2. The Pain Phase

It’ll start with a cold ache in your core, spreading to your outer limbs just as your brain is starting to process this new reality. I have nothing to look forward to today. No chairlifts, no powder, no park laps, no shred. How am I going to live in this flat concrete jungle without my daily mountain kicks? You’ll be tempted to drink and take drugs heavily during this time. Fine but if you do it’ll only hit pause on your grief.

The remedy

Go skateboarding. Sure it’s harder and hurts a hell of a lot more than snowboarding but you’re in pain anyway so what you got to lose? The endorphin highs may be shorter but they’ll be better earned, and hanging with like-mindeds will be good for morale. Which you’ll definitely need ahead of the next stage…