I Took Private Snowboarding Lessons at Big SNOW in the American Dream Mall
Two weeks shy of my 31st birthday, I took private snowboarding lessons at Big SNOW in the American Dream Mall as a beginner on January 19th, 2023.
Just imagine, you’re ten years old and you’re new to skiing. Your dad wants you to learn, but instead of actually teaching you he leaves you at the top of a mountain where the path is legitimately called, “Black Diamond.” You’re young, so you have no idea what your dad got you into, and he legit just left you there, ALONE. Besides “pizza,” you don’t know what else to do, and in the process you lose both skis, both poles, and start walking down the hill alone swearing to never ski again. From afar, you’re watching the snowboarders, and you’re admiring them, and you just want to be one of them.
For years, I grew up with this desire to learn to snowboard, and after doing thorough research on lessons that were available to me, I was able to make that dream come true thanks to Big SNOW at the American Dream Mall in Rutherford, NJ.
Let’s get into it, shall we?
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Why take lessons?
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Because if you’re a beginner, you're going to fail a lot and give up after the first time if you don't.
More often than not if a person who does not take lessons in anything, not just snowboarding, they wind up frustrated because it doesn't come easily and then they quit. In reality, we are going to always be beginners at whatever we don't know.
We all had training wheels at one point or another, and taking lessons is just another form of training until we can stand on our own. But with lessons, more often than not, you will learn more, get encouragement, get tips, learn proper form, learn to mitigate injury, and pick it up faster than the person who doesn't take lessons and/or never shows back up to try again.
I know too many people who want to try something, but never take lessons and then they just quit, never trying it again. So if you're going to put money into something, don't waste it away, put money into lessons and learning. Pick up a new life skill. Turn your frustration into action. You'll actually enjoy it more when you do.
Watching YouTube videos doesn't count and can only take you so far. It helps, but it’s not a hands-on approach, depending on what type of learner you are. It may help you here and there in bettering yourself, down the line, and understanding what you may be doing wrong. BUT it's not an actual instructor.
You can learn on YouTube how to strap yourself in, but without having someone take a second look at it and explaining why it’s important to strap yourself in properly, you won’t actually know that strapping yourself in wrong can lead to injury.
My mindset all the way through college was,
"If I want to be the best (at whatever), I'm going to invest in the best."
When you invest in yourself and your future, good things happen. Life only begins outside of your comfort zone after all.
Recently, after speaking to a random 47-year old snowboarder, who uses every vacation he gets to go snowboarding at different mountains he literally said, “Invest in private lessons. It’s worth the money. Handsdown, if you want to learn this thing, you will never regret it. Just get private lessons,” I was already way ahead of him in my thinking.
Why not take lessons?
It's a personal choice.
It may just take you A LOT LONGER to learn it than someone who does take a group lesson or a private lesson.
When going the self-taught route, you won’t learn everything there is to know about snowboarding unless you get lessons. The snow ambassadors, as Big SNOW calls them, aren’t always free to help you out or answer your questions either depending on when you go.
As I said, YouTube can only give you so much! This is why I love following the HalfCabKing because he helps out strangers all the time who are new and never take lessons. But you can see what a difference it makes to actually have someone who knows what they’re doing help you.
But again, it’s a personal choice.
There is a designated beginner area you can practice on, on your own.
Snowboarding isn't just skating in a straight line like on a skateboard. You actually are supposed to do S-turns, know how to stop both on your heels and toes, know how to dodge quickly at a moments notice, and so much friggin more. There is so much information overload on snowboards, types of snowboards, gear, setup, you name it that it can get overwhelming without having someone to quell your thoughts and questions.
Believe me, I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into. I thought it was as simple as taking 1 lesson. “One lesson is all I need,” I was SO BEYOND WRONG! Many many practice sessions later, and another private lesson to boot, and I’m still not where I want to be but I’m getting closer.
But if you have a background in skateboarding, longboard, ripstick, etc. where you do carve or use your feet to make turns, you may be able to pick it up faster than someone who just skates as an occasional pastime.
But almost everyone out there will always tell you, take a hands-on lesson. It’s worth it if you really want to learn.
What other options are there?
Before I jumped in and chose to put my feet into a snowboard at Big SNOW, I did a lot of research about other mountains and what type of classes they provide, price tags, the hours spent on teaching etc.
