Jason Lenhart

This time I am sticking with it … is what I am saying as I create my next version of my blog. While I have had blogs in the past - I have often opted to transition them to something else (e.g. a Corporate Blog - ugghhhh!). I thought about my first post and could not help but promote a blog I follow very closely, Miss Shredasaurus - she is my wonderful daughter and a great snowboarder.

This was her first season snowboarding and from the first day we went to Blue Mountain - she was hooked like her ol’ man. She started her own snowboarding blog site (with my ever watching oversight) to go over the things she is learning. All her experiences can be tracked/referenced at her site.

You can typically see her every Saturday spending time between Blue Mountain or Bear Creek.

Yesterday, was a fun-filled day at Bear Creek - wow was it icy, while Miss Shredasaurus took a lesson - I took an unexpected slip while trying to keep up with the legions of teenagers screaming down the mountain. But hey, there is something to be said for knowing how to fall gracefully on your rear-end. Which was not the case when I was trying to improve my “Switch” riding with my daughter - a beginner had lost control and decided to give me a good nudge (ram into me) - riding Switch only made me less stable and I did the worst thing you could do - fell straight back and reached my hand out - thus resulting in an extended wrist and sore tail bone.

Don’t let my blogging of legions of kids screaming down the mountain and my personal exploits of getting hurt turn you off - this truly is a family experience. I cannot help but think back to my earlier days (”Back in the Day”) of skateboarding and snowsports - riding half-pipes and dried out canals in the 110 degree heat of Phoenix, AZ. How we all felt that society just had it out for us as we were never welcome into most establishments for a break and something to drink. There was rarely a formal place to skate and snowboarding was only allowed in the lower end skiing lodges. How things have changed - and with this change it has been something I can share with my daughter (soon to share with my son) - I guess all those “Skate Rats” grew-up and got jobs :-).

One of the funny/unexpected experiences I have received this season is just how impressionable kids can be. I received one of my first lessons on this during our first trip to Blue Mountain. There we were eating a funnel cake at the bottom of the hill - along with us was a staggering number of kids … and these kids of were of all ages, hanging out and having fun. Well this did not go unnoticed by Julia - she quickly understood that snowboarding was more than strapping your feet to a board and hitting a few features in the park - but rather a social event and lifestyle. She took notice of the fashions, mannerisms, and the kids taking video of each other boarding. She immediately started making plans to get into the social scene and create her own videos - Miss Shredasaurus was born.

Now the downside has been some requests out of no where - that I feel may be getting expedited with our new love of snowboarding. For example, yesterday we are eating lunch at a table and a group of teenagers asked if they can share the table with us - no problem. Now within 5 minutes Miss Shredasaurus is talking it up with them observing them with their Monster Energy drinks, cell phones, Burton designer apparel …. and out pops:

“Daddy, can I get a phone? …. Everybody has one…”

This was promptly met with:

“Okay… so we are done with lunch right? …. Let’s go practice Toe Side turning”

Since Miss Shredasaurus came to be - I have seen a couple of comments come my way - “She is a bit more Tomboy - so that is a good fit for her…” But I completely disagree and the sport can suffer from some parents reflecting back on what it meant to be a snowboarder back in the 80s. I urge them to not harbor the old thoughts of a bunch of “Skate Rats” hanging out spending their parents money. I urge any parent to take their kids to a local Rail Jam, Card Board Derby, or if in the area the almighty X-Games - this offers a great opportunity to expose the kids to something new and perhaps change any old perceptions a parent may have on snowboarding.

One of the greatest experiences I see when watching my daughter board is the lessons being learned. To see her take a fall (often times they are a bit nasty) - she keeps getting back up … the pain is there, it is in her face, but no tears, and a desire to get it right next time. It was not always like that - in the beginning there was frustration and tears - this was something we worked out together. With any talent comes the downside of the mistakes to achieve the talent. As weird as it is - I try to let her know that without the falling, occasional pain, and fear - the achievement of the talent would not be worth effort.

So as the season comes to an end I am a proud dad to hear my daughter want to extend her talent. She often watches the older kids hitting features (jib) in the park and riding the half-pipe - followed by the

“When do you think I could do that stuff?”

My reply:

“Sweet heart …. next season!”

Update: Looks like Miss Shredasaurus is now officially working on her jib in the park: