Back to basics

It all started out as just another fun certification coarse me and my partner Kai signed up on. On paper it should have been simple, we could already do all the listed skills (so we thought), just have to learn how to teach it to standard right?

WRONG!!!

The many years of snowboarding it my way has created many bad habits and inefficiencies. Guy our instructor meticulously corrected and refined our body positions and movement sequences DAILY. I thought I could just pass with a Hail Mary on test day but again I was…

WRONG!!!

You were assessed every time you practiced and demonstrated in front of the instructor. The key was consistency

The teaching component was just as meticulous. Key words, sequence and flow all had to be consistently delivered to standard.

Test day I nearly automatically failed by skipping a step, the students (our class mates) were now so smooth now I forgot I needed to show them how it needed to be done! Saved by the one last chance words by Guy: “if you can do a once over what would you change.” A nervous explanation and demonstration later I was sitting there stunned and nervous in the cafeteria waiting for our fate.

Passed by the skin of my teeth for teaching with my riding skills saving me from the days before. I am now a NZSIA Snowboard Level One Instructor!

Its changed my riding for the better and I’m sure I can now pass through the plateau I had in my personal riding.

I’ve been reminded from all those 5 days, don’t forget to maintain your core fundamentals in all things in life.

Time reveals progress

Sometimes you forget how far you’ve come on your journey till you get a point of comparison. Recently got to skydive with a friend that I met back at the very beginning of my skydive journey. Last time we jumped we flew into each other with a a good thump right from the get go.

So glad we are both still loving jumping out of a plane and being silly whilst doing it. The first jump together after all this time we had a mid-air hug again! But this time it was after doing a few manoeuvres, we carried on like nothing happened. Im sure though if it wasn’t for the wind being over 200km/h you’d hear us laughing from he ground, I’d call that progress!

We ended the weekend doing the “horny gorilla” where we interlock our legs and pound our chest as we fall out the plane. We managed to still get into close proximity of each, never would have happened if we tried this a year ago.

The winds were strong on that last jump too and had to make the early decision to land outside the airport where you’re not familiar about the ground condition, the first of the sought for me. Was rewarding that I didn’t have a single drop of nerves due to the good fundamentals I’ve learnt along the way from all the amazing skydivers I've got to share the sky with.

I still have an infinite amount of things to learn but time has shown me that I’m heading in the right direction. Blue skies!

Motivation to be better

Was fortunate enough to head to Malaysia for a wedding (third time flying to Malaysia this year!). What made it extra special was that finally the 3 of us partners got to be in the same location together.

Half a year had passed since I’ve seen the two of them and noticeable health progress has happened, each of us were leaner and fitter. We bonded over our different strategies such as our diet and how we keep motivated for our exercises. Funny how a strong part of the motivation was each other’s instagram stories, pushing each of us indirectly.

End of the trip we had done a run together (my borrowed shoes fell apart during the run - but still finished strong), added each other on Garmin connect and increased training sessions per week.

The people in your lives can really make an impact no matter how far they are from you.