The most common thing I’ve found is that lessons are in groups. There’s no one-on-one interaction, they are helping a handful of students in a one hour time span, not just you. Nowadays, thanks to Big SNOW, the competitors have started to offer private lessons. I don’t know what the price tag is though in comparison to Big SNOW. The price for a group lesson was just about the same price as I paid for my first round of private lessons, one-on-one at Big SNOW. I say first round because the price has changed since then. I originally booked for January 2023 in November 2022.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to be paying to learn, and the fact I actually want to learn I would, personally, rather pay for private lessons. Which places usually didn’t have before Big SNOW made them popular, and sometimes, depending on location, charged even more than Big SNOW did.
I’m also down in South East Pennsylvania, and we didn’t have much of a winter season in 2022/2023. With Big SNOW, it’s indoors, fake snow all year round.
Even though I don’t mind a drive, it can get annoying when you’re doing it often at the distance I drive or longer. But it depends on the season I’m in, I have shown up to Big SNOW weekly for a month straight at one point. I love driving, I mean I drove to Canada by myself and back, so it’s not a huge issue. I commute pretty far for my gym too, and Big SNOW is open all year round, so the choice is personal. Wait for the winter and go up the mountains or go to Big SNOW? I chose Big SNOW.
Price
Keep in mind, prices of any establishment can change. I purchased my 1st private lessons on November 28, 2022. I will be making a part 2 & part 3 blog post of my snowboarding journey/ Part 2 will be an extensive price breakdown of how much I’ve put into this sport & hobby so you know ahead of time what you’re getting yourself into if you want to learn. But if you’re just doing this for fun or for your kids, this is all you need.
Here’s the thing you need to know!
When purchasing private lessons at Big SNOW, you’re not just purchasing the private lesson, but you also have to purchase a rental package as well. Your ticket in & rental gear is NOT included in the private lesson price tag.
Private lessons have sold out quickly in the past because they only offered 1 per time slot, but now they offer so much more per time slot.
When I purchased mine, the first date available to me was January 19, 2023. Almost a full 2 months away from the purchase date. Now you don’t really have to purchase them THAT far in advance, if you don’t want to. You can purchase them same day, day before, etc.
I don’t like purchasing that far in advance because what if it rains? I don’t like driving in the rain. Guess what the weather was like on January 19th and I couldn’t reschedule? It was raining. I DID IT. But my anxiety was through the roof. Thanks to that though, I think I got better at driving in the rain, but I wouldn’t choose to drive in it, on a highway, towards somewhere I don’t know, by choice, if I had a different option. I have an astigmatism in both my eyes, so it gets hard to see okay?!🤣
TLDR Price Breakdown
Spent a total of $380.97 the first time, and $450 ish the second time. To see my full snowboarding expenses & price breakdown stay tuned for part 2!
Anyways, the time you set your lessons for is the same time you should purchase the rental package for. As mentioned, rentals ARE NOT INCLUDED with your lessons.
So when I bought the private lessons in November 2022, they cost $199.99 + TAX, and then the Snow Day Rental Package was $89.99. The Snow Day Rental Package includes both rentals and slope access (basically my ticket in). Somehow I got $10 off, I don’t remember how, so altogether I paid $280.97.
The price for private lessons at Big SNOW has now increased to $299.99 +Tax for 1 person. And of course, you also have to purchase the rental package for $99.99. So with this, you’re looking at $400 ish. If you’re doing more than one person, there is an additional charge for adding an extra person for a lesson, and they also will need their own slope access ticket.
Tipping
This is the part that kind of confuses me, no one really mentions tipping before or after. Lessons are technically a service. I’ve heard other instructors, in other markets, that let people know they do accept tips but they’re not mandatory. And most Big SNOW instructors will accept a tip, but don’t really ask for it. That's why it confuses me.
I know American tipping culture is exhausting, especially these days. The price tag for the private lessons are pretty hefty now.
According to Reddit though, most ski & snowboarding instructors don’t make much of a percentage from the price tag of the lesson–which to me is insane. Pay them what they’re worth and due, without them you wouldn’t have people willing to teach your consumers. But I can’t say for certain what goes on at Big SNOW.
All I CAN tell you is what Reddit says. And usually they say 10-20% of the price tag of the lesson. The most I’ve tipped is $100, the least has been $50 because I was kind of already crunching my money at that point. But I really needed the lessons and appreciated the help.
