Personal Narrative: The Art Of Snowboarding

That thing was probably the most horrible thing I have ever seen. I have never been in contact with such a space consuming thing. It moved with a lack of elegance and fluidity. Snowboarders are probably the most annoying people on the earth. Don’t we have enough board related sports? Who had even invented the art of snowboarding? I had first learned to ski at the age of six, and had never even thought of learning how to snowboard. I was even annoyed at other snowboarder’s presence on the slopes and their laid back way of life. All I knew was skiing, and I loved it. When I asked my family what they thought about my skiing they said that I had a certain unique touch to it. Ever since I had learned how to ski, I had just wanted to get better and I was

obsessed. On March 17th was the day that I could consider myself a man. It was out there on the slopes where I had showed my skill and prowess. It was when I had finally stepped up to the plate and finish my final run that I had chosen my new path in life that would determine the rest of my life forever.
One day, Ia local judge I had met in France on vacation had said I had potential to compete because I was a good skier. He then proposed that if I am able to learn how to snowboard in the next two or three years, that there were a few competitions he could get me in to. I hadn’t believed him at first; all I did was doubt myself because I could never imagine myself competing nevertheless snowboarding. Me! A ten year old skier competing in the next two to three years had appeared as a ridiculous idea to me. At the time the only things I had truly wanted was material things and here I was about to change my life for the best. Then he began to talk about different events that I could get some experience in and I agreed because this was a once in a lifetime chance and it was with something I loved to do. I proposed to my parents that I come at all the chances I had and thankfully they said yes. And this is where the real journey begins.
It all started with an old and now synonymous name that made me the skier and snowboarder I am today and that name was Shawn White.

He was an inspiration to me, a truly versatile athlete who had changed the history of snowboarding. When I was eight my sister, who was a snowboarder, had tried to convince me to learn how to snowboard but I did not consider it once. She is about five years older than me and has much more experience in snowboarding as I had not yet learnt. Yet there I was about to change my life forever or so I thought. It took me about three years to learn the basics and add my own personal touch to my snowboarding. The one reason I continued to train was because of my sister. She meant so much to me and to this day still does. Those years I felt like she was all I had, until I realized everyone back at home was also cheering for me. She was the one who had offered to show me the magnificent art that we call snowboarding. She was the one who would aid me to victory and be at the finish waiting for me as I completed my final run. And at the time, she was the best snowboarder I had ever seen. I did not want to let my sister down so I pushed myself harder than I ever had just hoping that it will all pay

off..
The first year I was supposed to train were the most rigorous. To think that if I wanted to be great I would have to train constantly was crazy! To this day I can remember that every day I practiced and trained I would be visited by two persistent and determined friends. Their names were doubt and anxiety. Day after day I would feel like there was something else trying to force me to quit.The only thing I felt like doing was quitting because I was anxious but scared at the same time. I doubted myself more than I believed in myself. My family reassured me that no matter what happened that they would be there for me. I realised that I need to believe in myself and work hard at my goals. After that I had practiced and worked as hard as I could, and before I knew it was the month of the competition and I was invited to train with the other snowboarders and I knew this was my chance. I had made friends there that I still have to this day, but unfortunately had also made enemies. One enemy had concerned me the most and his name was Lucas. I felt his goal in life was to torture me, but I avoided him and continued on though there were countless times he had tried to initiate a fight to get me disqualified.
And so on March 17th, 2014 I had finished my final run and truly become who I am today, and I