Snowboarding for Beginners
You, too, could have moves like this.
Last winter, I was on the brink of contracting Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Okay, that might be a touch melodramatic, but it’s practically true.
Every night I came home from teaching, put on my onesie (for a photo see here), wrapped myself in a duvet, and drank tea on the couch while staring at the calendar and calculating how many days of coldness were left to endure.
Clearly, I needed a hobby.
This winter, I’m counting on snowboarding to keep me sane, to force me outside when my instincts are screaming, “Hibernate, you fool!”

The Season Pass
I locked myself into my new hobby in October, when I got a tip about an early bird special on 11st, a Korean website. The going rate for a season pass to High One is a hefty 500,000 won.
If you’re a resident (i.e., have lived there for 6 months or more) of Gohan or the surrounding areas, the price is slashed to 250,000 won.
If you’re a female and you find out about the online special, you can get your season pass for 170,000 won. That’s about 150 US dollars for the entire season, which goes from the end of November to the end of March.
Sexism has never looked so good.
My co-teacher helped me buy the pass, because doing it on my own would have involved several hours on Google translate and repeated use of all the swear words I possess.
Gear Hire
I don’t have a snowboard or boots, unless you count the leather cowboy boots I brought from Australia. Luckily, I have friends who know people, and Deokhwan Yim came to the rescue.

Deokhwan is an English-speaking Korean who runs the Highone2 ski shop opposite the Gohan train station.
You can contact Deokhwan on facebook or via email at deokhwan@nate.com. He offers season gear hire (board, boots and binding) for 150,000 won. You can rent good quality clothes (jacket & pants) for 10,000 won, and if you ask nicely he might throw in padding as well. (Hint: You want the padding.)
And that’s it. You’re ready to hit the slopes.
I always thought winter sports seemed complicated, but – surprise!- only if you make them that way.
Etiquette
First of all, if you want to blend in, you need to stand out as much as possible. We’re talking neon of the pink and orange variety. On the streets of Korea, muted colors are key. On the slopes, think bright colors and loud patterns.

Trust me when I say it is completely normal.
One of the reasons I always shied away from snowboarding is because I didn’t want to get in people’s way. It was what made me the most self-conscious about learning to surf. People of all ability levels are out there, but you’re the rookie idiot who’s most likely to cause a pile-up.
At High One, there is nothing to worry about. On the chair lift alone, I spotted dozens of snowboarders wiping out, going at a snail’s pace, or just sitting, having a rest. When I got out there, the only thing I felt self-conscious about was my lack of eye-popping colors. I even went down a steep slope on my butt because I was too afraid to try it on the board. Maybe I should have been embarrassed about that, but I wasn’t.
I was more proud than anything, because I didn’t have a broken arm like the wailing woman I scooted past. Best not to think about those things.
Pain & Recovery
I can’t give you tips on how to snowboard. I don’t even know what ‘carving’ really means, except that I’m sure I’m not doing it. But I can tell you what to expect the next day: pain, followed by agony.
It’s not the muscle soreness of a really good workout, it’s the pain of being in a car accident. Your forearms will ache from the falls and from pulling yourself up to a standing position. Expect your neck, tailbone, knees, earlobe, and pinkie toe to hurt, too.

It’s weird, but I kind of like it.
Finally, I feel like I’ve done something worthwhile over the weekend. I’m living in the moment again, and keeping the winter doldrums at bay. And if I want to spend Sunday afternoon wrapped up in a duvet and drinking hot tea, I’m comfortable calling it ‘recovery,’ not ‘borderline depression.’
Snowboarding reminds me of the buzz I get from traveling, and it pulls me out of the routine of daily life in Korea.
My goals are small: get through the season without any serious injuries. I’m not worried about learning to jump or spin a 360. All I want is a reason to get out of the house every once in a while until spring returns.
This might do the trick.
I am still laughing at the video.
I thought I was going so fast! Guess not.
Sweet moves! I’m going to High 1 on the 17th and 18th with a large group of English teachers! I’m excited.
Will you be snowboarding or skiing? I might see you there – I bet you’ll be using Deokhwan’s shop!
Skiing. Probably – someone else is working out the details so I’m just going along with whatever. But yeah, I’ll also be slowly making my way down the beginner slopes. 🙂
I live on the beginner slopes – look out for a giant figure in purple moving slowly downhill. That or the person in purple scooting down the steep parts on her butt. I’m not saying I do that, but I’m not saying I don’t.
You do realize that you have given your dad another reason to worry about you! Good luck and Merry Christmas!
The strangest thing…my dad told me it looked FUN and he wants to TRY it! I couldn’t believe it. Merry Christmas to you, too!
Hi~! Lauren~!
Thank you so much~!
your website~! so cooooool~! 🙂
Please~! write on your website …my information..
http://www.facebook.com/highone2
e-mail : deokhwan@nate.com
thank you~!
deokhwan x
No problem, Deokhwan! Thank you for all of your help. Your information is now included in the post.