First time snowboarding!!! Need some tips!

XYR03 · 12-13-2010, 09:49 AM

I'm going snowboarding with my gf's family and dont wanna make a fool out of myself, which is likely since its my first time. I've done alot of skatboarding when I was in highschool but I heard its totally different. So, I'm reaching out to my favorite group of folks to get some pointers.

GregTheStig · 12-13-2010, 09:54 AM

Don't get in the way of any skiers

BTM · 12-13-2010, 10:06 AM

Steer with your back foot and be prepared to spend a lot of time on your ass

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregTheStig

Don't get in the way of any skiers

+1

Freakazoid · 12-13-2010, 10:08 AM

you WILL look like an ass...but enjoy it.

Do you have any 'snow' foundation in terms of knowing how to ski? if you know how to ski, and you know how to skateboard, your foundation should be alright and you should be quick enough.

If you've never ski'ed it's really not like skateboarding at all unfortunately (at least to me)

BTM · 12-13-2010, 10:11 AM

And if you're going on any chairlifts with skiers we do appreciate when you sit on the side of the lift where your board will swing away (depends on which foot you put first) so when getting off our shit isn't all tangled

O-cha · 12-13-2010, 10:13 AM

Snowboarding isn't like skateboarding either.

Suck up your pride and take lessons, no one picks up snowboarding without lessons or at least being told the basics, it just doesn't happen, it's too counter intuitive.

If you do get the hang of it, next time you go there's a certain set of squats you should do for the months prior, snowboarding works an inner thigh muscle that nothing else really works.

If your GFs a snowboarder already, don't be a dick and make sure she goes and has fun instead of baby sitting your butt. Nothing sucks more then the baby slopes with someone that falls every 3 seconds.

Oh and I can't stress this enough, ALWAYS lean away from the downhill, catching a front edge when the board is sideways results in all your momentum being transferred into your face hitting the snow, where as falling backwards is just like sitting down.

NYCGarbagePrince · 12-13-2010, 10:22 AM

Bring some Tylenol/Advil/Motrin .... Leave your pride at home. It is not easy and takes a lot of time to get good at. Most of all, HAVE FUN!

Serious · 12-13-2010, 10:59 AM

If you've skateboarded you will be fine, it's completely different but the balance is the same.

I've taught many people to snowboard (used to be an instructor) one trick, just like driving cars on a track is that you will go where you look, so once you have the basic balance and ability to hold an edge your body will naturally follow your eyes to a spot on the hill.

One thing that can help, but often noobs don't do it because they think it's goofy looking is to actually point with your front arm (left if regular, right if goofy) where you want to go, this points your shoulders and will cause your hips to follow. Also bend your knees and have a low center of gravity, this will make it easier to transition from heelside to toeside and as a plus you won't have as fall to far as if you were standing upright.

intensee92 · 12-13-2010, 11:04 AM

try to be limber. riding down the mountain being all stiff will result in being on your ass.

bend your knees slighty when strapped in to your board.

DenverJayhawk · 12-13-2010, 11:04 AM

I've snowboarded since 1999. I also ski too. Best advice is to take a lesson. Lots of people say they don't want to spend half a day taking a lesson when they are only visiting for a long weekend. But trust me, it's the best thing you'll ever do. Sign up for a half day lesson on your first day out. By the end of the weekend, you'll be doing blue runs no problem and possibly some easy black diamonds. Once you put together a several nice S curves on a groomed run, you'll feel like you're in heaven.

The other advice is keep your center of gravity forward and low...that is bend your knees and keep your weight towards the front foot. Also, always have an edge in the snow. Don't have your board parallel to the terrain. The board needs to be moving and have an edge in the snow to be stable. This is why you will always see snowboarders sitting when they are not moving.

The learning curve for riding is much shorter than skiing. Becoming a good skier takes years of consistent practice where as snowboarding only takes a couple days.

Whatever you do, for the love of god, wear a helmet. Don't end up with a concussion or brain injury on your vacation.

Quick6EF · 12-13-2010, 11:05 AM

Is this a weekend trip? If not, lessons are going to be difficult considering what time they arrive to the mtn.

abisson · 12-13-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTM

Steer with your back foot and be prepared to spend a lot of time on your ass

+1

DO NOT steer with your back foot lol.

I am a snowboard instructor and the best advice I can give you: Take lessons.

It is not easy to start, but once you know what to do, it goes pretty well lol.

