Tony Snow and Snowboarding

Tony Snow, political pundit (print, radio and TV) and most famously, White House press secretary, died today at the age of 53. He had a several-year battle with colon cancer, which he beat once–but could not beat twice.

Since this blog is about snowboarding, you might ask … OK, so what does he have to do with snowboarding?

I don’t know if Tony Snow ever tried riding down a mountain or even a bunny hill on a snowboard (though with a name like that, he should have). I’d like to think so; it would have been consistent with his general outlook on life–at least as I understand it.

See, for example, the commencement address he gave in 2007 to the Catholic University of America.

He tells a story about a time of cycling through the Texas countryside with his boss at the time, George W. Bush. It didn’t end up all that well; he crashed into a tree and made a substantial part of his trip with a wobbly front tire.

“The point’s simple,” he told graduates at the end of the story. “When a chance presents itself, take a prudent and interesting risk. If it doesn’t work out, that is okay. Don’t worry about that, either. You see, God presents blessings in unexpected packages. Don’t overlook them. Remember: no guts, no glory.”

“Take a prudent and interesting risk.” I like that.

It’s a good attitude to have when considering whether to start snowboarding, and to keep with you once you are a snowboarder. It will help you, as he told the class of 2007, “live boldly. Live a whole life.”