One hot summer day out on the water wakeboarding and wakesurfing I decided I needed to apply sunscreen to my skin. While applying a nice layer of sunscreen, one of my buddies made a BS comment about me using it.
Here is my response:
“The more I use sunscreen, the longer I can prevent skin cancer. Which extends my life on a boat.”
Enough Said! What can you do to prolong your life and time on a boat?
For many of us there are at least two different seasons throughout the year, snow season and water season. I believe the general population calls them summer and winter. In the picture above you will see one of the best backyard snowboard parks that my friends and I have ever built. What I want you to ask yourself is, “how did we come up with this set up?” Let me tell you, it did not come to us over a cold wintery night; however that is all that it takes.
This idea/design was crafted over the summer and into the winter months. Everyone can have this and everyone should have a backyard snowboard park of their own. It is easy, it is fun, and you can create anything you want. Wait, I didn’t mention the best part about it. It is completely free to hit all winter long. If you want to improve and take your game to the next level, you need to start thinking about the park you are going to build in your backyard right NOW. It is going to take work and if you want a pimp rail to soup up your park, contact Board Sport Terrain Design. They will build anything you can think of.
Materials are everywhere. So think big, go big, and build yourself an epic backyard snowboard park. You won’t regret it!
The wind is blowing at 20 knots, X-Stars are pulling three tubes in circles, and your skin about to fall off from being in the sun for hours. Time to get off the water right? Nope, it is time to break out the surfers and get some wakesurfing done.
Many people think wakesurfing is a sport you do after you get done wakeboarding, if the water is choppy, and the last thing you do before you go home. Well I am here to say that wakesurfing deserves more time and credit than that. It is way better to surf when the water is glass and all day long. Surfing is more fun the more time you spend doing it, and I say forget saving all of the glassy water for wakeboarding. Switch up the game. It will help you in every other activity that you do. With a different sense of balance and a different board to stand on, you can’t go wrong. Wakesurfing will give your legs a break from wakeboarding and teach them another level of muscle memory that you will not get from other board sports.
Trying something new is also stress reliever and a way to get your mind off that trick that you have been trying to land for days. On one last note, wakesurfing is easier on your body which will allow you to be on a board and out on the water longer into your life. Can we say it is a life saver?? Sure! Get out, give wakesurfing a chance, save your body, and try something different. Wakesurf for a day!
In the world of snowboarding, I believe there is a huge reason why more of the population does not get out on the slopes. The reason; because snowboarding is conceived as expensive. I am not saying it is cheap, but I want to share with you a list of ways that will keep money in your pocket so you can have enough cash for your next lift ticket.
Buy Used Gear
Gear always seems to be a big purchase. Snowboard, boots, bindings, pants, coat, hats, gloves, goggles, and hand warmers. It all adds up. Friends, Craigslist, Ebay, and your local newspaper can all be good sources for you to find some good used gear. Take your time and shop around.
Get a Season Pass
The upfront cost can be huge. However you will be able to snowboard as much as you want once you have the pass. If you go enough, this can save you a lot of money. Certain resorts have also teamed up and combined their season passes. This means you can buy one pass and snowboard at a few different places throughout the year. Resorts will also have discounted season passes if you buy them at a certain time of the year. Figure out when that it is.
Saltines and Hot Sauce
This is one of my college favorite ways to save some cash. Head to the soup display, grab some saltines, and snag a bottle of hot sauce. BAM! Instant snack that will hold you over until you get home.
Discounted Lift Tickets/Package Deals
Resorts will offer package deals on lift tickets. Buy 3 lift tickets and get the 4th lift ticket free is a great way to save you money and get you out on the hill at least one more day. For day passes, check in at your local shops for a discount on lift tickets. If you are near the Rocky Mountains, stop into a grocery store on your way up to the hill, you might find a deal.
Ramen Noodles
Nothing better than stopping into the local grocery store, and picking up a couple of 19 cent packs of Ramen Noodles to eat for lunch. You cook the Ramen at the hill by getting two cups. Fill one cup with hot water from the coffee machine, crush up the Ramen, and put it into the hot water. Flip the other cup upside down and use it to cover the cup with Ramen and hot water. Five minutes later you will have perfectly cooked Ramen to fill your belly.
Snowboard During the Weekdays
Resorts will often have days during the week that are discounted for different reasons. Give them a ring to figure out what they have going on throughout the year. Snowboarding during the week will also allow you to avoid long lift lines which means more time on the snow for you. Who knows maybe you will even find a buy one get one night!
Parking Lot Lunches
Pack a lunch, grill some dogs, stop by subway, or travel to the local Little Ceasars for a five dollar Hot and Doughy! What ever you do, it will help you stay away from $10 bread bowls of chili, or $8 dollar burgers. Granted every now and then I like to step up to the plate for the chili, but if you pack a lunch you will have money for another day of riding.
Après-Ski
For those of you who are like me and like to relax and chill with friends after a good day of riding. Head to a tavern away from the hill. Sometimes we will grab one on the hill and head somewhere else, but overall I have found that the local tavern down the street will have the better deal.
Now it is your turn
I know I did not cover every little trick in the book, and I know you have some creative money saving tips up your sleeve. Please leave a comment if you have found a way to save a buck or two.
Last week we had the chance to wakeboard at Wake Nation which is a cable park located in Cincinnati, OH. Being one of the few cable parks in the Midwest, we decided to make the 4.5 hour journey to get there. Was the journey worth it? You know it! From the time we walked in the door to the time we left, it was like we were in wakeboard heaven. The customer service was great, the park is pimp, all ages can participate, and everyone there was more than willing to answer questions. If you don’t have a boat and use that as an excuse why you don’t wakeboard, look no further. Cable parks are popping up all over the world, and are the perfect choice for someone who doesn’t have a boat. The price is right, and you can wakeboard your heart out for hours. That is if your body doesn’t give in first. I see cable parks working their way into every state and if they are not, we need to do something about it!
Enjoy the short video I put together of Andrew and I ripping up Wake Nation. We had a blast and will be heading back real soon. Anyone want to come?
