Which not only promotes the development of dexterity and coordination of movements, but also brings an unimaginable feeling of rapid flight among white snow. However, in order to be able to experience this wonderful feeling, you should undergo preliminary training and training, after which you can join a large team of snowboard enthusiasts.
So, how to learn to snowboard in the shortest possible time, so that when you go to winter resort, have you managed to master simple technical skills and enjoy the descents? First of all, you should find a calm and quiet place, preferably away from busy roads, where you could train and master on the first day from morning to evening basic technique. A slide 4-5 meters long and 2-3 meters wide is quite suitable for this. Usually, in order to learn how to snowboard, a person needs 3 days, each of which has its own comic name.
The first day is called the “frog waltz”. Where can you snowboard without any skills on the first day? You need to choose a small hill. Otherwise, you risk not only making others laugh, but also getting into trouble due to an unsuccessful fall.
The first thing you need to master is a special edging technique, which is the ability to control the board with your body. Place the board on the snow and take correct position on her. The front and back legs must fit into the special boot mounts that are located on the board. The front part of the board, which is located under your socks, is called the “front side”, while the back part is called the “back side”. Now you should master the technique of deepening the front edge and the ability to maintain a strong balance. You need to devote the whole day to mastering this technique. In this case, you need to use the following control methods: jump and turn the snowboard 180 degrees, move on the snowboard by jumping first on the “front side” and then on the “back side”.
Some people try to start snowboarding without mastering the edge technique, which is a big mistake. How to learn to snowboard without mastering it basic principles maintaining balance and moving the board? That is why it is necessary to devote a lot of time to developing basic skills.
The second day should be devoted to mastering the technique of sliding down the mountain, without, however, allowing the board to accelerate too much. This day is called “turtle racing” and the main motto here is “the slower you go, the further you will go.” Below are the basic rules that will help you avoid mistakes and better understand how to learn to snowboard. So:
- If the board begins to move with great acceleration, in no case should you squat on back leg, since in this case the speed will only increase. Here you should raise your arms to the side, twisting your torso, as a result of which the speed will decrease until it comes to a complete stop.
- If you have already gained a sufficiently high speed, do not try to fall and thus stop, since the track is full of dangerous obstacles that you may simply not notice (stumps, trees, stones, and so on).
- You must not allow the board to touch the slope with the opposite edge from the one on which you are standing, otherwise you will immediately somersault and bury yourself in the snow.
By the third day, you should already be a confident snowboarder who can cover the entire snowboard trail independently and without falling. However, to do this, you should once again carefully repeat all the exercises that you mastered in the previous two days. This day can be called “artistic snow cutting”, when for the first time you will feel real flight and experience the magnificent feeling of soaring above the snow-covered slope.
Where and how to start snowboarding depends entirely on you, but you should not neglect the rules and advice of experts. Believe me, they have been developed over years of practice and are the most optimal for a person who wants not only to learn how to ride a board, but who has decided to become a professional in this field and achieve great success.
How to learn to snowboard is now known, so all that remains is to go ski resort, rent necessary equipment and start active training. Good luck to you!
Since a fall is inevitable, and it threatens injury, then we need to find ways to avoid these injuries. And people have found such methods, they are well known, very effective, and most importantly, written in the blood of snowboarders. Listen.
Rule 1. Never, never, never neglect protection!
Let everyone say ten thousand times that this is not cool, not fashionable, not convenient or whatever, but it works and will save you from sad consequences. A small set of inexpensive snowboard protection consisting of a helmet, wrist guard, back protector, protective shorts and knee pads will provide 85% protection for your body in the event of a fall.
You will avoid such serious injuries as traumatic brain injuries, broken arms, including the most popular fracture of the radius among snowboarders, damage to the spine and the spinal cord hidden in it, including a dangerous and unpleasant fracture of the coccygeal bone and injuries knee joint, on which your ability to move directly depends. The statistics are relentless - 94% of snowboarders injured in a fall were unprotected.
Don’t listen to losers who sadly say: “Well, people break in defense...”, don’t listen to would-be instructors who believe that a beginner should experience the beauty of falling in his own skin. Wear protection and fall softly, painlessly and safely. And you will see your progress increase. Fall to your health!
Rule 2. Don't be afraid to fall.
