SNOWBOARDING with MS.

I was never an expert at anything, but I tried to at least get mediocre at everything. Swimming, touch football, racquetball, whatever. I was a pseudo-jock from college on. I even tried skydiving once. What a hoot! But I never thought I'd do anything in the snow.

It all started with skiing. I'll never forget my first day on the slopes at Solitude ski resort in Utah. Me: a beach-loving, sun-worshipping, snow-loathing kind of gal. But the sun was shining and the air was clean and crisp.

My friend Jodi and I were too late for our first lessons. Jodi got the bright idea that we could practice on the "bunny hill" until our lessons finally rolled around, so we got our gear (included with the lesson) and suited up.

We stood at the top of this almost flat hill. At the time it looked something like the Grand Tetons to me. "If 2-year-olds can do it, so can we", she said. There were a lot of 2-year-olds everywhere all of a sudden. All I know is I felt like Baby Huey up there.

I started sliding forward "whoaing!" and flailing my ski poles. Jodi cackled like a mad scientist. One mile an hour felt like 40. I think my heart stopped. In the midst of my heart attack, a small drop off (at the time it seemed like a cliff) snuck up on me. Instinctively, I pushed my downhill foot out sideways, sort of like how you'd step down a hill, and suddenly I was heading in the other direction. I was so surprised that I almost ran into the mountain wall that the ski run had been carved from, but I made it all the way down without falling. I was catching on real quick.

A couple of years went by and I got pretty good at skiing until my left ski tip started crossing over the top of my right, which causes an immediate face plant. I thought I was just getting too confident or something. I found out the real reason later when I was diagnosed with MS.

I was denying my symptoms all that winter, and snowboarding looked pretty hip, so I took a lesson. I had to do something fun. Besides, I heard that the instructors at the Brighton ski resort were an eye exercise.

Guess what? I may have been quick at skiing, but snowboarding was a whole different story. I was on my head for about a week. Unlike skiing where you avoid catching an edge, we learned to always ride the edges and not the flat surface of the board. Somehow I didn't get that the instructor meant the uphill edge. Contrary to this puts you on the ground, immediately. That was me.

I did do some things right. I put sponges in my pockets to cushion my backside since that was where I spent most of my time. I also had kneepads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. My hat occasionally cushioned my head, and my goggles were usually the only thing on my face not packed with snow. Mittens! Hey, mittens are way better than gloves. Your fingers are together, so they produce more heat. If you're anything like me, (with tingling, numby extremities all the time), you can use all the warmth you can get.

I learned that warming up with some stretching exercises before I started was also a smart move. At first I felt like a clown doing them in the resort lobby, but stretching really helped me out. I wouldn't start without it.

Now that I've gotten the hang of snowboarding, I think it's easier and more fun than skiing. My loose foot isn't tripping me up all the time. Skiing requires an equal control of the left and right feet. With snowboarding, you determine which will be your downhill or lead foot. Your weaker leg can trail behind, helping you steer the board like a rudder on a boat.

Along with other sports, snowboarding is really fun. Before you do sign up for your First lesson, you probably should check with your physician. Whatever it is you prefer to do, never give up on yourself. Keep as positive and as active as you can. It works for me. Big Fun to ya!

Mary Ann O'Driscoll was diagnosed with MS in 1996. She writes, rebuilds computers, and is chief editor for