Moving on,
There are also Exclusive Private Lessons which are 2 Hours of Pre-Opening Access to Big SNOW. It includes rentals, slope access, private lessons before the place opens to anyone else for $499.96 +Tax. So you’re looking at like $500. Which honestly, since it’s not a huge difference from the $400 you would spend normally, I probably would have taken the exclusive package if it existed around the time I purchased mine.
You’ll get the most time and lessons in without waiting on others with the exclusive package.
Big SNOW doesn’t open until 1pm, so having 2 hours before its opening time sounds like a great way to start a morning!
But if you want to save $100, and use that towards tip, I get it.
What did I learn during my lessons?
During my first set of lessons, I learned just about everything I needed to know. My instructor taught me how to strap in properly. How to walk up a hill with a snowboard. How to stop. How to glide and walk with the snowboard. How to get on the conveyor belt with a snowboard, but no matter what, I hate the conveyor belts.
Omg I fall more often than not on it than anything else! It’s probably just me though because I actually have a deep fear of escalators, you can blame Japan and their 10 ish floors at a time escalators. I don’t have a fear of heights, but I was like 70 floors in the air with nothing stopping me from falling to my death. I literally had to sit down on the step, and we still had 5 more escalators, 50 more floors, to go. These things are incredibly steep too! So now, my niece makes fun of me for it because I’ll be second guessing myself getting on one. We’ll end up with such a large gap between us. I’ve also had my finger ripped open by a conveyor belt sooo…
I’m really not the greatest at getting on one with a board attached to my leg.
What else did I learn?
I learned that your knees are slightly bent at all times.
I learned toe turns and heel turns, but I'm very comfortable doing my heel turns and stopping.
I learned your front leg is supposed to be the one with the most weight on it, and your front leg is going to be different whether you're regular or goofy. Basically was told the leg you would go to kick a ball with, that one is your strong leg and therefore should be in the back. Not sure how much truth there is to that, but over time people have questioned if I should be goofy or not. But since I learned regular, I keep going with it.
I learned how to KINDA connect my S-turns, and this took me the longest to work on and figure out. Toe turns do not come easy or naturally to me.
I learned snowboarding is such a massive leg workout it's not even funny! I’ve literally had to go even harder at the gym just to be able to keep up with snowboarding. It is physically and mentally demanding.
I also learned you’re not supposed to look down. Your eyes and head should be looking forward over your shoulder at all times. Your eyes should be focused on something at the same height as you. Your shoulder and your arm is your guide; I know that sounds COMPLETELY CONFUSING, because I was hella confused too, but if you take lessons and they show you this, and then over time and practice it makes sense! It makes complete and total sense.
I walked out very confident after my first lesson thinking I’m good. I can do whatever, NOPE! I WAS WRONG! I came back after yeeting myself into a ditch on a mountain. I’ve been using day passes ever since to practice as much as possible. Snowboarding is hard as fuck to learn, it’s not a one time lesson thing! It’s a continuously-need to-work-on-it sport.
During my second set of lessons, I had brushed up on my toe turns and stopping on my toes. I had a different instructor, and she had me basically doing heel raises on the slope at the top. Which is incredibly scary, but very doable. Eventually I would then open up to doing a toe turn and then a heel turn and then a toe turn again. I was getting it, but every time I started to feel over confident in myself, I end up falling really bad or ending up messing up. So it’s definitely not a one and done, it’s continual practice that frustrates the fuck out of me. Like craving spicy food afterwards stressful. It’s fun when I do get it, but it’s also frustrating because I’m not where I want to be yet.
It wasn’t the instructors fault at all, it’s just me, and it’s the fact this sport is so physically and mentally demanding. It requires lots of consistent time and practice. They even said, I would learn it faster if I came daily, but I live nearly 2 hours away. That's just not possible for me.
If it’s something you want to learn, know what you’re getting yourself into ahead of time. I SURE DIDN’T!
With time and practice though, I’ve been getting better and better at being okay on my toe edge.
Other things I learned apart from my lessons.
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not when you're in the rental dressing room area. So you can take your time in there, you're in no rush.
I was really anxious about this, and I have had similar issues where my anxiety made me feel like my lessons were SOMEHOW GOING TO START WITHOUT ME. I think that’s just trauma from my college days to be honest with you.
