Have you been watching a lot of extreme sporting events lately and couldn't take your eye off of the snowboarding competitions? You may be well on your way to becoming the next top snowboarder! Now all you need to know is how to stand up on one of those things. Oh, and you definitely will need some snow - and a hill. But once you piece together those minor details, you will be ready to jump into the next extreme sports competition, right? Well, maybe not yet. But it doesn't hurt to learn the basics so that when you get onto the snowy slopes you'll have some idea of what to do.
What is Snowboarding?
Beginner Trick Skateboard
Snowboarding is one of the latest crazes among extreme sports. It consists of a combination of skateboarding and surfing, but is done on the snow. As a snowboarder, you stand on the board in similar fashion to surfing, with one foot forward and the other foot facing one side of the board; and your feet are attached to the board with bindings. The goal of the sport is to cascade from the top of a mountain to the bottom with no ski poles or assistance of any kind but your own balance.
Many people become extremely skilled at this sport, especially if they already have a background in surfing or skateboarding. For them, it just requires a few alterations to make the switch. However, you don't have to be skilled in either one to learn how to participate in this sport. You only need practice - and maybe an instructor - to get you started.
Getting Started
Before you can set foot on any snowy slope, you need to get your hands on the appropriate snowboarding gear. That gear includes finding the appropriately sized board. If you are a beginner, it is suggested that you find a shorter boarder to start with because they are easier to maneuver. A short board is typically one that stands between your collar bone and chin; anything longer than that falls into the medium or long categories. In addition to the board, you will need boots, which need to actually fit snugly around your feet to minimize movement, and bindings that help your feet fit tightly to the board. A helmet, goggles, a jacket, and gloves are also necessary purchases.
Once you've purchased your equipment, you're ready to get started. Your first step is to get into the bindings by setting the snowboard on a flat, snowy surface, then stepping into the bindings, front foot first. After bouncing around while strapped in to see how you feel then you're ready to take some baby steps on the board. Remove your back foot from the board and scoot your way to a slight incline then begin walking in small baby steps until you're part of the way up the incline. Once you're there, sit down and strap your other foot in, then standing, place your weight on your heels and shift the weight to your toes until you begin to slide down the hill. Pull back to your heels to stop the board then repeat the process until you feel comfortable.
Many people suggest that, while you can learn the basics by yourself, it is a good idea to take at least one day of instruction from a professional. It will significantly decrease your learning curve and give you the supervision you need to ensure, not only that you're doing it right, but to also teach you snowboarding safety.
The Tricks of the Trade
Once you become the snowboarding expert that we both know you will be, then you can start to incorporate tricks into your routines to impress onlookers - and yourself. Some common snowboarding tricks include ollies, the skill of jumping over small objects; wheelies, which involve you riding your board only on the back end; butters, during which you make a series of full turns by lifting the back end of your board; and nose and tail rolls, which entail you using the nose or tail of your board to make 180-degree spins. Once you surpass these tricks, you move on to rails and half-pipes.
Many snowboarders incorporate a variety of styles they've seen from others, or some that they've created on their own, into what is called free styling. Most freestylers seen in extreme sports competitions get their claim to fame from the acrobatic leaps after reaching the bottom of a mountain slope. And they are judged by difficulty, height and distance. However, as a beginner, or even intermediate snowboarder, it is important that whatever tricks you do, you consider all safety precautions to avoid a serious injury.
Safety First
It is a known fact that many snowboarders do not wear protective gear, however, it is very important that no matter what level you're on you need to always wear protective gear - especially when performing tricks. The reason that people began wearing protective gear in the first place was due to the increase in injuries after stunts. And now more people are catching on by wearing protective gear to avoid serious injuries.
Some gear people are purchasing directly relate to the most vulnerable places on the body, including the wrist, tailbone, head, ankles, and knees. So now people are purchasing wrist guards, padded or protected pants, and a helmet. Also, it is a good idea to wear goggles, especially on bright days, and at high altitudes because the glares are so intense that they can cause snow blindness. Also, the goggles prevent damage from excessive snow that could fall into the eyes.
Snowboarding can be a great sport to participate in as long as you first, learn the basics of the sport, preferably have help with your first day as well as with learning major tricks, and honor the necessary safety precautions that will make sure you can come back another day. Once you have everything straightened out, you will be well on your way to enjoying new snowboarding adventures and creating lasting memories.
The Basics of Snowboarding
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