Saturday, July 11, 2009

Teleboarding needs a book

For the last few years, as I've been teleboarding, I've had uncountable conversations with strangers about this odd thing I'm standing on. Usually people don't know what it is, but it seems like that's starting to change. It used to be all "what the heck is that?" and "you lost a ski" to my face, along with whispers around me of "that's a monoski, son". This last season though, I was surprised how many people knew essentially what it was, even knew that it was called a teleboard, and were even more full of questions as a result. These people don't want to know what a teleboard is--they want to know what it feels like to ride one. I enjoy these chairlift conversations every ski season.

Snowboards were first manufactured in 1969, and they took about 30 years to catch on, but they broke new ground in the process. Now, the idea of skiers sharing the mountain with snowboarders, monoskiers, snow-scooter riders, ski-bladers, and even teleboarders--is unremarkable. Teleboards were invented in 1996--so they've only existed for 13 years, but the world is smaller than it was in 1969. The masses are starting to be ready for the teleboard, and the teleboard is ready for them. More importantly, the masses deserve to know about it.

I alpine-skiied almost exclusively from ages 4-23. I know that it takes a large investment of time and money to try another snow sport. You have to miss a day doing something you're good at and enjoy. You have to spend money on equipment and lift tickets, knowing they might be a waste. Also, it can be frustrating to struggle down a slope knowing you smoked it only the day before. On the flip side, learning something new is incredibly rewarding. There's a feeling of discovery and acheivement that comes with each realization--and, when you learn a different kind of skiing/riding (or something else you can already do well), the skills from each cross-pollinate. Teleboarding made me a better skier, telemarking made me a better teleboarder and alpine skier, etc.

I've spent the last few years broadening my horizons. I picked up teleboarding and got hooked. I worked on telemark skiing untill it clicked. I hopped on a snowboard and was able to do it fairly well (to my great surprise) due to my teleboarding experience. And, I even picked up my alpine skis now and then. Each of these different ways to ride/ski have advantages, and everyone will and should have their own preference. That said, a teleboard is objectively better in a a number of ways. The torque, floatation, power, flexibility and focus that come with the stance, the dimensions of the board, the perfect bindings for the job--it combines to form an excellent use of free time.

So, it's obvious why it's time for me to write this book. I want to provide something that is accessible to people, and helps them have more fun in their free time. I'll put the instruction across in the book, but I'm also trying to convey what it's like to ride the mighty teleboard. I want to help you imagine yourself in a new sport before you invest time and money, and then jump into something new with the right information and plenty of confidence.

On that note, I'll go back to working on the book now.

...and here are a few more pictures for you to enjoy.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

My new blog

Hello World!

This is my new blog about teleboarding. I love teleboarding, and I want everybody to know it--and hopefully love it too. While I'm writing my book on the subject, this will be a place for extra thoughts to spill into.

Welcome to my new blog--I hope you enjoy it.

Keep thinking snow!