And good luck with your ass after the first day

DenverJayhawk · 12-13-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quick6EF

Is this a weekend trip? If not, lessons are going to be difficult considering what time they arrive to the mtn.

This is a common mis-statement that inhibits lots of potential new snowboarders. Even if it's a weekend trip, there's still time for a lesson. Sure, you sacrifice half a day out of a 2-3 day trip, but by the end of the weekend, you'll at least be riding green or blue runs without spending the entire day on your ass. Then the next trip out, it's gravy.

XYR03 · 12-13-2010, 11:29 AM

alright got the list down:

1.) Take Lessons
2.) Low center of gravity, weight on front foot
3.) Point with arms to direction desired
4.) Always have an edge in the snow to be stable
5.) Fall on your ass
6.) Wear a helment

its only a 2 day trip so it kinda sucks. I'll keep you guys updated but keep the tips coming! thanks alot!

BTM · 12-13-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XYR03

alright got the list down:

1.) Take Lessons
2.) Low center of gravity, weight on front foot
3.) Point with arms to direction desired
4.) Always have an edge in the snow to be stable
5.) Fall on your ass
6.) Wear a helment
7.) Be courteous to and conscious of other mountain users

its only a 2 day trip so it kinda sucks. I'll keep you guys updated but keep the tips coming! thanks alot!

Really, not trying to be a dick or anything, but it amazes me how oblivious people can be. Can also be potentially dangerous. We're all there to share and have a good time

ragingclue · 12-13-2010, 11:49 AM

Bring good pants. You'll be spending a lot of time on your ass.

Don't wear a wool sweater. Snow will cake up and weigh down the bottom of it. It'll sag and stretch massively.

Watch your heelside edge on a toeside turn. Those spills are the nastiest of them all, and they get a lot of the beginners once they are comfortable moving at a decent clip. It'll whip the back of your head straight into the ground with some force.

Other than that, just do what everyone else said too. Honestly, without lessons, you're gonna have a bad time.

Mahmood07 · 12-13-2010, 11:55 AM

I suggest you buy wrist protection, thats what I did the first time and it helped a lot! it prevents ur wrist from bending to a certain angle and has a plastic part to protect ur hand when you fall.

Mr.RT · 12-13-2010, 11:59 AM

Best advice on here is take lessons, ull enjoy your weekend better.

JayKay335i · 12-13-2010, 12:16 PM

Buy a wrist guard. The kind you get for roller blading. Strong stuff. And take a lesson.

coh4777 · 12-13-2010, 12:27 PM

Honestly, you are probably gonna spend a lot of time falling on your butt and nosediving into the snow. Snowboarding is just too difficult to pick up the first time to look anywhere near smooth and experienced. But every boarder still remembers what that was like, so I'm sure your gf and her family will understand. Just take lessons in the morning and then maybe try to join up with them for the last hour or two. Don't try to be too aggressive with it because you'll probably end up with a broken bone or a concussion.

JayKay335i · 12-13-2010, 12:31 PM

Also, if everybody in the family skis/snowboards, they will appreciate you taking a lesson vs. slowing them down on the slopes. Take your lesson and then at the end of the day take a run with them and show them your new moves. Then do the same thing the next day.

I remember in the beginning it would take me 45 minutes to make a full run from the top of the gondola when I was just learning. Same stuff I do in a tenth of the time now. But stopping and waiting for people, especially people who fall sucks.

silvergray545 · 12-13-2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abisson

DO NOT steer with your back foot lol.

I am a snowboard instructor and the best advice I can give you: Take lessons.

It is not easy to start, but once you know what to do, it goes pretty well lol.

And good luck with your ass after the first day

Well you sure as hell don't steer with your front foot. As a beginner, it's perfectly fine to steer with your back foot. As you get better, you will learn different techniques such as carving, etc. Keep your knees bent and you will have to train yourself to not be scared to lean. I know for some people, it's a little scary. I remember when I first started, I was so scared to lean hard on my heel side. Lol idk why. You're not gonna be a pro the first day. Hell, you might not even make it down the hill without falling the first day. Just take your time, be safe and you'll eventually get the hang of it. Enjoy

The resorts just opened up in my area. So excited. They should have the park up and running by next week hopefully.

