Friday, October 3, 2008

Jumpsuits and Bongo Boards



When I was 8-12, I liked two things more than anything. Riding my bike and skiing. We used to go with my Dad to Solitude on a weekday when it was $5. I had a red jumpsuit for skiing, that I loved, before nylon jumpsuits were cool. (these were the pre-gortex days when the tight, flared, stretchy pants were the rage, but I was a trendsetter.) I could slide down the slopes in that suit almost as fast as I could ski.

We moved back east when I was 15 where the best runs were equivalent to the "seasame street" run at Solitude. That is my excuse for not having mad skills in the backcountry or on the mogul field today. But, I still like to train for the season like a pro. I train on the bongo board like all serious skiing athletes. I also still enjoy jumpsuits.

I learned to ride a bike when I was 2....or so the story goes. When I was 8, my Dad bought me one of the first full-suspension bikes made. It is ("is" 'cause I still gots it and I still ride it with the kids) a Kawasaki brand bike. My dad took me down to Duff's to trade my Honda MR 50 in on that bad boy. I jumped big wheels, plastic swimming pools, friends, dogs...everything on that bike. Until, one day, my feet came off the pedals and I landed full force on the tear-drop shaped bar (point of the tear drop at the top), ouch-chy-mama. I still love to ride my bike.