women's snowboarding

The first time I went snowboarding was in Telluride, Colorado. I had to borrow all my gear and I had the flu. I was visiting a boy, he was from my hometown and moved to Telluride for the winter. I traveled 2000 miles. Like all the people that move out west he had to work all the time so his roommates taught me how to snowboard! What I mean by teach..... they took me on the hill, rode the lift with me and told me to go down. They must have picked the longest run ever. I couldn't turn so I would just ride straight really fast and I couldn't stop so I would throw myself on the snow. I was so beat up by the end of the day! Somehow I had picked up a crazy cold and felt horrible that night. Even though it doesn't sound appealing I was so motivated after that, I loved it! Just so you know I dated the guy for the next 5 years on and off.

Jumping rocks is one of my favorite things to do. It's thrilling and makes you feel all funny inside, it's not anything like hitting the jumps at the park. For me it feels like it captures the true essence of snowboarding, cliffs are not man made and there should always be a big powder stash waiting for you. Jumps at the park are the same over and over, cliffs you can hit them with speed, just standing there... it's like survival mode for a split second and always different.

I started jumping little rocks and worked myself up to bigger ones. There is always that first time, and you expect to land but you haven't yet!. Sometimes after you land you can feel the adrenaline running through your body.

If you want to try it, definitely start with little ones, make sure the landing is steep enough and work yourself up. Try not to go ahead of your skill level because you can really hurt your back, your knees and your internal organs. I see a lot of kids landing flat and thinking that they did something really cool, when really all they are doing is messing themselves up. Later in life when your older it is going to hurt. Our bodys are fragile yet so strong, it's weird to think about it that way. So first of all, gotta have good snow, check for your landings, make sure you are not jumping into a pile of rocks and have fun. Be smart about your jumps. I like to jump all size rocks, my limit is 30 feet. If it looks bigger than that I feel like I'm going to have to pay a visit to the chiropractor that afternoon. You can have fun with small ones just hit them faster and bust out a good trick!!!

Some dudes are jumping 100 feet plus....scary!

I was an instructor for a winter, I decided that it wasn't a good job for me due to having to teach during nice powder days! I'll be honest, it's hard for me to keep any job, and a day job it's impossible. I'm a snowboard tuner now, I fix snowboards at night. That's a good schedule for me. Well here is an outline of the lesson.

-Learn about Board and Bindings,find out if you are Goofy or Regular

-Walk with one foot on board ,learn how to turn around

-Make heel J-Turns

-Learn to walk uphill with board (one foot)

-Learn toe J-turn

-Strap in, Learn how to stand up

-Learn to do the LEAF

-Make J-Turn heel side

-Make J-Turn Toe side

-Link Turns

-Tips

1- a) The Snowboard.....the board has a tail (nearest to back foot) and a nose(nearest to front foot), a toe edge (where toes point)and a heel edge (where heels point).

b)Goofy or Regular....... If you have never surfed or skated before get someone to push you from behind and see what leg comes forward first. If it is the right one, you are goofy, if it is the left you are regular. They say that there is way more regular footers so chances are high that you might be one of them. Check out Bettersnowboarding.com for more info and tips on how to find your stance.

c) The Bindings......There are a few kinds of bindings, strap in, step in and Flows. It is all about preference(for more info about the different bindings click here). I prefer strap ins, I like to set the straps, feel that my foot is in place and not sliding around....I like the support. Setting up your bindings for the first time can be tricky, you want them to be well centered so there is no toe or heel drag. Also the degree that they are angled should be 0 to -3 in the back and 15 or 18 in the front (You will notice small lines on the binding plates they go in 3s) They should be shoulder with apart, so get someone to measure your shoulders.

2- Find a hill that is not too steep but that once you are pointing down you will move. Or go to your local bunny slope.
Sit down, make sure the board is not pointing down hill. Set board in front of you- Horizontal
Strap ONLY front foot. Stand up place back foot behind the board and move board with front foot by opening your leg to a comfortable distance, follow with side stepping back leg to a comfortable position. Before you take your next step with front leg make sure you are balanced and I've found that it helps to rest your bodys' weight on back leg by bending knee just a little bit. Well repeat this 4 times.
Now rest weight on back leg and lift board completely off snow. Turn 180 and face behind you, it helps to look over your shoulder. I'm goofy so I look left over my shoulder and slide on the ball of my back foot to turn.
Ok so now you are facing up hill, make sure back foot still behind the board. Dig your heel edge a little bit and repeat the steps, move board forward follow with back leg. Now you know how to skate, you can get on the lift.

