Sports and personality.

Snowboarding.

First at Christmas, then January, a day trip in Hokkaido and a day trip in Shiga and finally a trip to Tsukaige in Nagano. Each time I go the beauty of the white mountains never cease to amaze me: courses are made of metres of snow piled and packed on-top of each other, the tops of trees poke out feebly to say hello from the white blanket which engulfs them and conditions can change instantaneously and unexpectedly. Resistant building slush turns into a soft blanket to fall on when a bout of snow plummets from the sky at lunch. Clear skies may become harsh winds and thick mist or nice slopes become icy obstacles as the sun smiles in winter conditions.

Each trip begins in the same way: a group of people assemble with the sole aim of throwing themselves down mountains on a wooden board or two strips of wood and poles. Warm clothes are put on, boards, skis, binds and boots are rented, put on and zipped up. The precautious (or adventurous) gear up with protection ranging from knee pads, wrist guards or full body armour and then off they go. Sitting on a chair lift you see blurs of colours whizzing down mountains; blues, yellows, greens and pinks fly by while others tumble, crash and fall. Snowboarders idly sit on the slopes while skiers whizz by, beginners attempt to gain as much control as they can to refrain from smacking into others or falling on their faces and those with more experience spin, jump, glide up slopes, fly in the air and with a light thud, elegantly land back on the ground.

While the concept of winter sports may be perplexing and perhaps odd (attaching a board to your feet to throw yourself down a mountain) it is undoubtedly a fun and exhilarating one. Sitting on a chair lift watching skiers navigate their course down a steep slope and boarders whizz down, I started wondering (as I often do) when, how and why, snowboarding became popular. Thinking more about the concept of sports and there impact on those who do them and why it became clear that sports allow escapism.  When society dictates norms and to some extent behaviour (a phenomenon evident in Japan) sports allow it’s participants to take full control and responsibility of their own actions.  Snowboarding grants the partaker the ability to go as fast, slowly, dangerously or as safely as he wishes and the chance to sway from the group or partake on the adventure by yourself. Sports, apart from being keeping you in form, reflect who you are, your personality and who you want to be.

Golf: peace, calm, the chance to unwind. Surfing: fun, adventure, warmth, partying. Karate: discipline and strength. Cycling: speed, strength, willpower and determination…….