Addiction. The Macquarie dictionary defines it as the state of being
addicted to some habit, practice, or substance. This is what myself and
many others around the world are experiencing. The addiction to fresh snow and
the light, dry powder that few places can offer. What device you use to carve
fresh tracks is irrelevant. Whatever satisfies your addiction for one more
day……..
(At the time of writing...) it is about half way through the Australian 2003 snow season and there is
something different this season from the last. An urge. A need to be up at the
mountain for first lifts. A need to be the first one at the top, looking down
at the fresh snow that awaits. Savouring the moment (only for a second though)
before dropping in and feeling the worries of the world melt away.
Ice covered trees on Mt
Blue Cow
Last season I was quite happy to get up to the mountain a little after the
lifts open and I only really did a small amount of “off course” riding. I
enjoyed it, but not enough to sacrifice sleep. Then in January 2003 we headed
for Japan. This is where my interest in snowboarding developed into a
full-blown addiction. It was where I truly became a snowboarder. It was no
longer just a sport, it was now a passion. Something that occupied my every
thought. My every dream. Even my relationships with loved ones have been in
jeopardy because of this addiction.
Japan opened my eyes to world of true freeriding. Gliding through trees,
popping off rocks, face shots all in waist deep powder. After my first powder
run in Japan I knew I would be returning. That first powder run changed me.
Something clicked and I knew I would never be the same again.
One of the rocky lines
from the hike
This season has been completely different for me. I have been getting up at
6:30am so that I can be up at the mountain with more than enough time to get
the very first lift to the top. I have been ducking ropes and going through
trees to get to the lift before anyone else. I would wait up to 30 minutes for
the lift to start. I’d check out who I was on the lift with. Checking what
bindings they had. They always had the normal ratchet bindings and luckily I
was never on the first lift with a skier. I knew I had the best chance of
getting first tracks as I had the trusty Flow’s. Here in Australia the
quicker you get your bindings done up the better. Then you will be the first
one down and you can look back up at the glorious tracks you made and head up
and do it again and again.
Hiking also became a fairly regular activity for me when no other fresh snow
was available. I spent a couple of days just hiking the one area until it was
completely tracked just to satisfy the cravings. Then I hit the park or built a
kicker somewhere.
Hike and you will get
the goods
There were a couple of weeks in early and middle July where there was very
little snowfall so the park became more of an interest for me. I spent at least
some time there each day while the snow was holding out on us. Though the park
wasn’t all that big (when I last went there). It consisted of 2 table tops
(that looked big but didn’t really boot you very far) and a couple of rails
that varied from time to time. Though they now have constructed 2 other terrain
parks (3 in total) and the slope style course has now been opened to the
public. I hope to head down there and try it out before they close it again.
Going to the park and working on my rails and jumps kept my mind off fresh snow
while I was out there but as soon as I got home for the day, the urges started
crawling back and once again my mind would start to wander.
However, fresh tracks in Australia and hitting the park only keep the
cravings at bay for so long. It isn’t too long before you find yourself
thinking of that place where you became truly addicted. It has now become a
mecca. Japan is my mecca. It is here that I know I can get what I crave more
than anything. Deep, light dry powder.
Oufreeski2 about to drop
into the pipe at Perisher Blue
This addiction is like any other.
It is expensive.
To get what you really crave you need to travel (well you do in my
case, your extraordinarily lucky if you live close to your dream location).
Most of the time this will be overseas. You can quite easily drop A$5000+ just
to go boarding or skiing for a few weeks.
It is habit forming.
After your first trip to the snow you will leave knowing that you
shall return. Just days after coming back from an overseas trip you will find
yourself thinking about your next one. Heck I’ve already got my next two
overseas boarding trips planned.
It is rough on your body.
Whether it’s riding powder all day or hitting the park you will
come home in some kind of pain at least a couple of times during the season.
For a lot of you it is nearly every time you come back from a day on the
mountain. It may be a burning back leg from riding powder or a busted shoulder
when you came unstuck on a hard landing.
It will jeopardise relationships.
Being away from your loved ones (especially significant others) can
put strain on relationships. Priorities can start being questioned. That’s
never good fun.
Mute grab off a small
kicker
So is it worth it? Fuck yeah! Because when you get off that lift and look at
the perfect snow you forget about everything. You forget about the amount of
money you have spent, about the injuries you have sustained while getting to
the level you are at and you forget about the people you left behind. When you
first drop into your dream run it’s all about you and the mountain. Nothing
else matters.
Some of you may be reading this and think that it is just a load of
pretentious garbage. And you’re probably right. Then there will be those of
you that know exactly what I am talking about. You too have had a similar run
or experience when something just clicked inside you. Where it was is
irrelevant, though that place will more than likely hold a special place in
your soul and you will always have a very vivid memory of it. We all share a
common bond. We are all addicted.
