10 Commandments of Park Riding.

If everyone followed these rules, park life would be a lot easier. Especially during holiday season when the park is over crowded and full of people learning, lurking and joeys mobbing down the hill and everyone seems to be cutting you off or pissing you off. Let me know what you think of these:

1. Do not lie in the landing of jumps when no one can see you.
Seriously! Unless you are seriously injured, no one finds it funny when you are rolling around, over-exaggerating your bruised bum. Get up and out of the way otherwise you might end up with an injury worse then a bruised body part.

2. Call out your drop ins.
and speaking of...

3. Snaking your fellow snowboarders on a jump is not okay.
It's just lame.

4. Don't teach your kids (or friends) how to ride for the first time on a park run.
Yes, sometimes the park runs are long and generally mellow (minus all of the features) but the mountain also provides you with green trails for this exact reason. Then you complain about the punk snowboarders and our potty mouths, well, don't bring the little ones around the park area. Some people will not respect the little ones.

5. Use your common sense.
You would think this wouldn't be a commandment but surprisingly, people don't use it.

6. Heckling needs to be kept under control.
Remember when you were learning rails and jumps? Falling is a part of the learning process so don't give the rider who is busting his butt trying to learn a new trick or slide a rail for the first time. It just makes you look like a loser with a loudmouth.

7. Respect gets respect.
If you are being a jerk in the lift line and cutting people off left and right you are going to get whats coming to ya. Karma, my friends.

8. Be aware of your surroundings.
While waiting for a jump, a skier snaked in front of me, doing his side to side swish deal and then slows down and pauses at the base of the jump! Then turns and looks up the hill as if to watch the snowboarders tear up the park. Well, buddy, I can't tear up the park if you are chillin' at the base of my jump. Pay attention for your safety and others.

9. Scope out your features
Nothing will ruin your day like flying off of a kicker and not knowing what lies on the other side. Have a point person go first to check out the landing, etc and give you the thumbs up. Landing on a little kid or unsuspecting skier having his lunch on the landing of the jump would not end your day well.

10. The park is not a pick-up-a-boy place.
Go ahead and compliment the cute boy who just stomped a trick, ride with the fellas, hoot and holler but don't go into that orange fence just to bat your eye-lashes and do some sweet carving in between features, trying to get noticed by the guys.

Kingvale Terrain Park: