Snowboarding :: So, you want to snowboard? |
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Maybe you're a skier looking for something different, or maybe you've never been to a ski hill in your life. Whatever your background, snowboarding is a great sport to get into. With its own challenges and rewards, snowboarding is a fulfilling experience from day one.
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Once you start snowboarding, you'll discover you've entered into a community. One in which like-minded individuals are tied together by a common interest. Those with the winter blahs will rediscover the magic of that first snowfall and become excited about another winter on the slopes. Live a little, get out and try it. There's a good chance you'll never look back. |
I'm gonna do it!
First of all, do NOT let a friend 'teach' you the basics. You will progress much faster and be able to keep up with your friends sooner by taking a proper lesson the first day.Most resorts have an introductory package for around $40-50cdn that will include your rental, lift ticket, and lesson. That's a deal that can't be beat. Take advantage of it.
| Most introductory lessons will teach you how to get around on the flats, how to get back up after falling, how to get on and off the lift, and how to make it down an easy slope using side-slipping and falling-leaf techniques. These are the basics you need to learn, and even experienced riders will often revert back to side-slipping and falling-leaf techniques when presented with a slope that is beyond their ability. At the end of the first day expect to be somewhat sore from falling, and from using muscles you're not used to using. This is normal. Consider it part of the initiation to snowboarding. The accepted period to learn the basics is three days so be patient. |
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I'm still sore but it was fun
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Ok, you survived day one. It might have hurt a bit, but it was worth it. You want more. Welcome to snowboarding. By now, thanks to the lesson you took, you should be able to get yourself up the hill and back down again on your own. It may take you a while, but you can do it! To progress, you need to be able to turn, and then start linking those turns. Expect this to take a day or two to get the hang of. Once you can link your turns, you start to look like you know what you're doing, and can probably get down all the easy runs and most intermediate runs without too much difficulty. Linking turns also leads to more advanced techniques such as carving so it's a necessary skill to learn. |
My board keeps catching an edge
| Don't blame your equipment (although an improperly tuned board could contribute to this). Catching an edge is a common problem for beginners. Snowboarding is all about balance and control. Catching an edge is usually the result of improper balance and riding the board too flat. Balance will come naturally with practice as you get used to the board and gain strength in the necessary muscles. Riding with the board too flat can have many sources such as not trusting the edges, or people used to skis. In snowboarding you really need to be riding 'on edge' at all times. On flat sections of trail it would seem natural to ride the board flat, however, this is an excellent way to catch an edge and just end up skating the rest of the way. To handle flats you need to keep your weight on one of your edges. Not enough to turn, just enough to not be riding the board flat. This takes some practice. For riding downhill, you may not be riding the board flat, but the angle isn't enough. A slight shift of balance and the downhill edge will catch resulting in you being deposited on the snow before you know what happened. Learn to trust your edges. Practice increasing your edge angle on easy slopes. |
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Freeride or Freestyle
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As a beginner approaching intermediate, you'll probably either want to head into the terrain park or steeper slopes and glades. Freestyle is for you if you want to spend a lot of your time in the terrain park or halfpipe and look for every bump in the trail to catch some air off of. Freeriders may enjoy the occasional jump but tend more towards the pursuit of carving and seeking powder. Later if carving is your thing, you may want to move onto an alpine carving setup. This is a good time to evaluate your equipment. If you're renting, now would be a good time to start deciding on what gear to buy. |
Choosing gear
| A more flexible board intended for freestyle will not be well suited to carving. A stiffer board intended for carving will not perform will in a halfpipe. Freeride boards also tend to be longer than freestyle boards. When purchasing your first board you need to be aware of this and buy a board that is right for you. Ignore the pretty graphics and find one of the sales people who know what they're doing (if their eyes glaze over when talking about torsional stiffness find someone else). Tell them what type of riding you like to do and be honest about your weight, ability, and budget. If you're in a reputable shop with a good selection they'll choose a board that is right for you. When buying boots and bindings the first decision is whether to get step-ins or straps. Step-ins have a bad rap due to early incarnations while manufacturers were figuring out what works best, however, modern step-ins are actually quite good. Step-ins are convenient for primarily two things: they're usually faster to get in and out of. This is important for beginners, especially for flats. The real problem with step-ins is fit. Most available step-ins give you one choice of boot, which may not fit too well. In snowboarding, a well fitting boot is critical for proper edge control. Step-ins also tend to be the more expensive option. With straps you have an endless selection of boots and bindings to choose from to ensure you get something that fits well and is within your budget. |
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Stances
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The stance you choose is often decided on how you ride. Freeriders who like to carve will tend more towards a forward stance while those who spend most of their time in the terrain park may choose a duck stance for ease of riding fakie. Those who are fortunate enough to ride powder on a regular basis may favor their bindings set back a notch to provide more floatation for the tip and prevent it from digging in. If you're turning and finding you're fine on your toeside but your heelside keeps blowing out, or vice versa, try adjusting your binding angles, especially the rear binding. This can make a big difference towards how you weight your board and edges. |
Have fun
| The most important thing about snowboarding is to have fun and enjoy yourself. Don't be afraid of looking like a beginner. We were all beginners at some time. While the more experienced riders may chuckle from the chairlift, and wince in sympathy at your more spectacular falls, we realise you're learning. Just get back up, dust yoursef off, and keep going. |
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