When you are on defense, you have nothing to fear. Strong fear subconsciously constrains our muscles, and this risks the fact that the injury will not occur from hitting the ground (about snow, not asphalt!), but from an overstrained muscle that has become stone and broken a bone. Ride in a semi-relaxed state, your body should be soft. Then you definitely won’t be afraid of falling, because breaking a piece of cotton wool is much more difficult than breaking a tree branch.
Rule 3. Do not climb slopes that you are not old enough to reach.
No matter how equipped you are, if you climb a black slope with very mediocre snowboarding technique, you have every chance of breaking your neck. The steepness and difficulty of the slope must increase along with your skills, otherwise you will not have fun, but you will get something worse. This rule applies even more to freeride, backcountry and any off-piste skiing. Virgin land with its stones, snags, awnings and other dangers is no joke. The same is true for any tricks. Learn gradually.
Rule 4. Equipment must be in good working order, suitable and configured.
Ride only on working equipment that suits your parameters and is configured for you. You shouldn’t save money by borrowing a snowboard and boots from a friend who’s been riding for 12 years. The wrong equipment will cause you frustration, more falls, and an increased risk of injury.
Rule 5. Learn to fall correctly.
Falling technique, body position during the fall and control of what is happening are very important for every snowboarder. That is why we are dedicating an entire article to help you figure out how to fall correctly on a snowboard.
P.S. By the way, we talk in detail about how to avoid injuries when snowboarding in the article Prevention. We recommend you check it out!
Snowboarding is a beautiful, exciting and youth sport. But, like any sport, it requires some preparation. Sliding on a board down a slope is not a very common condition for human body. While skating, all the muscles of your body tense. When you get on the board for the first time, you most likely won’t even understand how you can ride it at all.
To make your task easier and take the first step, do a simple exercise.
The first step is to get on the board at home.
So, if you have your own snowboard with bindings and boots, then put them on and stand on the board on the floor of your home. This is very important point– feel how the boots fit on you, whether they are too tight or, conversely, too big. Please note that the boots must be laced tightly so that the foot does not dangle in the boot. But don't overdo it - if you tighten the lacing too much, your legs will get tired very quickly and start to hurt.
Try to understand what position your body is in. If you are comfortable, do a little rocking back and forth, try squatting slightly.
Readers of the site should take into account one more important point - the definition of the leading leg. Usually snowboarders always “steer” with only one foot, the other one helps. It’s very simple to figure out what will be more comfortable for you: ask someone to gently push your chest. You will take a step back, and the leg on which you lean is most likely the leading one. Why do this? At home it is much easier to adjust the mounts specifically for you.
Step two - slide on the back edge.
This is where absolutely all snowboarders begin to learn to ride. Just strap yourself to the board on a flat area and try to stand up - it is quite possible that this will not be easy the first time. Find your balance, feel the weight of the board, spin, jump in place. Rock back and forth in the snow just like you did at home.
Now you need to find a section of the mountain with a slight slope. Buckle up and stand up, transfer your body weight to your heels, and press the board slightly into the slope with the back edge. It is very important at this stage to feel the balance. Once you feel confident, you can start sliding down the slope. To do this, you need to lightly press your toes on the front edge. Do everything smoothly and slowly, bend your knees slightly and put your arms forward. To ensure the board slides forward evenly on the back edge, keep the edge level - do not lean back too much or lean forward. It is important to find a middle ground. If you feel the speed increase, apply more weight to the rear edge to slow down or stop.
Your task at this stage is to ride smoothly down the slope only on the back edge, confidently regulate the speed and brake. When you realize that this is already easy for you, it’s time to move on to the third step.
Step three - front edge.
Now you need to do everything the same as when sliding on the back edge, with the only difference that you will have to ride backwards. Strap in, stand up, start on the back edge, and then in the jump, turn yourself 180 degrees to turn your back to the descent. Then everything goes according to the proven scheme: bend your knees, stretch your arms forward, catch your balance. You need to transfer your weight to your toes, lean forward with your whole body so that the front edge crashes into the slope. Now release the front edge a little so that the board slides down. Do everything smoothly, without sudden movements. To slow down, apply more pressure to the front edge. Look over your shoulder occasionally to see where you are going and adjust your direction.
