Author: Longhot
I've always found it fun to think back about where I've been and what was with me at the time. The first thought is usually equipment based, since in these activities, a board or skis is an extension of yourself. They've climbed the summits and descended down all of the same places you've been. You couldn't have done it without them. I believe this is why I feel, like many others I've spoken to, are attached to our boards and skis. They're part of our journeys and adventures. Most notably your first. Maybe it's the one you learned on, or maybe it was an exciting gift growing up. Regardless, the chances are that if you're like us at Bramas, these things mean something to you.
Like many things in life, everyone remembers their first. It feels like everyone has some sort of story when this topic comes up. Figured I'd share my first snowboard set up with you all, we're definitely interested to hear other people's firsts and the stories that go along with it.
I never owned my own equipment growing up, my parents paid to rent the few times we'd make our way up to the Poconos. Once the high school day trips started up when your bud's brother could drive, I had to keep shelling out for cruddy East Coast rentals. I learned to Ski around 7 or 8 years old. It was a few years before jumping on the snowboard train in my teens.
Like most newbies, rather than the large upfront investment in something you may not even enjoy, you rent your board or skis. Learning to snowboard isn't easy. Especially when your instructors are your adequately-skilled friends flying down the mountain. Probably should've gotten the real lessons, but it cost money to rent and you're just a kid. Fall a few times and figure it out. That's probably the best way to learn anyway, it builds character.
After about 2 or 3 trips renting, you eventually get tired of various boards and boots, and decide that you like this enough to buy your own. A hefty investment for a teenager, but still more affordable than renting if you plan on making several trips a year. There are several avenues you can explore today to find an affordable board/ski set up, however, in the early ages of the internet, your best bet was to shop around stores in the offseason for deals.
My luck struck at the perfect time. I get a call from my buddy that a local shop is exiting their business and trying to get rid of remaining inventory. We take a ride over and browse the slim pickins.. Luckily there was one set of everything needed in my size. Flow boots, Flow bindings, and an Atomic Mafia Don 58 board that was a little bulky for my stature, but like I said, slim pickins. Bright blue bottom. Classic mafia figure on top between the bindings. It was simple. It was good. It was me.
Side note edit: doing some slight google research, apparently this board in rare? Atomic stopped making these in 2012. Sound off in the comments if you know anything.
Pumped that I was able to find the last items left in my size, I head to the cashier with a good chunk of farm cash from the summer. I have no idea how much this is going to cost. I get ringed up. $200 total. Holy crap, no way. (There's been a lot of inflation since 2010, but this was still a killer deal.) I hand over 2 bills and walk out the door elated. Art of the Deal. I'm not sure if I ever drove my '97 Silverado more happy. Now all I can think about is when the next ski trip is to test this bad boy out.
That board lasted me years. It made its way across several state lines on some really fun trips. Real dinged up, but each one is a story. And man, if that board could talk.. Endless falls, lift convos, trees hit into, maybe a few people.. it's icy and crowded on the east coast.. a lot of left turns early on haha.
A few years back The Don was retired as I was gifted a very nice Weston Timber by my now wife. While the new board was needed, I'll always remember The Don as my first board. We learned together, fell together, saw the Appalachians together. And all before I was old enough to drink!
There's something special about everyone's first board or skis. And if you're new to the mountain, or still rent... no pressure, there's no rush to save up and wait for the right opportunity. And sometimes the board picks you.
Let us know your first or most memorable in the comments. As always thanks for reading.
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