Snowboarding is an exciting sport, but it takes a good deal of practice. It also takes balance, and timing, and a certain amount of bravado. It is easy to hurt yourself if you are just learning, so take a little time to read these hints. Then your first trip to the ski slopes won’t be your last!
First, check a weather report. The best weather for first-timers is something close to a blizzard. This will give you smaller class sizes, and something soft to land on, (i.e. LOTS of snow). You will fall down a lot as you learn, so you definitely want a soft landing.
Don’t go early in the season, and don’t go late. Too early means not enough snow, and you will be landing on a ‘mountain’ with a decorative white cover (Ouch!). Too late means that repeated thawing and refreezing has turned most of the snow to ice just below the surface, which is also not a happy landing. The best time to go is mid-season, late December through January, depending on weather conditions.
Do NOT ask a friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend to teach you. This will end up in frustration, because chances are, they are not trained in how to TEACH, no matter how skillful they may personally be at it.
Do NOT assume you will be able to figure it out on your own. You will not be able to, and will probably hurt yourself and others in the process. That’s the hardest part: not smacking into the other people inevitably using the same snow as you.
Try a lesson from a trained professional. The ski resorts have droves of instructors just itching to send you down the slopes on your first snowboarding adventure. You could sign up for a class, but you may find your fellow students are all six years old. If you can, take a private lesson. They’re not much more expensive, and you get an instructor all to yourself. The more time you get with an instructor, the more likely you are to have fun and learn some actual skills.
When you take lessons, either on your own, or in a group, LISTEN to your instructor. Assume the teacher knows more than you and pay attention. Also try to put into practice what they tell you.
Remember that if you do follow all the instructors suggestions and you’re still not ‘getting it’, you can always ask the resort for a refund or do-over. It is in their best interest that you succeed (and come back again and spend more money). They may not automatically accommodate you, but it never hurts to ask.
The thrill of snowboarding attracts all kinds of people, particularly after the Winter Olympics. Start your adventure off with a little knowledge and a little prudence, and then go have a wonderful time!
Checking out snowboard tricks is a great way to spend some time in the season, so learning those tricks is a great way to get yourself some of that attention. You’ll need good snowboarding rails and don’t forget to keep an eye out for girls snowboarding. For all the information you’ll need, please visit our website now.