12-13-2010, 09:49 AM	#1
XYR03 Lieutenant Colonel 123 Rep 1,675 Posts Drives: Cayman S Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (6)	First time snowboarding!!! Need some tips! I'm going snowboarding with my gf's family and dont wanna make a fool out of myself, which is likely since its my first time. I've done alot of skatboarding when I was in highschool but I heard its totally different. So, I'm reaching out to my favorite group of folks to get some pointers. __________________ [SIGPIC]2015-Cayman S (Can't leave bimmerpost) 2009-E92 M3 2005-E46 M3 1998-E36 M3 2007-E92 328i[/SIGPIC]
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12-13-2010, 09:54 AM	#2
GregTheStig derp 48 Rep 1,203 Posts Drives: a Tuk Tuk Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (1)	Don't get in the way of any skiers __________________
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12-13-2010, 10:08 AM	#4
Freakazoid Captain 181 Rep 962 Posts Drives: Saturn Redline Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (0)	you WILL look like an ass...but enjoy it. Do you have any 'snow' foundation in terms of knowing how to ski? if you know how to ski, and you know how to skateboard, your foundation should be alright and you should be quick enough. If you've never ski'ed it's really not like skateboarding at all unfortunately (at least to me)
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12-13-2010, 10:11 AM	#5
BTM Banned 483 Rep 10,309 Posts Drives: A///MERICAN!!! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: A///MERICA!!! iTrader: (11) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [7.20]	And if you're going on any chairlifts with skiers we do appreciate when you sit on the side of the lift where your board will swing away (depends on which foot you put first) so when getting off our shit isn't all tangled
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12-13-2010, 10:13 AM	#6
O-cha Brigadier General 218 Rep 4,726 Posts Drives: Mcoupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In front of you iTrader: (2)	Snowboarding isn't like skateboarding either. Suck up your pride and take lessons, no one picks up snowboarding without lessons or at least being told the basics, it just doesn't happen, it's too counter intuitive. If you do get the hang of it, next time you go there's a certain set of squats you should do for the months prior, snowboarding works an inner thigh muscle that nothing else really works. If your GFs a snowboarder already, don't be a dick and make sure she goes and has fun instead of baby sitting your butt. Nothing sucks more then the baby slopes with someone that falls every 3 seconds. Oh and I can't stress this enough, ALWAYS lean away from the downhill, catching a front edge when the board is sideways results in all your momentum being transferred into your face hitting the snow, where as falling backwards is just like sitting down. __________________
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12-13-2010, 10:22 AM	#7
NYCGarbagePrince Major 247 Rep 1,435 Posts Drives: X6 50i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Bring some Tylenol/Advil/Motrin .... Leave your pride at home. It is not easy and takes a lot of time to get good at. Most of all, HAVE FUN!
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12-13-2010, 10:59 AM	#8
Serious 1M advocate 214 Rep 878 Posts Drives: 2018 S4. 2011 M3. 2012 S1000RR Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	If you've skateboarded you will be fine, it's completely different but the balance is the same. I've taught many people to snowboard (used to be an instructor) one trick, just like driving cars on a track is that you will go where you look, so once you have the basic balance and ability to hold an edge your body will naturally follow your eyes to a spot on the hill. One thing that can help, but often noobs don't do it because they think it's goofy looking is to actually point with your front arm (left if regular, right if goofy) where you want to go, this points your shoulders and will cause your hips to follow. Also bend your knees and have a low center of gravity, this will make it easier to transition from heelside to toeside and as a plus you won't have as fall to far as if you were standing upright. __________________ 2012 BMW S1000RR 2011 BMW M3
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12-13-2010, 11:04 AM	#9
intensee92 Colonel 55 Rep 2,468 Posts Drives: Your Girl Crazy. Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Charlotte iTrader: (12)	try to be limber. riding down the mountain being all stiff will result in being on your ass. bend your knees slighty when strapped in to your board.
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12-13-2010, 11:04 AM	#10
