The More You Improve, The More You Continue

When I look at people who have been snowboarding for a long time, I notice one thing.

The better people are, the longer they continue snowboarding.

Of course, this isn't true for everyone.
But I believe there is a very deep connection between getting better and continuing for a long time.
The reason is very simple.
Because snowboarding is more fun when you are good at it.

At first, just sliding is difficult.
Trying not to fall.
Getting off the lift.
Stopping.
Turning.
Going where you intend to go.
You are desperate with every single thing.
But as you get better little by little, the things you can do on your own increase.

The number of slopes you can go down increases.
You become able to enjoy speed.
You can feel the difference in snow quality.
You can change the shape of your turns.

And then,
the moments when you think, 'I want to ride one more time,'
increase.

When you get better, you can see what you want to do next.
'That turn felt good.'
'What would happen if I did this a little differently?'
'Let's try riding with different settings next time.'
'I want to try this slope next time.'

Once you can do one thing, the next thing appears.
That's why you want to go to the mountain again.
Improvement creates a reason to ride next time.

I don't think that improving at snowboarding only means 'becoming able to do difficult tricks.'

A slope that was scary until now has become a little easier.
I no longer lose my balance even on bumpy snow.
I felt external forces during a turn that I hadn't felt before.
I have become able to tell the difference between gear.

These things are all improvements, too.
And I believe this realization of 'I understand more than before' and 'I can do more than before' is very important.

I have been continuing YouTube for a long time.
This note is the same.

I want to convey techniques.
I want to leave behind what I have researched.
Of course, I have those feelings too.

But the biggest goal beyond that is,
I want to increase the number of people who enjoy snowboarding for a long time.
This is it.

Even though you went to the trouble of starting snowboarding,
'It's difficult.'
'It's scary.'
'I'm not getting better.'
It's a waste to feel that way and leave the snowy mountains.

If you change your gear just a little, it might become easier to ride.
If you review your settings, movements that were difficult until now might become easy.
Just by changing how you think about technique, a slope that was scary might become fun.
The way to improve is not just about memorizing body movements.

And the better you get, the deeper snowboarding becomes.
Feeling the slope.
Feeling the speed.
Feeling the snow.
Feeling the board.
Feeling your own body.

In a 'single run' that you were just sliding down until now, you can see a lot of information.
Then, you won't get bored even if you ride the same slope.
It's different between yesterday and today.
It's different between the first run and the second run.
The more you understand, the more ways you have to play.

That is why I do not think,
'You must get better.'

But,
when you get better, it's more fun.
I want to convey this.

And if it becomes fun, you will want to ride again.
If you ride again, you will have new discoveries.
If you have new discoveries, you will get better again.

Improve → Have more fun → Ride again → Improve again.

It is wonderful when you can create this cycle.

No matter how old you get, feeling that you have improved a little more than before makes you look forward to the next winter.
I want to increase the number of snowboarders who feel this way.
Let's continue snowboarding for a long time while enjoying the feeling of getting better.

This was Rei Aoki, the demon of verbalization.