Snowboarding Tips For Beginners

Snowboarding can be challenging and intimidating for someone new to the sport. If you struggle with securing yourself onto your board, will you manage to ride successfully down the mountain?

Always keep in mind that every person begins as a novice. At some point in time, all experienced snowboarders started from somewhere and they were also newbies. The only difference now is that they’ve become good at what they do because of experience and practice.

That is the complete essence of snowboarding. Always practising and being patient will increase your confidence on the slopes, leading to a point where you feel comfortable tackling a black diamond run without fear.

Here are some tips for snowboarding as a beginner to ensure you're well-prepared when you start hitting the slopes.

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Ensure that you have the right board

There are many varying kinds of snowboards for a specific purpose. When you enter a snowboard store and are perplexed by the variety of boards, it's due to their different riding experiences.

When starting, search for a board with a rocker camber. The rocker camber situates the rocker between the feet and the camber under each foot. Having a rocker underfoot will make the board catch-free, reducing the chance of catching an edge while mastering turning techniques. Camber assists in initiating turns by aiding the edge in digging. The combination of rocker and camber is excellent for beginner turn practice as it helps with easier turns and reduces the risk of catching an edge.

Most mountain boards can be used by people new to snowboarding because they are suitable for every area of the mountain. Freestyle boards are perfect to be used in the park, while free ride boards are perfect for riding at the top of the mountain.

Ensure that you are equipped with the right gear that fits correctly

Using improper gear while snowboarding is not worth the risk it could pose to your safety. You’d rather enjoy your first winter by hitting the slopes daily, instead of being in a cast due to ill-fitting boots which can cause difficulty in manoeuvring. Ensuring your feet are comfortable is essential for a pleasant day in the snow.

Having the right fit for your boot is essential for your equipment. Your toes should touch the front of the boot without being cramped or squeezed. When your boot is oversized, your heels will elevate excessively, making it difficult to steer your board effectively (leading to potential injuries).

You'll also need to ensure that your clothing keeps you feeling warm without causing you to feel like you're in a steam room. If your pants and jacket are too hot, your goggles will fog up and you'll spend the whole time wanting to feel cold instead. Ensure you take the correct gloves, Goodr goggles, and beanies with you!

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Get Snowboarding Lessons

Lessons may not seem enjoyable, but they will seem much more enjoyable when you are not the one stuck in the lodge with a broken wrist. The instructor will teach you boarding basics and build your confidence to ride the ski lift to the mountain's peak. Teachers will assist in accelerating your learning process and provide helpful advice that would have otherwise required multiple attempts to discover.

When you visit a mountain for the first time, consider taking a snowboarding lesson to gain an understanding of board control and what to anticipate for your initial descent. That lesson will assist in improving your skills.

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Always focus and keep your eyes on where you are going

As you ride down the mountain, your body and board will naturally move in the direction you are looking. If you continue to focus solely on what is directly below you, you will not make much progress and are likely to stumble. If you continue focusing on trees out of fear of colliding with them, you will end up going in that direction. Traditional fixation on objects.

Continuously focus on your destination and move forward with determination. This will ensure you remain on track with your desired path and avoid straying off course. And don't forget to appreciate the scenery.

Bend your knees

Make sure to keep your gaze up and focused ahead, and don't forget to also bend your knees. Bending your knees will help you absorb the shapes in the snow and maintain control of your board. If your knees are too extended, you won't be able to move properly.

Your knees should be slightly bent rather than at a full 90-degree angle, enabling you to stay prepared for obstacles and fast decision-making. Maintain a slight bend in your knees and allow them to adapt as necessary depending on the terrain you are riding on.

Focusing on finding optimal knee positions at different points of the run will greatly improve your snowboarding skills and speed up your progress. Maintaining relaxation in your knees and body can also help avoid injury in case things do not go as intended. Keep calm and stay mentally alert!

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Ride across The Slope

If you're afraid of losing control of your board after getting off the ski lift and descending the mountain, this will help you. The important thing is to avoid heading straight down the mountain when snowboarding. Instead, you should be aiming to ride along the side of the hill.

When snowboarding try gliding from the left side of the ride to the right side, then back to the left side, and finally back to the right side. You must have seen this movement in previous skiing and snowboarding videos. By holding onto that, you will continue to have power over your board. The wider you extend your ride across the slope, the decrease in speed you will experience.

Always be aware of your environment. It is crucial to always look uphill when cutting across the slope to ensure no one is coming down quickly. This will prevent accidents and unnecessary conflicts with other skiers and snowboarders.

Feature Image by Pavel Šnajdr from Pixabay