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Any tips for a first time snowboarder?

B

bl4ckfl4g

Diamond Member
I'm flying to Park City, UT in a couple of hours. I'll be there for several days and I want to snowboard. I've never snowboarded or skied before. I used to surf quite often but I'm not sure if that translates at all. I have all the gear I need except the board and boots which I'll be renting.

So anyone have any tips for a total noob?
 
Wear a helmet.


Not for your boarding, though it is a good idea. The helmet is to protect you from all the people coming in here to tell you WRONG FORUM.

I'll be the first to yell WRONG FORUM!
 
quick, add something about what kind of headphones you should use while snowboarding and everything will workout.
 
Learn to fall on your ass. It helps a lot. And don't use your arms to brace yourself when you fall, that's just asking for a dislocated arm, or worse.

Generally, on your first day, I'd suggest lessons - group or private. Also, watch some snowboarding videos on youtube and try to remember the important things (pointing back the hill to where you want to go, how to align your hips, etc).
 
Aflac said:
Learn to fall on your ass. It helps a lot. And don't use your arms to brace yourself when you fall, that's just asking for a dislocated arm, or worse.

Generally, on your first day, I'd suggest lessons - group or private. Also, watch some snowboarding videos on youtube and try to remember the important things (pointing back the hill to where you want to go, how to align your hips, etc).
Click to expand...

I actually learned by wearing roller blading wrist guards and falling on my hands. Never had an issue and didn't have a sore ass like all of my friends.
 
Don't go straight down for speed! Keep turning your board left and to the right.. like shuffling it. Or you'll scare the shit out of yourself because you're going so fast!
 
Surfing balance actually does translate pretty well, you at least know if you are goofy or regular. I surfed and skated before I snowboarded and it definitely helped.

As for tips, make sure you get boots that fit well. The number 1 most important thing for beginning snowboarders are comfy boots. You will be miserable if your boots don't fit right.

Also, try to look where you want to go and you will naturally move that way instead of trying to watch your feet and the board. Finally, keep your knees bent, try to keep your center of gravity low without hunching over too much and try to stay out of the way if you are not on a bunny slope(and watch your back if you are because those Japanese tourists don't know how to stop and a snowboard/skis to the back hurts)
 
Learn to fall down, you're going to do it often. Also, if you start feeling like you're out of control just make yourself take a spill. You'll be much better off falling purposely when you're going slow than smashing into something/someone because you lost control of your direction or your speed.

Honestly, the hardest thing that I did my first day of snowboarding was trying to get up the tow chain on the bunny hill. That thing was hard when you're still trying to learn how to balance.
 
Leros said:
Don't lay down in the middle of the slope for 5 minutes forcing the skiers to swerve around you.
Click to expand...

Please don't do this.

And please stay out of the way. I don't say it to be a jerk, or crap on noobs. It will end better for everyone involved.

A beginner who didn't know what he was doing is the reason I broke my arm. Cut me off, I tried to stop, caught an edge trying not to railroad a newbie, landed and broke it.
 
first learn how to snowboard horizontally face forward.
This should be fairly easy. You can control your speed very easily this way.

Then try to snowboard horizontally face backwards.
This will be a lot harder, but once you get this, you could really start to learn how to do the basic carving.
 
astroidea said:
first learn how to snowboard horizontally face forward.
This should be fairly easy. You can control your speed very easily this way.

Then try to snowboard horizontally face backwards.
This will be a lot harder, but once you get this, you could really start to learn how to do the basic carving.
Click to expand...

Do it in the reverse order and things will progress even quicker! Oftentimes, especially with self taught boarders, learning a heel side slide first creates dependence on the heel edge. Learn to go straight on something almost flat, then stop on your toe edge. Once you are comfortable doing that, getting onto your heel edge is a piece of cake.
 
Keep an eye on your equipment.

According to local resports, theft of ski & snow boarding equipment are on path to DOUBLE this year.
 
illusion88 said:
Do it in the reverse order and things will progress even quicker! Oftentimes, especially with self taught boarders, learning a heel side slide first creates dependence on the heel edge. Learn to go straight on something almost flat, then stop on your toe edge. Once you are comfortable doing that, getting onto your heel edge is a piece of cake.
Click to expand...

ya i didn't get out of heel side till like my 6th time snowboarding.
also after you learn how to go horizontal heel side and toe side, try going from heel side to toe side, and back. doing it repeatedly in succession is carving.
 
Make sure you use wrist guards. I did not, and after falling every 10 minutes for six hours my wrists were killing me. They didn't feel 100% better until months afterward.
 
Try to keep snow from going in your pants and jacket. It's not very nice snowboarding wet.
Don't lean back on the snowboard. It's counter intuitive but you gotta lean forward and make your turns.
If you do fall flat on your face and keep sliding down don't fight it because you can't do anything. haha Be ready to apologize when you knock people donw. This comes from experience.
 
You will literally spend 75% of the time on the ground. The only person I've known who didn't do this the first time was a wakeboarder. The next day every molecule in your body will be sore. Snowboarding takes a good 2-3 days to become get comfortable, but after that you get better very quickly.

Everyone else's advice is great, but I have one very very important one: BE CONFIDENT. This is especially helpful when it comes to turn (after you get used to heel side and toe side). You really have to commit and be confident when you make a turn.
 
BudAshes said:
Surfing balance actually does translate pretty well, you at least know if you are goofy or regular. I surfed and skated before I snowboarded and it definitely helped.

As for tips, make sure you get boots that fit well. The number 1 most important thing for beginning snowboarders are comfy boots. You will be miserable if your boots don't fit right.

Also, try to look where you want to go and you will naturally move that way instead of trying to watch your feet and the board. Finally, keep your knees bent, try to keep your center of gravity low without hunching over too much and try to stay out of the way if you are not on a bunny slope(and watch your back if you are because those Japanese tourists don't know how to stop and a snowboard/skis to the back hurts)
Click to expand...

What boots are good for snowboarding? Purchase recommendations?
 
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