For me, snowboarding became a life-changing activity. It gave me confidence, friendships, a positive outlet for healthy physical activity, and even my career. While the sport may seem a bit scary initially, with the right approach and some tips I’ve collected over the past 3 years, you can level up your snowboarding skills and have a blast on the slopes.
Check out these ten tips I wish I had known when I started snowboarding:
Switch riding refers to riding with your non-dominant foot forward.
While it may feel awkward and challenging at first, practicing switch riding from the early stages of your snowboarding journey can yield significant benefits. Not only does it enhance your overall board control and balance, but it also opens up new possibilities for tricks and maneuvers.
Start by incorporating short switch riding sessions into your regular practice runs. Gradually increase the duration and difficulty level as you become more comfortable. Embracing switch riding early on will make you a more versatile and well-rounded snowboarder in the long run.
Maintaining good balance and control is key to progressing in snowboarding.
Always look ahead and focus on where you want to go rather than staring at your board. This helps you anticipate obstacles and adjust your body position accordingly. Keeping your weight centered over your board will provide better stability and control, allowing you to maneuver more effectively.
Practicing riding with the back foot unstrapped can be beneficial for a few reasons.
Firstly, it helps you maintain a forward weight distribution on your snowboard. With the back foot unstrapped, you naturally tend to lean forward, which promotes better balance and control. This positioning is particularly important when riding steep or challenging terrain, as it allows you to stay centered over the board, enhancing your stability and responsiveness.
Secondly, riding with the back foot unstrapped is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with getting off the lift. As you may already know, your back binding will be unstrapped getting on and off the lift. Learning how to ride well with a foot unstrapped helps build your skill to exit the lift ramp.
Trust me, you’ll want to be able to exit quickly and stop when you’re stuck in the middle of a six-pack lift full of other snowboarders.
Wearing knee pads and impact shorts with padding on the sides of your hips and tailbone can be a game-changer when it comes to protecting yourself while snowboarding.
Taking hard falls is common in the sport, and proper protective gear can significantly reduce the impact and potential injuries. Knee pads provide cushioning and support for your knees, which are vulnerable to twists and impacts during falls or landings. Impact shorts with side padding offer crucial protection for your hips, minimizing the risk of bruising or fractures. Additionally, the padding on the tailbone area can absorb shocks and prevent painful impacts in case of a fall on your backside.
By investing in high-quality protective gear, you can ride with more confidence, knowing you have an extra layer of protection against unexpected impacts and falls.
Additional pro tip: if you didn’t already assume so, make sure you wear the protection inside your ski pants.
Learning how to fall gracefully is an essential pro tip for any snowboarder, regardless of skill level.
Instead of resisting a fall, embrace it as an opportunity to minimize the impact and reduce the risk of injury. When you feel yourself losing balance, try to relax your body and go with the flow of the fall. Keep these key points in mind:
Having friends record videos of you riding is essential for documenting memories, but it’s also a useful tool to level up your skills and compare your riding to the pros.
Reviewing footage of your snowboarding sessions allows you to objectively analyze your technique, body positioning, and overall performance. It provides a different perspective that may not be apparent while riding. By observing yourself on video, you can identify areas for improvement and make adjustments to enhance your riding skills.
Additionally, recording videos allows you to capture those memorable moments, from breathtaking views to the fun times with friends at the lodge (shot ski amiright?!); you can relive those experiences later and cherish the memories associated with them.
When it comes to snowboarding gear, the old saying “buy nice or buy twice” holds true.
Investing in high-quality gear from the beginning can save you both money and frustration in the long run. Certain items, such as base layers, waterproof layers, boots, bindings, and goggles, are essential for your comfort, performance, and safety on the mountain. Opting for top-notch options in these categories ensures durability, functionality, and optimal performance in various weather conditions.
When it comes to deciding whether to pack lunch or eat out, I often find it more enjoyable to go out for lunch either earlier or later than the usual lunchtime.
For instance, going for lunch at 11:15 or at 1:30 can be a great idea as it helps avoid the rush hour and the resulting crowds at the eating joints.
Bonus: The mountain is relatively quieter during the lunch hours, which can make the experience more peaceful and enjoyable.
When skiing or snowboarding on a mountain, it’s important to be aware that the snow conditions can vary significantly depending on the face of the mountain you’re on.
For instance, while the shaded runs may have icy and hard-packed snow, the sun-facing slopes may have significantly softer and more forgiving snow. So, if you’re not having fun on the icy runs, it’s worth it to move over to the sun-facing side to enjoy the softer snow and improve your overall experience on the mountain.
Developing a strong mental game is the biggest game-changer.
Before attempting a new trick, tackling challenging terrain, or pushing your limits, take a moment to visualize yourself successfully completing the task. Imagine the movements, the feeling of balance, and the satisfaction of nailing the trick or conquering the slope. Visualizing success helps build confidence by familiarizing your mind with the desired outcome and reducing anxiety or doubt.
Trust your instincts and the capabilities of your snowboard. Bend your knees to maintain a stable and balanced posture, allowing your board to absorb bumps and changes in terrain.
Instead of fighting against the board, learn to work with it. Trust that your board’s design and construction are optimized for performance, and allow it to do its job.
By maintaining a relaxed yet responsive stance, you’ll tap into the natural dynamics of your snowboard, allowing the board to maneuver and respond to the terrain.