BRAKING ON A SNOWBOARD
Learning to brake sharply at high speed is very important. This skill can protect not only you, but also your neighbors on the slope from injury. Therefore, spend some time practicing the skill. To begin, begin sliding on the back edge, gradually shifting your weight to your lead foot. The board will be parallel to the slope, and the speed will increase. Now you need to squat down, sharply shift your weight to your heels, and turn your shoulders across the slope. So you will again begin to slide on the back edge, which is already familiar to you. Same with the front edge. Start the movement, turn yourself along the slope, and then sharply transfer your weight to your toes and lean forward. This will return you to normal sliding on the leading edge.
SNOWBOARD TURNS
Everything you did before are important and necessary steps that you cannot do without. But the real fun comes when you start riding. And to do this you need to learn how to turn. It's simple: start moving down the slope on the back edge, dial average speed, and lean slightly towards the turn: point your body there, move your shoulders, load your front leg. If you shift your weight to the left, you will turn left. This way you will find yourself almost across the slope, but be careful not to turn sideways towards the slope - you are not ready for this yet. Brake with your rear edge. Once you stop, shift your weight to right side, and you'll start sliding to the right. I want to warn readers of the site: try not to accelerate and do not put your weight on your toes - the front edge will touch the snow and you will fall. Slide only on the back edge. Your trajectory will resemble the trajectory of a leaf falling from a tree.
When you get comfortable, smoothly, in a wide arc, transfer your weight to the front edge - this way you will gradually turn 180 degrees and find yourself with your back to the elephant. Continue moving and shift your weight back to the heel edge. Do everything slowly and carefully - it will be easier to learn how to ride; speed will come later. This technique is called Flat Turns. But then the fun begins. Once you've mastered flat turns, you'll need to learn how to do carve turns. The main thing in this technique is balance.
So, start moving down the slope, turn sideways to the slope (not parallel, but at a slight angle) with your leading leg and transfer your weight to the front edge, slightly sinking it into the slope. Keep the board at exactly this angle, do not change it unless absolutely necessary. To slow down, place your weight on your rear edge and lean your body away from the slope. This must be done quickly - the board should not ride “flat”, you should always stand on one of the edges. Remember: your knees are always bent; you won’t be able to ride with your legs straight. Feel your balance, control your center of gravity. Your task is to understand when and how much to lean forward and when to lean back. Paradox: the higher the speed, the easier it is to glide this way. At slow speeds, it is almost impossible to control the snowboard. This method requires a lot of training, but this is how all experienced snowboarders ride.
Remember, snowboarding is easy. A little patience and effort - and now you are rushing down a snowy slope, enjoying the speed, frosty air and the strength of your own body.
Snowboarding can be as easy as riding a bike.(Terje Haakonsen).
And it's true. If you decide to try this wonderful sport, then I can recommend one thing initially. Prepare yourself for difficulties. The first few days, and maybe weeks, you will stand on the board with square eyes and not understand how you can even ride here. But believe me, everything is much simpler than it seems.
Of course, your progress depends on factors such as desire and physical training, the conditions in which you will study and ride in the future are also not unimportant. If you have experienced friends, this will also play a big role in your skating.
Start with a warm-up. Remember your physical education lesson at school. Don’t forget, your body, as well as some muscle groups, tendons, even some joints, will be stressed for the first time, perhaps in the last many years, since snowboarding is not an entirely everyday, normal state for the body of a person who has stood on it for the first time. Therefore, you need to prepare the body for unusual loads, and even for unusual falls, more on that later.
Snowboarding is not just entertainment, it is a sport. And this modern, beautiful and youth sport has a flip side to the coin. These are bruises, contusions, dislocations and sometimes even more unpleasant injuries. But if you take this matter seriously, then all these troubles can be avoided. At least serious ones. At first, you will not avoid falls, and bruises and sprains will not be uncommon. But if you really want to become an experienced rider, this won't stop you.
