"If it really hurts, just pound the snow."

Today was my third day on the mountain. Total hours Monica has snowboarded: 9.

I realize that when it comes to snowboarding, I have a commitment problem.

I am definitely committed to learning (I think my financial investment thus far is testament to that or at the very least shackles me to making it worth every penny). What I am unable to commit to is ruling out my of fear of falling or going too fast and subsequently falling while strapped to the snowboard.

Snowboarding is unlike ANYTHING I have ever done. I hate ice skating, I never tried skateboarding out of fear of asphalt and my face meeting, I never loved rollerblading (that was more of my sister's gig), and I have never had the opportunity to surf or wakeboard or anything. I liked riding my bike, that was about it. My family isn't into winter sports, so our vacations were filled with hikes, canoeing, rollerskating, andplaying tennis. Until December 25, 2008 I had never done anything akin to skiing, snowboarding, etc. I now find myself living in Park City, home to three resorts that bring tons of seasonal workers and tourists who come out here to do just that - ski, snowboard. While strapped to a snowboard I am so out of my element that I am devoid of any concept of how to do anything, and that is such a weird insecure feeling. I am unsure of how anything works, how I am supposed to position my body, what I should try not to do, etc. This is where a lesson comes into play, you say - with the whole learning process, easing me into the sport, acquainting me with the movements, tools, equipment, etc. But while I took a lesson, and it was most certainly everything a crash course in snowboarding should be - i.e. tumbling - it is really taking a while for me to successfully be able put basic movements into practice.

I need to feel more confident and the only way I can do that is by getting better. Getting better means linking turns and not falling. Linking turns and not falling only happens when you fearlessly commit to moving your body instead of fearfully anticipating a turn and over-thinking your actions. It must be frustrating to watch me do just that because I am sure as heck frustrated with myself every time I fail to do what I want to do with my body or the board.

What made today different from any other day out there was not only the noticeably elevated quality of my performance from Day 1/Hour 1, but today was the first day I did a run with Drew! YAY! After my third solo run, where I didn't fall uncontrollably once, my slightly-more-confident-stubborn-self decided to finally call Drew to ask him to come help me practice how to turn. I am nervous about hitting the trails with Drew because amidst wanting to impress him cause I love him and I want him to be proud of me, I was nervous that he would get aggravated because I'm not very good. Silly but true. However, regardless of the fact that I am self-conscious on the slopes and he is awesome, he managed to help me to better understand how turning is supposed to happen instead of me trial-and-erroring by myself all over the place.

It was nice.

The best advice he gave today was after I stopped short and fell straight on my tailbone, the kind of fall that you can feel in your nose. I made a pouty face and he said, "If it really hurts, just pound the snow. It's all you can do. You can give yourself two seconds and then you have to get up again. Come on. Get up." hahahahahaha. Gotta love it.

I can honestly say that though I "had fun" my first two times out there, they ended painfully and when it was all over I was disappointed with myself and how badly I sucked. This was the first time I can say I felt better out there, and that's such a nice feeling. I successfully turned a couple of times, thanks to Drew's instruction. Its still not something I totally comprehend, nor does it come naturally, but I can definitely feel myself loosening up a bit.

And thats enough progress for me to feel just a bit more confident.

"News from the top"
Snowboarding, Day 3.
I can confidently say
things fall into place.

"May I have this Sundance?"

At this point, all in Park City are counting down the hours until Sundance 2009 kicks off tomorrow. Main Street is offically a "Loading ONLY" zone and there are people in town that definitely mark the transition from the average mountee townee to trendy socialite. I went to the corner "cafe" for a quick bite this evening - delicious club sandwich btw - and after chatting with him for a moment, he said that business has offically begun for him. He is the only venue within reasonable walking distance that sells cigarettes. While normally a non-popular product while mountee townees are roaming, Sundance brings him the big cancerous biz. Over the years he has figured out what brands sell at Sundance and he only carries those. How intelligently hysterical. He says that since this morning he has sold 54 packs of cigarettes. Normally, he's lucky if he sells ten. "At a bargain $6 a pack, thats serious revenue," I said. "Yeah, though the smokers don't usually buy food here, so its a fair financial substitue for anything my lunch menu...That'll be $6.50," he says as he hands me my sandwich.

I have been told by a few locals that ticket sales are up from last year, an unexpected statistic considering the current national economic situation and the Utah-supported-Prop-8 boycotters. Interestingly, however, there are less reservations and rentals citywide. A visitor to the gallery explained that she always rents her house out at Sundance, and while she had her advertisement up on Craigslist for months, she only in the past week got a renter. This was after she dropped her price $150 from her original nightly asking price which was $1200. Among her friends, she said she got lucky. She, among other locals I have spoken to, believe this Sundance marks the year of the local. Ticket sales might be up and Sundance is an event sure to bring people to town regardless of money, but I can see how a combination of the state of the economy and Utah boycotters in lieu of Prop-8 passing are effecting those in attendance of Sundance.

On my walk back from the cafe I was stopped in front of what is usually Montgomery Lee Fine Art (one of the classiest, oldest, galleries on Main Street) so that a group of ripped men in tight tees could carry a piece of furniture from a moving van into the gallery space. Another stylish man wearing thick hipster glasses was fixing a "Q" logo sticker on the door. Upon looking in, I saw that the entire first floor had been transformed from your typical gallery space into a neon blue glowing club setting, complete with couches and bar area. Absolut's Queer Lounge has officially tagged their territory, despite all of the Prop 8 crap that has gone down here. Or should I say IN spite of. I was glad to see this up and happening, cause frankly as much as boycotting makes a statement, I think visibility and action make a much louder noise. Come to Utah, raise hell. Its a much needed change of pace that very closeted mindsets need in order to instill any sort of EVENTUAL change. I am not saying that Park City is not gay-friendly; I am saying Park City might be the only place that is gay-friendly, in addition to some holes of SLC. Hopefully raising some sort of awareness, maybe even making a few local headlines, will dissuade a few brainwashed turds.