And thinking about it now, without the anxiety, it makes no sense how my brain tricked me into thinking that was a possibility when it’s not.
It legit even says it in the fine print that your time doesn’t start until you’re on the slope, but anxiety and panic attacks aren’t realistic. They make up bullshit that’s not there. I’ve had this issue before, so it’s not new, but it’s not helpful either.
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They had me meet like multiple different people, and walk around the whole damn place. I didn't get to actually meet my instructor, until I hit the snow. This has changed now though, I believe. I’ve seen how most of the time the instructor actually meets you in the front now after you’re done getting changed, into your boots, & clothes. You get your board outside in the dome, and most of the time they’ll get it for you. Which was great because I wasn’t sure how to, and I felt like a lost puppy dog.
He was a snow ambassador, mainly anyone with a deep blue jacket is a snow ambassador. It made no sense for them to be like, “Oh go there, then walk here, then walk there,” etc. I was SO CONFUSED.
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This is something that is written in the fine print, and so I will not be sharing the name of my instructor. But he is amazing, if he is reading this. Which I hope he’s not because I WILL BE MORTIFIED🤣. I will want to crawl into a hole from being shy and feeling awkward while slightly smiling at the same time.
Anyways, like I said, they're chosen for you, but everyone who works here has such a dope personality. Super helpful, awesome, engaging. I swear to god my soul was healed coming out of my lessons.My anxiety ate me alive, but it was nothing to be anxious about. I’m just so not used to people being this kind too.
Even with the second set of lessons I had taken, I ended up asking for either of the people I had already met & known. I did get one of them, but it's not the same person I had gotten a lesson with the first time. But it worked out for the best, and she was able to get me where I needed to be. Somewhat, but if you read above, that’s just me. Good things take time, practice, and patience. She gave me some really good tips that really come in handy. I hear her voice in my head, in a friendly non-creepy way, anytime I go to do that thing. Which is my toe turns, the toe turns I suck at. I’ll get there! One day I’ll get there! And then we can all be mortified about this post together.
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but if you ask your instructor they'll do it for you. Obviously, if you’re a parent taking a child, it's different, but when you're a grown adult going alone it's also very different. Who doesn’t want photos? I’m a photo snob if you haven’t noticed.
I did try to bring my GoPro, and I strapped it to my wrist, but when you're still learning, your hands go everywhere so that’s not really doable. Honestly, in hindsight, I wish I had left that thing at home. Now I know better that I won’t be able to film myself until I'm able to hold on my own on a slope without falling, and fix my posture. Which I’m not there yet.
Anyways, I got sidetracked again, like I said, can’t really do that when you go alone. So if you want some photos, ask them to help you out, otherwise just do it for yourself & not the gram. Which is why I started learning in the first place, for myself. If that wasn’t obvious.
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But you can’t really see all that much from the windows. You can see a decent amount, and they can see you, but that’s about it. I’ve legit sat at the window sipping some tea after a session, and have had people push me out of the way to see. There’s another window outside, near the other cafe. There’s also a huge window within Yard House/
You just can't be out on the slope unless you’re a parent or something like that, or go do something. It’s not just snowboarding, there’s also skiing, sledding for children, and the SnoGo bike thingy. I’m just talking about snowboarding in this post because that’s what I did.
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But there’s not always someone in there, sometimes I have to flag someone down to put someone into the cafe. They usually come within a few minutes.
It’s super helpful after I finish a session to warm up with some tea or whatever. When I’m on the slope, my adrenaline is pumping and I don’t feel the cold. But the second the adrenaline fades, I’M FREEZING. I don’t even like the cold. I started to learn to snowboard because I wanted to find something about winter that I liked. I hated being a winter baby FOR YEARS. My birthday is like in the dead of winter. I sometimes never could celebrate because we’d always get snowed in.
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So if you have issues with your knees or elbows or any other joints, you may want to invest in some pads. I got volleyball knee pads and wear them under the snow pants they rent you. They're easy to move in, and I still have my full range of motion.
I messed up my knee snowboarding on a mountain from falling sooooo much, but falling comes with the territory. So don’t be scared to fall, just fall. Learn to fall properly though.
I say this, but seriously, I can only fall properly like once out of the dozen times I when I know what NOT to do. But trying to fall properly will save your wrists.
