日曜日, 2月 05, 2006
2006 Return To Gala Yuzawa
This is where it all started. About a year ago, I together with Jeff, enrolled in a Snowboarding Class here in Gala Yuzawa.
I was too scared then I actually quit the class ashamed that I was slowing everybody down.
The easiest trail seemed like eternity to complete then.
But now, I didn't even have the pleasure of riding in the beginner's trail, whether it was the short or long one. How odd.
Funny how time flies fast, even funnier is the distant feeling of the past when you actually come face to face with it again.
My 2006 return to Gala Yuzawa was filled with familiarity of the place. It was also filled with a reassuring feeling that I have dis-associated myself from the very-scared, easily-giving-up kind of lass that I was.
Have I become a hard rider? Not yet. Not yet.
The Life Of A Passionate Beginner Snowboarder
I've been too tired & pressured from the dailies of work. I even forgot to reserve in advance the Bullet Train & Lift Tickets this week. The weekend's forecast was heavy snow but I couldn't care any more, I dashed at the View Plaza to get one 2006 Japan Snow Package.
2pm Friday at View Plaza. I begged the staff to try and get me one for Saturday day tour if Friday night is not possible. She got me an 8.50am train to Gala Yuzawa and 7.04pm departure back to Tokyo.
9pm Friday at the office. I decided to go home to pack my things and made sure I do some housekeeping. My plan is to spend the whole of Saturday snowboarding and Sunday to do some preparatory work for the busy week. I still have hang-over anyway from the previous night's drinking spree so might as well turn off my PC.
4am Saturday. Woke up. Did some laundry while sipping a cup of corn soup. At around 7.45 I got out of the house and off to the train station. The previous week's experience (miscalculated the travel time) taught me to put in a little bit extra time. Which to my surprise saved me from failing to catch the train! I made a mistake changing trains. Good thing I've got 10 spare minutes.
8.50am at Ueno Station. I slept the whole 1.30 hours journey and when I woke up it was almost Gala Yuzawa, and it was heavily snowing..Oh my God, I've never snowboarded in this kind of weather before, I thought. Anyway, I'm not riding alone so I shrugged off my tentativeness.
10.30am, a few minutes after securing my lift pass and changing to my snowboard wear. Hopped in the Cowabanga, the ropeway that would take me to the top of the mountain. After 15 minutes, I was there. I couldn't see much. Tough luck, huh. And it was freezing cold, -9 degrees. I've never been in such a cold place before. I decided to buy a new bonnet. Good thing I brought with me my neck warmer.
11am, I took off and started the beginner's trail. It was not as exciting as I hoped it would be. The terrain was too flat for boarders, I thought. So I tried the long trail for beginners, last year I remember it was a difficult & scary one. To my surprise it wasn't. It was flat. Too crowded too. I watched from the gondola the new batch of beginners taking lessons. I was one of them last year, I grinned.
12.30 Lunch time. Afte a sumptous lunch and a sip of hot cocoa, I made a huge decision. I would dare and try the intermediate course.
2pm Now is the time! I hopped on the gondola off to the mountain's central area. It was scary, I almost couldn't see. The snow fall was just too heavy, it's almost impossible to see within 5 meters. I startd to doubt myself. I also couldn't judge the slope's steepness and my horizontal line of sight was restricted, having worn goggles. The mountain's central area closes at 4pm so I didn't dare take a break. It probably took me 6~7 attempts for 2 hours.
5pm was time to go back to the Ski Center for that much deserved hot spring. I couldn't help but stare at the beautiful white snow flakes and the all-white snow powder as I enjoyed soaking myself in the hot spring. Some things seem so perfect from afar. But under the snow, it felt the same as being set on fire. My skin burned from too much snow and too much cold. But I thought that I'm blessed to be here and enjoy the amazing gift of nature, I don't need to find out what perfect is, for this in itself is fulfillment.
6.45pm I sat down and munch some hot dogs and Hagen Daaz Macademia Nuts ice cream while waiting for the Bullet Train to arrive. I didn't have much time to practice the other moves because I had to be careful today. Traveling alone instinctively makes you do that. The heavy snow and wind were scary but I told myself that if I just establish my ground it will be fine. It did turn out fine.
10pm back inside the warmth of my home, my thoughts began to wonder. Every snowboarding experience is so unique that every learning is unique as well. This week I learned to slow down and really get a feel of my surrounding. I also learned to control my directions more, avoiding people who are crashing and also avoiding falling off the trail as well.
10.05pm I closed my eyes and dozed off into a much-needed sleep.
Thanks for visiting!