Your tailbone, wrists and pride will suffer, you will likely think about giving up more than once on your first day, and getting off the lift is a battle of its own. We have 5 tips to get past the steep learning curve that snowboarding throws your way and put you on the path to becoming a snowboard addict.
1. Which Way To Start
Finding out which way you ride is one of the building block of your snowboarding success. Think of which foot you'd use to kick a soccer ball. If you can't figure out which foot you'd use have a trusty friend give you an unexpected shove from behind and see what foot you catch yourself with. Whatever that first foot forward is, is also your lead foot! If it was right you're part of the goof troop, if it was left you're a regular Joe.
2. Get Balanced
Maybe you didn't know this, but balance over your board is a key component in snowboarding. Because we balance over the board it’s therefore, the base of support. So you want to try to keep the majority of your weight stacked over your board to maintain a balanced position.
3. Don't Waste Energy
When you first learn to snowboard, you may feel that it's easier to strap in sitting down. However, this technique has it's disadvantages because it takes a lot of time and energy to push yourself up from this position, you look like a beginner, and it gives you a wet butt!
4. An Easy Way From Point A To Point B
Traversing on a snowboard is an essential skill that every snowboarder should learn. It will help you as a beginner with learning to ride and gain edge control. As you improve, you'll still use this skill of traversing to explore new terrain, find pow stashes, and help you deal with any slope you ever come across!
5. First Turns to Fresh Turns
Your snowboard turns have to happen in one smooth movement. Start off in a heel side slide slip (body facing down hill). When you're ready to start a toe side turn, press down on your front foot. As your board starts to point down hill, rotate your head, shoulders and hips. Keep rotating all the way round until your front hand is pointing to the other side of the slope and you're on a toe side edge (body facing up the mountain).
Did you crush through these tips? We have more progression tips just for you:
Hannah Paquette
Snowboard Addiction
Our Goal Is To Improve Your Riding
