Beaver Creek & Vail

Learning to snowboard in Beaver Creek/Vail with perfect snow conditions was a dream come true.

I started with a day lesson and then hit the mountain with my uncle and cousin who have skied all over Europe. Needless to say, I was great at falling and wiped out my share of unsuspecting families. Not long though I was up and going and even able to take some GoPro videos.

The scenery is breathtaking; the clouds below the mountain tops, the whipped cream looking snow beneath the evergreen trees, the sun blazing through the valleys. It’s hard to say what stood out the most when everywhere you look is stunning. Being a southern girl from Tennessee, and never having been to Colorado or having seen more than a few inches of snow, the experience was overwhelming, to say the least.

Southern hospitality is nothing compared to the friendly and helpful locals that I met. There was the guy in the ski shop in Avon that spent a ton of time showing me how to fit and attach my bindings. When we were done, I went to pay him, and he said it was “no charge” and wished me luck on learning to ride. Then there was a guy who worked at Rimini Chocolate and Gelato shop that took the time to give me a bunch of great tips and ended up giving me a snowboard that didn’t fit his sister. And, btw, Rimini has the best hot chocolate and cappuccino that they put gelato in! Everyone was easy going and so helpful.

The board I got was a Nikita Sideways Sista. It’s made by a company from Reykjavik, Iceland, and built from the ground up by women who ride. It worked great, and I think it helped me get off to a good start. All the gear costs a lot, but once you have it, you’re covered for a long time. If I have one small piece of advice for anyone who’s new is to get a good pair of gloves. You want a pair that fits well and keeps your hands dry.

I can’t wait to go back! The fam has booked a trip to Breckenridge over New Years, and hopefully, I will be able to still ride without killing myself.