Before Your First Snowboard Lesson
Snowboarding
Are you considering trying snowboarding this season? Great! Learning another way to get down the mountain or hill is fun. Even if you know how to ski, learning how to snowboard can be a lot of fun. Here are some things you might want to know about before you take your first snowboard lesson as well as some reasons to take a snowboard lesson.
What to Wear
What to wear to snowboard will mainly depend on the weather. Do NOT wear jeans or any other kind of material that will absorb water (like cotton). You will be so sorry. Get some skiing or snowboarding pants. You will spend some time sitting on the snow, on your butt. You don’t want to wear any kind of material that would absorb the snow. You can get some snowboard pants with extra padding for your butt and they look like normal snowboard pants, too. There is extra padding built in the inside so that you’re more comfortable when sitting on the snow or if you happen to fall on your butt – yeah, that might happen a lot. Pants with padding is well worth the few extra bucks!
The same goes for your snowboard jacket. It should repel snow and wind.
For layers, like we said, that will depend on the weather. If your jacket is just a shell (no extra insulation and just to repel snow and wind), then wear some layers inside like a sweatshirt or fleece. Wear an undershirt as well. By layering your clothes, you can later take off a layer if you get too warm or else simply open up your jacket or fleece. Check the weather report for where you’re going to snowboard.
Also, wear goggles, gloves / mittens and a hat.
The Equipment
All you need is a snowboard with bindings and boots. With skiing, you put your money into your boots but with snowboarding, you want the best bindings. There are all kinds out now and a new kind coming out every 5 minutes, it seems.
For your first lesson, you might want to rent a snowboard. Ski hills / resorts should have good equipment to rent that’s tuned and waxed. No, it’s not quite as custom to your style as your own board, but you don’t have a style yet so it doesn’t matter. Later on, after a few days out there (and if you’re sure you want to continue), then look into getting your own board or find a good used snowboard.
Why Take a Lesson?
I see people trying it on their own and it’s pretty sad. Most of them aren’t doing it right and when you take the time to learn something, you want to learn from an expert. Also, just a side note… guys, if your plan is to teach your girlfriend of wife how to snowboard, then you definitely don’t want lessons. It can be frustrating for both of you. She could very well put that frustration on you and the ride home can be torture. Never teach your girlfriend how to snowboard – it’s just that simple. With a lesson, she’ll learn from a pro and you can go do some runs (do them away from her) while she’s learning. You’ll thank me later.
Like I said, with a snowboard lesson, you get taught from a professional who has taught many people. They know all the right things to say, they know the right progression (what to teach first, before something else, etc.) and they will also teach safety which includes how to use the lift with a snowboard.
You can either get a group lesson or a private lesson. I would suggest a group lesson first for a few reasons. With a group, you get to watch what other people are doing and other people might be asking questions that you haven’t thought of that will help you. You also get a little time on your own during the lesson to work it out on your own instead of having the constant attention. It’s a good balance for beginners.
After you take the group lesson, go out on your own for the rest of the day and go over what you learned in the lesson the rest of the day on the beginner runs. The next day (or on your next trip), after you’ve slept on it and want more, take a private lesson. You’ll get to refine what you’re learned and get the custom / individual attention that will help you a lot.
Tips for Beginning Snowboarders
The first tip is to take a lesson! I went over that though.
Second, you will naturally want to lean backwards to kind of put on the brakes or slow things down. You want balance in order to control the board, which is in the center or else forward – not backward.
Third, learn edging. You have a toe edge and heel edge. Learn them well. Take a ride down the hill just breaking on your edges.
Also, learn both regular and goofy foot – meaning, if you’re right footed, learn how to snowboard with your right foot back and your right foot forward. If you learn this from the start, it’s easier than trying to learn to switch later.
Want more? Get the top 10 tips for beginning snowboarders so that you’re ready to begin.
Related articles
- Are Snowboard Boots and Ski Boots the Same? (topicsfortoday.com)
- What Off Snow Experiences Help on Snow for Ski/snowboard? (topicsfortoday.com)
- Snowboard Outlets Save You Big Money (topicsfortoday.com)
Popularity: 12% [?]
Related Search Terms:- what to know before your first snowboarding trip
- extr butt padding for snowboarding
- what to wear for snowboarding lesson
- what to know before taking snowboarding lessons
- what to know before snowboarding
- what to know before going snowboarding
- what happens during snowboarding lessons
- things to buy before learning how to snowboard
- thing to know before snowboarding first
- reasons to take snow board lessons
- is it bad to have your girlfriend snowboard with you?
- extra pad for snow board
- womens snow pants extra padding
