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OTHER SPORT STORIES - Edmonds ends Women Dolphins' hopes of playoff contention - While chance remains, playoff hopes bleak for men - Don't just admire the mountains, conquer them - Abundance of courses for the outdoors - The club that kicked my butt! - SCC fencer called to duty Conquering the bunny hill; an international student's 1st snowboarding trip Dhani Wijaya Special to the Ebbtide It was my first experience snowboarding. I had never been much of a skier, but I was told that snowboarding is different - easier to learn, and more fun and flexible once you get the hang of it. On my first day of snowboarding, held at Stevens Pass, I faced what seemed like an immense challenge - the bunny hill. I got into the start position - knees bent, back straight, rear in - and of course added my arms spread straight out for balance. "Not bad," I thought. Now all I had to do was start moving. I got myself to the edge of the hill and started to slide down it on the back edge of my snowboard (which I rented for $21). After about a minute of control, the board began to turn, and soon I was heading straight down the hill at a disastrous speed. Fear washed over me, proper body posture was lost, and the straight arms that were supposed to help maintain my balance were flailing in the air. Strangely enough I could still hear my club advisor shouting words of encouragement over my screams. I ended up falling on my behind and sliding to a stop. As I lay there trying to get my breath back, a friend casually glided to a stop beside me, helped me up and told me to try again. After a few more runs, and a lot more falling, the bunny hill was not as threatening as it originally had seemed. I even managed to do a full run without collapsing. I still didn't have the skill to switch edges and carve down the hill, but it was a good start, and I actually began to enjoy myself. In brief, I have suggestions for people who decide to take up snowboarding: First, don't be afraid to fall. Believe it or not, once you stop concentrating on trying not to fall, your body relaxes. You become less tense and, remarkably, it will be easier to stay upright and maintain control. Second, be patient. It is important to learn snowboarding at your own pace. For most people (including myself) it may even take several tries before mastering the bunny hill. Last but not least, have fun with it, because snowboarding is a great outdoor winter sport. © 2003 Shoreline Community College™