Everything's Gonna Be Alright
I rushed down to see him just laying on the snow, not moving. Soon, though, he sat up and said, "My helmet saved my life. My helmet saved my life! I'm never going to take this thing off!" He was FINE! Later on we proceed to hit that jump, and catch safe landings on tape! How cool is that!?

Oh yeah, the Skier? You want to know how he was doing? Somehow he, too, was fine!!!! He apologized for his stupidity, he knew he shouldn't have done what he did.

One lesson to be learned: Wear a helmet, it will save your life.

The other lesson to learn: Never, ever, sit on or ride onto the landing of a jump, especially if you haven't check to see that everything is clear. Even if you fall off a jump, and it hurt, GET UP, AND MOVE before someone lands on you! Think how bad our guy would have felt for landing on the skier if the skier got hurt! It wasn't even his fault! Think how bad the skier would have felt if our guy was hurt! Basically, I guess it all comes down to one thing. Be very careful when you snowboard or sky, you never know what might come falling out of the sky onto your head.

Sorry this story is so long. Sorry if it's crazy or confusing. I'm probably the worst story teller...ever.