Simon's Snowboarding Tips

Interested in trying snowboarding this winter? Simon has some tips to make your first day on a snowboard a little easier.

Snowboarding Tips - Take A Lesson

You don't need a lesson to learn how to snowboard - but it makes things much easier. Burton's Learn To Ride program is one of the best ways for beginner snowboarders to learn quickly and easily. You won't be popping 360s like Shaun White, but you'll be up and riding and linking turns before you stop for lunch. Bring along a friend who's just learning to snowboard with you. It's more fun learning (and falling on your butt) if you've got someone to enjoy the pleasure and pain of snowboarding with you.

Snowboarding Tips - Dress For Success

The odds are, you won't get Maui temperatures on the slopes, so make sure you dress in comfortable, warm clothing. Body heat escapes through your head, so always wear a hat. Dress in layers and avoid wearing anything made of cotton, since it absorbs water and will keep you cold all day. Wear goggles to protect your eyes from wind, snow and sun. You should also always wear a helmet when snowboarding, especially when you're a beginner. Snowboarding is a safe sport but you're guaranteed to fall a few times, so protect your melon.

Snowboarding Tips - Riding

The first thing you have to determine is your stance. Regular is left foot forward, while goofy is right foot forward. If you don't know which one you are, run across a wood floor with your socks and slide and see which foot goes forward. Another important things to remember on your first day of snowboarding is to always ride on one edge or the other. Press down with your toes to ride on your frontside edge, lean back on your heels to ride on your heelside edge.

Snowboarding Tips - Don't Give Up

Snowboarding is a super fun sport - but your first days will likely be quite frustrating, filled with bumps and bruises and a few embarassing wipeouts. It's almost certain that you'll have a nasty fall getting off the chairlift and don't be surprised if you find yourself eating a lot of snow. Don't let that discourage you. Once you get the hang of snowboarding, it gets easier and more fun every time.

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