The countdown started at 171 days on the 20th of January, 2011. A one way ticket to Queenstown during the heart of winter along with a snowboard sat snugly inside my carry bag leaned against the wall. That snowboard has been unpacked and repacked in anticipation numerous times, the feel of the snow boots weighing down one end. Crammed into the bag are thin snow socks curled into tight knots, several beanies, old cracking goggles that need replacement; all capped off with the individuality of a onepiece snowsuit. This bag is currency to a plethora of adventures to come on the glorious north facing slopes of The Remarkables and the majestic night boarding of Coronet Peak. Every fibre of my being is straining in vibrant anticipation as time slows itself to the point where each second is arduously long. I'm aware of these seconds; normally they're just what make up the minutes I’m counting but now I notice them acutely.
Every day I become more acquainted with the intricacies of my snowboard as endless examination unveils new features. Fashion shops that I once scorned for offering jumpers and zip hoodies in a warm place like Townsville now have one more customer interested in their stock. Granted I am not wearing sweatpants in Townsville, but I could certainly use them in a place like New Zealand. It is still too early to get overly excited about that though. I am 36 days away from the Land of the Long White Cloud. July the 10th could not seem any further away.
