Snowboarding for the first time
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Well I'll be learning how to snowboard starting December 27th in Crested Butte, CO. I tried skiing in Beaver Creek a year earlier but that experience was absolutely awful. Any tips for a first time boarder that will make life easier on me? |
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Don't plan on doing anything the next day. Your body will be hating you. |
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Check out some wrist guards, dakine makes some for snowboarding that are like 20 bucks you want some for snowboarding or skateboarding specificly because they are flexible,not rigid. Learning to snowboard you will be falling, a lot. Mentally prepare yourself. Try to find a green run that is kind of steep, or maybe even a mellow blue. Its hard to learn on flat ground Skiing is definatly easier for begginers to pick up and have more fun on the first day, so if you really want to snowboard know that you aren't going to be crusing all over the mountain your first day, you will have to stick with it and dedicate a little time and patience, good luck...... |
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Evan Sanders wrote:Well I'll be learning how to snowboard starting December 27th in Crested Butte, CO. I tried skiing in Beaver Creek a year earlier but that experience was absolutely awful. Any tips for a first time boarder that will make life easier on me?Do not start on anything that is close to flat or has any spots that are flat. The main reason people take hard falls on a snowboard is due to catching the front or rear edge on the fall line. It is far easier to hold an edge on slightly steeper terrain. When I tried snowboarding for the first time I went right to the blue runs, but I had already been skiing for many years at that point, I had a great day and didn't take any hard falls. Just take it really slow and don't be in too much of a hurry to be good and you will do fine! |
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I second the idea that you should find a steepish run for practicing on. Flat terrain is a nightmare for newbie snowboarders. I learned really fast because I was willing to pick up some speed and take a few falls. I highly recommend this strategy. Just be careful with your wrists. |
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Most importantly: stretch/warm up properly (whole body: core and legs especially, don't neglect the arms/wrists though). |
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What everyone else said is absolutely correct. Fight your intuition and get off the bunny runs as quick as you can. It's much easier (although a little scarier at first) to learn on slopes that are a bit steeper. Catching an edge sucks, and it's a lot more likely to happen on lower angled terrain. |
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Turning on your toe edge is pretty weird at first, but if you understand shifting your weight and have a good sense of your own balance and coordination its not too difficult. Also if you have ever been into riding a board like a wakeboard or skateboard...etc that will all help you as well. Enjoy not learning on the east coast ice! |
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1. wrist guards |
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Evan, |
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What Kai said: wrist guards and LESSONS. It took me 3 lessons and five times out total to really feel like I was riding. |
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-stay off flats |
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I would have said learn to ski first but it looks like you already tried that. |
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Evan wrote: |
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Plan on being cold and falling down a lot. Your butt will hurt. Fortunately, it does get better after a few days on the slopes. |
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wear a helmet... |
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Nick Mardirosian wrote:wear a helmet...Yes yes yes! Definitely wear a helmet! |
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A rocker board will take a lot of pain out of learning I think. Go with regular camber if you want the full wrist-ass-pain experience, though. |
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Helmet, wristguards, tailbone padding, knee pads, and instructor OR a lot of whiskey and good health insurance. Seriously, an instructor is trained for a reason and can make all the difference in the world in your enjoyment of learning a new skill. |
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Take a lesson. I f'ed around my first day and got no where. Took a lesson the next day and by the end of my third day I was cruising most of the mountain. |
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Thanks guys. I'm paying for a full day of lessons the first day from an instructor, then I'm learning from the people I'm going with. |