Nailing a bit of wood toyour feet and jumping off a mountain
Discussion
In addition to the hundreds of other I'm-useless-and-don't-know-my-own-mind threads, I need to know if I should go snowboarding.
I've never been before and never had an overwhelming urge to try it, but a couple of mates are going and say they can make space for me if I want to come.
I keep hearing it's one of those things to do before you die, and once you try it you're hooked - but is all the hype true?
Also what kind of physical condition do you need to be in? I'm not very fit in terms of CV, instead I've been building muscle at the gym - so my body is used to isolation exercises. Is 'boarding (see, I'm getting the terminology already) pretty demanding of fitness?
Also if I do go, will I be brutally killed by a tree/snowplough/drunken Australian?
The destination is somewhere in the Alps if that makes a difference.
Thanks in advance...
I've never been before and never had an overwhelming urge to try it, but a couple of mates are going and say they can make space for me if I want to come.
I keep hearing it's one of those things to do before you die, and once you try it you're hooked - but is all the hype true?
Also what kind of physical condition do you need to be in? I'm not very fit in terms of CV, instead I've been building muscle at the gym - so my body is used to isolation exercises. Is 'boarding (see, I'm getting the terminology already) pretty demanding of fitness?
Also if I do go, will I be brutally killed by a tree/snowplough/drunken Australian?
The destination is somewhere in the Alps if that makes a difference.
Thanks in advance...
Yes. I ski, rather than board, but I think the feeling of hooning it down a mountain will just as amazing on one plank as it is on two.
Prepare to fall over a lot for 2-3 days, before being able to do it (apparently) - so buy padded clothing and a helmet )or rent it all).
Skiing is simply my favourite physical activity. One day, I will go away for a whole season.
Prepare to fall over a lot for 2-3 days, before being able to do it (apparently) - so buy padded clothing and a helmet )or rent it all).
Skiing is simply my favourite physical activity. One day, I will go away for a whole season.
In order to prepare for your first boarding or skiing trip I suggest the following fitness/exercise regime.
Lie down on the ground then get back up.
Do this, maybe, a hundred times a day in two lots of fifty.
Once used to this tie your feet together with a rope and do the same thing.
Then you'll be ready.
Lie down on the ground then get back up.
Do this, maybe, a hundred times a day in two lots of fifty.
Once used to this tie your feet together with a rope and do the same thing.
Then you'll be ready.
I went skiing last year for the first time in about 10 years. I am horribly unfit at the moment and have basically done no serious sport or physical exercise for at least 5 years.
I managed ok, was a bit knackering and after a loong day my legs didn't half ache but they recovered by morn and it never stopped me going out
If I go again next year I will aim to be in much better shape though, perhaps with cycling + swimming a bit. I think snowboarding can be a bit more tiring, especially for beginners.
I managed ok, was a bit knackering and after a loong day my legs didn't half ache but they recovered by morn and it never stopped me going out
If I go again next year I will aim to be in much better shape though, perhaps with cycling + swimming a bit. I think snowboarding can be a bit more tiring, especially for beginners.
Don said:
In order to prepare for your first boarding or skiing trip I suggest the following fitness/exercise regime.
Lie down on the ground then get back up.
Do this, maybe, a hundred times a day in two lots of fifty.
Once used to this tie your feet together with a rope and do the same thing.
Then you'll be ready.
This. Also invest in a pair of impact shorts/bum protector as your ar*e will take a battering (in a none ghey way of course)Lie down on the ground then get back up.
Do this, maybe, a hundred times a day in two lots of fifty.
Once used to this tie your feet together with a rope and do the same thing.
Then you'll be ready.
http://www.bargainboards.co.uk/P/Cheap_Optimum_ELE...
Don said:
In order to prepare for your first boarding or skiing trip I suggest the following fitness/exercise regime.
Lie down on the ground then get back up.
Do this, maybe, a hundred times a day in two lots of fifty.
Once used to this tie your feet together with a rope and do the same thing.
Then you'll be ready.
