Dangerous, But Oh So Tempting

I often look around for cool new balance challenges. These often become purchases under the guise of Christmas gifts that the children are required to share. The sharing requirement is also thinly disguised as a "share amongst yourselves" statement when it really means "share with me...please".

A waveboard was the first one. we graduated to Xsliders after that. I keep looking at the Freeline Skates but...Xsliders seemed like a better alternative. I purchased unicycles the next year. To date, the unicycle is unconquered. Mi esposa wants jumping stilts. These are boots with big springs on them that let you jump insanely high. This item is where we begin crossing over from challenging to just pure danger.

Speaking of danger - let me introduce you to the Freebord. This particular instrument of death lets you slide around like a snowboard. The carving movement is sort of like a skateboard but more fluid. They don't have full bindings but do have a little slot that your feet slip under. If you go to the website at www.freebord.com you will find videos of kids, without any protective gear, flying down streets. One of the videos shows how easy it is to stop by showing a kid just about getting creamed by a car. That is truly sickening. I need to thank them for making me break the first sweat I've had, in an Intel cube, ever.

Now I know why snow sports cost so much. It's because there is a surcharge for what I like to call "potential give". I'm not saying that snow will always be soft to land on - like a fluffy cloud. But, I'm almost certain that any kind of snow - not talking about the obvious relative, ice - is softer than a bite of asphalt, concrete, or car.

Having said that, I can't deny that I really want to try it. On the other hand, I'd like to live.