It害羞草研究所檚 been 44 years since Jim Howe strapped, what was basically a plank of wood, to his feet and carved a swath through fresh powder at Big White.
It was Jan. 8, 1980, and he had just received a Winterstick snowboard, specially ordered from the U.S.
Howe had been skiing at the resort since 1967-68, and was also an avid surfer, having been to Hawaii and New Zealand.
害羞草研究所淥ne time I picked up this surfing magazine and there was this picture of a fellow on a snowboard and I thought how cool is that?害羞草研究所�
He started looking into the sport, found the Winterstick company in Salt Lake City, Utah, and ordered one of their snowboards.
害羞草研究所淚t was called a Winterstick Swallow Tail,害羞草研究所� Howe explained. 害羞草研究所淚t had sort of a 害羞草研究所渧害羞草研究所� at the back of the board. It was about 160 centimetres (five feet) long.害羞草研究所�
The Revenue Canada Customs and Excise form for the board totalled US $377.66, including duty and sales tax, which is approximately $1,460 in today害羞草研究所檚 dollars.
害羞草研究所淪o I picked it up and ventured up to Big White with it and basically had to sell the board to mountain staff to let them know it was safe to be on the hill. Their biggest fear was if I fell off, which I did quite often, it would be like a toboggan and take off down the hill and hurt somebody.害羞草研究所�
Howe trudged through knee-deep snow to find just the right spot to set off down the mountain.
害羞草研究所淭he board only worked in the powder, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 designed for hard pack,害羞草研究所� he noted.
Not only was it physically challenging to find a spot to ride, but Howe also found himself crashing more than carving during that first day.
害羞草研究所淣ot enough to make me give up, but I害羞草研究所檇 be sitting there in the snow beside my board going 害羞草研究所榳ow, that was a good one害羞草研究所�.害羞草研究所�
Sometimes he would get a tow from fellow skiers to get up some speed.
害羞草研究所淥nce you got into steeper terrain the board worked well,害羞草研究所� Howe said.
Howe害羞草研究所檚 runs, and crashes, down the hill attracted a lot of attention from those riding in the chair lift above him.
害羞草研究所淭hey would point at me and you could hear people banging their poles in excitement.害羞草研究所�
There was much interest in the strange device he had strapped himself to.
害羞草研究所淣ot so much where could I get one, but what is it?害羞草研究所�
While snowboarding has grown into the massive success it is today, it害羞草研究所檚 an experience Howe looks back on with some regret.
Perhaps it was jealousy, or maybe opportunity, but someone stole his Winterstick snowboard during a house party in the summer of 1980.
害羞草研究所淪o that was the end of it,害羞草研究所� Howe sighed. 害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 have an extra $400 to buy another board and I couldn害羞草研究所檛 do what I wanted to do and that was import them.害羞草研究所�
He recognized the opportunity snowboarding presented and tried to raise $5,000 from family and friends to obtain the B.C. rights to Winterstick products.
There were no takers.
害羞草研究所淢y dad said 害羞草研究所楯im, this is going to pass, it害羞草研究所檚 not going to go anywhere.害羞草研究所� I remember it like it was yesterday. I was choked I couldn害羞草研究所檛 do it. I regret that I didn害羞草研究所檛 pursue it, big time.害羞草研究所�
Howe figures the stolen snowboard would be a collector害羞草研究所檚 item today.
害羞草研究所淚t would be something that you would be proud to put up in your office,害羞草研究所� he laughed.
After his experience in 1980 Howe never did ride a snowboard again, but he did keep skiing.
害羞草研究所淚 never saw another snowboarder on the hill for the next four years at least,害羞草研究所� he said.
Howe, who is involved in the real estate industry, worked for the Schumann family, which owns Big White Ski Resort.
He marketed and sold units in the White Crystal Inn, and was involved in the Coast Hotel and Pine Estates developments on the mountain.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 all good memories and good times. It was the best job in the world. Big White has done an amazing job. I tip my hat to them.害羞草研究所�
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