How To Choose Snowboard Bindings
Snowboard bindings are a direct connection between you and your snowboard. They transfer muscle movements to the board and allow you a more precise control of your board, which is why it is an integra [...]
Snowboarding is an activity that can be either recreational or competitive. To snowboard, you have to stand on a board that is attached to your feet, and descend over a slope that is covered with snow. This activity has been around since the 1920's, and the first ever snowboards were wooden planks made from barrels or tie plywood, that were then attached to the feet with the use of clothesline and horse reins, so that you could steer yourself downhill. In 1965, snowboarding started modernizing when an engineer in Michigan invented a toy for his daughter. He fastened two skis together, and attached a rope to one end, so that his daughter would be able to control it as she stood on the board, and then gilded downhill.
There are a lot of types of snowboarding, and it is a perfect activity to get you outside and active in colder weather. If you are a beginner, snowboarding can be pretty intimidating because there is always a little bit of a learning curve. But once you have mastered the basics, it will unlock a whole lifetime of fun on the mountain.
To snowboard, you first have to get the right gear for you. The next step is to learn the rules and safety before learning the proper stance. Once your front foot is strapped in, you have to be proficient in skating and gliding, then learn the turns. It can be a bit intimidating, but it is easy to master.
To know more about how to snowboard, we have listed the steps and tips on how to get started, so you can be prepared before heading out on the slopes.
Get a board that you feel comfortable with. For beginners, it is best to rent a board first, then get a lesson with a certified instructor. Always remember to take it slow and trust the process. Do not rush into things in order to avoid hurting yourself or others.
Learning the proper stance will help you balance the board and control it better for a more efficient ride. On a snowboard, you go down the mountain sideways, like on a skateboard, surfboard, or wakeboard.
This manner is called your stance, and it comes in two ways:
An easy way to figure out what your stance is, is by analyzing which foot you'd rather choose to kick a ball with. This foot will then be in the back when you snowboard. For instance, if you'd rather kick with your right foot, you have a regular stance.
You should also learn the proper, relaxed body position on a snowboard to be able to control the board competently.
Steps on how to get into a basic snowboard position:
Once you are already strapped into the front binding, you have to learn how to skate — this means moving around on a flat surface with your front foot strapped in, and the back foot pushing you along. This is best used on a flat terrain, and when you get on a chairlift.
Gliding will let you move around in gentler hills on the mountain with only one foot strapped in, and the other resting on the board. Gliding is a skill that comes convenient when getting off a chairlift.
This is one of the first skills you have to learn when riding a snowboard. The J-turn is how you can start shaping a turn. When learning this, you have to glide straight, and then turn slightly uphill in the shape of the letter J. You first have to practice this with your front foot strapped into the binding, and your rear foot resting on the top of the board.
For J-turns, remember not to stand up tall. Keep your knees bent like if you were just sitting in a chair for your heel-side turn.
Learning how to traverse will let you balance and hold an edge to be able to travel across the slope.
Toe-side traverse
Remember not to balance on tiptoes.
One tip is to make tilting adjustments so that you can control the board. You should also avoid standing too tall or making big movements.
Once you've practiced riding across the slope, you have to learn how to make your first full turn. You should try and practice this on a gentle slope with a flat runout to prevent accidents.
Remember not to flatten your board too quickly because you may catch an edge. It is also not best to rush traversing into a turn.
Once you are comfortable with the steps mentioned above, you can move on from one turn to another.
When you have turned in one direction, do not come to a stop, but rather, keep traversing across the slope, and then start making another turn in the opposite direction.
Avoid leaning too far toward the tail of the board and getting on an edge too quickly.
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