Falling is natural. I’ve met people here who have been snowboarding many years and they still fall. If you’re afraid of falling, you will not progress. I literally got over it by falling so many times. Now I don’t mind falling at all.
Through Reddit forums I found out people do wear protection, but under their clothes. that's why you can't see it. And it helps, but all I use is volleyball knee pads.
Other FAQ
WHAT A DIFFERENCE RIGHT?!
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Expect it to be tiring, especially if you’re not really fit or active. Even if you’re somewhat fit, this is even more demanding than anything. Like the only way I can keep up with it is if I work out 4-5x a week. Cardio, core, legs, everything is important. It will be physically demanding, but it is fun. Everyone’s so nice, and everyone knows what they’re talking about. I’ve asked so many questions that my head is still spinning with how much goes into this damn sport.
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I’ve taken some really gnarly falls that without a helmet I’d probably be paraplegic by now. I’m not trying to scare you, but I am too. It could just be me, but I’ve seen people really fucking fall. A LOT. Even if they’re so much better than me. It happens. People will always say helmets aren’t cool, figure out a way to make it look cool! Wear a cool or cute helmet cover, practice different hairstyles.
You can fix every other part of your body BUT NOT YOUR BRAIN. Protect that head & neck.
I can't even not wear a seatbelt just going down the block in a car. I legit wear a seatbelt at all times, so yes, I wear a helmet.
It's mandatory for anyone under 18 to wear one, but as an adult who's learning you should also wear one. And later when you're doing crazy shit or are on a busy mountain, the helmet will save your life. I've seen too many videos of injuries that could have been avoided, heard too many sad stories. Moral of the story: wear a helmet.
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No, you can wear your own or bring your own in a gym bag. I just would recommend staying away from cotton like the website says to. Go for more sweat wicking / moisture wicking fabrics.
Sweat wicking / moisture wicking fabrics are:
Synthetic Fibers:
Polyester
Polypropylene
Nylon
Spandex
Nike Dri-Fit
Natural Fibers:
Bamboo
Wool
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Can we like not talk about how I dressed thinking this place was going to be freezing?? Like I mentioned, I don’t like the cold, but I should have known that the second I start moving around I don’t feel the cold. So I was dressed for the dead of winter, and I regret terribly every day. I looked like a scared child. 🤣
But if you want to know, I wore thick fleece leggings under the rental pants and a cashmere sweater, with a tank top under it, and also the jacket the first time. I was sweating profusely, and I regretted it TERRIBLY.
The website says it's 28 degrees Fahrenheit inside, but there's no wind. so it doesn't actually feel like it's 28. It feels warmer to me, but also remember, I burn hotter than most people. I have, in the past, worn shorts and thigh high socks in the middle of the winter when it's snowing outside. So I honestly thought I was going to freeze, but when you're riding, having fun, and there's no wind, I was dying hot. But again, my body is different from yours.
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Nowadays, I wear UNIQLO Heat Tech leggings under my own snowboard pants. They are thin & a sweat wicking fabric.
The pants, I honestly got the pants I use right now off of Amazon for cheap, but since I am now into this sport for the long run I am investing in much better pants. If you buy cheap, you get cheap. But it’s good for just starting out.
I want ones with better pockets, but I know they’re going to cost me like $100+.
The ones from Amazon are okay, warm, sizing is a little wacky, the waist band is weird, the style and design is off, an ugly brand name on the front of the pants. But I can sit in the snow and be good with these pants. They won’t get wet. Like I said, they’re good to get started in.
But under my leggings I put on my sweat wicking socks that I got from Big SNOW’s store.
If you wear leggings under the socks, you run the risk of getting blisters on your legs. It happened to me before.
Therefore, socks come first, then leggings, then my knee pads, then pants.
For my top, I just wear a UNIQLO heat tech base layer. Same thin fabric, I don’t need much. A sports bra, and that, and then I wear my Gymshark Borg Pullover in Black, that’s now sold out. I can roll around in it and I’m good. It’s water resistant. People always think I’d get cold, but like I said I don’t feel it like a normal person.
No scarf. No hat. None of that. I dress as minimally as possible.
Just don't ride in a short sleeve crop top like I once did. Snowburn didn't hurt me as I have a high pain tolerance, but I didn’t even know it was a thing. Now I have a funny story to tell people, because it’s me. It took me days for me to find out I even strained my chest muscle when I fell during one of my toe turns. DAYS. So what may not hurt or burn may, may hurt or burn you. The snowburn also left scarring behind that eventually faded.
