Snowboarding in Valley may be more common than you think

Carving down a mountain for some people is the ultimate rush of adrenaline. Snowboarding is an extreme sport that many students around the Valley of the Sun participate in.

 

Unknown to many around him, student Nick Heacock daydreams about his next snowboarding adventure.

 

“I’m going to Whistler in two weeks,” says Heacock with excitement in his voice. Whistler is located in Canada, close to Vancouver, where the winter 2010 Olympics will be held.

 

“I wanted to be air-lifted onto the mountain, but it ended up being too expensive,” says Heacock.

 

Snowboarding seems like a sport that is only around in higher snow-producing elevations, but many people around the Valley participate frequently in this extreme sport.

 

Snowbowl is located just next to Flagstaff, and is a two-hour drive from Phoenix.

 

“I prefer Sunrise, it’s better,” says Heacock. Sunrise is just under a four-hour drive from Phoenix and is located in the White Mountains of central-eastern Arizona.

 

Heacock says, “(Snowboarding) gets my blood pumping. I like the adrenaline.”

 

Many think that snowboarding is a very dangerous sport. Heacock says that in all of his time snowboarding, he has never endured a serious injury.

 

“I’ve come close, but have never broken a bone,” says Heacock.

 

There are many places in the area that rent and sell snowboarding equipment despite the climate. Ski Pro and Sports Chalet are two major stores that offer rentals.

 

Chase Mensik, an employee of Sports Chalet, works in the snowboard rental department.

 

“We still carry (snowboard equipment) because people call for it,” Says Mensik.

 

For a mere $32 a day many people can afford to rent a snowboard and boots. “There have been quite a few families and many students that come to rent equipment,” says Mensik.

 

Because of the weather lately, many have flocked to nearby slopes.

 

“With the snowstorm (business) has been incredible,” says Dave Smith, the director of marketing and public relations for Snowbowl. 

 

“Most visitors outside of the Flagstaff area are from the Phoenix metro area; many young college-aged people,” says Smith. “If you are planning on renting (equipment) make sure to get to the mountain early.”

 

Mensik says, “Even though the mountain is far away, it makes the trip fun and more exciting when you get there.”