TIP: Your back foot is key to balancing, even if you slip, having good balance on only one foot will help you. At home try to do one foot balancing, then try bending your knee a little bit and eventually see if you can go all the way to the floor and come back up on one foot....that one is hard!!!!

3)Still strapped in with only one foot, point your board down the hill, bring back foot on board right next to back binding, it helps to put a little pressure with side of boot on binding to hold on and keep balance. As you are moving down the hill bring arm in front of you and point to the right if you are goofy or left if you are regular. Lift toes only as you do this. This should make you do a heel edge turn. Bend your knees a little bit, just so your weight is centered.

After this you might have wiped out on your butt, or not anyhow you will have to come back up the hill.

Set board horizontal digging toe edge in the snow...your strapped in leg knee should be bent, with your shoulder a little bit tilted forward. Bring back foot over the board and start taking steps up hill. Step with unstrapped leg , lift boards edge and place on snow again, another step with back leg, lift board, move and place on snow again.

Practice your heel turns at least 5 times or until you get them.

4)So now the heel edge J-Turn. This one gets a little harder, a lot of people catch their front edge and fall on their knees which hurts a lot more than landing on your butt so make sure you are focus and not just throwing yourself down. It will catch up to you later on.

Face down the hill, bring back foot on board, lift heels this time and point to the left if you are goofy or right if you are regular. Same as the heel turns it helps to have your legs a little bent. Looking to where you are going is another good tip. Where your eyes go so will your head and then shoulders....then your body etc.

TIP: They are called J turns cause you are making the shape of a J in the snow. Straight down.....the you turn.

Practice makes perfect!, Now you know how to get off the lift.

NOW THIS IS WHEN THE FUN STARTS!!!!

5)Sit down and strap the back foot!

To get up.......

Bring arms right behind you, make a fist and push up. It can be hard at times, but you will get used to it. If this doesn't work......
Lay down on snow, on your back, flip yourself over on your belly, do a semi push up and get on your knees now do another push up and bring yourself up!

6)DOING THE LEAF!......... it's called the leaf 'cause it imitates what leafs do when the fall off a tree.... you go from left to right, right to left...
stand up, bend your knees some and lean back just a little so your heel edge is dug in the snow , start going down the hill but sideways, go right...... when you have no more speed go left.... repeat this all the way to bottom.... Practice this 5 times. Now you know how to stop

7)Now that you know how to stop, strap in, get up... you are going to point your board down the hill, you will start moving, try to keep your balance by keeping your feet flat, this way you won't dig an edge, once you are comfortably moving lift toes and point to your right if you are goofy or left if you are regular. This is a Heel Turn. Never go too fast, make sure you find a place where its not to steep. A comfortable speed. Bend your knees, keep your center of gravity! You have to want this, if you don't want it , it will take years to learn. If you truly want it you will be snowboarding in a week.

8) The TOE edge turn, face down the hill, start moving, board should be flat on the snow, lift heels, look and point where you are going, left if goofy or right if regular.

Practice these turns individually, You will fall, everybody does, but it is a small price to pay for how much fun snowboarding is once you have it......just go down the bunny slope making ONLY heel turns.....or making the toe turns.

After you have these turns dialed, start linking the turns..... make your heel turn, stop and make your toe edge turn, slowly you will see that you don't have to stop after every turn. When you are comfortable with your skill take the lift to a green run (easy run) and practice.

REMEMBER: Eat Healthy for strong bones and muscles, wear protective gear, HELMET a must, wrist guards , knee pads etc..... they even make butt pads too.
There are always injuries with snowboarding, but if you keep it real to your skill, wear a helmet, work out etc your injuries will be small if any. Always look out for other riders, most of the times a lot of accidents are due to other people thinking that they are the shiz nitz and they are not. Keep it safe. This way you can snowboard longer.....and will get better with the years.... Check out my snowboard site at www.Bettersnowboarding.com for all kinds of tips, gear reviews etc. Peace.

