Tuesday 19 May 2015

(Week 5) My hobby - part II

My hobby – part II


Last time I told you about my latest passion - motorbikes. This time I want to continue this topic… Don’t worry it won’t be related to motorbikes but with my another hobby ;)

My snowboard – Burton Shaun White’s 2009 edition

I went snowboarding for the first time a few years ago when I was in high school and to be honest it was love at first sight. Unfortunately, at the very beginning  without reciprocity ;) I was learning by myself and definitely it wasn't the best idea in my life… I still remember how tough the first day was and the second and third also :) My wrists were killing me but after those 3 days I was through my first ride on a red snow road. I was truly happy! My level of adrenaline was rising meter by meter and then I knew that: snowboarding would be with me for a while.


Cortina D’ampezzo

Ok, after this short introduction let’s get back to our topic. I would like to describe to you my best snowboard trip. It was in Italy, to be more specific, in Cortina D’ampezzo.

Cortina D’ampezzo. Source: http://www.dreamland.travel/skijanje-zimovanje/italija-zima/cortina-d-ampezzo

Cortina D’ampezzo is located in the Veneto region, in the heart of the Dolomites. Often called the "pearl of the Dolomites", is certainly one of the world's most famous ski resorts. Tradition of winter sports Cortina dates back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. This place was over the years the favourite vacation destination of elite: European aristocracy, intellectuals, artists, etc. Thanks to that, the town has gained unique, also noticeable today, atmosphere and charm. Yeah, I know it is a little snobbish description but  Cortina is a really charming place. Also you can find there a lot of places to party or eat something good.


Ski roads

Ski roads in Cortina. Source: www.thealps.com

The most important thing for me in that trip were ski pistes. First of all, the preparation of ski roads was much better than in Poland. Also the quality and length of those pistes are brilliant in my opinion. Black roads are really hard and the blue ones are rather easy. Snow drifts weren’t a problem. I was there for 6 days and I was riding circa about 250 km on ski roads. Also I had some ‘free rides’ outside the official ski roads, what not always was smart ;) I remember when once a carabinieri wanted to give me a ticket or another time I had to stop and when I took off my board I fell in snow to the waist. The last thing which captivated me was the weather. During those 6 days when I was there there wasn’t even a single cloud in the sky. The sun was shining so strongly that most of time it was possible to ride without a jacket.

Unfortunately I can’t compare too many places because I have been snowboarding only in Poland (in a lot of ski resorts) and Cortina. I hope I will have an opportunity to check other places and my personal little dream is to go to a glacier in June someday:)


Sources

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortina_d'Ampezzo
http://www.dreamland.travel/skijanje-zimovanje/italija-zima/cortina-d-ampezzo
http://www.snowcamp.pl/

32 comments:

  1. It's great to hear that you have same hobbies as mine!

    I used to ski but from few years I changed to snowboard and I must say that this was a very good decision. It's amazing winter sport. Two years ago I bought new board: "Forum Youngblood DoubleDog" it's a very nice board with good flex but it's not good for speed riding it's better in park, buttering etc.
    I have been in Pozza Di Fassa as goes with Italy and I really like the climate of Italian Resorts, people are very laid-back.
    I also was in Kaprun two years ago and I can recommend you this resorts, but it's a little bit more expensive than Italy.

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    1. I know a lot of stories about people who change ski to snowboard – just like you – but I don’t know anybody who made change from snowboard for ski. Personally I adore snowboard but to be honest I have never tried ski so I can’t compare these activities. Nonetheless I feel no need to try it at all. Well, maybe I would like to try snowblade/skibording (http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiboarding) someday... Have you ever tried it?

      Thank you for these Italian Resorts, I will check information about them!

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    2. Frankly speaking I haven't tried it, but sometime I see people riding on this. It could be interesting.
      This summer I'm going to try kitesurfing. Last year I spoke with instructor about it and he told me that fact that I'm snowboarder is a huge advantage in this sport so it suppose to be easier than for "regular guy".

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    3. It looks like we have another similar hobbie. Kitesurfing is also on my own ‘to do’ list ;)
      I had reserved 2 weeks course on bay of Puck near Hel but unfortunately I twisted my ankle. That was about 3 years ago and (again unfortunately) I haven’t tried it out to day… Do you know where will you go?

