skittle thug!

One of the greatest things about snowsports is the individuality.  Be it skiing or snowboarding, you choose your own way.  No one can hold your hand down the mountain.  When and where you make a turn is all up to you.  It's the simpliest form of reality.  You make a choice.  You deal with the outcome.  I choose to snowboard.  I choose to wear bright colors.  I choose to be ahhhsome.

I was reminded yesterday, after completing the order for the next round of GNAR shirts, of the word 'skittle thug'.  Urban Dictionary defined if as that guy wearing bright colors while spinning a 720 over your head and stomping it.  Gone are the days of grunge, when i started snowboarding.  Gone are the days of snowboarders looking like they just attended a funeral.  (we save that for the skiers... black-on-black?  how original, you tools)  Something about ski fashion has always gone a little overboard.  The 80s had it right.  The 90s were a reaction to the over-awesomeness of the 80s.  Now it's all coming back full circle.  Neon is in!  Long live the skittle thug!

Individuality permeates the sport.  Yes, you can choose to dress black-on-black.  Or you can be every shade of neon.  Or somewhere in between.  Just rock what you got... with pride.  That thought process can go for so many things in our lives.  We are given a set hand.  We can shuffle a few cards back in the deck and draw a few more, but in the end, your hand is your hand.  I was given horrible eyesight.  My other senses took over.  I've never been big enough.  Perfect, skiing works better the smaller you are.  My board isn't brand new.  As long as you're confident on what you have, that's really all that matters.  As long as you're confident in who you are... that's really all that matters.  I'm a nErd.  I'm a dokr.  I'm a gEek.  I'm smart.  I'm a dumbass.  I can recall random information.  I can't remember your name.  But i am who i am.  I look at the world in ways that would astound you.  Or maybe in ways that would bore you.  But i see my own line.  I see where i want to make my next turn.  My next turn may take me over a cliff or through a glade of trees.  I'm fine with both.  I'm fine with being me. 

This picture was taken at the end of my trip to Breck last year.  After hiking the peak we rode the ridge, ducking the OB markers in search of a few more turns in untracked snow.  I can see my line.  And it makes me smile.  It was my choice.  It's one of those lines carved permanently in my soul.