Snowboarding tips?

[pawpaw]

I think that el chode's advice is pretty good - start out on your heels. Your first goals should be to learn how to slowly turn and stop. Try starting out on your heels (facing downhill) from a stopped position, and slowly begin riding to the side. Make a turn by shifting your weight to your toes, while simultaneously sliding the back end of your board out and around (so that your back is now facing downhill). Keep your speed in check, and your knees bent. Do one turn at a time and then stop. Then start with your back facing downhill, with your weight on your toes, and shift to your heels while slowly swinging out the back of your board so that you're then facing downhill. Do all this on the flatest, easiest run. Start your turns gradually, mostly going sidehill (NOT pointed directly downhill).

As el chode also mentioned, it's important to know which foot you feel more comfortable with in front. Most people have their left foot forward (regular)...I'm not sure sure if there's an easy way to determine what is best for you without actually trying it out. If you've ever ridden a skateboard and know which way you ride, it'll be the same way. If you're renting equipment, you can always return your board after a few runs to try the other foot forward if things aren't working out. Comfortable boots are probably more important that the board, and can make or break a day of riding.

You will fall, but keep trying. It usually takes more than a day to get things down (especially if you're teaching yourself), but it's great fun after you can piece together turns and do whole runs, choose where on the mountain you want to ride. Wrist injuries are the most common for snowboarders, so wrist guards may not be a bad idea while starting out. I broke my wrist in an icy park several years back, but I was also doing some stupid stuff (I don't leave the ground much anymore). I've been snowboarding for 16 years, and I love it.

[el_chode]

...I'm not sure sure if there's an easy way to determine what is best for you without actually trying it out

I promise this isn't a cure for hiccups designed for the entertainment for your friends and not to fix a problem, but here's how I typically diagnose foot style.

Grab a friend (BUDDY SYSTEM!) and stand on some solid ground, nice and limber and relaxed. Have your friend stand behind you and push you hard. Not so hard you fall over, but hard enough to make you move forward.

Whichever foot you step with first is your probable preferred foot.

As a lefty and therefore member of the superior race, I often have problems figuring out what works best for me. This cured all my problems (I ride regular)

[Penny Lane]

LOL thanks for the advice. i'll def opt for the wrist guards. my friend has the butt pads but i was thinking i had enough padding on the back side already (not to be perverted lol)...maybe i'll wear my biking padded shorts under my ski pants. starting to get excited. thanks!

[el_chode]

we're supposed to get snow too this weekend. that should avoid you having to deal with too much ice and too many people traveling from too far.

Your ass is going to spend a lot of time in the snow. Just a warning. You'll get numb cheeks if you're not careful.

[ALady]

Agreed, I think ice is your worst enemy here...easy to catch an edge, and hurts like hell when you fall.

I've always said if I tried it again I'd go out West where the snow is deeper (and softer when you fall!).

[el_chode]

I heard out west they hate snowboarders and consider us luddites and worse than poor single moms who smoke while pregnant with a child who could have any one of 8 baby daddies

[ALady]

Yeah, that's true to an extent...depends where you go.  Some resorts have dedicated snowboarding runs so the skiers don't have to mingle with the riff-raff   ;)

[el_chode]

Yeah, that's true to an extent...depends where you go.  Some resorts have dedicated snowboarding runs so the skiers don't have to mingle with the riff-raff   ;)

i'll admit, i do hate when boarders choose to camp out just over the crest of a hill, and then get mad when you almost hit them. but that's about it.

[pawpaw]

Yeah, that's true to an extent...depends where you go.  Some resorts have dedicated snowboarding runs so the skiers don't have to mingle with the riff-raff   ;)

i'll admit, i do hate when boarders choose to camp out just over the crest of a hill, and then get mad when you almost hit them. but that's about it.

Yeah, I'll be the first to admit it - there are a LOT of clueless, disrespectful snowboarders...snowboarding culture kind of idolizes and breeds idiot punks, to some extent. I used to be WAY into snowboarding (and skating), and that 'Search and Destroy', 'Skate or Die', punk rock, fuck you attitude still seems to be very much a part of the videos and marketing and image. I also can't stand the herd of boarders at the top of every hill...

BUT, snowboarding still kicks ass. I grew up skiing as a child, and got into snowboarding around Jr. High...haven't skied a day since. There's not much in this world that can do it for me like floating through the trees on a few feet of fresh powder...skis just can't compare to a board in powder.

