Every Snowbunny

Should snowboard in their wedding gown... or ski, or sled, or really anything that floats your boat (that includes you summer loving people out there)!

Panda's Windham Bday!

We snowboarded for Amanda's birthday as per usual but this time we have a video!

Check it out!

Snowboading Windham Mt. from Raquel Barroso on Vimeo.

Riding Log - Day 7 (Hunter)

Again....

I wanted the kids to have some fun with Paul's neices but that got cancelled. Not wanting ot dissapoint we drove down to NY anyway and took them to Hunter. Amanda did excellent all day. She really pushed herself while simultaniously talking Nelson's ear off.

Kyle should much improvement from the week before. I just know he can ride faster and I hope he does because it will really help him step it up.

For 7 and an almost 13 year old... you can only smile!

Riding Log: Day 6 (Hunter)

Hunter? You live in Boston now!
Yep... Hunter.

I hadn't ridden with my bro and sis all season and it was time to get them on the hill. So... we made it happen!

We dragged Andy with us too! We got to my Mom's late Friday night and hit the road early Saturday AM. Kyle showed me his riding ... on his new 110cm Chopper and boy did he have trouble. The board is bigger than he's used to and the stance he had was wider than the little man's legs could handle. After some tweaking he picked up his game but definitely is still getting his snow legs back.

Amanda on the other hand, really stepped it up this year. I'm really proud of her. You can tell she's more confident and pushes herself. It makes a big sis smile!

Riding Log - Day 5 (Breckenridge Mtn)

We have been married 1 year today! woohoo! We spend our day enjoying all the new snow! We rode peak 10 the entire morning and peak 9 the entire afternoon with a break to catch the Giants game =)


We had a blast. The terrain was decent... lots of bumps and lumps... lots of challenges... lots of fun! I rode so hard my legs felt like jello. It was our last day and we definitely left it all at the mountain.

Riding Log 2012 - Day 4 (Breckenridge Mtn)

Today we decided to stay in Breck. We got no calls from some of our friends in the area and it was snowing so what the heck... lets do it. Our boards were waxed and sharpened and we were ready to roll. The conditions were ok - improving as the snow accumulated. Our buddy, Will, drove up from Denver and spent the day and part of the night with us. Good times were had by all. It also helped me realize I do love my Roxy Eminence still. It's okay that it's my oldest board - it's still one of my favorites.

















Rocking my sock monkey PJs watching the snowfall after breakfast while waiting for Paul.

Riding Log 2012 - Day 3 (Vail Mtn)

So it's almost our 1 year anniversary and we are back in CO to celebrate. After landing, and fighting SW to get Paul's lost luggage, we headed to our hotel in Breck. We requested the same room and got it!




The next morning we woke up BRIGHT AND EARLY and got in the car to head to Vail. Vail was not like it once was. There was NO SNOW! The back bowls were all closed. The conditions could be described as packed powder. And I had a wicked case of cramps.


I rode a 1/2 day and then took a nap near the fireplace in the lodge. Paul on the other hand went balls to the wall - as usual!

Riding Log 2012 - Day 2 (Loon Mtn)

After our 1st day at Killington, we didn't get a chance to ride again. We were in NY for the Holidays & there realy wasn't much snow to speak of. You can't ride on what doesn't exist. So it wasn't until NYE that we hit the slopes again. It was a rainy day in Boston, but luckily it held up in the mountains. Andy was in town and agreed to come with. After picking him up and driving to Loon we immediately got our gear on and hit the lift. It was good. I was dissapointed I was riding so slow. Then I got a nasty stomach ache and vertigo. I ended up chilling after 2:30. It was still fun though.

On our way back to the car, I caught an edge on an easy flat. It always happens like that! My knee is nice and swollen and a pretty purplish blue color. Eh, I'm fine. I'm glad we got in a day where I otherwise would have been working.

Till next time... do a snow dance!

and

Happy New Year!!!

Riding Log 2012 - Day 1 (Killington Mtn)

We start the season the same weekend every year. We take a trip to Killington, VT on the 2nd weekend of December. It's not tradition and it isn't thoroughly thought out. It's just that... about that time the itch to ride gets fearce and there are only a few mountains open within a reasonable driving distance. This year... there was almost nothing going on.

Winter is a little lazy to get here and the snow is less than stellar. It's ironic considering that freak Halloween snow storm we got.

We gave it a go anyway. We booked a hotel room on the access road, invited our friend, Jerry to come for a ride, and took a chance. A classmate from grade school was up there for her birthday, but we didn't ride with her much. We ride fast and hard and fast again. I'm the slowest of the group, and we don't like waiting. So we tried to take advantage as much as possible. We did the hardest runs and the emptiest runs available. Then the gondola broke and the lift lines became unbearable. We decided to not bother with Sunday and headed back home. Which worked out for the best. Jerry still had to drive back to NY and I still had to prepare myself (read: learn how to drive a stick shift) before my new job on Monday!

Ride the Pow!

Sorry I've been lacking in blog posts lately. My husband had to create a website for work to utilize the tool they've developed. I've been assisting him in blog posts over there. Why don't you go check it out and leave us some feedback. Feel free to leave the feedback there or if you are more comfortable, leave it here!

Thanks for your help!



www.ridethepow.com

Riding Log: Day 27 (Sunday River)

Today was spring corn all day. It was wet and ... well wet. It had rained all night long. But like always we make the best of it. I decided I LOVE LOVE LOVE moguls and Paul was super surprised. He said he created a monster. The best part is when he said he was glad he was riding with me because he wouldn't have had as much fun with someone else... and it had nothing to really do with it being that I'm his wife! He said that I appreciate what I get... if it's spring corn, slush, potatoes, or ice... I appreciate what God allowed me to ride on that day and I make the best of it... have fun and be grateful! I appreciate that he notices... and that he's the same!

LOVE MY HUSBAND!

Riding Log: Day 26 (Sunday River)

Today was cloudy and cold! The snow was perfect. The morning was granular a top hardpack/ice. We had a blast just doing as many runs on the newly opened side of the mountain as possible. We stopped for a quick lunch and kept on going. Unfortunately I had the worst vertigo and kept dry heaving... it definitely put a damper on such a great riding day... but our spirits remained super high.

We headed out to the brewery for some free wings, dinner and beer and then got back to jump into the hot tub. Good times indeed!

Riding Log: Day 25 (Sunday River)

Today Paul and I arrived at our Hotel @ Sunday River fairly early - got dressed and headed out on our way. It was a pretty amazing day. It was super sunny and the snow was still firm. But that quickly changed. Only a handful of lifts were open but we made the best of it. After lunch the snow got thick, wet and slow... but we love snowboarding... no matter what the conditions are!

Once we were done we headed back to the bar for a few more beers, headed to the hotel to shower and grabbed some grub and brew at the Sunday River Brewery. A successful day indeed... until I passed out at 8:30 from pure exhaustion.

Riding Log: Day 23 (Hunter)

Today we got up bright and early... no small feet after going to the beer garden... and headed upstate to pick up the kids then go on to hunter for some spring riding... only it was freezing and cloudy and only ice in site. We still had a blast... the kids showed Paul how good they got and he was really shocked at their progression.

Amanda took a hard fall that set her back some... even adults suffer some bad falls that get in there head... Amanda is no different. She's getting there and I'm really proud of her. Not all of us can have the bullet proof confidence of a 6 year old... sometimes Paul forgets that... and I forget to be patient with his impatience. He channels his inner Dad... or his father in general... who is quick to criticize and slow to encourage when speaking of athletics. He's also critical of things he doesn't grasp. I hope that Paul finds the balance with pushing in a positive way and just plain pushing before we have children. We all have much to learn, but when it comes to this specifically, he has more to learn than most.

Anyway, after lunch the sun came out and the snow got softer. It was more fun from there... we did a few tougher runs together and generally just kept having a blast. I'm really glad to have a family so skilled on the snow and with a passion just as strong as my own.