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Valid question, I’m not really the person to go to for an answer though.
The first thing I was told by my instructor is,
Snowboarding is hard to learn, easy to master.
Skiing is easy to learn, hard to master..
Take that as you will! But it’s been pretty true.
I've been told if I want to pick it up faster, I should show up daily for at least 2-3 weeks.
That's not possible for me since I live like 2 hours away and still have to work. So weekly sessions and biweekly sessions have been my go to. Which obviously, I learn slower, but I’m finally at a point where I can hold my own.
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Honestly, a balance board, secondly, working out like a gym brat.
I was a gym brat before, but now I'm on every gym bro supplement there is. I mainly focus on legs, core, and cardio. I never liked working out my arms to begin with; I have keep up with them regardless because I tore the TFCC in my left wrist. It just continues to retear every so often, unfortunately. I also don't want a muscle imbalance, but I can definitely sustain heavier weights on machinery with my legs than my arms can.
I stretch and focus on mobility a lot too, and that helps a ton. Stretching before hand and prepping well before getting onto the slopes helps. If you’re into working out you already know what to do, so just do it there or do it at home. I do it at home for about 30 minutes to an hour and then I drive. Otherwise my hamstring starts screaming at me during the drive thanks to a previous injury.
You're going to use muscles in your feet and legs you didn't know existed, get in those calisthenics!
Having good cardio will help you not get overly tired quickly. When I first started, I was taking a break every 2 seconds. And I used to swim a mile twice a week. Swimming is great cardio, but it's not enough. I had to do more. So anything you're thinking of, triple or quadruple that. I do 2 forms of cardio every time I'm at the gym besides my regular workout routine. And I workout 4x a week just to be able to easily keep up and not feel tired while I’m at Big SNOW.
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Yes, lockers are included. 1 per person. They're decent sized. Like when I go now, it's able to fit my gym bag, my regular clothes, my gallon water bottle, and my snowboard bag.
My overall arching thoughts about my lessons, the day, & Big SNOW.
All photographs are original works taken and created by dreamlikediana. All artwork and content are protected by copyright law. Reproduction or distribution without express written permission is strictly prohibited. ©DREAMLIKEDIANA - All Rights Reserved
I LOVED my lessons, both of them! And that is saying a lot because I was so fucking terrified of showing up. All I could think about was, “What the fuck did I get myself into?!” So terrified, I couldn't sleep. One probably would have thought I was going to go skydiving instead.
I had like 3 hours of sleep maximum because I kept freaking out over every little thing that was within my control. I wasn’t even thinking about the day of anymore. I was thinking about everything else; I became like this ticking time bomb.
“Did I turn on my car alarm?”
“Fuck, I need to pee again.” x1 million
“Did I turn off the stove?”
“Is the front door locked?”
Which is unlike me at all! I’m not like this, I’ve done crazier shit, but because I’ve never done anything like this before it sent my nervous system into overdrive.
It's so easy to show up to a place, event or lesson you've been dying to try with a friend, family member, or whoever because you're both in this new uncomfortable situation, out of your comfort zone, TOGETHER. But it is not easy to show up somewhere you want to be to try something you want ALONE. Especially when you don't have similar knowledge or experiences to get you through it. It is so far out of your comfort zone, it screams at you to the point where you're questioning yourself and your decision. You're now in this story and situation in your life where you have to be completely and utterly VULNERABLE.
I do not have a background in skateboarding, surfing, or similar. I don't know anyone around me who does these things. I don't know anyone around me that does ANYTHING alone. Everyone I know does everything they want to with others because it's so much easier than being uncomfortable and scared. I get it, I’ve done it too, but you’re not getting the full experience of whatever it is when you’re with someone vs when you’re alone. You’re in a different state of mind in both situations.
There is a difference between taking baby steps towards something and taking a whole god damn leap. People will tell you that you don't need to take that leap. You will even argue with yourself against it, I sure did, but even if you take baby steps you may never get to the starting point of what you want to do. No matter how much you think you can prepare yourself for this thing, you may never actually be prepared unless you show up, let yourself be vulnerable, and do the damn thing.
As cliche as it is to say, you just have to start where you are.
