2020. What a year.
Massive urban unrest, destructive wildfires, a divisive election, economic crashes, and oh yeah, a freaking global pandemic. COVID-19 has been pretty horrible for lots of people, and it's affected the lives of all people, forcing us to re-think work, travel, hand-shaking, and going to the bar with our friends. None of us have lived through a year like 2020 before, and we're pretty damn glad it's over.
Having said that, 2020 hasn't been all bad. Biden beat Trump. Carbon emissions fell. Tiger King became a global phenomenon. A vaccine has arrived. We all tried to bake something (with various degrees of success). The snow is falling again. Here are 5 more things that have happened in the 12 months which means that 2020 hasn't been a total write-off.
1. We got inventive for spring sessions
Back in spring, when ski resorts closed for us in Canada, snowboarding and skiing became a whole lot harder. That meant backyard builds, backcountry adventures, and a whole lot of hiking. Although not all of us could access the snow, we loved seeing how much effort people put in to carry on riding. Case in point: Henna Ikola. Her dedication to shredding no matter the conditions will always impress us. And we don't know about you, but we feel a whole new appreciation seeing the lifts spinning now.
2. We saw massive progression in women's skiing and snowboarding
Although resorts were shut, the ski and snowboard community stayed strong throughout 2020. COVID hasn't slowed down progression in women's skiing and snowboarding at all, with ladies hitting the streets and the backcountry as hard as ever. We're talking heaps of new movies - Tangle, Motherload, the Uninvited II, and soooo many more (check out our 2020 Movie Marathon for some of our favourite vids).
There's been progression in the culture too. In 2020 we saw the first female cover of a major snowboard magazine (shout out Elena Konz). Also, (we've said it before and we'll say it again) Heroes by Jerome Tanon is fucking awesome. Get yourself a copy now because Heroes is going down in history as one of the first steps to filling a gaping void in the culture of snowboarding - the printed celebration of women in the sport. Look at the beautiful art, read the beautiful words, and feel the inspiration from the leading ladies (known and unknown) of snowboarding. Take that, 2020.
3. We made NITP a website
Here at NITP we had some big changes in 2020 - including our fresh new website, an online store, and the introduction of a weekly blog (where we post NITP news, tips, and everything else!). We're super sad we can't have a normal winter with normal events and progression sessions, but we promise we're still here for you guys - we'll be using our website as a brand new way to connect with you.
4. We got on a lift again
2020 has ended on a good note with resorts opening back up for the 20/21 winter season. In BC we've seen record-breaking snowfalls already, and there's nothing like faceshots of pow to put some smiles on some faces.
Hell.
Yeah.
5. We made it through
In 2020 the whole world shut down in a way like never before, and it was mandatory for people to spend their days distanced at home. It was tough. It was boring. It was strange. It was really boring. But it wasn't all bad. Some people are thankful for lockdown because it forced a new perspective on life, making them realize the things they take for granted, and maybe even giving them time to work on themselves in ways they hadn't before.
Other people found this year impossibly hard, and that's okay too. It's totally normal to feel like 2020 has rocked you, and it's okay if you want to forget all about it. If that's the case, then at least realize that you made it through. Give yourself some credit. You've shown resilience even when your life and everything in it has changed. If nothing else, that is worth celebrating.
So you know what? 2020 wasn't all bad (but we're definitely glad it's over). Well done everyone, we made it through a very weird year. Here's to 2021! Keep staying safe and wearing your masks, and everybody cross your fingers that this time next year we can have a drink together.