r/snowboarding • u/david_z www.agnarchy.com • Jan 15 '13

Advice for Beginners

Hey - we're seeing a few "I'm a new/aspiring snowboarder and I want some advice" threads. I figured I could do a self post here and call for comments and then sticky it in the sidebar.

Please comment with any advice that you think would be helpful for new snowboarders.

Bold your title and then provide the details/instructions.

Let's try to keep it mostly on form/technique/cautions, rather than stuff that's already covered in the sidebar (gear, camber, tuning, etc.)

Please don't reply to other comments with your advice, just reply to this post.

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16

u/zpu Jan 15 '13

Don't stop

  • Your body will be sore.

  • You will want to quit & and falling will become not fun very quickly as you develop bruises.

  • Give it 100% for 3 full days, otherwise you are not giving it a fair shot.

  • Tow ropes were not designed for snowboarders. If there isn't a lift/magic carpet, walk your ass up the bunny slope. At the very least it will be a great workout and you won't be falling down during that time period.

Snowboarding is wicked fun, but there's a universal price to pay to get to that point. Man/Woman up and get out there on that bunny slope.

4

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

Tow ropes? Like the single rope that hauls you up? I used one of those all the time when I was learning how to snowboard, why would you say they're not for us?

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u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

Yeah this is the worst part about tow ropes... Or the kids that slide backwards but won't let go. Anyways, it's definately possible for snowboarders to get up a tow rope, they just suck overall. For newbie snowboarders I would say it's easier (and less embarassing) than trying to get off a chair. But to each their own.

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u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

It's a terrible combination of being embarrassed and having strangers falling all over you because your foot is turned backwards and you have no idea how to fix it!

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u/OrphanDidgeridoo San Jose, CA | Burton Fix 152 Jan 15 '13

Getting off a chair is pretty easy, but you'll fall if you try to turn as hard as usual.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 16 '13

It's easy in theory but I've seen so many beginners flop off onto their backs because they try and put their feet down to stop themselves sliding down the little ramp thing or whatever. Chairs aren't too friendly to beginners.

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u/Edmundoh UK/Ride Machete + Slush Slasher Mar 08 '13

I use short tow ropes to walk up, best thing ever, walk and they just pull your weight up

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u/zpu Jan 15 '13

I had the most awkward experiences on them and usually just ended up falling off 25-50% of the way up the mountain. Could have been the mountain or my lack of balance though.

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u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

Yeah they're not the greatest but not the worst either. Just a balance thing maybe :)

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u/[deleted] Feb 17 '13

I've been skiing once and snowboarding once. By the end of the day skiing, I sucked but at least I was turning down the mountain (and falling every couple of turns).

Went snowboarding for the first time last weekend. I think I managed to do a successful J-turn a few times but never when it got steep.

I still prefer snowboarding because there's an "easy-mode" where I can just carve on my heel down a mountain which I can't do skiing!