(name corrected on 1/5/09)
This email is written in the form of a letter for two reasons. One is that I am pretty sure Rob is the only one who reads my blog and B if he reads this he should come to Utah ASAP.
I ended last week snowboarding with two of my ole' college friends at Brighton and Solitude. They were tele skiing and we had a rompus good time hitting the blues. I also took Jenny out for her second day boarding and it went spectacular. Leaving this high for a week of work was a bit of a let down and so was having Jenny working on weekends. Let's say that the week itself was a bit of a hassle and I wish a quick painless death upon it.
I started the day off by doing some grocery shopping and house cleaning. After making up for Jenny working (I do chores to alleviate guilt about having free time), I set of for Snowbird Ski Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Wait... "little" then why did you drive to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. I make mistakes. So I head over to the correct mountain and stare at the clock. Is it worth going to the mountain and spending $45 to board for 4 hours. I've been driving for an hour and would be sad if I didn't play in the snow a bit.
The parking lot and road are packed and it was a bit of a hike to the lift. Sidenote: I got new Solomon boots and they were awesome. So I get on the first lift I see and hit a blue to start the day off right. Now I find myself sitting in the snow stuck on a flat spot staring at 12 yr old skiers learning to do slalom. I am not feeling it today. I was so confident last weekend and now I'm forcing every turn.
I make it the next fast lift and decide to start balling down an other blue. There is about 12" of powder in the ungroomed and untouched parts of the mountain. Then I see it. A small opening in the fence with two little symbols of a black and pointy nature. They were so enticing and the trail didn't seem all that perilous.
Thus begins the greatest day of snowboarding in my life.
I head through the gate and the trail is full of powder and not to steep. I eventually get buried up to my waste. Sure it took some digging and hiking to get out but it was beautiful. I head around the corner and there is a steep drop off with tons of fresh snow and not too many trees to dodge. Heart pounding fun like I haven't had in ages.
I go for another two runs and am constantly checking out the super expensive tram that goes to the top of the mountain. I was wishing and hoping that the chair lift up there would open sometime soon. Now I look closer and it is moving. I can love the tops of things.
I ride up and see it again. Two pointy black symbols indicating a potential doom and a beautiful bowl full of sugary white goodness.
(not my image)
Done!
I ride a traverse around the top of the bowl. When I run out of momentum I drop in and yes I am Done!
Life is good and I have found peace.
In the end I found myself riding through trees, dropping off ledges, falling in powder, sliding on my chest, and the whole time I was daydreaming about writing this. Immortalizing this adventure.
Love Always,
Jimmy Budnik from the ultimate team
This email is written in the form of a letter for two reasons. One is that I am pretty sure Rob is the only one who reads my blog and B if he reads this he should come to Utah ASAP.
I ended last week snowboarding with two of my ole' college friends at Brighton and Solitude. They were tele skiing and we had a rompus good time hitting the blues. I also took Jenny out for her second day boarding and it went spectacular. Leaving this high for a week of work was a bit of a let down and so was having Jenny working on weekends. Let's say that the week itself was a bit of a hassle and I wish a quick painless death upon it.
I started the day off by doing some grocery shopping and house cleaning. After making up for Jenny working (I do chores to alleviate guilt about having free time), I set of for Snowbird Ski Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Wait... "little" then why did you drive to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. I make mistakes. So I head over to the correct mountain and stare at the clock. Is it worth going to the mountain and spending $45 to board for 4 hours. I've been driving for an hour and would be sad if I didn't play in the snow a bit.
The parking lot and road are packed and it was a bit of a hike to the lift. Sidenote: I got new Solomon boots and they were awesome. So I get on the first lift I see and hit a blue to start the day off right. Now I find myself sitting in the snow stuck on a flat spot staring at 12 yr old skiers learning to do slalom. I am not feeling it today. I was so confident last weekend and now I'm forcing every turn.
I make it the next fast lift and decide to start balling down an other blue. There is about 12" of powder in the ungroomed and untouched parts of the mountain. Then I see it. A small opening in the fence with two little symbols of a black and pointy nature. They were so enticing and the trail didn't seem all that perilous.
Thus begins the greatest day of snowboarding in my life.
I head through the gate and the trail is full of powder and not to steep. I eventually get buried up to my waste. Sure it took some digging and hiking to get out but it was beautiful. I head around the corner and there is a steep drop off with tons of fresh snow and not too many trees to dodge. Heart pounding fun like I haven't had in ages.
I go for another two runs and am constantly checking out the super expensive tram that goes to the top of the mountain. I was wishing and hoping that the chair lift up there would open sometime soon. Now I look closer and it is moving. I can love the tops of things.
I ride up and see it again. Two pointy black symbols indicating a potential doom and a beautiful bowl full of sugary white goodness.
(not my image)Done!
I ride a traverse around the top of the bowl. When I run out of momentum I drop in and yes I am Done!
Life is good and I have found peace.
In the end I found myself riding through trees, dropping off ledges, falling in powder, sliding on my chest, and the whole time I was daydreaming about writing this. Immortalizing this adventure.
Love Always,
Jimmy Budnik from the ultimate team
7 comments:
a contraire... your blog is in my google reader. which means i see your postings with absolutely minimal delay.
um, utah looks amazing. i'm glad you got to fall with some grace and style down snowy mountains. and that you weren't cheesing it up on teles.
You told me a letter was coming, but you may have written it to another person as you spell my name with a i not a y...but i think you knew that and were poking fun at me.
Oh man, why do you do this to me? Tell me stories of fresh powder and snow and you getting to ride in it while i am in MN where powder is something that does not happen and well you never really are on a mountain.
You know i would be there in a heartbeat but there is that thing $$$$$ that makes things a little tougher. I mean there is the option of changing a trip from CO to UT, and then there might be some housing, but then you have to worry about imposing, and you taking off work, and getting in Jenny's way and all that jazz and it makes Robin a sad panda:( It is in my head to make that trek to UT. I have had a vision:
Jimmy is showing me the wonderful snowy peaks and fresh powder as he drops in. Before you know it i can not see him. I look down and all i see is white. Then out of no where Jimmy is seen about 100 yds down the mountain. He looks up and I drop in. The feeling-untouchable. Transitioning back and forth from toe to heel, lightly guiding the board to make smooth turns.
The day ends and good times ensue.
This dream shall become a reality oh yes, it will...Just need to find the right time.
I will try and write you a lovely letter based on my next snowboarding adventure, but i think i will fall oh so very short.
Later man
Actually I just typed your name too fast, so I apologize. I do know someone here with the name Robyn, but she is not a he so I don't think that is a good justification.
We intentionally got a two bedroom house because we want people to come visit us, a lot!
I wouldn't really be able to take time off to go on weekdays, but I have weekends and jenny gets random week days off sometimes and would love to have a professional snowboard instructor instruct her. "Instructor" and "instruct her" sound very similar.
Sounds like a great day! i don't snowboard but i now wish i did. ps i'm not rob.
Hey I think I was one of those fiends that was Telemarketing... :) I read the blog... it sometimes takes me awhile but i get there. I wish we had feet of fresh snow, or even 'snow' and Nate thanks for the vote of confidence about the Tele skiing.
Wish I could have joined y'all for some telemarking on the blues. It seems it takes me a while to get to the blog posts too, but I get there. ;)
I read your blog on occassion (when I remember it is out there).
Amanda and I are moving to San Diego. While still a long drive from you, it should really shorten the flight (it cuts the distance almost in half).
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