Top 10 Snowboarding Tips
Snowboarding has been around since the 1920s and has evolved significantly over the years, thanks to the type of equipment changing and standard rules being created. There are many different types of snowboarding, from freeriding to competitions. At the Olympic level, snowboarding takes place in the form of freestyle and racing. This list includes a variety of essential skills for those interested in pursuing snowboarding.
List of Snowboarding Tips
- Bending Your Knees
- Look In The Direction You Are Headed
- How To Effectively Get Down The Mountain
- How To Turn
- Learning How To Fall
- Making Sure Your Gear Fits
- Having A Plan For Skill Development
- Know the Slope Beforehand
- Ride Across the Slope
- Be Patient and Have Fun
1. Bending Your Knees
When bending your knees, it is much easier to accelerate when going down the slopes. The more you bend your knees, the faster you will go. When bending your knees, do not settle into a full squatting position and keep a more athletic stance. Having your knees bent is crucial when going over bumps on the slopes. When knees are bent, it’s much easier to absorb the landing when the rider goes airborne. Bending your knees will also lower your center of gravity, making it easier to balance.
2. Look In The Direction You Are Headed
One of the most important things to remember when you are on the slopes is having a sense of direction. If you look to the left, you will go to the left. If you look straight ahead, your path will continue veering forward. It’s natural when you are going down the mountain for your movement to match your vision path and the board will inevitably follow.
3. How To Effectively Get Down The Mountain
This tip is mainly for freestyle snowboarders. The idea of snowboarding for beginners is to get down the mountain safely. Beginners often struggle with controlling how fast they go down slopes. If you ride across the slope in a horizontal direction as opposed to straight down, you won’t pick up too much speed and will be able to stop yourself as needed.
4. How To Turn
When turning, snowboarders need to move their body in the direction that they want to go. Upper and lower body both need to be aligned at all times in order to snowboard with ease and speed. If the body is not in sync, the snowboarder could potentially fall.
5. Learning How To Fall
Falling is inevitable in snowboarding, whether you are a beginner or a professional. If you are going to fall, it is best to fall in a way that avoids a potential injury. Riders should bring their arms into their chest as close as they can to absorb the impact. The rider’s legs should also be bent. Another smart way to fall safely is by falling directly on your backside. It will decrease the chances of a rider getting injured during the fall.
6. Making Sure Your Gear Fits
If your gear fits your snowboard correctly, it is likely you won’t run into any gear-related problems once you’re on the slopes. Boots connect with the snowboard itself. They should have a snug fit but not tight to the point that you can’t feel your foot. Also, your feet shouldn’t move around inside your boots. If there is foot movement inside the boot, it will make it harder for the rider to put pressure on the snowboard’s side. This ultimately makes it more difficult for the rider to make certain movements, such as turning.
7. Having A Plan For Skill Development
The best way for beginner snowboarders to improve their skills is by having a plan of attack. For example, a good place to start is learning the fundamentals of how a snowboard works. Next, learning how to turn is an essential skill that all riders must know how to do. Then, riders may learn how to perform small jumps over bumps. The idea is to start with the most straightforward techniques to learn and then move on to more advanced moves until you feel ready to snowboard on the slopes themselves.
8. Know the Slope Beforehand
One of the keys to having a good snowboarding experience is knowing the terrain. At most ski resorts, slopes are divided into categories based on difficulty. Green slopes are typically the easiest and smoothest rides, some resorts even having a “bunny slope” for beginners. Blue slopes will then be more intermediate terrain, while black diamond and double black diamond are the most severe. Check beforehand what each trail entails, especially if there are ice patches or other hazards, before you start snowboarding.
9. Ride Across the Slope
Instead of pointing your board straight down the mountain, cut a diagonal path across the slope. This technique will help you maintain the desired speed and control your board. The closer your diagonal is to being perpendicular to the slope, the slower you will go. If tackling the entire run seems intimidating, focus on riding diagonal paths back and forth across the slope at a speed you are comfortable with. Before you know it, you will be at the bottom.
10. Be Patient and Have Fun
As with beginning any sport, it is important to be patient with yourself and focus on having fun. Learning the basics of snowboarding can be frustrating, especially if certain aspects do not come naturally, but you should be patient and accept that becoming good at it will take some time. On that same note, even the most competitive sports are about having fun, so make sure you’re having the best time you can when out on the slopes!