Or stand on a garden chair in your back garden (front garden if you have one) with your feet bound and practice falling off that chair onto your back and then your face. The only good thing about my boarding experience was that it saved me money on a lift pass, as I didn't get off the nursery slope!Lie down on the ground then get back up.
Do this, maybe, a hundred times a day in two lots of fifty.
Once used to this tie your feet together with a rope and do the same thing.
Then you'll be ready.
Edited by Webber3 on Tuesday 9th February 15:12
BarRefaeli said:
Mongoose said:
The destination is somewhere in the Alps if that makes a difference.
In terms of enjoying the experience it's better than, say, Egypt, yes.
Anyone done this? I like the fact that it isn't cold. I despise cold weather. I also like the fact that if you lived in that country, you could do it all the time, not just in a particular season.
Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 9th February 15:19
Just do it. I was on 2 planks for a few years before learning to ride on 1 plank and although harder to learn initially I find it much more enjoyable. Off piste powder on a board is just the best fun in the snow.
I agree with the comments on falling over and getting up 100 times a day but it does get better and is well worth the pain as you will have to go through it. If you don't fall on your arse at high speed after catching a back edge and cry out in pain on your first holiday boarding, it just means that it is waiting for you on the next one.
I agree with the comments on falling over and getting up 100 times a day but it does get better and is well worth the pain as you will have to go through it. If you don't fall on your arse at high speed after catching a back edge and cry out in pain on your first holiday boarding, it just means that it is waiting for you on the next one.
Webber3 said:
Don said:
In order to prepare for your first boarding or skiing trip I suggest the following fitness/exercise regime.
Lie down on the ground then get back up.
Do this, maybe, a hundred times a day in two lots of fifty.
Once used to this tie your feet together with a rope and do the same thing.
Then you'll be ready.
Or stand on a garden chair in your back garden (front garden if you have one) with your feet bound and practice falling off that chair onto your back and then your face. Lie down on the ground then get back up.
Do this, maybe, a hundred times a day in two lots of fifty.
Once used to this tie your feet together with a rope and do the same thing.
Then you'll be ready.
Edited by Webber3 on Tuesday 9th February 15:12
You wont necesarily enjoy the first few days, it's a brutal learning curve. My first day was a miserable experience.
I wouldn't worry so much about padded shorts - IME they aren't that good, just take the pain. But DO get wrist guards - only 15 quid or so, and you WILL fall on your hands. 3 months in plaster with a cracked scaphoid is no fun, believe me...
The pain is well worth it though
The Black Flash said:
I wouldn't worry so much about padded shorts - IME they aren't that good, just take the pain. But DO get wrist guards - only 15 quid or so, and you WILL fall on your hands. 3 months in plaster with a cracked scaphoid is no fun, believe me...
Sorry but I am strongly going to have to disagree there! If you are a beginner impact shorts are an absolute must as you will spend most of the holiday sat on your arse. They are the one thing for me that is a must as if you catch an edge on an icy run they can be a lifesaver! Also they keep your bum that bit warmer as its a bit of extra padding.To be perverse I wouldn't get wrist guards as I believe they do more harm than good as they severely restrict the range of movement of your wrist, both my mates have hurt their wrists from falling over whilst wearing guards...and now prefer normal gloves.
Trust me if you don't get some impact shorts your arse will never forgive you! That and a back protector if you can afford one are the two best bits of kit imo.
I've been snowboarding since about 2003 and I love it! Having a good run down the mountain is very similar IMO to having a good b-road blast in the car.
Why not get yourself to one of the indoor places in the UK X-scape/Snowdome/Chillfactore etc and get some lessons to try it out? Will help you make up your mind and if you can get the horrible falling-over-every-three-seconds stage out of the way before you go then you can maximise the time spent enjoying yourself when on the mountain.
If you do go definately, definately, definately get yourself some impact shorts! Best piece of 'boarding equipment I ever bought! Oh and wearing a helmet is a must, it can be suprisingly easy to give yourself a knock on the noggin.
Re: fitness I'll echo what others have said, it can be bloody hard work and you will definately find muscles you didn't know you had (and you will wish you hadn't) to be honest the best thing I've found for being board-fit is, well, 'boarding. Some general CV will help but it will only take you so far.
