ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Down the Slope

Shredding boredom one slope at a time.

Ella Maggio

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Snowboarding is an exhilarating activity to participate in. With many options for difficulty  levels, there is a fit for everyone. There are shapes and colors that identify the difficulty levels for every snowboarding hill.The easiest is a green circle, then a blue square, followed by a black diamond and lastly a double black diamond. A terrain park is symbolized with an orange oval. If the hills are too difficult, there are bunny hills with tow ropes for beginners.

There are many Sequoits who are invested in the sport of snowboarding or simply snowboard for fun.

“It all started with the Emmons Ski Club that Jenny Maggio ran at the time,” Sarah Palmieri mother of sophomore Max Palmieri said. “It really made [Max] look at snowboarding in a new way.”

If Wilmot mountain is intimidating at first, there are smaller hills at Caboose Park in Lake Villa.

“The first time Max tried was Christmas morning when he was in fourth grade,” Palmieri said. “His first time down, he had no problems and knew he was ready for Wilmot.”

Snowboarding is also great because it brings people together. Sophomores Ben Wilson, Nick Bucci, Max Palmieri and Joey Maggio all ski together. They go to Wilmot regularly and spend most of their time at the terrain park doing rails and jumps.

“I usually do rails,” Bucci said. “I used to do front flips but I stopped after I snapped my board.”

While attempting front flips, Palmieri and Maggio have also snapped a couple boards.

“When I snapped my board in half last year, I had to take my sister’s board… and the design has diamonds and chocolate all over it,” Maggio said. “Since then, I have tried other tricks like backflips or if I want to try front flips I will take my sister’s old board.”

Another place to hit the slopes is Grand Geneva and Cascade Mountain in Wisconsin. This is farther than Wilmot but provides new scenery. Bucci and Maggio have both been there and recommend it. For an even bigger trip, checkout Colorado or Park City, Utah.

“I am so excited to be going back to Colorado this spring break with my dad and friends,” Maggio said. “Wilmot is fun, but nothing can compare to Utah and Colorado. The terrain parks are unreal.”

Snowboarding has brought these students closer together and has given them so many memories. Even though it seems like there is nothing to do outside in the winter, snowboarding is definitely worth a try.