I abuse my skin, year around by being outdoors. It is hard not to get a goggle tan if you ride over 100 days a season,even if you use spf50. I've had people tell me it looks awesome and other tell me is not cool. My first year snowboarding I didn't even know I had it till I got home and someone pointed it out to me. I choose to ride everyday but I also put all kinds of lotions on, in the morning and at night. I'm like a freakin' lotion addict now. I try to use organic lotions, masks and dermabrasion products, I've also been wearing a face gator lately, if is too hot and sunny you can always wear a bandanna folded in half, they cost a $1 in most states or you can get some really cool looking gators, specially designed for girls, thin fabric and cool designs. There is always the heavy duty neoprene ones for colder days.
Goggle tans show that you have been putting your time in but also can cause skin cancer. Today I think people are a lot more conscious and that is a good thing. Besides you don't want to look 60 when you get to your 30s. I don't know if goggle tan is cool or not but definitely keep yourself safe from the damaging effects of the sun. Also when is too cold make sure you keep your face warm, frost nip, frost bite can really mess you up. A healthy diet, lots of water and some vitamins can really help to make your skin look radiant and healthy, make sure you check out our snowboarding vitamins page.

It gets pretty exciting when you are ready to buy a new snowboard, that being a used one or a new one, still a new board to you. Used boards are great, if they have not been used that much. If you are a beginner not wanting to spend a lot of money or not sure yet if snowboarding is going to be your new hobby. First thing...... DON"T buy a board just 'cause the price is right, make sure the board is the right size for you. There are a few other things you should keep an eye on before buying.

If you recognize the brand most likely you will be able to go online and find out more about the board and the company that makes it. You don't want a bobo board that you will hate the first day you take out.

You need to make sure that the layers of the board are not separating, this is called delaming and it won't be worth it for you to buy a board in that condition.

Make sure the edges are not blown, this means bent or broken in any direction, also deep holes are really bad. Rust and sharpness are not a big deal, edges like that can be fixed for cheap or you can do it yourself if you check out our tuning tips.

Look at the base of the board, no deep holes, gauges or chunks missing are a plus. All this things can be fixed but it will cost you some cash. Scratches are easy to fix and can easily be gone with standard tune at your local shop.

Now sit the board on the floor and check if there is a gap between the middle of the board (between both bindings) and the floor. This is called the camber it will give you some idea on how much pop is left on the board..........or life!! You don't want a board that sits flat on the floor.

Check the flex of the board by pressing with your knee or foot, holding the board by the nose with both hands and leaving tail on floor. The flex is up to you, what you want!

The top sheet is also important, small scratches are ok. Pressure marks near bindings are a bad bad thing! Sometimes the tail and nose will have the wood core exposed, you can cover that with e-poxy and you will be waterproofed again.

And finally make sure the inserts are working (where the screws go) If there is a few missing or the threads are all messed up you won't be able to set your bindings.
Hope this info helps and good luck.

Best thing to do is practice in place.

1- Bend your Knees
2- In a flowing movement...... Put your weight on back leg by bending your knee and centering your balance on that leg..... at the same time bring front leg up, make the board bend and pop you up, bring back leg up, even out board in the air and come back to the snow.
Practice and then take it on the slope!! Good Luck

Tip: A lot of jumps at the park, DO NOT require to ollie!!! be careful!!!

Ok so how to be cool........well cool really is just a state of mind. Doesn't matter the clothes you wear, the huge airs you bust or any other trick. To be cool on the slopes all you have to do is......

1) Don't have gapers gap....make sure there isn't a hole between your goggles and helmet.

2) Don't freak out and talk $#!t on the chair lift.

3) Pee in the woods...no one wants to go all the way back to the bathroom with you.

4) Don't hate cause other people are better than you! There is always going to be someone that rips.

5) Boys don't like whiners , and in that case, no one does.

6) Don't ride like a butt hole, respect everyone, specially little kids, they are fragile. Slow down when near them.

7) Respect signs and ropes. You don't want to die and have people looking for you risking their lives trying to get your dead body.

8) Try to wear your parents 80s ski outfits on special occasions ONLY.

9) Don't go to the Park on a Powder day

10) Don't lie about your skills when asked, they will find out!!!

If you have never hit a rail or if you have but feel you need more practice with out the injuries try this at home.

Rails are easy, it's just a big mind game. Look at the end of the rail, don't readjust while on the rail, bend your knees, keep your balance centered, what I mean by that is, align your shoulders in between your knees and go. I have a friend that always said to me rails are 80% luck and 20% skill, so stay positive , visualize yourself in slow motion approaching the rail, getting on the rail, riding it and getting off of it.

When at home get some masking tape or something that won't get stuck to your floor permanently,make a line on the floor with it, get your boots on and board and start jumping on the line as if the line was a rail, practice 50/50, board slides and if you already have your 50/50 start trying backside tricks or 180 to board slide, may be a switch on 270 off. Later on you can make the line a little bit higher by using a 4x4 or may be your boyfriend can build you a small box for the yard that you can jump on.

Remember when at the park start small and build from there!

Good luck!!