As far as how we're viewed here in the West...some skiers do blindly hate on boarders, but it's person to person really, and there are a lot of cool skiers who are great to ride with. I know that there are a few resorts around, like Deer Valley and Alta in Utah, that only allow skiers.

[Jon T.]

They may do generic lessons where you go with a group.  I highly suggest that.  First time I went (Tahoe) I picked it up very fast and it was quite possibly one of the more(to steal one of Braden's words) awesomer things I've ever done in my life.  Second (and last) time I went, I was lucky to  leave with my life, literally.  (Crested Butte, CO)  I caught an edge, as K says,  serious concussion (with helmet), three broken bones (wrist, clavicle, rib) sprained my MCL on which I was already wearing a brace.   But, hey, have fun!    ;)

[pawpaw]

They may do generic lessons where you go with a group.  I highly suggest that.  First time I went (Tahoe) I picked it up very fast and it was quite possibly one of the more(to steal one of Braden's words) awesomer things I've ever done in my life.  Second (and last) time I went, I was lucky to  leave with my life, literally.  (Crested Butte, CO)  I caught an edge, as K says,  serious concussion (with helmet), three broken bones (wrist, clavicle, rib) sprained my MCL on which I was already wearing a brace.   But, hey, have fun!    ;)

Yeah, but you DID ask for the board that said 'Bad Motherfucker' on it...what did you expect  ::)  ;D

[the_wizzard]

Yeah, that's true to an extent...depends where you go.  Some resorts have dedicated snowboarding runs so the skiers don't have to mingle with the riff-raff   ;)

i'll admit, i do hate when boarders choose to camp out just over the crest of a hill, and then get mad when you almost hit them. but that's about it.

I grew up skiing as a child, and got into snowboarding around Jr. High...haven't skied a day since. There's not much in this world that can do it for me like floating through the trees on a few feet of fresh powder...skis just can't compare to a board in powder.

As far as how we're viewed here in the West...some skiers do blindly hate on boarders, but it's person to person really, and there are a lot of cool skiers who are great to ride with. I know that there are a few resorts around, like Deer Valley and Alta in Utah, that only allow skiers.

Me too bBill.  I learned at 16 and never turned back.  Penny, I really hope you got a lesson.  group lessons are the best for newbies and i have never met anyone who is a kick ass snowboarder who didn't have someone teach them to connect their turns.  I hope you had fun.
And the west coast is ALL about snowboarding.  I find that on the east coast there are more skiing purists (and with a much bigger attitude about it).  I ride in Oregon and Utah all the time.  The purists go to Alta and the rest understand to share the mountain.  My biggest gripe is beginners on hills that they are not ready for.  New skiers have almost taken me out on a regular basis.  Since I skied from 3 to 16, i can usually anticipate their movements and avoid a crash.  It ain't the ride that is a problem, just attitude and ignorance  :-/

[pawpaw]

Hey Wizz!!! Do you mostly ride at Mt. Hood? Ever go down to Bachelor? What about Tahoe?

(Lovin' the seasonal change for the Crater Lake avatar pic!)

[Penny Lane]

i definitely know what catching an edge is now :-( very sore today but it was worth it. i'm totally hooked and i wasn't this way w/skiing. bbill--i'm glad you guys encouraged me to take a lesson because once i learned how to turn/stop both ways, i could feather down the bunny hill. here are a few pics. the first is me on my knees-where i spent the first hour..but it got a little better. i'm definitely going back!



and this is me balancing once i got a slight hang of it:

[pawpaw]

That's great! I'm glad you had a good time, and want to continue to learn! It looks like you had a little fresh snow too, which is MUCH better to learn on (less painful to fall on) than ice!

[Penny Lane]

i guess it was a lot less icy than last weekend--lots of fresh snow on sat :-) the helmet was definitely needed though...some hard falls LOL!!

[ALady]

Look at you!  Nice, penny!  Glad you had fun :)

[el_chode]

Look at you!  Nice, penny!  Glad you had fun :)

Such a glowing example

[ALady]

 ;D ;D ;D

[Penny Lane]

ALADY--i'm hooked on gear now. my friend sent me these links: (do you check these?)

//www.whiskeymilitia.com

and

//www.steepandcheap.com

they have deals come up every hour for gear...it's like crack...i'm looking at gloves and base layers and all that...i mean if i'm not good at it yet, i may as well look the part LOL