Last Chair

[cbrkid1981]

Here's a little something that I wrote about my Dad.  If you read it thanks for reading, and if you want to tell a story or two about your own snowboarding life that would be super cool.

Last Chair:

 

                I don’t remember the exact last day that my Dad and I went to the mountain together I think it was in 2018, and it possibly could have been at Mt Snow in Vermont.  I do remember the day last week that he told me that he was putting up his skis, and wouldn’t be returning to the mountain ever again.  This was a very sad conversation with him, and I didn’t say much as a response.  You could tell by the way he was explaining his concerns about his ability to control his skis with forward motion that he was feeling pretty bad about himself.  His decision was a quick and final one, he had zero desire to go back out there ever again. 

                I can remember one of the first times that we every went skiing together.  I was about 8 or 9 and had never been before.  He came home from work a bit early and we drove up to Wachusett.  I remember coming into the parking lot and seeing the night skiing lights for the first time it was amazing.  I thought that it was something out of a movie and couldn’t believe that it was real, and we were going out there. He was very patient with me, and we were able to learn together.  After a year or so we were able to get our own equipment, and that was great.  I had my own skis, and thought that was the coolest thing ever.  My Dad and I went to a few different places, mostly at night after I got out of school, and he got out of work.  I remember one time that we went to Berkshire East in Charlemont and we ended up on the wrong trail and I cried all the way down.  That night we “were those people” who I now look at and hope they are able to make it down safely. I also remember being at Temple Mountain, and somehow he got trapped in a bush and couldn’t get out and I was a bit down the trail and was laughing at him, it must have been a sight to see.  I have met a lot of friends along the way and skiing was a platform that I was able to have in common with a bunch of kids that were my age.  We would go to different mountains, and have the best time.  Mostly we went on day trips, leaving early in the morning and getting home late at night. 

                I learned to snowboard when I was in college in Henniker NH.  With our student id’s we were able to get free season passes at Pats Peak.  If you have ever been there you know that it’s not a very forgiving place to learn at.  I got this no name brand snowboard, and some step-in boots and bindings.  How I ever survived using that equipment I’ll never know.  It was about half a season before I could get from the top to the bottom and feel comfortable.  I then left the skiing and snowboard world for about 8 years or so to work, and life just got busy.  I went back to the mountain life, or I like to call it my winter family in 2012 when I was a lift attendant as a part time job.  I worked there for a season, got myself some new skis, and that was the beginning of my adult journey.  I worked at Berkshire East for three more seasons leaving the liftie job and becoming a snowboard instructor.  This was a very humbling experience, and I had to learn to ride all over again.  I bought this little board, some  boots, and not so good bindings and really had no idea what I was doing.  My boss Mark B was the one who got me to agree that I would do that.   Mark was super supportive pushing me to work on many different drills to gain the necessary skills to teach others.  I then made the mistake of buying some “hardboots” and agreed to try and alpine board.  Mark is a very skilled alpine rider, and I saw what he could do on a board and thought that would be a cool thing to also be able to do.  I had some boots, and no board or bindings (everything is different on an alpine setup).  Mark with a smile on his face told me he had the perfect board for me to use.  I told him that I would go for one run and if I was able to stay out of the trees, and survive then I would continue to learn.  I was able to make it down, but about halfway down I had to sit and take a rest.  It’s important to note that alpine setups are not very comfortable on your feet, and make your legs to feel as if they are going to explode.  I sat and took a little break, the boys went ahead of me, and then I realized that I didn’t know how to get up.  Due to the angles of the bindings being very steep you need to get up a different way than on a regular setup.  I was rolling around like a fish out of water, and sweating thinking I would never be able to get up.  I did manage to get up, and made it to the bottom where the boys were asking, “what took so long” I responded, “you buckled me into this thing and never told me how to get up”.  I ended up getting my own alpine setup that is geared more to what my riding style is, and some lovely step in bindings that allow me not to have to reach over to buckle in. 

                I have thought a lot about the time that was spent on the mountains over the course of many winters, and how this activity has become a huge part of my life.  I have a nice group of friends that I go snowboarding with several times a year, and I would like to think that I was able to help, and encourage them the way my Dad, and Mark were able to encourage me.  I can’t tell you how many people I have helped learn to snowboard, got equipment for, or just was a friend to them along the way, but it’s probably a fairly large number. 

                Since my Dad has decided to take his last chair, and last run for what could be the rest of his life I will continue to hope that he will come back for one more day, one more chair, and one more run.   I did gain a new family member to share my winter life and that’s my Nephew Jackie.  Jackie is now my snowboard partner in crime, he is beginning what I hope will be a lifelong activity that will carry him through the years.  My hope for Jackie is that he will be able to encourage, help, and meet new people along the way.  I also hope that he will remember the times that we have, and will spend on the hill like I do with my Dad.  Life will pass you by, and you need to make time to stop and enjoy the things that you have been given in the moment, because they will undoubtedly come to an end at some point. 

                Thank you Dad for giving me all the years that we have spent together on the same chair and the same trail, always being able to make one last run and go home safely.   

[Kurt Swanson]

Loved your story. One of my favorite aspects of snowboarding and skiing is how many generations it connects. Grandma and grandpa riding with their kids and grand-kids. Everyone having an equally good time.

[Billb]

My parents are mid 80s. They grew up in Brooklyn and had never been around anyone that skied .
They went on a ski trip when they were in there 30s and decided this was for our family . The next week we had gear ,season passes and a place for the winter . We lived on Long Island and traveled every weekend and break from the time I was 4 to the berkshires. It consumed me and him . My mom and sister went along with it and were good sports.

I spent 3 years in CO as a young adult , worked at a ski area and didn’t miss a day . I come back to NY and grew up but didn’t stop skiing. 
My kids grew up the same as me and are grown but still get to the mountains every chance they can . 
My mom stopped skiing 10 yrs ago but my kids spent plenty of time on slopes with her and have plenty of great memories. My dad still travels to the berkshires most weeks ,still skis a few days every week and my kids choose our mountain so they can meet him and me . Hopefully my grandkids will ski with me and my wife. 

Every winter for the last 5 years or so ,Dad says will be his last but the new season comes and he tries it again . Just a little slower each year but still loving it . 
I can’t imagine what a life without skiing /boarding would be like. Thanks Mom and Dad .

[JohnE]

I've tried to imagine the day I will take the last run of the day on my last day of the season of my last season. Not a happy thought.

All of us will face that someday. The question is: Will we be conscious that it is the last run or will we only realize it after the fact?  

[lamby]

What a great thread. Thanks Cbrkid for your story! Loved reading about how you and your Dad took up skiing and how winter alpine has impacted your life. It really got me reflecting on my own journey, people I've met, and how time passes away. And about the people I'm interacting with on the slopes today. More stories all!!!