About 3 years ago, Melissa and I decided to try out snowboarding. Our friends had been telling us how much fun it was so we finally decided it was time to give it a shot.  Living in the South, we never really had a chance to pursue winter sports so it was the perfect reason for a winter vacation every year.  Something we could do together over a long weekend or a couple of days in a different part of the country. 

After some research and pricing out hotels, vacation packages, etc. we decided our first trip should be something relatively short, easy to get to, and more importantly – not terribly expensive.  Nothing like setting up a whole 5-7 day vacation around something you’re not sure you’ll even like!

With that in mind, we finally decided on a 4 day weekend trip to [Park City], Utah in early March of 2006.   Mel found a great weekend package that included airline tickets, lift passes and 4 days in a decent hotel just minutes from 2 of the major lift resorts.

After an easy flight out of Atlanta into Salt Lake Thursday night we rented an SUV and headed off for Park City (~45 minute drive).  Salt Lake was snow free but within 20 minutes driving west into the foot hills, we had plenty of fresh powder.  The local radio station reported more snow was on the way. Looked like we would have a great weekend.

Friday morning we headed over to the lift area, picked up our rental gear and decided to goof around on the bunny slopes before our first snowboarding lesson at 12pm. Not 15 minutes later disaster struck.  Melissa was coasting down a 100 yard stretch of the base lift assembly area and towards the end caught the front edge of her board.  She fell forward and landed at a weird angle on her left shoulder (with her arm extended out).  POP! Sure enough, she had dislocated her shoulder.  She remembers popping it back in when she sat up but it was severe enough to knock her off the slopes for the rest of the weekend.

I spent a couple hours on Saturday after my lesson slaloming down the kiddie slope while Mel snapped a couple shots from the edges and drunk herself into a minor state of inebriation.  We had a nice time touring some of the Park City area later that night (the Olympic bobsled park was cool) but I know she was really disappointed and I don’t blame her.  Sunday we packed up and returned to Salt Lake for our flight home.

Even with Mel’s minor medical emergency, I think the trip turned out pretty well. We both got a small taste of snowboarding (loved it) and spent some quality time traveling together.