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Best piece of advice when you were starting out- |
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hokierower 
Lift Op. 
Joined: Nov/11/2008 Location: Blacksburg, VA Online Status: Offline Posts: 56 |
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 Topic: Best piece of advice when you were starting out-Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 1:30am |
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I just finished a week of riding which brings my total number of days on a board to 10 over a 1 year period, and 5 on my new board. At the start of the week I did a bunch of runs, but mainly just doing heel edge the entire way down. Tuesday I wiped out hard and ended up calling it a day. Wed however I got on a empty blue run (easy in europe) and just rode for 3 hours teaching myself how to turn from heel to toe and back. Thurs and Fri consisted of me barreling down the mountain leaving s-patterns in teh snow. The biggest thing that helped me make the transition was something I read online explaining that it's best to visualize the bottom of the board being a half circle, and when switching edges you should visualize rolling the board along that circle in order to keep a smooth transition going. What piece of advice helped you out the most when you were starting...or that you'd offer to a new rider? Oh, and were you self taught or had lessons? |
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daxdagr8t
Lift Op.
Joined: Feb/24/2007 Location: socal Online Status: Offline Posts: 360 |
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Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 2:14am |
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here's how i learned how to link turns. I visualized my right foot (front foot, im goofy) pressing on the gas pedal to initiate my toe side turns then push off with my back foot to keep a toe side edge. Then i just lift my front toes and put pressure on my right calves to go back to my heelside edge.
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days ridden: 11
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Phatman
Expert Members 
Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: 22 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5620 |
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Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 2:26am |
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Bend your knees and use your lead knee to lead you. Made everything click for me.
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A thermos keeps hot stuff hot, and cold stuff cold.....BUT HOW DOES IT KNOW???
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Wizard1990
Educator 
Joined: Jun/03/2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2708 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 3:01am |
My advice is GET LESSONS and ride as much as you possibly can. |
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I only snowboard because its cool.
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hokierower
Lift Op.
Joined: Nov/11/2008 Location: Blacksburg, VA Online Status: Offline Posts: 56 |
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Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 5:09am |
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The first five days of riding for me was w/ a snowboard school. I learned all the basics, but it was a larger group so the people who couldn't figure out how to stop held us back. dax, I ride goofy too and the way we do things sounds really familiar. To iniate a toe edge turn tho, I put my weight on my front foot and then almost pick up my back foot and slide it over until it's where I want it. I would guess it would look like i'm throwing my foot behind me. |
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noremorse1
Lift Op.
Joined: Dec/13/2008 Location: Seattle, WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 15 |
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Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 7:12am |
Thats the way group lessons always go at that level. It sucks for the other riders too. My wife is an instructor and always says how she feels sorry for the other kids when she is doing level 1 lessons. If you can afford, or weasel, your parents for a few private lessons, that may also really help you. Also, most decent mountains will have "camps" for the locals. For instance, here at the Summit at Snoqualmie (Washington) one weekday every week is a freestyle camp. It is taught by guys who are practically pro and they cover a lot of stuff. Good luck. Sounds like you are getting it and already hooked. |
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kimchijajonshim
Instructor 
Bear Hugs! Joined: Nov/09/2006 Location: 39 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9970 |
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Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 7:53am |
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Best advice of the top of my head for beginners:
- DON'T LEAN BACK. Without getting too technical, on groomed snow all of your control comes from your front foot, so you want about a 60-40 front-back weight distribution. Leaning back means you can't properly initiate a turn and you will wash if you attempt one or swerve at all, because you will be "locked on" to your course. It's counter-intuitive as hell, but you want to lean FORWARD if anything. - Don't catch yourself with your hands and wrists. At slower speeds, ball your fists up and brace with your forearms. Once you get up to higher speeds, learn to tuck and roll. - Don't be a pussy  |
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ROLL ON, BISHES.
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hokierower
Lift Op.
Joined: Nov/11/2008 Location: Blacksburg, VA Online Status: Offline Posts: 56 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 9:13am |
I'm working on that one |
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daxdagr8t
Lift Op.
Joined: Feb/24/2007 Location: socal Online Status: Offline Posts: 360 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 12:39pm |
my back foot pretty much acts like a rotor on a boat, but my front foot initiate all the turns. This is the main reason why I can't ride powder really well. |
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days ridden: 11
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ihop
Lift Op.
Joined: Jan/19/2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 75 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 2:32pm |
I'd say this too, except lead with your front shoulder instead of your knee. Your hips will follow your shoulders, and your knee will follow your hips. Something I figured out on my own, but ended up smoothing my riding out a lot was to try and 'quiet' your arms, especially the rear one. I noticed that good riders are doing very little with their arms, and bad riders (including myself) would flail them all over, and particularly use the rear hand for counterbalance and counter rotation. I started focusing on keeping my arms relaxed and low near my sides more, and not bringing my rear hand in front of my body if I thought I might fall or wash out. Quickly I noticed it really smoothed out my riding, and made me realize a few other mistakes I was making, but was compensating for with my arms. |
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klutzycurtis
Local 
Joined: Jun/19/2008 Location: 39 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1203 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 3:49pm |
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for me and my sister it was to keep your front foot firmly planted and to not lift it up to slow down. Also, to bend your knees, and point with your front shoulder and head to where you are going, and then after that, don't think at all
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ForeRL
Ski Bum 
Joined: Dec/02/2007 Location: Tahoe Online Status: Offline Posts: 533 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 4:00pm |
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Look where you want to go.
