Snowboarding?

Question

Im going to snowboard at this place, and so i signed up on the internet for the rentals, but not the group lesson, because i thought i could figure it out myself, am i wrong, could i learn to snowboard myself with my friends? or is it really hard?

Answer 1

You can learn to snowboard yourself if you have the patience to get though the first day or two without giving up. Some friends may help but others may not.

There are lots of usefull tips here:

http://users.myexcel.com/wintercream/

This is how I teach:

First lesson - learn to fall. Forward, do not fall on your hands because you can break a wrist. Backward, do not fall on your hands or the middle of your butt because you can break your tailbone.

Snowboarding is all about edge pressure, front and rear, of the edge in contact with the snow. By changing the pressure, you will initiate a turn.

Start with the board straight across the hill while sitting on your butt. Reach back with your hand and push yourself up while putting all you weight on the uphill edge (heel edge) so the board doesn't slide and balance over that edge. Once over the board, tip your feet forward so the board starts to slide straight down the hill - keep equal pressure on both feet and the board won't turn. Tip the board more down the hill if you start falling forward, tip the board back if you start falling backward. Get good at this.

When you are sliding straight down the hill on your heel edge, pressing on your toes of one foot will take some of the pressure off the edge under that foot. While doing this you will naturally put a little more weight on that foot, that is OK. That side of the board will start to turn down the hill. After you start moving in that direction, put pressure back on your heels of both feet equally and the board will come back across the hill. Now do it with the other foot for the other direction. This is a falling leaf skill and the beginning of turning on a snowboard.

Once you get good at that, you will be able to take your shallow turns deeper and deeper until the board almost points down the hill before you return it to the "accross the hill" resting position. Once you are at this point, you are ready to try your first "skidded" turn - which is simply waiting until the board is completely down the hill (or just past) and then transitioning your weight to the opposite edge. This is your first "J" turn.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Friends do not necessarily make good teachers. I don't know how many times I've heard a young guy say the first thing their friends did was take them up the fast lift to the top of the mountain and said "let's go". No instructions, no help, and a lot of teasing if you aren't awesome the first run. And even if they are good snowboarders, they might not be good teachers. Teaching anything takes patience. Not everyone is patient.

So I'd recommend that you take at least one lesson to get the basics down.

Answer 3

Well friends that are experienced and very good at it, can teach you the basics and neat tricks and tips. But getting lessons will def be the first thing you want to do before getting out on the snow and actually trying it. Snowboarding can get rough but its way fun. Take lessons before hand so you dont regret it.

Answer 4

it really depends on how good your friends are at snowboarding, i have a lot of friends that are good and i learned just fine without a lesson. you are definitely going to need your friend(S) there the first few times. but then again you will probably have a steeper learning curve if you take lessons the first few times.

Answer 5

well i snowboard and if you have never done it before i suggest that you start on a small hill and wear something that doesnt soak p much bc you will spend a lot of time on your butt!!! I on my first time didnt take a lesson and i learned pretty well but the next time i did and it really helped so if you skateboard you'll proobably be fine but... if not consider starting on the bunny hill or take a class they are not that long and will do you alot of good!!


HAVE FUN!!!

Answer 6

Well if they knw how...., if not get lessons. Plus your friends have to be patient. I took lessons they helped a lot, my friends just made it worse,lol. If your friends tell you to come with them to a steep trail don't go if you are not ready. It's very frustrating like a lot of people had said before. You are gonna fall a lot, so prepare for that. Also, don't give up on it, I almost did, but thankfully i didn't and i'm enjoying everytime i go up the mountain. So Best of Luck!

Answer 7

starting snowboarding is the most frustrating thing ever. you can figure it out on your own though if you have good ballance. just dont give up and keep going even if your first time isnt the most fun thing you've ever done becuase when you figure it out it is the funnest thing on the planet earth