Photos for The Olympian
Paul Martin instructs his snowboarding class in proper body position. Martin teaches at the Evergreen Ski and Snowboard School in Olympia.

Snowboarder Theresa Weeks tackles a toe-side turn. Weeks took lessons through the Evergreen Ski and Snowboard School.

You'll fall for snowboarding

South Sound 'boarding' schools teach a growing number of students

TARYN GERHARDT FOR THE OLYMPIAN

When you are in the mountains, there is no better feeling than making a smooth, wide turn on a snowboard in powder, says Paul Martin, a snowboard instructor.

Martin skied for seven years, then got into snowboarding after a friend got him interested. Now the 12-year veteran teaches others and shares his love for the mountains.

"Everyone gets a lot of joy from the sensation of making turns, riding in powder or making little jumps," says Martin, 29, of Olympia.

Martin is of one of several instructors for The Evergreen State College Ski and Snowboard School in Olympia. Snowboarding has been popular at Evergreen's school -- especially with teen-age boys, says school director Dee Doiron.

At Olympia Ski School, snowboarding also is "holding its own share of the lessons," says director Ed Younglove.

Both ski schools run buses from Olympia to Crystal Mountain and provide ski and snowboard instruction.

At Crystal, the number of people taking snowboard lessons continues to grow. This season, more than 2,000 have taken lessons, while more than 1,100 have taken ski lessons, says Tiana Enger, the resort's marketing and events coordinator.

At Evergreen Ski School, 80 percent of those taking snowboard lessons are teens, and 70 percent of those are boys.

"No fear factor could be the reason," Doiron say.

"It's a rush. There's a lot of girls snowboarding too, but the majority are teen-age boys," says Robert Munguia, 17, of Olympia. Munguia takes lessons with Evergreen.

For adults, the learning curve in snowboarding can be much steeper than for teens. In addition, adults have a tendency to give up more quickly due to the abrupt falls in snowboarding.

"With adults, they take the first two body slams and say, 'I have to be at work tomorrow,' " Doiron says. "You don't see many seniors, and you see a few middle-aged women, but not many."

Lisa Mahoney, 38, a mother of two teens, recently took lessons through Evergreen Ski School. She moved to the Northwest from Atlanta because she wanted to be in the mountains.

Mahoney first took snowboard lessons at Lake Tahoe in 1999.

"It was relaxing, freeing and enjoyable," Mahoney says. "I liked the vibe of being in the mountains. I looked in mirror and I looked 10 years younger."

Snowboarding is challenging to Mahoney physically and mentally. One of the hardest things for her to learn was the turns.

"Knowing you can go fast without getting into trouble -- that has been more trouble for me than the bang-ups and muscle pulls," she says.

Ed Younglove, who teaches snowboarding and skiing at Olympia Ski School and Crystal Mountain, took up took up snowboarding at the age of 44.

"The first time, I was awful. I had sore wrists and a sore behind, but it was OK for me to be awful."

He says the hardest thing for snowboarders to learn is to get off their back foot and move to their front foot.

"It's the most common problem. They don't work the front of the board."

Lessons may be the best way to learn.

"It's hard enough the first time. Lessons can make a big difference. There really are tricks to make it easier," Younglove says.

Effie Weeks, 17, took lessons through Evergreen with her twin sister, Teresa.

"I would definitely recommend it," Effie Weeks said. "It's a lot of fun to go out there with a friend and try not to fall down very much."

Taryn Gerhardt is a free-lance writer specializing in outdoors and fitness.

For related stories go to the South Sound Living section.

If you want to learn

Both South Sound ski and snowboard schools -- Evergreen State College Ski and Snowboard School and Olympia Ski and Snowboard School -- are finishing their teaching seasons. Both schools offer weekend and midweek lessons in January and February.

- Evergreen: Call 360-867-6770.

- Olympia Ski School: 360-943-0877.

- Crystal Mountain: The resort offers a variety of ski and snowboard lessons daily. It also offers a first-time skier or snowboarder lesson special. Call 360-663-3030 or e-mail lessons@skicrystal.com or www.skicrystal.com.

- White Pass: The resort offers a beginners ski or snowboard package, the "Guaranteed to Ski the Mountain /EZ Ski" or "Ride 123," daily. White Pass also has private and group lessons. Call 509-672-3101 or check www.skiwhitepass.com.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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