Weight on the forward foot as others have stated |
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joey101
Ski Bum
Joined: Jun/25/2008 Location: 23 Online Status: Offline Posts: 312 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 5:14pm |
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Bend your knees and use your lead knee to lead you. Made everything click for me.
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<a href=
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overkill127
Local
thank you come again Joined: Aug/18/2008 Location: 47 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1323 |
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Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 5:36pm |
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keep it loose.
tension is for skiers |
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Steezimax
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Los4212
Ski Bum
Joined: Dec/12/2008 Location: North East Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 6:14pm |
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Self taught and dont get discouraged. Your gonna take your lumps but thats also how your gonna learn your style, strengths and weaknesses. Its all about confidence
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Andrew
Lift Op.
Joined: Oct/28/2006 Location: Davis Online Status: Offline Posts: 605 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 6:35pm |
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1. Keep most of your weight on your front foot (don't lean back)
2. Bend your knees 3. Lead turns with your shoulders 4. Always Be aware of your edges, and always use your uphill edge for turning. |
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World in Panic. Cities In Flames. ... Let it Burn
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klutzycurtis
Local
Joined: Jun/19/2008 Location: 39 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1203 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 6:41pm |
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oh, yeah, never really thought about #4, kinda came naturally, but that is very important when I think about it
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espnsportsfan
Local
Joined: Jul/09/2007 Location: 9 Online Status: Offline Posts: 439 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 7:12pm |
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bend your knees and relax...i always was tense at first and once i relaxed it came really easy for me
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Boards: Sierra Crew 155, Burton Dominant 155
Bindings: Flow NXT-AT, Union Datas
Boots: 32 Prion
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Lyner
Lift Op.
Joined: Jan/02/2009 Location: Chicago Online Status: Offline Posts: 180 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 7:22pm |
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I too am just starting out...so thanks for the advice
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taiguy
Ski Bum
no insta-death Joined: Nov/15/2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1095 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/04/2009 at 10:46pm |
hahaha. glad i read through the thread. yea i was going to put that up. glad it's not an uncommon piece of advice |
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Aus_Boarder
Ski Bum
Joined: Aug/17/2008 Location: 2 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1006 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/05/2009 at 2:43am |
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All the advice given above is excellent. Be confident on the mountain. Speed is your friend, in that it will give you better balance. I'm not talking out of control speed, but most of us when we start make the mistake of going too slow. Also remember that a large part of snowboarding is also mental. Positively knowing that you can ride, turn stop etc will make it easier to learn. Finally, get lessons. It will help you progress faster.Edit: Oh yeah. Don't be a pussy
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chris4355
Lift Op.
Joined: Apr/01/2008 Location: SoCal Online Status: Offline Posts: 238 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/05/2009 at 3:13am |
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1) look in front of you, not down on the floor
2) bend your knees! 3) have good judgment over what you can and cannot do but... don't always remain in your safe zone or you will never learn. 4) if you haven't yet after 5 days.... give your board a wax 5) practice practice practice linking your turns. |
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hokierower
Lift Op.
Joined: Nov/11/2008 Location: Blacksburg, VA Online Status: Offline Posts: 56 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/05/2009 at 4:34am |
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Thanks for all of the help. I'll remember it when I hit the slopes on Wednesday. I might even try and hit a couple of the things in the park. I'll get my board waxed there but I bought one of the dakine kits and will be doing my own from now on out. The don't be a pussy advice is the best in my opinion. |
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agentorange
Ski Bum
East Coast Rider Joined: Aug/19/2007 Location: Florida Online Status: Offline Posts: 446 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/05/2009 at 4:46am |
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Don't be afraid to fall...
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www.myspace.com/disgruntledamericans
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fostpaint
Expert Members
Joined: Apr/03/2008 Location: 32 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2439 |
Quote Reply
Posted: Jan/05/2009 at 7:23am |
X2 (X3, 4, 5 maybe?) on this one. The biggest problem I see in brand new riders is that they lean onto their back foot, likely out of fear or in an effort to "counter" the lean of the hill and get back to plumb. Then they just end up bombing the run unable to turn until they completely panic and fall on their ass. The other day 2 or 3 thing I always push is squaring up your shoulders to the board and leading with your head. As a former skier, it's really counter-intuitive to not square your shoulders to the hill and face where you're going, but you really need to learn to not open up your shoulders on a board. |
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