sugary
 
on the intermediate slopes at sugar bowl in lake tahoe, CA

perfect powder snow at tahoe this weekend - it was pretty crazy tho because in early afternoon, it started snowing in drifts, which i probably haven't seen since i was... five? it was nice because it kept a lot of people from coming into tahoe on this three day weekend, so no one was there!! it was amazing, so glad i went. really got practice my turns because the snow was so powdery i wasn't as afraid to fall. definitely feeling more comfortable on blues... was even tempted to try a black diamond, but didn't have enough time (was too busy trying to get one more run in before the lifts closed...)

we went in a group of 30 people, i never recommend that (try saving lunch tables for 30 people). it was fun tho, i got to teach some beginners in the morning and then board during the afternoon (even met up with a friend), so it wasn't too strenuous. after the mini snowstorm in early afternoon though, it completely cleared up and the sun came out, which made for PERFECT conditions for boarding. some casualties though - one girl in our group broke her elbow, and i almost got plastered under a chair lift because my friend's ski tips got caught in my bindings and she couldn't get it out while the chair lift was coming, so with some quick thinking, i was able to fall intentionally and flatten myself under the chair and closed my eyes as it passed over me. (what if the chair didn't clear my face?? i'm glad i have flat nose.) i think i scared the young chair lift operator, he BOLTED towards me and immediately took my board off. i was in a bit of shock, but it turned out to be ok.

yesterday was the first time i braved it enough to carry my camera with me in my jacket - other times i totally would have smashed it to smithereens, but falls were kept to a minimum. next time i'm going without wrist braces, although now I think I'm going to get elbow pads, thanks to my friend. i guess it is a dangerous sport - last week, a friend who boarded for the first time got a vertebral fracture, but i should be ok because i'm too scared to go too fast, so i intentionally fall if i'm out of control.

good times... almost addicting, itching to go again.