Learning to snowboard, how hard?

[Freakuk]

Contract Killer said:

Well just to update, I had my first day on a real slope, Lake Louise resort in Banff (Canada)

Firstly the "Grizzly" Gondola (Cable car) is a treat in itself, stunning views and must take around 10 mins to get to the top.

I was stting myself after seeing how far I had to go back down on the first run!


After around lunch time, I was getting fairly confident, and was doing OK on heel side with minimal falls, and mostly turning ok.

Speed is defiantly the answer to snowboarding.

However my biggest issue was if the snowboard got itself straight, or I ended up on my toe edge, I just couldn't get back onto my heel edge!


However after early afternoon, all went to pot, I accidentally veered down into a black route which was hell, as it was so steep and rough, and spend most of the route down on my ass, with real snowboarders wondering why some incapable tt was on a black run!!!

I gave up for the day after this, as I was battered!! My ass is kinda blue and purple.


Hopefully I won't feel too bad in the morning, and will have another go!


On another point I found it a lot easier than in the snow dome, as there is so much more space, and the run is not over in 20 seconds!

However it was a whole lot colder, it was -23D when I arrived this morning, my beard was frozen with icicles after each run!!
I think its going to be much warmer tomorrow at around -5.

Edited by Contract Killer on Wednesday 9th January 02:11

LL is a great resort, slopes for all skill levels.. I think as a newbie the default is to go for a green run, but I would say go for a blue as it's a bit steeper and as you have pointed out speed is your friend.

The good thing with LL is you can move around the mountain, so when the cloud comes in and you'll get a lot of flat light you can jump on a chair and head to the other side.

Enjoy.

[Mr E]

Backside turns always felt harder. Keep at it, it will click.

I found going from heel edge to pointing downhill and then back to the heel edge multiple times helped the muscle memory.

[CrutyRammers]

Freakuk said:

LL is a great resort, slopes for all skill levels.. I think as a newbie the default is to go for a green run, but I would say go for a blue as it's a bit steeper and as you have pointed out speed is your friend.

Yeah, greens are generally too flat for boarders. A nice, wide, smooth blue is what you want.

[Richard-390a0]

Glad to hear you've made it out onto the hill OP, good luck & keep posting the updates!

[PurpleTurtle]

Contract Killer said:

However after early afternoon, all went to pot, I accidentally veered down into a black route which was hell, as it was so steep and rough, and spend most of the route down on my ass, with real snowboarders wondering why some incapable tt was on a black run!!!

I gave up for the day after this, as I was battered!! My ass is kinda blue and purple.

Sorry CK, that did make me laugh! Happens to the best of us. Think of it as character building ... next time you hit a black run you'll be more aware of what it beholds.

Just get yerself down the Banff Ave Brew Co and all will be forgotten!

Last time I was in that neck of hte woods it was -32 degs up at Sunshine Village, they weren't allowing seniors or kids on the lifts, properly froze my wotnots off on one run down and retired to the fire by the pub for the day!

Edited by PurpleTurtle on Wednesday 9th January 15:33

[Freakuk]

Man up and get yourself over to Sunshine and take on delirium dive

[Fluffsri]

PurpleTurtle said:

Contract Killer said:

However after early afternoon, all went to pot, I accidentally veered down into a black route which was hell, as it was so steep and rough, and spend most of the route down on my ass, with real snowboarders wondering why some incapable tt was on a black run!!!

I gave up for the day after this, as I was battered!! My ass is kinda blue and purple.

Just get yerself down the Banff Ave Brew Co and all will be forgotten!

Edited by PurpleTurtle on Wednesday 9th January 15:33

Good call! Melissas Missteak is worth a visit as well.

[Contract Killer]

Thanks guys, well day 2 went quite well.

Firstly, things were a bit different from yesterday, as there was snowfall over night, so the snow was a lot thicker.
And at one point while trying to get lots of speed down a hill before an up section, i over did it which dug in, and sent me right over and landed straight on my head!! (I wanted to get value for my helmet rental )

By lunch time things just suddenly seemed to click with my footing etc and i was starting to go exactly where i wanted

Im mostly able to get from toe side to heel side.
I found bending the one knee really helps spin it round.

My biggest trouble now is riding the board straight, to get the speeds to get along the flat sections. It seems If i just over adjust slightly, i end up doing a 180!

But i managed my last 3 runs without falling over which was good.

When i get it right its bloody good fun

Im off snow mobiling tomorrow, but plan to have another crack at it on Friday, my last day here!

I may have to book another winter holiday then, as it seems a but addictive....

Oh and one good thing about Lake Louise is the stunning scenery all around, which gives you something to look at on the way down!

Edited by Contract Killer on Thursday 10th January 04:33

[AJB88]

I went for combined level 1 & 2 at Snozone the other day no previous experience, really enjoy it, fell over a hell of a lot. Planning to go for level 3 & 4 soon.

[chip*]

OP, sounds like good progress made on the first few days. Day of rest is ideal after the initial shock and pains endured by your body

just a cautionary note, you always need a bit of speed for boarding, but don't get too hung up on going 'fast' just yet. I can assure you, faceplants REALLY hurts so they are best avoided!!:-D (never broke my collar bone, but had a few heavy falls in my early days, and it's never felt the same!)

