subject: Trying Snowboarding For The First Time? [print this page] Do you have good balance, excellent timing, and a disregard for your own personal safety? Snowboarding may be the sport for you! Take the first steps to a happy (and survivable) ski resort experience by reading the following tips.
First, check the weather. Is it going to be snowing while you're up there? It is? Good! Ideally you want as much snow as possible. You will be falling on your rear a lot, so you want plenty of soft snow to cushion your fall.
Don't go early in the season, and don't go late. Too early means not enough snow, and you will be landing on a 'mountain' with a decorative white cover (Ouch!). Too late means that repeated thawing and refreezing has turned most of the snow to ice just below the surface, which is also not a happy landing. The best time to go is mid-season, late December through January, depending on weather conditions.
Don't try to learn from a spouse, or a significant other, or a good friend. You may end up hating each other. You will wonder why they have no idea how to teach. And they will wonder why you can't learn something that is 'so easy'.
It is not so easy, and you cannot figure it out on your own. You probably will hurt yourself if you attempt it, or run down unsuspecting children on the bunny slopes. Sharing the snow means that if you don't know what you're doing, stay in the lodge!
Try a lesson from a trained professional. The ski resorts have droves of instructors just itching to send you down the slopes on your first snowboarding adventure. You could sign up for a class, but you may find your fellow students are all six years old. If you can, take a private lesson. They're not much more expensive, and you get an instructor all to yourself. The more time you get with an instructor, the more likely you are to have fun and learn some actual skills.
Pay attention to what the instructor tells you, in a class or in private lessons. They are paid to know what they are doing and to get totally awkward people to do this. Try doing exactly what they tell you to do, and don't over-think it. It is in their best interest that you succeed, so they will do all they can to help you.
If that doesn't work, and you are still falling down before you can even move, ask the resort for a refund. They are not obligated in any way to do this, but if you put your request in a reasonable manner, they might accommodate you. After all, they want you to spend money on their mountain again and again.
People who watched snowboarding on the Winter Olympics may dream of becoming a 'Flying Tomato', if only for a few moments. The temptation of that big a thrill is huge. And it's semi-obtainable, with patience and proper instruction. Just prepare and proceed with caution, then make sure to have a good time!
