Day 20 — I don’t think this is the correct way to snowboard. 🏂
Writer’s note: I put together some videos below, so make sure you turn on the audio for your best viewing experience ;)
Hello! My name is Jazz, and I’m from Indonesia. I work as a Global Employer Branding Specialist at HENNGE, and let me tell you a story about my unexpected newfound love for snowboarding.
As someone who was born and raised in a tropical country, winter sports were alien to me. My first attempt at skiing was nothing short of a gymnastic feat — my legs decided to part ways as if they were reenacting the famous Van Damme stunt.
Undeterred, I decided to switch to snowboarding. Easy, right? Wrong. Picture this: strapped to a board, both feet immobilized, and me wondering how in the world people moved forward in this contraption.
My first attempt at snowboarding was accompanied by my friend Sonam. The excitement was palpable as we hit the slopes, ready to conquer the winter wonderland. Spoiler alert: Instead of snowboarding, I inadvertently became an expert in “assboarding” (pardon the expression). Watch it yourself from the video below.
First-timers, beware. Snowboarding is a beast. Braking, turning, slowing down — it’s a hilarious symphony of chaos. It wasn’t all smooth glides and graceful moves like what I saw on the internet. My early attempts resembled a tragedy — tree collisions, face-plants, and more tumbles than a washing machine on a spin cycle. Yet, amidst the challenges, there was an undeniable thrill that kept me going.
Yes, I actually hit a group of snowboarding kids as if there were bowling pins 😭 Apologies to them; I promise no children were harmed… maybe.
But my mom didn’t raise a quitter. I persisted, learned, and miraculously, after two years of unintentional slapstick, decided it was time to invest in my own board. I chose the Burton brand for my first snowboard because I saw this brand literally everywhere (also, RIP my wallet 💸). I guess they are one of the top brands in Japan when it comes to snowboarding…I got the one with the Step On boots since doing manual strep gave me so much back pain. And I’m not even that old!
Fast forward to winter 2022–2023, and I was having a blast. I might have overdone it since I went for six times in 6 consecutive weeks. Shinkansen rides aren’t cheap, but this is the main reason why I’ve been saving all year for all of this. I made a mini-recap video below:
Then came the realization: I was actually putting effort into something I loved. It’s not talent, mind you — just hard work, consistency, and a hint of stubbornness.
One day in February, my Indonesian snowboarding buddy, Trio, and I had this idea to welcome the holy Ramadan month in a special way. Ramadan is a special month for Muslims from all over the world, and since I haven’t been home to Indonesia in ages, I thought this would be a nice way to welcome it my way. I…put on my sarong. My friend donned my batik (Indonesian traditional attire). And we…went snowboarding.
We caught the eye of a lady from Southeast Asia who thought we were certifiably nuts — in the best way possible. But, man, that was a fun ride!
Through the trials, challenges, and cultural snowboarding escapades, I discovered the beauty of perseverance. More importantly, I learned to relish in the sheer enjoyment of an activity I never thought would top my favorites list. It’s something I’m always looking forward to every winter.
So, who’s up for the thrill of a lifetime? Strap on your gear, call your friends, and let’s make this snow season one to remember. To fellow HENNGE members, if you’re in for some #fun-skiing-snowboarding antics, hit me up — just don’t expect any bowling pins on the slopes (apologies again to those kids). 😉
Let’s go snowboarding together this season! 🏂❄️
Check out other 2023 HENNGE Advent Calendar articles here.