Riding Log: Day 22 (Pico)

Today we decided to hit Pico instead of Killy if nothing but to check it out. We had gotten some snow during the night and it didn't look like it was quitting any time soon. We checked out of the hotel and drove over. We quickly hopped on the lift and strapped in... and just then my strap popped right off. Yep - the ladder broke... at the TOP of the lift. I talked to the lifty who called ski patrol. Here is where I was utterly shocked....

#1 Ski patrol took forever
#2 He came and politely told me he could zip tie my foot to my binding
#3 When I asked how I'd get my foot out - he had no response
#4 He didn't follow me down to ensure the zip ties would hold, that I'd be safe, or that I'd manage to remove my foot from my binding at the bottom.

For all these reasons, I think this man should have a speaking to... but I was so anxious to get on this fresh snow... I just wanted my binding fixed!

After finageling a burton ladder to fit in my rome binding, I gave the man the $5 it cost to fix and headed to the lift again where Paul and I began waiting... then got bored and got on the lift. Soon after we collected our group and headed to the summit. Wow - the snow was amazing up top. There was terrain everywhere and it was just tons and tons of fun. White stuff for ever! I couldn't have been happier. We all kept going until our legs ached and we all were starved and had to use the bathroom. After stopping for lunch we headed back. what became a ... lets just take a few runs here and see... became an all day event. We never did make it to Killington... and there was more than enough to keep us happy at Pico... and shorter lift lines too!

Towards the afternoon - that terrain became moguls and it was so much fun! Such a challenge... my legs were jello and I loved it!

Riding Log: Day 20 (Hunter)

I had nothing to do this weekend. I wanted to take the bus to Okemo but no one would come... so I found myself staying up late to do very little on Friday night. On Saturday, I decided I'd visit the kids and ride with them on Sunday. So off to Hunter we went.

We got there at 9:30 and headed to the lift. We did a warm up on a short blue then headed to the top. It was the kids 1st day riding anything but Thunder and they did great! A doubted herself as usual but K was all for it and excited too.

Burton was there on their demo tour and once finding out they had the chopper in a 100cm we headed to the line... but it was 45 minutes long... so we gave up and did a few more runs on our own gear. Then we went back to find it had shortened. K LOVED his 100cm chopper and begged... er begs me to buy it for him. A liked the rockered feelgood but decided she likes the control she gets from her cambered board. She also did not like the lexa bindings instead enjoying her roxy's. It's all preference and at their level, I was just surprised she could feel a difference.

We rode till about 3 when the kids said they were ready to go home... so we took to the rode and got home in time for dinner.

I was exhausted and decided to stay the night.

Riding Log: Day 19 (Killy)

Today, we woke up bright and early, got dressed for the hill and headed to a pancake house for breakfast... yum!

At the hill we encountered the craziest high winds and even with the sun, we were freezing. We struggled to find 2 of Paul's friends but finally did. We hit the park a few times with them. I hit basically nothing there but Paul was looking good as per usually. I'm very proud of my husbands snowboard skills.. and yes I think it's sexy!

Anyway - they pretty much called it quits after that and I was hugry, an orange and a cookie later ... we were back on the lift for a few more runs. We called it a day around 3:30 and went on our hunt for cheap eats... pizza it was... and cheap it wasn't

All in all it was an okay day. We had a blast on this trip but the conditions were bleh at best and it was too cold to be comfortable but we still enjoyed the time together.

Riding Log: Day 18 (Killy)

After a long long long drive to Boston with a stop over in Carmel, my weary bones did not want to get up in the morning. Especially not for a 2.5 hour drive from Boston to Killington, but we did. I must admit I was looking forward to checking into our hotel more than snowboarding.

We still made it - and got to the parking lot to find crazy high winds, snow and snowboards that needed mounting. Once mine was set up... backward, and Paul fixed, we headed to the ticket window. We grabbed our tickets and headed to the gondola.

The conditions were variable. My board was very sticky and slow. There was spots of fresh snow and then huge patches of wind swept ice. We managed to find our way through most of the mountain and just did run after run dealing with the long lift lines and high winds.

