What is snowboarding? Snowboarding began over ten years ago in California, where the inventive and ingenious minds of the youth crept from the sandy beach to the snowy slopes of the ski hills, taking their surfboard concepts and ideas with them.
You might have seen them only on television; whooshing down the hill past the skiers with a jaunty swing of their hips and a wild look on their face. Or you might have first encountered them during the Winter Olympics, where as a demonstration sport they soared over the rest of the sports in glitz and publicity as they drew the reporters and the fans. Either way, you found yourself wondering what exactly snowboarding is and if you could possibly do it.
Snowboarding began over ten years ago in California, where the inventive and ingenious minds of the youth crept from the sandy beach to the snowy slopes of the ski hills, taking their surfboard concepts and ideas with them. The first snowboards were rough copies of the surfboard, forcing the rider to try and maintain his balance while whizzing through snow and ice resulting in more injuries than fun and leading to a new wave of creativity and inventiveness as the boarders searched for their own unique style, both for their equipment and for their outerwear.
The first thing you should do when attempting to learn snowboarding is sign up for classes at your local ski resort. During the first few years of snowboarding a constant conflict existed between the resort owners and the snowboarders as to if they could/would be allowed on the slopes, due to their clothing and the fear that they would injure other skiers. But now snowboarding is a full fledged sport and classes exist for all ages and styles, from the freerider who wants to just whoosh down the hill to the freestyle artist who wants to perform the dangerous jumps and thrill the audience below. Check with your local resort and sign up for classes as soon as you've decided that you want to begin to learn this physically demanding sport.
Next, you'll need a board. There are two basic types of boards, one for the freerider who just wants to ski down the hill and the freestyle type for the jumper. While many boards are built for either athlete, some are geared more to one type than another, so be careful when purchasing. As you look at the board, you'll see subtle differences from the surfboard it evolved from. The edges are thinner and the ends of the boards are slightly wider than the center, giving you more control over the board.
Next come the bindings to fasten your feet to the board. Unlike normal ski boot bindings that are set to release when you crash, snowboard bindings are not going to release when you fall. Many skiers find this the most difficult move, falling and not having your board release, but you'll get used to it. The reason for this is that while with skis you need the automatic detachment of the skis for safety reasons (to avoid further damage to your body by them flying around/over you) your snowboard actually provides a single firm base for your feet - and by having it release when you fall will serve no purpose but have you running downhill after your board more times than you like.
The boots are much like normal ski boots, running about a size larger than your regular shoes and made up of thick plastic with plenty of insulation to keep your feet warm and toasty. And like ski boots, they come in a variety of colors and jazzy paint schemes to match your individual desire.
Most ski and snowboarding equipment is expensive if bought new, but more and more stores are springing up that sell used or second-hand equipment; discarded when the owner moved on to another size of boot or another type of ski or snowboard. Most instructors advise that before making a major investment in equipment you may only use a few times a year, you check out these stores - sometimes you can find real bargains for a wonderful price!
Renting is also an option at many resorts, running no more than fifty dollars a day. For the novice who wants to play at the sport, this might be a better option before spending a few hundred dollars.
Clothing is usually easier than you think, thanks to the inventive minds of California. Normal ski suits and parkas don't provide the flexibility needed for many of the snowboarder moves, so the "sloppy" style evolved from layer upon layer of loose sweaters and baggy pants being worn by the boarders. Even if you don't want to look exactly like the kids on television, loose baggy clothing is the order of the day - layered with insulated sweaters and long underwear to provide proper air circulation and still give the flexibility needed for maneuvering on the slopes.
Now you've got your board, boots and clothing and are standing on the slope, ready to take your first run down the bunny hill. Believe it or not, you'll have to decide how you want to stand on the board. Most people board with their left foot forward, much like sliding into home plate. But others prefer to lead with their right. Some of it is dependent on if you're left handed or right handed, and some boarders do both sides, but you'll discover which side you're most comfortable with.
Now strap your front leading foot onto the board. Your toes will inch over the edge of the board a bit; your heel against your other set of toes as you balance precariously for a second or two. Strap your other foot in and you'll start slowly down the mountain side (or bunny hill). Make sure you're facing forward, your hands in front of you and your weight low with your knees bent. (See the advantage of loose clothing?) Try to maintain an even keel in the snow without catching the front OR back end of your board in the snow since this will send you flying to the ground in a hurry.
Okay, you're fine right now, but you'll have to turn at some point. Turns are made by leaning forwards or backwards and from side to side, using the toe edge (front) and the heel edge(back) of the board for steering and speed control. Much like rollerblading, the back of your board will slow you down if you press it into the snow. Many new riders find it disconcerting to be traveling facing the trees or the side of the slope as they go down the mountain, but with a few gentle turns and twists you'll find the thrill growing as you gingerly pick up speed and enjoy the powder under your feet.
Stopping a snowboard is much like coming to a stop on ice skates - you bring both feet perpendicular to the slope and scrape to a stop - although you might fall more than a few times while learning this maneuver. Like on skates, you have to learn how to balance your weight to scrape the snow/ice but not upset your position to the point that you fall. This might take some time to learn, but it's a fun skill to acquire.
Finally, unbuckle your back foot from the board and push off with your foot, sliding easily to the lift for your next ride up to the top to continue snowboarding. Hands free and fancy free, you're on your way to becoming a great snowboarder!
