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Snowboarding is an exciting winter sport and the
best part is, you can be quite proficient in
snowboarding in under a week! Most people who
take up snowboarding as a sport and hobby cant
help getting hooked to it and the best part of
it is – you can choose how to enjoy it. You can
either speed down the slopes for that high
adrenalin rush, or just enjoy a leisurely ride
to relax you!
You probably heard about
snowboarding through a friend or read about it –
and the fact is that it can be a lot of fun. It
is rare to find someone who has tried
snowboarding and didn’t like it. Snowboarding
has its origins in the US around the 1960’s. It
has come a long way since then, in terms of
equipment and styles. You will hear of two basic
styles of snowboarding – and these are freestyle
or free ride and alpine or carving and you’ll
need different kinds of equipment for each.
There are plenty of snowboarding competitions
held each year and as many as eight million
people enjoy snowboarding in the US. Since 1998,
it is also an Olympics event.
Equipment you need to get started
Snowboarding is a hobby like no other, and you
must actually experience it to enjoy it fully.
So let us take a look at the gear you will need
to get started.
Obviously, you will need a board.
You get three different kinds of boards and you
can choose the one that suits your style of
snowboarding. These are:
-
Free ride board, which is the most popular
and ideal for all mountain, park and half
pipe snowboarding. With this, you can have a
great time carving, catching air and a
variety of other riding aspects. These free
ride boards are directional, so you can ride
them in one direction. You can identify this
by the difference in the tip from the tail,
where the tail is narrow, short and flat
compared to the board’s tip. You can also
ride fakie on it.
-
Freestyle boards are wider and more stable
compared to free ride boards. These are also
shorter and lighter, making them easier to
handle for the beginner. These are fine for
performing tricks on the terrain parks and
half pipes.
-
Race boards or alpine boards are carving
snowboards that are narrower than other
snowboards. They are meant for higher speeds
and fast carved turns so that you can move
really fast on hard snow while being stable.
These are available as symmetrical and
asymmetrical versions. These boards are also
unidirectional.
You will also come across
split boards that are a combination of skiing
and snowboarding. It looks just like a
snowboard, but it is designed to split when you
are moving, like skis. There is a connection
between the two skis when you ride.
Snowboard boots and
bindings come next. You will use your boots
and bindings to control your snowboard so you
need to choose a good pair that will protect
your feet and ankles as you whoosh around at
high speed, carving turns, in addition to
keeping your feet warm in the cold weather.
Bindings help to fix your feet to the snowboard
securely. Buy your bindings after you get your
boots so that you get the perfect fit. You will
also need to learn how to adjust your bindings.
Helmets are an essential
snowboarding equipment to keep your head safe if
you happen to fall. When you snowboard off-piste
on uneven rocky terrain helmets can save your
life. So ensure that you get a helmet that fits
well.
You will need suitable
snowboarding clothing. It is better to dress
in layers when you go snowboarding. There are
padded waterproof snowboard jackets and pants
specially designed for this sport. These are
made of breathable material since you will
sweat. There are a number of stores where you
can get the necessary gear to protect yourself
particularly if you choose freestyle
snowboarding. You will also need wrist guards
and kneepads to prevent wrist injuries. Goggles
can help protect you from snow blindness. Padded
clothing guards your body parts like hips,
knees, back, shoulders, etc. that are likely to
take the impact when you go snowboarding. You
will need good ski socks and warm waterproof
gloves or mittens.
One good option is to hire your
snowboarding kit at snowboarding centers, so you
might probably like to try that the first week
before you invest in your own. Later it is not
mandatory that you buy a brand new one. There
are many rental shops that will sell stuff at
amazing discounts, so if you keep track of this,
you can get a great bargain. You might like to
go along with a friend who knows about these
things so that you don’t end up being taken for
the wrong kind of ride.
You can also consider packing food
or snacks and a flask of hot coffee, as these
can be pretty expensive if you go to a ski
resort.
Once you are equipped, you will be
raring to set off on that exhilarating ride. The
first thing you must decide on is your stance.
The common stances are ‘goofy’ and ‘regular’. If
you have your left foot forward, then this is
the regular stance. The right foot forward is
‘goofy’ so you might want to find out which one
is your style.
Basic
snowboarding styles
You are likely to hit the slopes
on your first day out. How do you plan to
learn? You have the option of going in for
professional instruction, and this is the best
way to go since you will learn the basics
properly. Some people prefer to learn from their
friends who are experts at snowboarding.
Your snowboarding will start with
safety policies. Make sure that you always
follow all the safety guidelines related to
snowboarding meticulously as it can save your
life.
Initially you will learn
stretching, how to fall and then move on to
snowboarding with one foot. This is very useful
as you progress to turning skills and getting
off the board. You will also learn the specific
lingo associated with snowboarding like side
stepping, lift, linking turns, edge control,
carving, off piste riding, racing, etc.
Popular snowboarding styles include
-
Free riding or all mountain snowboarding
which is good for beginners
-
Freestyle includes the tricks, jumps, rail
slides, half pipes and switch riding
-
Free carving is about speed and the extreme
carving turns and for advanced snowboarders
-
Split boarding that is just like skiing and
snowboarding combined.
When you begin learning
snowboarding tricks, you can improve with the
help of snowboarding rails so that you can
prevent accidents.
This information is only aimed at
getting you started. For more information and
tips to help you develop your snowboarding
skills, do visit the following website and watch
the following instructional videos and excellent
books on the sport that cover it in depth. .
Videos are great at teaching since you can see
professional boarders perform those tricks you
so much want to master. You will also find
valuable links that can tell you all that you
want to know about snowboarding. Go forth and
enjoy! |
munities.
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