Heckler Magazine Digital Issue Vol. 2.1

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P.BIRK

SMOKINSNOWBOARDS.COM

@SMOKINSNOWBOARDS

JAKE ROSE P.BECKMANN

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The first time someone stands sideways on snow is a very magical moment in a boarder's memory to look back on. If you make it past the initial wipeouts, you're rewarded with the most meaningful gift in life: the freedom of surfing the mountains however you see fit. Heres my story of standing sideways for the first time.

I was 10 years old, growing up in below zero conditions in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. My best friend was Brad Rafferty and we spent every minute outside playing. His father Bob ran the the local cross country ski trails in the winter in Lake Placid, which was also the golf course in the summer. This is a mountain course so it had a TON of sledding hills… The steepest, being the landing hill of the old 1932 ski jump, to more mellow ones that were perfect for sledding on. This was our stomping grounds. Bob would drive around his snowmobile pulling a big metal corrugated tube that groomed the trails while we laced up our Sorel's, pulled on our Turtle Fur hats and neck warmers and prepared our boy bodies for another day of pure arctic sledding fun. One day, we were taking shelter in the golf pro house, exploring all the closets and stumbled across a weird looking water ski.

It had a rope, a red stripe down it, and rubber pads for your feet. It was no water ski, it didn't have a binding. It was in fact a Snurfer.

Out of sheer instinct and pad placement, we figured out you stood sideways, held the rope for balance and would go down hill. I remember we each made it about 8 feet, nudging the piece of wood along with our bodies before stopping.

We needed something steeper. We had the feel for the Snurfer now. I clearly remember that first experience of getting on a steeper slope. I embraced the momentum, gripped the rope, held on for my life and just floated sideways at mach speed in a beeline until I came to an adrenaline filled stop, safe in the flats. The emotion is very personal, indescribable, and that initial feeling can only happen once.

That excitement to get back to the top of the hill was what fueled, shaped, and molded the rest of my life. All it takes is one ride of pure freedom that feels like nothing else in the world and you’re hooked. I have that exact "Super Racing"”model Snurfer in my collection. I'm so lucky to have that day in my life happen; otherwise, who knows what I'd be doing right now. All thanks to my Mom for constant outdoor time, the Rafferty's, and Sherman Poppen for inventing the Snurfer. Shred on.

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Mike Ranquet D-Daysnowboards.com @ddaysnowboards