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<\/a><\/p>\nStan surveys the scene and is stoked I was too cheap to buy him into the race this year. Less waiting in line, nahmean.<\/em><\/p>\n This season is off to a slow start in the Northwest.\u00a0The NOAA forecast looks more depressing by the day as we wait for any snow to fall.\u00a0Northwest snowboarders are left\u00a0with nothing to say but\u00a0fuck El Nino or Obama or whoever’s fault it is that the snow level hasn’t really dropped below 8,000 feet yet this year. So it was no surprised that\u00a0this year’s Dirksen Derby on December 12 was a lot of people’s first real day of the season, including mine.<\/p>\n Personally I was scared. I’m not scared of much and certainly not scared of riding a snowboard, but for whatever reason, the idea of navigating a plank of wood with edges down \u00a0this year’s course, even just for practice at my own pace, seemed teriffying. As I expressed my anxiety to others in the line up though, I was quickly reminded of what the Dirksen Derby is about.\u00a0Between the\u00a0multitude of new moms back for their first day on snow (in at least 9 months- but who were still doing the race) \u00a0and the fact that every person told me to shut up and snowboard,\u00a0my aprehensions quickly subsided. In fact, I chose to take my one practice run on the red course, which everyone had been saying was way more technical (read: scary.) And it was a challenge – especially the deep pocket on the third turn, which\u00a0required staying\u00a0some quick thinking to even negotiate.<\/p>\n But as usual\u00a0the Dirksen Derby course is short, sweet and perfect for getting your legs back after too many hours sitting at a desk this fall. And when I made it to the bottom unscathed, my faith in myself, and snowboarding in general was fully restored. Maybe it helps that the average age of the Derby participants is also in their 30s, but man, this is my kinda event. Stay tuned over the next few days for more random thoughts and completely unthorough coverage right here on Yobeat.com!<\/p>\n