By Chris Metzler

So here I sit in front of my computer, wondering why I, once again, find myself writing into this website. Am I that uncool as to where I spend my days looking for acceptance from people whom I have never met? Well, maybe. We, those that frequent this website, are all linked by one certain uncomprimising fact: We all LOVE snowboarding. Is it going overboard to say that we live, breathe, and sleep for this lifestyle. Summers are spent dreaming of feeling the cold air pressed against our uncovered faces as we speed down some trail. September, usually loathed by students as the return of the educational journey, rather, is excitedly anticipated for the release of new outerwear, hardgoods, and videos. Am I the only one who can’t name the #1 movie in theaters, but knows the date to when the new Mack Dawg, Absinthe, or Whiteout video is released? I am a college graduate who left graduate school to follow the white flakes full time. I turned down a possible six figure job working for my father’s company to work in a snowboard shop. I do this for the love, not for the money, or to be cool, or for the girls (Lord knows, I’m lacking in all three). I’m not even close to what would generally be called a “damn good” snowboarder. I’m stoked if I land a 360 on a jump. Rails are fun, but, I’m not ashamed to say, fucking scary. I wear a helmet. But every day that I ride is a day that I can look back on and say that I went out, and did what I absolutely love. No filter, no bullshit. I love snowboarding. Who among us feels the same way. Waking up far too early, looking at weather.com, and knowing that this day is going to be a good one. Driving up to the mountain with some good friends, fueled by starbucks and some powdered dougnuts out of a box. Rolling into a near desolate parking lot, as the majority of people are just getting their things together, and knowing that the mountain, no matter how big, or how crowded it might become is yours, and yours alone. Watching untracked powder glide underneath your feet. Theres nothing else in this world that comes close. Do I realize how cheesy this blog post sounds? Yes. I’m a shameless romantic. I see snowboarding as something more than the x-games, a mountain dew commercial, or the cool thing to do. This is who I am, and what I love. I’m stoked on snowboarding.