Alissa Bricourt moved to snowy Western New York from Miami when she was a teenager. Her first winter made her miss the sun and the beach back home.
Bricourt says she became physically and mentally ill that first winter, wanting to be outside more than anything.
The next winter, though, she found her way outdoors.
She picked up snowboarding at Kissing Bridge, going by herself and meeting friends as she went along.
Years later, on opening day of the 2017-18 ski season, she's thankful for snowboarding saving her, and helping her look forward to the snow.
