It’s the end of my lesson at Wisp Resort in McHenry, during which I go from hopeless rookie—who needs help getting her board strapped on—to confident novice sliding down the Belly Flop beginner slope.
Not bad for a single 90-minute session.
Earlier this morning, I’d met Draper in the ski-school area just outside the lodge. One of the first things to learn, after strapping on your board, is how to stand up straight while traversing a slope.
After finding your center of balance, you control the board by ever so slightly shifting your weight or gently twisting the flexible board with your feet. To make those classic S-curve swooshes that take you down the hill, you glide from the broad "heel side” of your board—facing downhill, with the “toe side” tipped up—to your toe side, facing uphill, with the heel side lifted.
Get it? Neither do I. At least, not at first. Perfecting this maneuver takes time (and nerve), but mastering it is a thrill.
Skiers quickly find that snowboarding dials your skills back to the basics: Slight shifts in balance and movement—even with just your toes—direct the board. All morning, I fight the instinct to flail my arms up to stay steady; balance should come from your core, not your arms.
“The hardest part of snowboarding is learning to balance on the snowboard’s edge,” says Draper. “You have to learn to balance on the board before you can control the board.”
After falling a few times on the Belly Flop slope, I start to get it. I even feel confident enough to ride the long ski lift up the mountain to Wisp’s trail system. I chart an easy green-trail-only course and quickly realize I still have a lot to learn—and a lot to practice.
Still, my confidence surges when I make it to the bottom of the trail in one piece, and I’m soon ready for another go. With 32 slopes and trails totaling 10.5 miles on 132 acres of skiable terrain, Wisp offers me plenty of options.
“Our mountain is ideal for beginners and families, since 41 percent of our terrain is beginner terrain,” explains Lori Epp, director of marketing at the Garrett County resort, which is next to Deep Creek Lake.
“The North Camp features wide, sweeping trails that resemble beginner terrain one would experience in New England.” That means postcard-worthy surroundings complete with gorgeous sunsets and tranquil, tree-lined vistas.
Like anything worth doing, snowboarding has an inherent learning curve. Triumphs and tumbles alike keep you on your toes (or heels). But slowly gaining speed and completing those S-curve runs is a challenge I hope to rise to.
“There’s an old adage that says it takes ‘three days of dues’ to get the hang of snowboarding. Getting good depends on the hours you devote to practicing,” says Draper, and “age, enthusiasm, ability, and drive are all factors.” A background in skateboarding, wakeboarding, or surfing—none of which I have—gives you an advantage.
After nearly a full day of learning to snowboard, the sun inches toward the horizon, and I’m ready for some rest. A massage at the Sewickley Spa in the main lodge is tempting, but I opt to put my feet up and settle in for the night instead, with visions of schussing snowboards dancing in my head.
Wisp Resort offers Learn-to-Ride snowboarding packages (including lift tickets, equipment rental, and lessons) from November through March. For more information, visit www.wispresort.com.
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