Snowboarding at Corin Forest

We've had an unusually long snow season this year - possibly the longest and best in the time we've lived in Canberra. Unfortunately due to packed weekends, we've not really taken advantage of it and with it all likely to draw to a close in the next couple of weeks I was keen to at least see a bit of snow this winter/spring.

Rather than drive the 2-3 hours out to the snowfields we headed instead to Corin Forest. It's only a short 40 minute drive through picturesque country and seems to be expanding every year. It's at a lower altitude to the snow fields, but still higher than Canberra which means it does experience the occasional natural dump of snow and the owners have established a couple of excellent slopes where they can make snow using snow guns and offer tobogganing and more recently ski and snowboard lessons.

Last year the kids and I had ski lessons (I was rubbish, they were excellent) and this year I asked A&E whether they wanted to try their hand at snowboarding. I'd personally always sworn that I wouldn't try snowboarding until I'd mastered skiing (something I'm pretty unlikely to ever achieve). I've also seen a few people return from snowboarding holidays battered and bruised as although it's undoubtedly a cool and exciting sport - learning does seem to require you to spend a fair amount of time falling backwards onto your bum, or worse forward onto your outstretched wrists.

I opted therefore to watch from afar while the kids had lessons. I hated copping out, but I really couldn't face spending the next week with a bruised bum or in hospital in traction following a spill. The kids cajoled me to join in without success.

As it was they were both excellent. I guess they have less height (and weight) and despite being a bit tentative to get going their enthusiastic teacher taught them well, and by the end they were zooming down the slope unaided.

They both agreed that they enjoyed snowboarding more than skiing which in truth probably brings to end my short lived (and unsuccessful) ski career. I guess I'm condemned (probably not reluctantly) to a future watching them from afar while they hone their snowboard skills. Hopefully we'll get more time on the snow next year.