So no you can't take baby steps or prepare yourself, you just have to do it even if it is panic and anxiety inducing. You'll get through it, you'll survive. I surely did. I seriously wanted to crawl into a hole before, during, and after.
I showed up to practice here, and I was still staring from afar the first time back.
Even though it went so well, and I loved my lessons. I left VERY bubbly compared to when I first arrived. But showing up to start practicing, well, I was pacing back and forth outside the store. Shifting my weight, probably making the security guards, that were walking by, think I'm highly the fuck sketchy, but I got through it. And you will too.
Ask questions. Talk to people. Do whatever you need to to get out of your head. Drink water (I drank 64 oz before my practice session, and I was still dehydrated from nerves). But show up anyway, because you will never grow within your comfort zone. You just have to rip the bandaid off and finally do the thing. There's no simple method to it. I thought there was, I thought I could baby step towards this, but there isn't.
And maybe it's not snowboarding for you, maybe it's taking your social media page public, maybe it's making friends with strangers, maybe it's eating in public, going to a concert, or being in the weight room. It could be whatever, but you just have to do it. And then you have to do it again, and again, and again until it becomes a new normal. And until then it will be hard because it will make you vulnerable which is not something we are taught to be okay with as adults. But you can't have courage without vulnerability.
This is why I say, “Life’s too short to wait on others for what you want to do.” Because you won’t always find someone to do stuff with, whether it’s a time commitment issue or they just don’t want the same things as you. That’s completely okay and normal. That’s the reality though, so I rather have an, “Oh well, at least I tried” moment than a “what-if.”
It’s not as scary when you remind yourself, “I will probably never see these people ever the fuck again,” seriously that is my go to motto. But since I’m legit learning and practicing here, my mind is always, “Fuck, I will see these people over and over again. Diana, don’t be weird. Diana, don’t say anything weird. Diana, just don’t be weird!!”
What does Diana do? She looks too bundled up and weird and like a child the first time. Then when she comes back to practice, the second time around, she rides in a short sleeve crop top in 28 degrees Fahrenheit because she’s burning too hot from adrenaline, nerves, and pre-workout. And then she proceeds to wipe out towards the end of her stay and gets snow burn! Yes snow burn, I didn’t even know snow burn was a thing! Like they do say, don’t use an ice pack directly on skin, but I never understood why they say that until now.
With that being said, it surely was a conversation starter! It got me out of my head a little bit more, and it also makes a great story.
First Aid: “So what did we learn today?”
Me: 🤔 “That my toe turns suck?”
First Aid: 🤦♀️🙄 “No! That you don’t ride in a crop top.”
Me: “But I’m HOTTTTTTT.”
🤣🤣🤣
*First Aid dudes look at each other then back at me like wtf.*
Never a dull moment when I’m around. I’m too dumb weird. My baby face throws people off too. My friend says it gives off damsel in distress vibes.
So what’s next?
People are usually scared of what strangers will think of them. And unless you want this thing or any particular thing as a lifelong skill, you will probably never see these people again. If you’re just going for a one time lesson, go for it! Even if you do it alone!
As for me, I had to let these people in, and that to me is really scary as someone who does everything alone.
A lot of people give up before they even get started. A lot of people around me are like, "Is this a quarter life crisis?" And it's like, no it's not. I had to live with my parents' wants and needs for years. My quarter life crisis actually happened when I was in a dead end job, wearing too many hats, being paid close to nothing, and miserable as fuck. That was my quarter life crisis. I left. I didn't think about what happened or what will happen after, but I figured it out. and it all worked out.
I finally got the time, the adult money, and I can finally make time for the things I want and go after them. I don't have to wonder if i'm going to be an old lady one day wondering "What if I learned this or did that?" I'm actually doing the damn thing I've been interested in.
So what IS next?
I have a part 2 of this blog coming up as a video with all the expenses I’ve put into this already. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, and hit that bell to get notified of when it comes out!
ANYWHO! If you got this far, I salute you. You read an essay, literally. Single spaced, 11 font, turned out to be 14 pages on Google Docs, without the photos.
If you’re visiting Big SNOW, let them know 'dreamlikediana' sent you! The staff knows of me, and I’d love to see how many of you check it out!! Maybe one day they’ll create an affiliate code just for us!
Also, if you have any questions or comments, let me know in the comments section down below and I’ll get back to you at my earliest convenience.
Till next time!
Diana~
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