Choosing a board
To begin with, you do not need to choose a specific discipline like freestyle, or free-ride, etc., nor special board. Instead, it is better to choose a board that is flexible and, more importantly, tolerant to avoid paying for your mistakes. The right board should come up to the same height as your shoulders. If it is too long, you will have difficulty turning. Choose a twin tip snowboard which will help movement in both directions.
Your first turns
Learning how to turn is the most difficult skill, but the curve is what gives you the pleasure of sliding over the snow. The angle at which you tilt is bigger than on skis, as is the feeling of speed. Lean forwards for better control over the board and turn your shoulders to start turning.
Enjoy falling
Like all board-sports, you will fall more often than you care to remember. You have to persevere, because you can progress in leaps and bounds during your first week. After the first few days, you will start to expend less energy: snowboarding is not an energy intensive board-sport.
Its all in your sideslip
Start off on flat areas and try to control the sideslip on both sides; this is essential for being able to descend any slope. Even if you are stuck on a difficult slope, just like the snow plough movement on skis, the sideslip is your way out. Side-slipping also helps you stop!
Are lessons compulsory?
No, but they are strongly recommended: they help you get a good grip of the basics and save time learning. Half a day is sufficient to learn the basics and start off in good conditions.
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Where are the brakes?
Unlike skis, snowboards are not equipped with ski-brakes. A snowboard left unattended on a snowy slope can start to slide and cause accidents. So, when you get off your board, leave it planted in the snow or with the base pointing upwards.
The main categories
Snowboards can be divided into three main categories depending on the desired snowboarding style, the shape and length of the boards, the width, flexibility, etc. The three categories are as follows:
- Freestyle. The boards are very flexible and light for use in half-pipes and snow-parks. In contrast to free-ride, the boards are easily identifiable: they are very short and wider, allowing greater manoeuvrability. Some people even think of them as ‘snow skateboards’. The length of boards can vary from 153 to 157 cm.
- Free-ride. The boards are longer and mainly for use on groomed slopes, off-piste boarding, on hard snow or on deep snow. These boards give good stability and allow the user to reach high speeds. Within this category, a specific board stands out due to its special shape: the "Swallow", a snowboard for powder snow. The tip is very pointed and the tail is shaped like a swallow’s tail. In general, the length of boards can vary from 160 to 170 cm.
- Universal. This term is used to define more flexible boards which can be used for both freestyle and free-ride. Universal free-style is the term used for boards that are not just for snow-parks but which can be used in all situations. Universal free-ride boards are just as good for snowboarding on groomed slopes as on off-piste slopes. What’s more, you can do a bit of freestyle with them.
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