Snowboarding Tips: Make the Most of Your Mountain Adventure.
Feeling the thrill of free-falling down a powdery snow-covered slope while atop a snowboard is an adrenaline rush like no other. That feeling is one privilege not everyone can enjoy, and is the very essence of wintertime snowboard adventures. For the passionate snowboarder, mastering the terrain and the skills involved come easier with a few helpful tips. Here, we’ll give you a comprehensive guide to hitting the slopes and making the most of your snowboarding adventure.
Know Your Gear
A great snowboard is like an adventure partner — you are trusting it to help you navigate the terrain, keep you safe and make sure you won’t miss the powdery perfection you’re looking for. From size, to shape, to binding — snowboarding gear is complex and there’s a lot to choose from.
It might seem like a daunting selection to choose from, but it’s important to pick out gear that’s just right for you and your skill level. Amateur snowboarders should start out with affordable materials. These can often get you a long way and allow you to get a feel for the sport.
Knowing what best serves you is the first step to getting the most out of your experience in the snow. There are no right or wrong answers — always consider what’s best for the terrain and ultimately, your level of snowboard experience.
Regulate Your Level of Intensity
Starting out, it’s important to remember that snowboarding isn’t only a matter of whether or not you’re winning. Just as with any new venture, there’s a learning curve unique to recreational sports — and this one is bigger than others. Pay attention to the differences of each mountain and the conditions of the snow you’re about to encounter.
If you’re an amateur snowboarder, it’s best to ease yourself into the activity. Prepare yourself for the altitude adjustment and take each successful slide as a learning experience. If you’ve been skiing before, you’ll find that the same grounding laws of knowing your limit ring true.
Always check both the borders of trails, and the weather before you hit the hill. Before exploring new terrain, the slope’s rating signs should be enough reason for you to know if it’s something you’re quite ready for.
Warm Up and Perform Every Step
Before hitting the slopes it’s best to get into a good warm-up routine — both for your body and your mind. Snowboarding works your core muscles, your legs, your hips, and your lower back. Therefore, it is important to start flexing some of those main muscle groups before taking off.
A few jumping jacks or squats to get your heart rate up is the best way to get the blood flowing, resulting in quicker response time— perfect for sharpening up in an adrenaline-filled activity. Additionally, visualizing and understanding the steps of your runs can jumpstart your growth and make you more self-reliant in the sport.
From graceful descents to railsliding excellence, being surefooted on the gear is important. Make sure your snowboard, bindings and boots are all set up in a way that won’t leave you flipping over or losing fine balance.
Master the Fall Line and Perfect Your Techniques
Dealing with the fall line is essential for a good start to any ride. Since the fall line, in essence, is the direct path to the bottom of the hill — it’s important to know how to control it and how to tell when you’re losing it.
Many snowboarders new to the game think of the line being a straight line down the hill — but it’s not. Where the fall line hits into the moguls, banks and kickers can give you a completely different route. To maneuver and remain in control, use your technique and leg strength.
Squeezing your legs together during the braking process helps in controlling speed and keeping you centered. Carving with your back foot playing a key role helps to turn your board and return you to the fall line. Remember — speed isn’t always the best option. Feel free to slow down or stop and always assess the terrain before taking off.
Keep Your Balance and Gear Your Body Up
After mastering the basics of the fall line, it’s time to get a hold on the natural balance and posture needed on a snowboard. Speed shouldn’t result in you losing full control. To correct posture mistakes, try picturing a simple stance: Feet shoulder width apart and angled down the mountain with flexed toes, knees bent and moving with your feet, back shoulder-length apart, and arms out to the side for better balance.
Base to Board and Rail tips
Sometimes a snowboarder needs to think outside of the box. We’re talking about adding base and rail tricks to the mix.
For beginner and intermediate snowboarders, it’s always a good idea to start small. There are kickers slowly formed by other snowboarders in the park making for a decent gateway for a beginner to try their luck.
The key is to make sure the hips are over the knees so you don’t come off the board. As you’re falling, try to press your board up and away from the jump, allowing you to straighten out the legs.
The same goes for rail riding. Just make sure to wax the rail beforehand. Have your weight deep into the board with your elbows at the front and your toes pointed off the edge. As you get better at your tricks, start to experiment with grabs, rotating and other types of stylings.
Have Fun and Be Safe
Most importantly — have fun! Snowboarding should stay enjoyable and an experience to look forward to each time you enter the arena. Learning from mistakes will help to give you a well-rounded understanding of the sport. Each slope experience is unique and offers an opportunity for new challenges and tricks.
No matter your skill level, always make sure your safety is first and foremost. Wear the proper safety gear, check the environment and conditions of the area you’re going in, and ask for help if you need it. Always make sure someone knows where you are in case of an emergency.
In essence, snowboarding is a learning experience with a lot of thrills and joy. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or have moments of clumsiness. Mastering the basics allows you to challenge yourself on more slopes, in a variety of weather, with a higher level of skill. Use these tips to get equipped with the snowboarding skills necessary for an unforgettable mountain adventure.
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