DenverJayhawk Major 72 Rep 1,217 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 330i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	I've snowboarded since 1999. I also ski too. Best advice is to take a lesson. Lots of people say they don't want to spend half a day taking a lesson when they are only visiting for a long weekend. But trust me, it's the best thing you'll ever do. Sign up for a half day lesson on your first day out. By the end of the weekend, you'll be doing blue runs no problem and possibly some easy black diamonds. Once you put together a several nice S curves on a groomed run, you'll feel like you're in heaven. The other advice is keep your center of gravity forward and low...that is bend your knees and keep your weight towards the front foot. Also, always have an edge in the snow. Don't have your board parallel to the terrain. The board needs to be moving and have an edge in the snow to be stable. This is why you will always see snowboarders sitting when they are not moving. The learning curve for riding is much shorter than skiing. Becoming a good skier takes years of consistent practice where as snowboarding only takes a couple days. Whatever you do, for the love of god, wear a helmet. Don't end up with a concussion or brain injury on your vacation. __________________ 330i, Black Sapphire, 6MT, Sport, Active Steering, Flux Capacitor
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12-13-2010, 11:05 AM	#11
Quick6EF Lieutenant 84 Rep 489 Posts Drives: E92 Space Gray Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Is this a weekend trip? If not, lessons are going to be difficult considering what time they arrive to the mtn.
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12-13-2010, 11:29 AM	#14
XYR03 Lieutenant Colonel 123 Rep 1,675 Posts Drives: Cayman S Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (6)	alright got the list down: 1.) Take Lessons 2.) Low center of gravity, weight on front foot 3.) Point with arms to direction desired 4.) Always have an edge in the snow to be stable 5.) Fall on your ass 6.) Wear a helment its only a 2 day trip so it kinda sucks. I'll keep you guys updated but keep the tips coming! thanks alot! __________________ [SIGPIC]2015-Cayman S (Can't leave bimmerpost) 2009-E92 M3 2005-E46 M3 1998-E36 M3 2007-E92 328i[/SIGPIC]
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12-13-2010, 11:49 AM	#16
ragingclue One cam is enough 130 Rep 6,801 Posts Drives: VF Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: mulletville iTrader: (1)	Bring good pants. You'll be spending a lot of time on your ass. Don't wear a wool sweater. Snow will cake up and weigh down the bottom of it. It'll sag and stretch massively. Watch your heelside edge on a toeside turn. Those spills are the nastiest of them all, and they get a lot of the beginners once they are comfortable moving at a decent clip. It'll whip the back of your head straight into the ground with some force. Other than that, just do what everyone else said too. Honestly, without lessons, you're gonna have a bad time.
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12-13-2010, 11:55 AM	#17
Mahmood07 Captain 86 Rep 856 Posts Drives: E92 M3 + F85 X5M Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boston->San Diego->Bahrain iTrader: (0)	I suggest you buy wrist protection, thats what I did the first time and it helped a lot! it prevents ur wrist from bending to a certain angle and has a plastic part to protect ur hand when you fall. __________________ ///M3 Mods: \| Eisenmann Race Exhaust \| Primary Cats Delete (TTP) \| ESS Tune \| 19" Advan RS \| Eibach Springs \| MS Air Filter \| BMW Perf. Spoiler \| BMW Perf. Splitters \| Euro LCI Tail lights \| Angel iBright v.3.0 \| 20% Tint \| Matte black Kidney Grills \| CF Side Gills \| Painted Reflectors \| Black M3 emblem
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12-13-2010, 11:59 AM	#18
Mr.RT Lieutenant 29 Rep 461 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: 818/NoHo/SoCal iTrader: (28)	Best advice on here is take lessons, ull enjoy your weekend better.
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12-13-2010, 12:16 PM	#19
JayKay335i Banned 189 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	Buy a wrist guard. The kind you get for roller blading. Strong stuff. And take a lesson.
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12-13-2010, 12:27 PM	#20
coh4777 Lieutenant 29 Rep 533 Posts Drives: 07 BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Vegas iTrader: (0)	Honestly, you are probably gonna spend a lot of time falling on your butt and nosediving into the snow. Snowboarding is just too difficult to pick up the first time to look anywhere near smooth and experienced. But every boarder still remembers what that was like, so I'm sure your gf and her family will understand. Just take lessons in the morning and then maybe try to join up with them for the last hour or two. Don't try to be too aggressive with it because you'll probably end up with a broken bone or a concussion. __________________ COH4777 2007 335i Coupe - Jet Black / Coral Red / Aluminum Trim / 6MT / Sport / Premium / CA / Navi / iPod + USB
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12-13-2010, 12:31 PM	#21
JayKay335i Banned 189 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	Also, if everybody in the family skis/snowboards, they will appreciate you taking a lesson vs. slowing them down on the slopes. Take your lesson and then at the end of the day take a run with them and show them your new moves. Then do the same thing the next day. I remember in the beginning it would take me 45 minutes to make a full run from the top of the gondola when I was just learning. Same stuff I do in a tenth of the time now. But stopping and waiting for people, especially people who fall sucks.
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