Return to Snowboarding
A t last, Shingo and I were able to start snowboarding for the year. It was a sunny day, and I worried the snow would be hard and icy—almost like sugar—since there had been very little snowfall since December. Still, we decided to go. It was our second time visiting Numata Ski Resort in Numata Town, a small, quiet leisure park where you rarely see foreign skiers or snowboarders. It’s far from the station and not accessible by public transportation, so getting there requires a car. That day, I wasn’t very confident at first. I had taken a long hiatus from snowboarding and had forgotten much of what I learned years ago. On top of that, I’m afraid of heights. Fortunately, despite the sunny weather, there was plenty of snow, and it was soft and powdery. During our first run, I lost my balance several times, but little by little, muscle memory began to return. What motivated me most was watching younger, rookie snowboarders nearby. They fell often, just like I did, but they kept tr...