After a while, my complaining was apparent and I was ready to head out but Paul had a few runs left in him. To my surprise at 3PM he told me he was ready to go... that the conditions were bad anyway... and so we left.

We checked into our hotel, got showered up and headed to the Wobbly Barn for dinner where we had some great steaks, a bottle of wine and some desert.... yes I was happy boarder!

We retreated to our hotel only for me to pass out by 8:30. Yep that's right folks... 8:30!

Paul was not thrilled haha.

Riding Log: Day 17 (Hunter Mountain)

Today we woke up at a bright 5:50 and started to stretch and yawn and wake up the kids. A few groggy bodies got up and began to put on their thermals. My Mom made us scrambled eggs, corned beef hash and toasted rolls. We stuffed our faces and then headed out on the road... after successfully fitting an abnormal amount of gear in the car tetris style)

We got there, got geared up and headed on in. It was a great day. The small one's skied and the big ones rode in order to take full advantage of the entire hill. We all tested ourselves on the ice and I think almost everyone had at least 1 good spill. K really progressed on his mogul skills. A proved herself on the icey steeps, Paolo is definitely getting better and keeping up with the rest of us, Jomel is hardly noticeable which means... he qualifies as hanging with the big boys, Paul practiced his butters and spins and I managed not to knock myself unconscious on this freak fall. Raquel needs some work... her knee is still healing so no one wants to push her... and we shouldn't. She's getting so much better but her knees can only take so much. Hopefully she's all healed up next year and we can really put her to the test.

All in all we had a grand time. We drove home and everyone fell asleep (except Paul of course - he drove). We had left overs upon getting home and we stuffed our faces, packed our bags, grabbed MY and said bye to my Mom and the kids... and headed to Queens where I had a blissful tired sleep.

Riding Log: Day 16 (Thunder Ridge) & Panda's Birthday

Today is A's 12th Birthday and I couldn't be a prouder big sister. She's 12 going on 22 I sweat it. She has a heart of gold and her skiing and snowboard skills ain't bad either.

Last night, I drove to Bellerose to pick up Jomel & Paolo and then off to Manhattan to pick up Paul who took the bus down from Boston for her birthday. They are like bestests after all. We got up there late but went to bed fairly early knowing we were riding the next day. My Mom made us palichika with nutella, strawberries, bananas and whipped cream for breakfast. It was definitely a chocolaty feast!

We got to the hill a little late but since we had all our gear it wasn't terrible. We grabbed our lift tickets and headed up. The day consisted of a lot of random jumping, some time in the terrain park where K did his 1st box on a snowboard, lot's of K meltdowns, eating and bathroom breaks. It was very windy and cold with the sun decided to sneak behind the dark clouds and we had moments of snow. All in all it was a fun day with lots of progression and goofing off on the little local hill.

After 2, Lauren and Bryan showed up and we all rode together. Lauren and I switched decks for a run which proved hilarious. I kept falling thinking I was riding with the shortest stance on the smallest board ever and she couldn't turn and went totally fast because of the longer length of mine. It was definitely hilarious.

We ended the day at 5 and headed home for Amanda's birthday feast. We had Chili with cheese, steak fajitas and a whole turkey! It was great. At around 8:30 my aunt and uncle and 2 more cousins came... so they ate (and I ate again), we did chocolate cake and banana cream pie (Amanada's fav) and then we all kinda just sat and talked and relaxed. Amanda struggled to keep those eyes open and finally came around and said thank you and good night to everyone ... she was spent and knew we had another fun filled day of riding ahead of us.

She's a big girl but she's still my baby sister.

Yes, she was tired after the long day - and so were we

Getting that Nomis hoody was definitely a surprise. Can you see the delight in her face and the excitement in K's?

Reading a Birthday Card

Showing off the satin lined hood

A bamboo fiber panda shirt for my Panda

After a failed attempt to smash her face into her banana cream pie - we decided a little wrestling was in order

One happy birthday girl (now lets eat cake!)