Snowboarding Help?

[WYsteph]

Hey boys, I have a couple of questions about snowboarding. I've been on a board twice now, it has been pretty fun (other then the impressive crashes lol.) I'm hoping to take a board with me when we are up sledding, if the snow isn't great then break out the board.

But renting from 2 different places and talking to a couple different sales people I'm slightly confused on what size of board I should be looking for. First ride I had a 145, second I had a 140. I've heard longer is easy to start with, I've heard short is easier. I'm 5'4", 120lbs.

Also first ride my feet were completely straight, second ride they had the front one turned out a lot. Is there a certain angle they should be at or is it just try it and see what works for you?

Any hints on getting the going downhill thing figured out? Right now I can steer, go side to side, and a really good "snowplow" to slow down. But everytime I get my board pointing down hill I feel like I'm picking up too much speed and end up biffing it. Weight on the front foot, try to carve from side to side to keep speed down by switching weight from toe to heel, etc. Anything I'm missing other then just more practice?

Tips for powder? The little bit I've been in I normally the front of the board dives and I do a face plant.

 

[tomx]

A good tip for board length is it should touch the tip of your chin. You can get away with a shorter board as you are just learning, but no taller than your chin. To short of a board tends to put your in a side slip with less edge contact, longer board, is more to swing around, more quick trips to the face. Sweet spot is board to chin or slightly less.

As for binding setups, there's a variety of stance options, but for beginning you should start with the back foot at 0 degrees (flat across board) and front foot somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-15 degrees. Negative on the back foot or 'duck stance' really only comes in handy once you start riding 'back-wards' or 'switch.' You won't be doing that for a while, at least on purpose. Make the rental shop set it up right and you're day will be a lot better.

Key to snowboarding is majority of weight on your front foot, push and pull with back foot. Try it out strapped in on the carpet. When you are on the hill, think of using your feet like a gas pedal, you push down into your turn to turn the gas on or go faster, pull up to let the gas off, or slow down.

Practice, you'll find its remarkably easy after a few more times out. Enjoy!

 

[Lushbomb]

learning in the backcountry is tough..
lots of powder, stand up, point it, lean back and keep your speed.. the turning becomes more natural at speed..

my lady ended up in the ER when i took her out to the BC to try and snowboard for her 1st time.


be prepared for Dr bills..

 

[WYsteph]

Thanks for the help! Ouch! Hopefully no trips to the ER for me!

 

[Kordero]

The chin rule is a good one but may be better suited to the conditions found at a ski area. If you're taking the board to ride on powder conditions in sledding areas you can go a bit longer board. This will also help you keep the nose up as your weight will be centered back.

As far as foot positioning - stance - have you ever stood on a skateboard or surfboard? If so imagine yourself doing riding one and then look down at your feet the way they are angled is how you should have your bindings set. I like to put my boots in the bindings to make make sure they are aligned correctly. Sometimes the boots will fit the bindings in a way the angles will be slacker or sharper than they should be. If this doesn't make sense and you've never skate or surfed before then most people prefer their front foot to be angled just a bit forward and their back foot to be angled a bit more forward than that - add 10 to 15 degrees to the front foot.

Go ride powder. You're gonna eat a bunch of snow till you get the hang of it. It's all feel and everyone gets it at different times. Big key - Keep your arms tucked in to your sides especially when you wreck. Resist the temptation to catch yourself with your hands when you eat it - fall on your elbows/forearms. This will eliminate broken arms, wrists, and/or seperated shoulders.

 

[polemite.productions]

the backcountry is the wrong place to learn to snowboard. you really should spend more time on the groomers to figure it all out. riding pow is a lot of effort if you can't ride it fast.

keep your knees bent. you are much more stable with your knees bent. all movement begins with your head. follow with your shoulders. the rest of your body should do whatever your head and shoulders are doing. use your core muscles to move your lower body, not your legs. forget about your legs. they are only there as shock absorbers, balance points for your body mass, and supports for your feet which do the fine heel-toe work. practice this stuff, and you will figure out all the other little details along the way.

board setup is a very personal thing. you wont really know how you want things like stance width, stance angles, binding setback, highback angles, and binding strap location untill you put in a lot of time and try changing things up a few times. there are a few guidelines, like stance width from binding center-to-center should be the same as your shoulder width, but even that is subject to each rider's personal liking.

but i would highly reccommend a board from mervin mfg. that includes lib tech, gnu, and roxy. the btx boards are the most forgiving and versatile boards i've ridden. the reverse camber saves you from submarining the nose of the board in pow, and the edge design honestly gives the best edge control i've ever experienced.

 

[RalleyTuned]

I work in a rental shop and have been snowboarding and teaching for more than I can count. I'll knotch another one on the pole of not learning to ride in the backcountry. Imagine trying to learn how to snowmobile in deep pow haha!

If you are digging the snowboarding keep renting for a bit and learning on the groomers. Give yourself a good year + to learn it and ride some in-bounds pow days. Once you have that stuff under your belt not only will you have a better gauge on what type of equipment to look for but you will also have the skill to go have fun rather than just bury yourself all day...haha!

 

[vmax600]

My $.02...

For what it's worth. Go to the resort and do the learning curve, its gonna be easier. There is a book out, called No Fall Snowboarding or something like that, written by an instructor, that is a very good read. Also, learn from a pro instructor, not someone you are in a relationship with. I've taught a lot of kids successfully, but my wife ahh not such a good idea. Pow riding is a different animal from groom riding, but you gotta learn to control the board under controlled conditions hence all the recomendations to learn inbounds. Board length is very personal, but the 140-145 length is probably fine for starters. I'm 5'7"/165 lbs and I regularily ride some pretty big stuff. Favorite board is a 192 Tanker, but I've been on stuff from 119-200 long. Learn to ride first, then start looking at boards for what you want them for. Pow boards tend to have rocker, taper, longer noses, etc. Go have fun!

 

[Polar Express]

Alright Steph,

It's been a while, but there was a day when... well, there was a day....

Weight distribution is important. When you're on hardpack, try to keep about 60% of your weight on your front foot, and you steer by kicking your back foot from side to side, (but you gotta lean as well). When you're in powder, you switch to about 80% on your back foot, and you're still leaning, but you pull the front around with your leading foot. The faster you are going, - in any snow- the more the 'lean' is going to do a turn for you, just like a bicycle. (when you're going fast on a bike, you just lean, and you don't put any real input into the handlebars).

I'm 'old school' on a board, and I never rode 'fakie' (or backwards) I had to twist both of my boots forward a bit, because my boots were big enough they would hang over the edge of my board, and on hard cuts, the toe or heel would lift my edge off. (that was baaaaad)

I preferred a high-back binding, with a good boot, I liked the extra support. But I wasn't into tricks. I liked backcountry riding, fast and smooth, and I rode a board that reflected that preference. My boards were always very long, by comparison, and stiff. The size you select will also depend on the kind of riding, and style of riding you decide you like. I agree to make the rental shop set it up correctly for you, you're paying good money to them, make them set it up right, and don't let them be lazy.

I agree to try to keep your hands in when you fall, I also agree with wearing a helmet. When you do catch (and you will) a heel-edge, you can really slam your head hard, and it hurts. It's one thing to wreck in soft, fluffy stuff, but groomed or hardpack can get be very painful.

Another thing I agree with... take a real lesson (or 4) from a real instructor, or at least someone you are not dating. It's human nature, no use in fighting it, you'll learn better, and they'll have more patience. I wish it were different.

Anyway, hope that helps, and feel free to PM me if you have any other q's.

PE