Getting Started
So, you’ve decided to learn to snowboard? Here is a basic outline of what you’ll need to do in order to get going.
Get the Gear
In order to snowboard, you’ll need some equipment. The equipment section on this site can help you out with choosing individual items, but in general, you’ll need:
- Gloves, jacket, warm socks, warm hat, and other winter clothing
- Boots, boards, bindings
Fairly straightforward. You will most likely have to buy all the clothing for yourself, though you might already own most of it if you live in a warm climate. As for the boots, board, and bindings, I highly recommend that you rent your setup from a local shop while you are learning. As a beginner, you won’t have the experience to pick out a proper board for yourself, so renting will save you from spending money on a board thats wrong for you. For those who plan on going up a lot, many shops offer economical season rentals that are a good deal for those who head out above a certain amount. Talk to your local shop, and have them set you up with whatever is right for you.
Get Lessons
Ok, so you’ve got the gear, and you’re ready to hit the slopes. I highly recommend that you get lessons before striking off for yourself. Lessons are a good idea for several reasons:
- You won’t annoy your friends with all your constant crashing
- You will be with other beginners who will be falling as much as you, which provides good moral support
- The instructor will get you started on the right habits, right away.
- You will learn much faster from a qualified instructor who has studied optimal teaching methods
Just get lessons. Ask at your local shop to get a good idea of which resorts offer good lesson packages. Be on the lookout for coupons or other discounts which can make the often pricey lessons much more affordable.
Get Good
You’ve got a lesson or two under your belt, and you can go more than 10 feet without faceplanting. You’re on your way, but keep in mind for most people it takes about 3-5 days of boarding before you’ll feel confident enough with the basics to not be crashing fairly often. In fact, for your first three days, count on being pretty damn sore afterwords, due to all the crashing. Snowboarding is easy enough to learn, but the very beginning of the learning curve can be quite painful as you’ll be catching your edge all the time when trying to turn. Hang in there, though, and you’ll soon be rewarded with the fun you’ll be able to have with your new found skills. Read through the rest of the pages on this site to get an idea of what to do and how to improve.