Side note: I have missed the last 2 seasons due to the little one, but I can't wait for my girl to turn 3 so I can book her into ski school, and get back on the piste myself. Very likely I will switch back to skis (not looking forward to ski boots though!) so I can go down with my little girl / help her on the chair lifts etc..

[seefarr]

[redacted]

[pidsy]

Good work OP. I for one, am very jealous as I’m not getting away in the snow this year.

A question to those with more experience than me (not difficult) -

I’ve seen boarders pretty much “running” with both bindings on - it’s kind of a fast waddle but they can really move! They can move along at proper pace using just the front edge.

Is it just a super flexible park deck that helps?
I’ve tried on a couple of mine but I don’t seem to get anywhere at any speed.

[Stedman]

OP - First and foremost I am only jealous mother lover!

Secondly...

Stedman said:

I haven't read the thread yet but if you do 'board get padded pants and wrist guards.

"What can I say except you're welcome.."

PURCHASE PADDED PANTS

[stuarthat]

No just practice you first Start maybe a couple of metres ,then build up from there ,once in a rhythm you can really fly ,also someone mentioned going straight fast for me run the board nearly flat but you twist the whole board for micro adjustments so for instance front foot flat rear twisting for precise control ,stated riding in 1986 and the boards where awful ,nowadays so much more forgiving and yes learning to ride backwards will save you if you have a moment as you can spin out of trouble .

[designforlife]

pidsy said:

Good work OP. I for one, am very jealous as I’m not getting away in the snow this year.

A question to those with more experience than me (not difficult) -

I’ve seen boarders pretty much “running” with both bindings on - it’s kind of a fast waddle but they can really move! They can move along at proper pace using just the front edge.

Is it just a super flexible park deck that helps?
I’ve tried on a couple of mine but I don’t seem to get anywhere at any speed.

duck walk or duckie- put pressure and weight through your toes so that the front edge of the board is engaged with the snow, bend your knees and you want to load the nose and tail alternately and use the spring of the board to pop you forward one end of the board at a time, landing on that engaged toe edge a few inches in front of you, swinging your shoulders a little as you pop helps this, you want your left side to land ahead of your right, so that you "walk" forward. it's kind of like ollie-ing - the board should be doing most of the work. Once you get a rythm and pendulum motion its just about keeping it going

With practice and a board that isn't door stiff, you can make quite a bit of progress with minimal effort on flat sections.

Hope that helps, it would be a lot easier to just show you!

I miss riding a lot, 5 months now since I last strapped in, and looking like at least another 2 or 3 until my shoulder will handle a slam.

[designforlife]

If anyone fancies a giggle, here's a couple of mini edits I made back before I smashed myself up.

https://vimeo.com/158004962

https://vimeo.com/162123441

I would really like to get back to pre-injury freestyle levels but I have to really talk myself into hitting some features that I would have lapped no bother 3 or 4 years back....it's a total head game.

[pidsy]

designforlife said:

pidsy said:

Good work OP. I for one, am very jealous as I’m not getting away in the snow this year.

A question to those with more experience than me (not difficult) -

I’ve seen boarders pretty much “running” with both bindings on - it’s kind of a fast waddle but they can really move! They can move along at proper pace using just the front edge.

Is it just a super flexible park deck that helps?
I’ve tried on a couple of mine but I don’t seem to get anywhere at any speed.

duck walk or duckie- put pressure and weight through your toes so that the front edge of the board is engaged with the snow, bend your knees and you want to load the nose and tail alternately and use the spring of the board to pop you forward one end of the board at a time, landing on that engaged toe edge a few inches in front of you, swinging your shoulders a little as you pop helps this, you want your left side to land ahead of your right, so that you "walk" forward. it's kind of like ollie-ing - the board should be doing most of the work. Once you get a rythm and pendulum motion its just about keeping it going

With practice and a board that isn't door stiff, you can make quite a bit of progress with minimal effort on flat sections.

Hope that helps, it would be a lot easier to just show you!

I miss riding a lot, 5 months now since I last strapped in, and looking like at least another 2 or 3 until my shoulder will handle a slam.

Cheers! I’ll give it a go next time I’m up at Hemel.

[Fluffsri]

Just finished my first week on snow. All the dry slope lessons got me started and I arrived ready to go, scared but ready. My mate took me half way up tue mountain on to a blue run that led into a few reds and then back to blue. It took me over an hour to get to the bottom, battered and knackered. Un strapped and went straight to ski school for a day of lessons. Lessons done, day 1 run repeated with a lot more confidence and less falling over. Yesterday I repeated the run and was down in just over 15 mins.

I highly recommend some lessons on the snow if its your furst time.

[AJB88]

AJB88 said:

I went for combined level 1 & 2 at Snozone the other day no previous experience, really enjoy it, fell over a hell of a lot. Planning to go for level 3 & 4 soon.

Completed 3 & 4 yesterday alot more confident now, I'm now "allowed" on the big slope at Snozone MK.

Instructor advised me to go for a few non-lesson sessions on my own/ with partner and them come complet lesson 5&6.

[designforlife]

Back on a board now after 6 months off post shoulder surgery.

Coming back from these big injuries and surgeries get's harder every time! But i'm detirmined to get my freestyle game back to some sort of level. Anyone got a short (148-150) jib board kicking about they don't use?

Been using my resort board indoors for a while since I snapped my last rail board, and could do with getting back on something short and bendy to get my tricks and spins dialled back in.