🖋️Feature: Whit-whoo! You are looking good in that gear, but what about a little talent?
A snazzy kit will only get you so far
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Tech is only a tool. The effective use of which requires human skills and talent.
I love the snow and throwing myself down frozen steep inclines with only a piece of wood strapped to my feet.
I am a snowboarder.
It is not an easy or very safe pastime.
Requiring:
Snow, energy, resolve and to crave adrenaline.
A lack of fear, to just do it and put aside any hesitation.
At 51 years of age, I now realise you also need resilience.
Plus, possibly a heavy dose of denial in terms of capabilities.
But it is one of things I do that makes me feel the most alive.
So when I think about doing it, every any concerns melts away like a snowflake.
Why I want to hurtle down any piste I see
I learned how to “ride” (yes, this is Chloe Kim speak) when I was 30 years of age.
And yes, that term always makes my mind go to the gutter.
It was a humbling experience, involving much bruising, blistering and tears.
And that was just my instructor…..
What I lacked in natural technique, I made up for in dogged determination.
Supplemented by painkillers, arnica and gin.
Note: this is not a prescription, simply what got my through my beginners course, as per the recommendations of some pals, who in hindsight could fall into the category of “dodgy”.
After 2 weeks in Whistler, Canada, I could just about get down the intermediate slope.
But most importantly, I reached a state of “flow”.
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Flow on a board = That brief 3-5 seconds of bliss as the board glided under me and the mountains created a path of white crystal snowflakes in the form of a piste to take me back to the start.
You realise, then, breathless that the all the pain is worth it.
You realise, then, that you want that feeling again and for longer.
You realise, then, that the top of the mountain to the bottom, is a short metaphor for living life to it’s fullest, like a frozen moment in time.
I was hooked.
I loved the snow.
I know I would love forever the challenge of getting down a slope (ahem, as fast as I could…)
So, I continued to practice my passion when I could, devouring any information on the best snow-hurtling approach and skills I could find over the subsequent years.
» Nomad November 2023, featured a 30 article series for your reading delight «
Every Piste is Unique!
Then one blue-sky snowboarding day, I was stood alone looking at piste map in Austria at the top of a ski run.
Then, I found myself admiring a shiny new snowboard placed beside me.
Turning to see the best decked couple of snowboard specimens ever.
They practically shone from their soft perfect beanie hats on their heads to the tips of their brand spanking new top of the range snowboards.
Sparkling and oozing new-ness - see the image above as an illustration.
This pair of snowboarders meant business, wow their gear was top rated, the best.
They as spent oodles and oodles of dosh on their new kit, you could tell and I was a little envious.
In comparison (yup, cause comparison is the killer of all beauty) I was dull, worn and much more traditional, with my protective gear n all.
After dipping out of the glow of their sparkle, I headed off down a couple of runs.
Later, on a lower slope, I met them again.
This time, a not-so-shiny backside met me as one of them was digging the other one out of the snow.
Naturally, as a good snow citizen, my civic duty kicked in and I helped.
I stopped and assisted.
We then spent a further 30 mins together as I “supervised” them down said piste.
Supervision is a kind term in this context.
It was not pretty, it was not fun for any of us.
Yup, it was their first day on the snow.
Yup, they were terrible and should not have been up the slopes at all, only on the nursery slopes.
Yup, someone did mention when they spend over a grand ($1,000) on all the gear that lessons would be a good idea.
Yup, they were petrified, bruised and almost at the stage of calling the mountain rescue for assistance.
Yup, I am a sucker for a lost orphan and even more so one lost on a mountain weeping.
So I decided to temporarily foster them.
🔗 Meet the Nomad Women who inspired the Digital Nomad Stories concept
The Apres-ski Retrospective
As we sat together later, enjoying a Apres-ski warm beverage.
I shared with them a verbal version of the my personal snowboarding story.
Why and how I learned to begin with over two weeks of lesson and how I am always learning.
That snowboarding skills need more learning and practice, than expensive gear.
How every slope, piste and mountain is different, requiring adjustment.
A new plan, a set approach and a measure of determination.
Just like every place a Nomad may travel to, explore or visit.
Every location, every remote work task, needs intention.
No tech tool or kit can replace real skills and practice.
No kit, gear or software can replace human skills.
Remember that and always be learning.
Always stay humble.
TLDR: In case you don’t know me already, I am Ro, I am based in Zaragoza, Spain with my Location Independent, somewhat Nomadic (4-5 months a year of travel) family. For work, I am a Remote Work and Digital Nomad Expert, Advisor and Writer, oh an a Linkedin Top Voice. All my web and free resource links are here.
Thanks for reading, I want to hear your feedback - so let me know here.
May the road rise to meet you,
love n light,
💚 Ro