Snowboarding?
So … I’m a brother. Aaaaaaaand I snowboard. There might be one or two other things that I do that are kind of rare within brotherhood, but snowboarding definitely ranks highly up in that mix. It’s all very strange. Like most brown skinned folks I know, I hate the cold. I mean, I hate the cold. But honestly, I love snowboarding. What kind of weird science is this?
When I think deeply about it (= rarely) I am not sure whether my passion behind snowboarding stems from my dissatisfaction with the fact that there are so few black and brown people visible in the world of snow sports, or whether it’s all about the adrenaline I experience every other second while snowboarding. There’s something very satisfying about the shocked and surprised looks I get from people who on these snow covered mountains who may be thinking that I don’t belong. There’s something really exhilarating about coming over the crest on that snowboard, saving control and caution for the seldom occasions when I think I need it, protected from the icey wind by layer upon layer of scientific fabrics. But there’s also something extremely boring about being alone out there, no one looking like me.
Over the past couple of years I have seen more people of color on the mountains (and by mountains I mean big boulders that pass for mountains out here on the East Coast). However, when I say more, I’m talking about an increase of 2 out of 100. So before it used to be just me. Now it’s me and two other folks. Things gotta change.
NOTE: I have heard that there is a a crew of black snowboarders based out of East New York, Brooklyn – or maybe Brownsville. I’m on the lookout for ‘em.
UPDATE: Jan 02-2010
Black folks snowboarding in Brooklyn:
BLKOPS-122009-Snowboarding in Brooklyn from jsjcreative on Vimeo.
hey br. its cause we are close to the sun when we be up above.
plus, its one of the most freeing feelings in the world. a multitude of emotions. humbling onself against the elements and free…cause we soar down, stop when we want,
jump. its just awesome so it makes perfect sense u love it.
its why i do.
nice seeing you virtually.
besos peace
yo, i think the cats you’re looking for go under the name ‘blackboards’.
hopefully y’all can link up and set the snowboarding world ablaze!
peace.
-aus
you’re cute.
PEACE QA’ID,
I KNOW YOU’RE GONNA TRIP OUT OFF THIS!!!
FIRST OF ALL I’LL BE THE FIRST TO APOLOGIZE FOR CLOWNING YOU ALL THOSE YEARS FOR STUFF LIKE THIS: BEING A (OR AS WE THOUGHT… THE ONLY) BROTHER WHO… SNOWBOARDS, PLAYED LACROSSE, RESPECTED HIS MOTHER (I THINK HARV MOSTLY FEARED HIS!) HIS CULTURE & EVEN REMOTELY GAVE A PHUCK ABOUT HAVING AN EDUCATION!
I MUST SAY WE’VE ALL COME A LONG WAY! NOW A DAYS I’M SNOWBOARDING, PRACTICING WITH MY OLDEST (OF 3) SON… WHO PLAYS LACROSSE & MAKING FOR DAMN SURE THEY HAVE A MUCH BETTER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY THAN I BLEW! I TELL THEM YOUR STORY ALLLL THE TIME! IT ALL CAME TO FRUITION… (IF YOU WILL) WHILE STANDING IN LINE AT THE GROCERY STORE READING THE SOURCE… & THERE’S YOUR NAME! I WAS LIKE OH SHYT!!! THAT’S MY MAN QA’ID! THAT’S MY HOMIE I’VE BEEN TELLING Y’ALL ABOUT ALL THESE YEARS! IT WAS LIKE A RELIEF TO KNOW YOU WERE ALL RIGHT! AND SUCCESSFUL!
IF ANY OF THIS MAKES SENSE… THIS WILL BE THE ICING ON THE CAKE! I’LL JUST SAY…
ELMORE AVE! I HOPE YOU REMEMBER – HOLLA @ ME THRU MY EMAIL. [email protected]
PEACE!
STEPHEN
Try being the only brother on the mountains (or more appropriately the rolling hills) of Minnesota. I’ve been snowboarding for around 12 years and I’ve managed to get all of my little brothers and even a few of my cousins invovled with snowboarding. I can relate to the feeling of satisfaction you get from the look of surprise on many peoples faces at the parks. Last season I saw a young brother, couldn’t have been older than 11 just killing it in the park, jibbin’ 20′ rainbow rails and landing 720′s with ease and I was just as excited to see that as I was to see those looks.
woww, nice. I’m from minnesota and i’m a black girl and want to start snowboarding. be ready to see a sister out there!
Haha I really really want to snowboard..and i’m a black girl. I’m going to learn as soon as I can but I became interested after seeing Shaun White in the olympics, not just to break a stereotype. I’ll embrace the fact that i’ll be one of the few black and female snowboarders in the world as well. It only makes me more unique.