And so, you are mentally prepared, desire tears you apart, and now you are on the slope. There are a lot of people around, some on skis, some on sleds, some rushing along the slope on a board, and some struggle with it and cannot understand what to do with it. Choose a safe place on the slope, where perhaps someone is already studying, or where there are fewer people who are uncontrollably sledding or cheesecakes. These are the most dangerous people on the mountain, because they simply roll down, and their high-speed bolide is practically uncontrollable. And if such a frame hits your legs from behind, you will receive a very unpleasant blow to the back of your head on the ground. It’s even worse if you’re sitting on a slope, strapping yourself on to your new board for the first time, and a little boy on an iron sled drives into your lower back. This could end very unpleasantly. In a word, be careful, there are not only professionals around you, but a lot of dummies.
And so, of course, you won’t be able to go right away, find a flat place and fasten yourself to the board. I'm sure it won't be easy for you to even get up. It's okay, you'll learn. Feel the board, jump with it in place, spin, turn, squat down to it, jump and pull your legs towards you. In a word, learn to just stand still on it. Feel its flexibility and elasticity, feel the weight of the board. This is important because at first, you won’t be riding on the board, but it will take you wherever it needs to go. When you understand that you basically understand what awaits you, you can go on a slight slope.
1. The first thing you need to learn is to slide down on the back edge.
The board has two edges, back and front. The front one is in front of you, the rear one is behind, respectively. Sit on the slope, right on the snow, if you can buckle up while standing, honor and praise to you, but I give 100% that you won’t succeed, so get ready to get your butt a little wet. And so, get up, move your body weight back a little, use your heels to slightly press the board with the back edge into the slope so that it does not slide down. At first you will fall backwards, because... balance does not come immediately. In order for the board to creep down little by little, you need to press your toes a little on the front edge, just a little. Do everything smoothly, don’t jerk, put your arms forward a little, knees bent. In order for the board to go down at a uniform speed on the back edge, you need to keep the edge level. That is, do not press sharply on the front or rear, keep the golden mean. Do not throw your body sharply forward or backward. Adjust the angle of the board with your toes, if you feel that the speed is increasing, pull your toes up and your body back a little to load the rear edge, thereby pre-braking. Accordingly, for the board to go down the slope again, lower your toes a little, do not throw your body forward, keep it in the center of the board, otherwise you will rest your front edge on the slope and fall. (as they say, \"catch the edge\") just lightly press your toes onto the front edge, and you will feel the board crawling down the slope. Your task is to learn to slide on the back edge, at a stable speed, so that you can control the speed and stop quickly. All this is the basis of braking, because in most cases, you will stop using your rear edge. By turning yourself into exactly the same stance in which you are now learning to slide on the back edge. Keep doing this until you feel like this exercise doesn't scare you.
2. Sliding on the front edge.
Everything is the same as when sliding on the back. Just turn it the other way around. There is only one inconvenience: you will have to drive backwards. And so, there are two ways, one is simpler, the second is more complicated. If you start with the second one, it will only benefit you. The second way is that you stand on the board facing the descent, and then in the jump you turn 180 degrees so that you are facing the mountain. Method one: you immediately stand with your back to the descent, i.e. you face the mountain. You fasten your seat belt just like that, as soon as you get up, you might immediately fall to your knees, nothing, get up again. To prevent the board from creeping down, you just need to press your toes onto the front edge, but not just your toes, but your whole body, your legs are half bent, your knees are thrown forward a little so that the center of gravity is greater on the front edge. Hands slightly forward. In order for the board to crawl down the slope, you need to release the front edge a little. Just don’t do it abruptly, don’t press your heels on the back edge, you’ll immediately catch it and fall on your back, you might hit yourself unpleasantly with your backside. You can simply tilt your body back a little, just a little, this will raise the front edge, and you will slowly begin to slide down, back forward, on the front edge. Everything is the same here, to reduce the speed, press on the front edge, you can do this with your toes, or you can throw your body forward a little to start sliding again, release your toes a little, move your body back a little, but not too much. Do everything smoothly, don't rush. Where you are going, look over your shoulder, or under your arm, under your left or right, decide for yourself how convenient it is.
