By Andy Nagel EBS COLUMNIST
Age is just a number, and so is your number of days.
In today’s world of rapidly advancing technology, it’s easy to access data tracking our health, finances, energy consumption, and so much more. Much of this data serves as an aid to efficiently navigate our roller coaster of life. For many skiers and snowboarders, there is no greater data than the number of days we ski or ride in a winter season. We wear it like a badge of honor.
I am going to get 100 days this winter. I’ve never done it before. The only activity I meticulously count and record is the number of days I snowboard every winter. Can I beat my biggest winter of 80 days in 2008-09? Last season I hit 69 days.
Why do we count our days? What purpose does it serve? My answer, simply put, is that consistency is key to being a quality rider. So how do we balance quantity and quality to become the riders we dream to be?
Goals are more than numbers on a scoreboard. It’s important to have goals. Without them, many people find themselves lost. In Big Sky we all have common goals. Why do I keep track of my ride days? If artificial intelligence compiled all my life data to figure out the secret ingredient to my thriving state, the conclusion would yield times I’m consistently riding, or accessing the outlets I live for. Therefore, riding is a form of self care for me, which is why I count my days.
You don’t have to, or need to do anything. I’m very careful these days when I incorporate the words “have” or “need” in the same sentences regarding my riding. Cognitive behavioral therapy taught me a lot about catastrophizing, a type of distorted thinking in which a scenario is way worse than we perceive.
For example, “I have to ride every day, otherwise I’m not a rider,” or “I need to point and send on all runs. If I don’t, that’s not riding.” My experiences snowboarding in Alaska led me to believe for too long that I wouldn’t find joy in the sport ever again if big mountains and helicopters weren’t included. Catastrophizing can lead to brain wiring that takes time to unwire, greatly compromise fantastic ride experiences, or even cause someone to walk away from the activity forever. Allow your riding to revolve around your wants.
“There is no best skier in the world. The best skier in the world is the one having the most fun.”
Doug Coombs
There are no written rules. What does a proper ride day look like to be worth counting? One tram lap, or three laps elsewhere was a day for me. I didn’t make that rule though, and I’m not abiding by it anymore. You are allowed to make your own rules too. We as riders didn’t break free of societal norms and expectations in the so-called “real world,” only to follow those set forth in the rider community. So make your own rules for your days to count.
Be kind to yourself. I now tend to focus on my off days as much as my ride days. What does a day off look like for you? Since embarking on my journey of self care and wellness through treatment, therapy, and other resources, I’ve discovered I’m not the only one capable of feeling the way I feel. When I reflect on times I’ve been hardest on myself, my days off from riding come to mind. And I’m talking about brutally harsh unwarranted criticism. Taking a day off, even on a powder day, is not a crime. Mental and physical self care go hand in hand with quality wellbeing. If you wanna ride ‘til the day you die, you gotta rest! And in order to rest, you need to take days off.
Something so simple is not. Many riders go through this mental battle and might be unaware they aren’t alone.
Living in Big Sky doesn’t mean you have to, or need to ride. If you don’t want to do something, then keep doing what brings you joy. This applies to all riders, and those who don’t ride. I am going to get 100 days this winter, but I’m not sure if it will be riding. If it is, I’ll be stoked. If not, I’ll be grateful for getting to ride at all.
So far this winter, I also might get 100 days of stretching, meditation, journaling, photography, naps, or saying no to vices like alcohol and tobacco. We’ll see.
The big sky in our beautiful state is not the limit when it comes to the wide variety of mindful activities you can partake in (for 100 days) to aid in your self care. Whatever I do for 100 days this winter is solely for me, and no one else. I encourage you to think about having your 100-day season as well. Only if you want to, not because you feel like you have or need to. However, as Warren Miller famously said, “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do.”
Andy Nagel works at Big Sky Resort, and volunteers as a Wellness Navigator and member of the Be Well Big Sky leadership council.