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    4. I'm not sure... but If I'm lucky I will probably visit one of the Canary Island and there I will take some lessons. That's the plan, but we will see :)

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    5. I hope you will! Canary Island should be a great place to start learning of kite :)

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  2. It's nice to see when someone has passion and I can see that in your article ;) I've never tried snowboarding or even skiing but it's been over two years now when I decided to go somewhere to try it. All of my friends who ski are fascinated about that and say I should have a try. Next winter will be mine! ;) Anyway, good luck with your hobby :)

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    1. Indeed I really like snowboard :D Thank you for your comment. I hope this winter will be yours! A litle advice from my side: don't be descouraged, especially on the very beginning ;)

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  3. I like your presentation Tomasz, The subject is clear and well expressed in writing.
    Honestly, I'm not keen on snow sports so much, cos I'm a little coward :D
    But I think I will found Cortina like a charming place for examle because that view : http://www.ultimate-ski.com/media/1025286/cortina-d-amprezzo-village-night.jpg

    I my friends offered me a snowboard trip las winter, but I didn't decided.
    So, maybe I will try in the future, so, can you give me a tip how to start?
    Have you been scaried at the first time?

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    1. Thank you for your opinion about the presentation. This photo shows, how beautiful and calm place Cortina really is :D

      Not everybody must like winter sports, but I really encourage you to try, even for trying something new. How to start? At first put some pillow under the trousers :P Just kidding. I think the good idea is to ask somebody to provide some information how to keep the balance, turn, stop etc. If it is not enough, you can take an instructor for few hours. And do not be scared, you can slide down slowly, till you feel more comfortable. How was with me? I learnt by myself. To be honest I didn't feel any fear because beginners' slopes are pretty easy. As far as I remember I felt much more adrenaline and also some kind of anger when I was falling again and again:)

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    2. I think this big wall is my imagination :) My brain projects some visions of breaking legs or something like that :D Maybe the reason is some friend's movies on harder pistes, so the best way for me is just try one day from the very beginning :)
      Thanks for your advices I believe they will be useful in a future!

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    3. Don’t be afraid, as far as I know it is pretty hard to break legs on snowboard. But wrists or knee hmmm that’s completely another story ;) Of course I’m a little joking right now because during these years when I have been rider I haven’t meet anybody who broke something on snowboard.

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  4. I do not do winter sports so I am not able to discuss about that hobby. If you in the future write something about fitness or jogging I will kindly get involved into that kind of conversation. I admire people who do winter sports and I hope that one day I will be their supporter.

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    1. Hmm I like jogging too but unfortunately my back doesn’t… :) Back to the winters sports I was also sceptical for long time but when I started my point of view has totally changed. So I hope you will just try someday. If you will – good luck! :)

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  5. Last years I'm not really into winter sports, but thank you for this article, I need to come back to this and you gave me an inspiration :) Actually whole my life I was visiting a sky village which I think is close to your favorite, which made me nostalgic too..

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    1. I am really glad to read that I gave you an inspiration to come back :D If it is not a secret, could you tell me in which villages have you been?

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  6. Thanks for the article.
    I'm not a fan of the winter sports. Many years ago, as a child I try skies, by it was not for me.
    Cortina D’ampezzo looks great on the photo. Maybe I will try it next winter season.
    Nice article :)

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    1. Thank you for your comment. I truly recommend Cortina D’ampezzo as your next winter target. I'm pretty convinced you will be satisfied.

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  7. Just like Katarzyna i'm not a big fan of winter sports. I'm definitely summer-oriented sportsman. So I'm waiting for article about summer equivalent of snowboard which is probably a surfing. I've tried once. Very hard sport. But very exciting.

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    1. As I told @Przemek, I would also like to try kitesurfing, so maybe I will describe it in the future ;) Snowboard is also a difficult/hard sport, but adrenaline which is related to this, makes it worth.

