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This is my response to SHCG's Lucky 7-inspired Innovative LO Challenge, & it can also serve as my late response to the Storytelling Challenge. This LO is about how I finally executed successful toe-side turns to the right while snowboarding (a VERY frustrating feat). Pardon the imperfect scan - the stitching goes right through the title & the scan shows a shadow in the journaling that's not there in person (the dimension of the big embellie caused the shadow). I feel self-conscious saying this is "Innovative" but it was to me - I pushed my boundaries on this. I had heard of the use of bleach in scrapping & thought it would be fun & cool to combine that w/ the technique of doodling! To the naysayers: I did plenty of research of the safety of bleach - most bleaches are BASES, not acids, & regardless, they neutralize once dry. Still to be safe, I don't have the bleached surfaces touching my photos. I used Word Art to create the title; the word "Triumph" is made from a photo of me performing a toe-side turn. SHCG members may recognize the whenscraphappens-inspired matting technique of the title, journaling & city; the handcut organic feel went well w/ my random doodles (thanks Tiff!). Finally, considering how busy the bleach doodling looks, I wanted to keep the embellishments at a minimum & I thought using just this main embellishment would convey what I wanted (thanks, Bren!).


Journaling - "Sunday 1/2/2005 goes down in history as the day I GOT IT, turning toe-side to the right while snowboarding! The 1st time I snowboarded in '03, I was the slowest learner in a group class, able to do heel-side turns to the left & little else besides fall A LOT. I couldn't even successfully ride the Perfect Turn Poma (i.e. the thing that pulls you up the learning slope while you're on your board) & had to hike up the hill each time. Never mind learning to turn toe-side to the right; most class members struggled w/ that. I left frustrated, upset & bruised but strangely exhilarated. On THIS '05 trip, I was determined to improve, booking morning private lessons for the 2 days we were on the slopes. Saturday 1/1 during my 1st lesson w/ the very cool, capable & laid-back Ian, I finally mastered riding the Poma, worked on my heel-side turns & even learned to stop heel-side; I had fun & achieved a lot! But the toe-side turn was ever-elusive. Despite my improvements, I was still plummeting through the air & landing on my butt or knees w/ each attempt to turn right, bruising my body & my pride. My solo efforts on the learning hill that afternoon helped solidify my skills, but valiant toe-side tries were fruitless. So on Sunday 1/2, Ian & I kept trying - I'd ride the Poma, glide proudly through heel-side turns to the left, only to stumble & collapse as I attempted toe-side turns to the right. But THEN - suddenly everything my brain was saying that my body had been trying to do (stay upright, use your hips, balance on the balls of the feet) clicked together & tremendous synergy burst through me as I GOT THE #$*#) TOE-SIDE TURN! I did it successfully, without falling, then I did it again & again & again! I swear that the skies opened & I heard harps playing & angels singing 'Hallelujah!!' I was able to link turns left & right on the bunny slope all morning WITHOUT FALLING! :) Ian praised my progress & said I was ready for Snowshed, the next bigger trail. After a pizza & Gatorade lunch w/ Greg & Mike at the lodge, I braved the ski lift (expectedly falling upon exit but that's OK) & I rode down Snowshed w/ my newfound skills. I still fell but was able to link turns effectively. Greg was impressed! It was challenging - but also a natural progression - to deal w/ increased steepness. Once at the bottom, I couldn't wait to get on the lift & do it again! Eventually, the fatigue of doing multiple runs got to us all & we went back to the condo. I was bruised, sore, tired but TRIUMPHANT. I can now successfully turn toe-side to the right, & with that, a new passion for snowboarding has taken flight. Yeah!!! YEAHHH!!!" TFL :)


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