Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Feb 12, 2010 0:03:24 GMT -6
Winter snow fun with two manly men of Yelp - Frank G and Astro Joe
A couple days ago, Chicago had a good sized snowfall...about 12 inches worth. I haven't been snowboarding ever and the tobaggon hasn't been used in quite awhile...and this might be the final opportunity to enjoy some snow fun.
Yesterday, the 10th of Feburary, I went out to a hill just off of Chicago's lakefront that we call Soldier Field hill. A good sized hill and I wanted to learn the ways of the snowboard...
I spent about an hour snowboarding and falling....had a good time solo. But the climb up the hill is the killer.
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The day after, Frank G from Yelp and I got together for some snow fun on the Hill during the evening...
I brought along: a 10 foot toboggan, a snowboard and a water ski. I left the actual snowboard in the trunk this time. Frank brought his trusty inflatable snow raft...
This was the first time I met Frank and in between blows, we got to know each other with a hug and handshake. (We keep Frank's identity covert, as his Yelp presence is mysterious.
The hill was sparsely used this evening, only two groups...so there was plenty of room for all...
The walk up the hill did not get any easier this second day for me, but we surveyed our vista from the top and prepared our conquest of the angle.
Frank went first on his inflatable...
Picking up speed about midway, he went quite the distance...
I used the makeshift water ski/snowboard cautiously, as it has been in the garage for many years - waiting to be used - and the handling unknown.
It was pretty scary at first, and I took my spills...
...but after a couple of times, it was a piece of cake and guiding "The Board of Death" at my whim and mastered it.
Going down is great fun...but that d**ned climb is unavoidable...
Doing double time, I was ready for more.
Frank and I now used the tobaggon, with me taking point first and had a great few runs down the hill. With one run running straight into the hay barrier with full force...knocking Frank clear off...and inertia carrying my butt across three foot rungs on the tobaggon...heh.
The tobaggon is meant to be used, so I invited the kids on the hill if they wanted a turn...and of course they did...
With Frank and I pushing the loaded tobaggon, the sled whooshed down the hill with the added weight of eager kids.
I took a turn riding the inflatable...
But one does not control the raft with any certainty and I crashed solidly into the hay wall, but survived...
Soon, the other sledders were gone, and we had the hill to our selves...but we spent the time sharing stories and having laughs instead of sledding.
Both Frank and I had a great time playing in the snow and although I may feel this activity tomorrow, I hope to go snowboarding again this season.
Video coming soon...... ;D