what do u think of african-americans snowboarding..i wanna go to snowboarding camp but im sorta self-concious

Question

i've skiid before when i used to live in switzerland but that was with friends and now i wanna try snow boarding.camp.somewhere upstate ny since i live in nyc.im just a little self-consious that i'll be the only black person there...im not racist or anythin- just give me advice.plzz

Answer 1

Bottom line is, when you're a snowboarder, you're a snowboarder first to every other snowboarder. You could strike up a conversation with any other rider about it and you could probably talk for hours about the great snow here or there, about gear, about sick jumps, etc... It's a special thing where snowboarders of all types get along. I'm not talking about the poser who does it because it's the "in" thing to do, but the person who really enjoys it for what it is and those are the people who will not judge you for the color of your skin, but rather embrace in a common interest.

So go out there and ride, if you're in upstate NY, don't bother going to hunter mtn, it's a dangerous place for everyone because it is too crowded. In the catskills, you're better off with Windham or Bellayre. If you're further north, you could go to Gore or Whiteface, or any resort in Vermont.

Answer 2

You have to be prepared for that possibility, but you can't let it get in the way of what you want to do. Life has enough problems and obstacles in it without us letting fear constrict our lives. You might feel self-conscious at first if that happens, but you will stop thinking about it as you snowboard. The separation between black and white by sport is artificial and will likely disappear. But right now there is going to have to be someone who goes first. The Williams sisters might have felt self-conscious on the tennis court at first because tennis has been so stereotypically white. But they wanted to play tennis and they just did it. Look where they are now.

Answer 3

Okay, I'm fish belly white and would hope that everyone on the slopes would be so busy sharing a common bond of loving the outdoors, snow, and the sport that heritage wouldn't be an issue.

You know my friend, when you have these fears you are robbing yourself a whole lot of joy; its as if you are saying, oh, don't bother hating me, I'll do it myself"....if you get my drift. Bottom line, would you treat others as badly as you treat yourself and the answer would be? Sure does put it perspective, yes? So, live out-loud, enjoy every morsel of life and do what God sent you to do and that would include filling your life with joy.

Answer 4

There is this African Canadian guy at our hill who's always out boarding and has beautiful long dreads and is really good. You have just as much right to be on the hill and on a board as the rest of us. Skiing/boarding is about getting out in the fresh pow and being in the most beautiful place on earth. Hey, when I worked at Lake Louise Cuba Gooding Jr. was out snowboarding there.

Answer 5

If you spend the camp thinking about what others think, regardless of your color...you'll look like a fool. Just show a sincere interest and be you. People will be people.

And as a black american, when it snows, I'm inside, with some cocoa watching folks like you tear up the slopes. Go have fun.

Answer 6

Check it out:
"The African-American Skiing-Wax Ski Club of Rochester (NY)"
http://www.waxski.org/

The Wax Ski Club exists to introduce and encourage the winter sports of skiing and snowboarding among African Americans.

Maybe a good place to start, to feel comfortable, to get skills.
Great photo!

By the way, this isn't spam; I just found it online.

Answer 7

Your self-consciousness will affect how others treat you far more than the color of your skin (assuming you don't end up in the last refuge of the old south of course =)

Either gain some confidence, or learn how to fake confidence. (Even if you get confidence, I suggest you learn how to fake it too, as such a skill will help you in the future to get through things like job interviews, and in my case, police interrogations =)

Answer 8

actually, snowboarding is quite balanced, although you don't see thier skin color as much because they (like everyone else) wear a lot of heavy clothes, i doubt people will point and stare and say, "OMG, ITS A BLACK PERSON IN THE WHITE SNOW!!!" its common for all races to do public sports.

Answer 9

Well younger brother, snow boarding knows no colour, and where I live (Canada) lots of people snowboard, no matter where your ancestors come from.

Answer 10

don't be self concious about it! Do what you want, and don't worry about what other people think. Also, I don't htink you'ld even stand out, I am white and ski all the time and I wouldn't even look twice if I saw someone of color out on the slopes with me : )