Now Read This

This isn't really about how to snowboard again, like you forgot how to turn or back lip or anything, more like the whole process of snowboarding.

This past Saturday was opening day at Killington here in Vermont. The weather was nice, the snow was good, and the crowds were mellow. While everyone's legs were a little shaky at first, everything seemed to come back pretty quick. What didn't seem to come back quite as quick was remembering everything that goes along with snowboarding. From packing all your stuff, to finding that short cut, to remember your favorite snack stop on the ride home- think of this Techknow Tuesday as a photo journey through your first day of the season.

The first thing to remember about snowboarding, is that there is a lot of stuff involved. You've got all the necessities like boots, board, bindings, jacket, pants, goggles, and gloves. Add to that all the other random stuff you might want (camera, face mask, music, danglers, candy, etc) and there is a lot to keep track of. Not forgetting anything will for sure make your day (opening day or not) way better.

Once you have all your gear (that sounds really lame, but uh... yea) squared away, its time for the drive to the hill. Whether 15 minutes or a couple hours, it always seems like it takes longer than you remember. Probably part excitement, part repression, the drive might seem long now, but come mid-season it will be nothing.

Once at the hill, you're gonna have to wait in line. Lift line etiquette and proper vibing techniques are worthy of their own post, so for the sake of brevity, just keep your eyes open while in the line- always some gems to be seen. 

After a summer of watching videos and web clips, probably the most refreshing thing to remember is that not everyone is really good at snowboarding. First trip through the little park that Killington had set up was like a breath of fresh air. Definitely some good riders there, but you will soon remember that hard way 270's and switch presses are not that norm as the internet would lead you to believe. 

Especially in the North East, this time of year the sun is really low in the sky, and the light gets pretty terrible really early. This photo is probably from like 2pm, so remember to leave those solex lenses at home, and its get to the hill early. That's probably not something you want to remember, but yea, remember that?

Even with the low light, a little parking lot apres action is always good. 

Even if you don't need anything, its always cool to swing by your local shop after riding. On the way back from Killington we stopped by the Darkside to check out some of their new park features. Pretty rad, see more photos here.

After the shop visit there's not a whole lot else to do other than to head home. Once you get home don't forget to enter the GORE gloves give away. We are giving away three pairs of gloves a week until the end of January so... that's like a lot of chance to win.

Misty Nug: When Dalmatians are born they don't have any spots. 

Part  of a well balanced week of Burton blog posts officially known as "Now Read This,"

Techknow Tuesday teaches you what you need to know about everything important