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  8. I love, love snow sports. By snow sports I mean mostly skiing but for a long time I've beed planning on giving snowboarding a try! It's really hard to convince myself to do it though. I'm a fairly confident skier - I've been going skiing every year for the last 8 or so years. It's kinda hard to just throw away all this amassed knowledge and start fresh:) Especially because every year I find out something new about skiing so it doesn't feel like complacency. Have you ever skied? If so what are the differences you've observed?
    Cortina ski roads map looks great, I will definitely look into going there next year. So far my favourite place to go is Jasna in Slovakia - it's not as huge and crowded as a lot of places in Alps can be and as an added bonus it's way cheaper overall. It's somewhat smaller but there are plenty of interesting black roads and an entire side of the Chopok mountain dedicated to off-road skiing.

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    1. At last somebody who is a fan of winter sports ;) Thank you for this info. I have never tried skiing, but I consider to try riding on snowblades. So maybe someday I'll give a chance to skis.
      I have heard a lot of good opinions about Jasna in Slovakia. Definitely I have to try it, so I will go there in this winter or the next one.

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  9. Ehhh… I used to snowboarding for few years but after serious inquiry and I had no other way to stop with it. I must confess that snowboarding is really cool and every time when I think about it I feel very sad. This situation imposed me to find new hobby but after years I didn`t choose anything. Nice way to create presentation based on hobby. Keep going with it. Congrats

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  10. winter sports...borrrriiiiiinnnnnggg :)
    In past I was sking every year but to be honest there is nothing super special for me in that. It is fine activity, nice way to spend free time and I don't see anything bad in that but I would never go solo for this :) I prefer walking through mountains !

    BUT Tomek I don't say that your hobby is bad, it is awsome to have passions. For me the thing that you've described is best with friends. Than I love it :)

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  11. I don't like winter sports because of cold but I have learnt skiing when I was two years old. I still remember my big green helmet. For some years now I can snowboarding too but this is not my favourite way to spend my free time.

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  12. Thanks for the article! I never tried snowboarding, only skiing twice, so I am still a learner. I've heard that skiing in the Dolomites or Alps is nothing similar to the Polish conditions.

    Also, in Italy you can get great pizza...

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  13. Nice article. I really like snowboarding. For now I have only been to Slovakia (Chopok) and polish mountains (białka tatrzańska/kotelnica). I have never tried skiing, for me it seems just crazy to put two boards on your feet and try to ride :P I believe snowboard is much safer and much more pleasant.

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  14. Snowboarding for ever;) I'm a big fan, and I do enjoy using my burton equipment. Very good company with a nice collection of items. Italy, one of the best country to go when you are big fan of food and snow;) Sun as well. Livigno is nice, a lot of space and accommodation. Good tracks, plenty of snow even in late april. I do enjoy France as well. Have you ever been on the snowshow?

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  15. That's nice that you share motorcycles and snowboarding with me as well. I haven't been in Austria or Italy for a long time but I will definitely go snowboarding to Lithuanian all-year interior snowpark course in Druskienniki my second straight summer :)

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  16. There was once a topic about snowboard and I have to recall what I said. I don't really know much of places for snowboard, I only know polish mountains because I am not a heavy snowboarder. I prefer snowboard to skis because I rode a skateboard for 5 years... It's not the same, totally but it gives you the same kind of feeling :-) If you guys like snowboard, I'd suggest you trying skateboard!

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  17. Wow, the place is very charming as you said. It's been few years since I was skiing last time. Yes, I prefer skiing - I found that cool to have both legs separated. And if you fell the binding let your legs. It sounds safer for me :). I found the snowboarders jaming the skiroads very often :D. Coming back to the article - very nice place. I hope I will come back to skiing I just have to get some people and get some money, because I have already the willingness. I have never been in "serious" mountains. I have only skied in Czech and Austria. But Dolomites seem to be the best place for winter sports.... I have to visit that place. Thx for sharring.

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  18. I really like your note. It is amazing that you have passion. When I was reading it I started think about winter sport like snowboard. I really like snowboarding. Unfortunatelly I konw only polish ski roads – full of people and line near to ski lift. I hope that this year my friends and I will go to Itally. I noticed a lot of advantages – better weather, longer ski roads etc. Mabe can you recommend me some ski roads in Cortina?

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