3. Falling leaf.
When you have mastered sliding on the front and back edges, you can begin the exercise, falling leaf. It is called that because the trajectory of your ride will resemble exactly the trajectory of a falling leaf. Stand up facing the descent, i.e. you are standing on the back edge. Start sliding on the back edge, and while sliding, load right leg stronger than the left. Press harder on your right heel. At the same time, turn your shoulders a little in that direction. You need to get the board to move a little to the side, but stay on the edge. To return from this position to the starting position, you need to load the opposite leg, shoulders too, not too much, don’t twist, just turn your shoulders a little in the direction of movement. From the starting position, load left leg, also pressing on the back edge, and you will crawl in the other direction. Repeat this exercise until you feel that you are changing the direction of the slide, without falling, without straining. The same thing needs to be done on the front edge. Everything is similar here. There is just one little thing. When you slide backwards, turn your head and shoulders in the direction you are turning. Those. if you load your right foot and the board begins to creep to the right, then your shoulders and head are turned slightly to the right. Conversely, as soon as you change direction to the left, your shoulders and head point to the left.
4. Braking system. Rear edge.
Having mastered all the previous exercises, which may take you several days, you can almost start snowboarding. Start sliding on the back edge, loading one of your feet, and level the board down the slope. The speed will begin to grow rapidly, don’t be afraid, YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING! To stop, you need to do the following: lean your body back a little to load the back edge, as soon as you do this, you will feel that the board has moved in an arc, and you begin to turn, at this moment, squat down a little, load the back edge with your heels, and turn your shoulders across the slope. Forward facing i.e. and relax your back leg, and throw it forward so that the board is also completely on the back edge, across the slope, that's it, now you just slide on the back edge, like you learned a few days ago, now just load the back edge more, and stop. The most important thing, when turning, is not to throw your body forward, do not load the front edge, but always keep it raised, otherwise you will catch the slope and fall face forward. All this will not work out right away, so repeat until you do it confidently.
5. Braking system. Front edge.
Stand up immediately with your back to the descent, start sliding on the front edge, lightly load one of your legs, thereby turning yourself along the slope, when you realize that the speed is already sufficient, start loading the front edge. To do this, throw your body forward a little, don’t just bend over, but completely move your center of gravity forward. It's like you want to just fall forward and do a push-up. At the same time, the board will begin to move in an arc, you will begin to turn, at this moment, turn your shoulders in the direction of movement, turn almost with your back to the descent, squat down a little, bend your knees a little more, and begin to push your back leg back, as if turning the board across the slope, now you're just sliding on the front edge again, to stop, load the front edge more.
6. Flat turns.
To finally start enjoying skating, you need to actually start skating. Not immediately, of course, flying from huge jumps, but simply, beautifully, and skiing with high quality. You can start this with flat turns. Start moving down the slope, pick up an average speed to turn and slow down a little, load the rear edge slightly, shoulders slightly towards the turn, load the front leg more, thereby standing almost across the slope, but not completely, having slowed down a little with the rear edge, you immediately start return to starting position. You do it this way, you turn your shoulders back, i.e. you place them in the direction of movement down, unload the back edge by throwing your body forward a little, the board will start to move down, you begin to load the front edge by slightly throwing your body forward, bend your legs a little stronger, put your back leg down so that the board is almost across the slope, but not completely so as not to lose speed. You return to the starting position by smoothly unloading the front edge, and smoothly tilting your body back, loading the rear edge. Do all this smoothly, because if you turn the board a little across the slope and sharply load the opposite edge, it will catch the slope and you will fall.
7. Carved turns. Laying the arc.
Very serious and important element. Having learned to "cut" you will immediately understand that everything you learned to do before is the little things in life. The ability to cut well, at high speed, while being able to maintain a smooth, even arc, is a sign of great experience. If you learn to cut well, then on the slope you will look like an experienced boarder. Carved turns are balance. Everything is contained in him. It's actually very simple. Start moving down the slope, and sink the front edge a little, and hold the board at this angle, and do not change it, and you will see that you turn, precisely on the edge, as before braking, but do not tear the board into a full turn, but hold the edge. To move from the front edge to the back, you must first return the board to the plane, and immediately transfer it to the back edge, throwing your body back, and squat down, and also hold the board at one angle so that the edge is pressed in evenly, and you will be led in an arc. The center of gravity plays a big role here, everything depends on it. When you are in a carve turn, you are controlled by centrifugal force, and your task is to understand how much you need to lean forward or backward in order to find the correct counterbalance to this force. The higher the speed, the easier it is to navigate the arc. At low speed, the board is not controllable.