Why not get yourself to one of the indoor places in the UK X-scape/Snowdome/Chillfactore etc and get some lessons to try it out? Will help you make up your mind and if you can get the horrible falling-over-every-three-seconds stage out of the way before you go then you can maximise the time spent enjoying yourself when on the mountain.
If you do go definately, definately, definately get yourself some impact shorts! Best piece of 'boarding equipment I ever bought! Oh and wearing a helmet is a must, it can be suprisingly easy to give yourself a knock on the noggin.
Re: fitness I'll echo what others have said, it can be bloody hard work and you will definately find muscles you didn't know you had (and you will wish you hadn't
) to be honest the best thing I've found for being board-fit is, well, 'boarding. Some general CV will help but it will only take you so far.JDMFanYo said:
bales said:
The Black Flash said:
I wouldn't worry so much about padded shorts - IME they aren't that good, just take the pain. But DO get wrist guards - only 15 quid or so, and you WILL fall on your hands. 3 months in plaster with a cracked scaphoid is no fun, believe me...
Sorry but I am strongly going to have to disagree there! If you are a beginner impact shorts are an absolute must as you will spend most of the holiday sat on your arse. They are the one thing for me that is a must as if you catch an edge on an icy run they can be a lifesaver! Also they keep your bum that bit warmer as its a bit of extra padding.To be perverse I wouldn't get wrist guards as I believe they do more harm than good as they severely restrict the range of movement of your wrist, both my mates have hurt their wrists from falling over whilst wearing guards...and now prefer normal gloves.
Trust me if you don't get some impact shorts your arse will never forgive you! That and a back protector if you can afford one are the two best bits of kit imo.
Helmet is the best bit of (safety) kit.
Easy to recover from a broken wrist/arm
Edited by JDMFanYo on Tuesday 9th February 15:54
Prepare for your thighs to take a pounding!And it would prob be good to get some CV on the go as well as others have said.
What i found invaluable when i first started - trousers with the re-inforced a
e & knees, you spend so much time on them when you are learning through falls or just sitting about that they stop you freezing to death.
What i found invaluable when i first started - trousers with the re-inforced a
e & knees, you spend so much time on them when you are learning through falls or just sitting about that they stop you freezing to death.ConcreteBuffalo said:
Prepare for your thighs to take a pounding!And it would prob be good to get some CV on the go as well as others have said.
What i found invaluable when i first started - trousers with the re-inforced ae & knees, you spend so much time on them when you are learning through falls or just sitting about that they stop you freezing to death.
waterproofing on the trousers is also a must for a newbie... nothing ruins your enjoyment faster than a freezing cold, soaking wet arse.What i found invaluable when i first started - trousers with the re-inforced a
e & knees, you spend so much time on them when you are learning through falls or just sitting about that they stop you freezing to death.
Thanks everyone for the advice, that's really useful stuff.
I will certainly be investing in protection equipment if it's a goer, and will start practising falling-down and getting up again. Will be banging some cv work into my gym schedule as well now.
Gerat idea with trying a dry-slope first, I've found a place near Burton which looks like it does a full day boarding course for £75, that sounds like it could be a worthwhile investment.
Has anyone been here, and can they recommend it? www.swadlincoteskislope.co.uk
Thanks!
I will certainly be investing in protection equipment if it's a goer, and will start practising falling-down and getting up again. Will be banging some cv work into my gym schedule as well now.
Gerat idea with trying a dry-slope first, I've found a place near Burton which looks like it does a full day boarding course for £75, that sounds like it could be a worthwhile investment.
Has anyone been here, and can they recommend it? www.swadlincoteskislope.co.uk
Thanks!
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
OP -
Where is it you are looking to go Boarding with your mates ?
Where is it you are looking to go Boarding with your mates ?
No, No, No, No...!!
Rule number 1 of being a cool snowboarder is that you never ever call it boarding, it is called riding as in 'we are going out to ride some sick pow pow today dude'
No decent self-respecting snowboard rider would ever lower himself to saying 'boarding'!!
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