Congratulations, you’ve taken the leap and decided to try out snowboarding! Whether you’re a skier looking for a new challenge, or a budding snow sports enthusiast who has chosen snowboarding, you’re going to love it. And after some lessons with a good instructor and a few practice runs, you’ll be shredding the slopes like a pro! Nothing tops the sensation of whizzing down the mountain in a spray of white powder. In order to help you prepare for your first day on the slopes, we’ve prepared some handy tips.
Snowboarding is a fairly new sport – in fact, it’s only been around for half a century, and it made it into the Olympics around 20 years ago. So, though you might view it as a sacrifice of your ski holidays, learning to snowboard is actually a way to prove how hip and modern you are! These days, snowboarding is giving skiing a run for its money. Why not give it a try and leave those bulky ski boots at home for a day?
There’s no beating around the bush: you’ll have to accept the fact that you’re probably going to be terrible at this the first few times, unless you're a pro skateboarder or surfer. And it takes some getting used to, especially for you skiers out there, who are used to zooming down black runs on your skis. Try it on your snowboard – just try! You’ll be tumbling head-over-heels down the green runs. But don’t worry, this sport has loads of redeeming features. We’ll discuss them later. For now, concentrate on finding your centre of gravity. You’ll need to know where it is, so you can tip it over a bunch of times as you fall. As adults, it’s a bit scary to fall so much, so it’s important to find a good teacher who will help you out.
It’s the first few days that will put you to the test as you embark on your exciting new career as an adult snowboarder. You might get discouraged, especially as by the end of the first day you’re sure to be exhausted and covered in bruises. Prepare to spend 90% of your time on your rear in the wet snow, and try not to lose hope after the first one or two disastrous descents. You’ll most likely have to wait until the second week of the snowboarding course before you’ll be able to string your turns together and make your pain-free way down the hill. But once you crack it, snowboarding is one of the best sports out there. You won’t regret the effort!
Most snowboard lessons last two-and-a-half hours, so over a six-day period this means you’re spending 15 hours on the slopes, more than enough to start tackling real green and blue pistes by the end. We strongly recommend hiring a teacher who can help answer your questions and teach you all you need to know about posture and technique.
Whether you’re an adult or a child, you’ll need to be well-equipped for your first day of snowboarding. Waterproof clothing is a must - as a snowboarder, you'll be sitting down after every lift to put your bindings on.
Pro tip: Investing in wrist guards can help protect your wrists if you take a nasty fall!
So much effort, so much pain… is it really worth it? Well, as a skier who decided to put away the skis for a season and learn snowboarding, I can vehemently assure you that it’s worth every second. Snowboarding is a whole new ball game, a whole new set of challenges and a whole new way to make a connection with the mountain. And did I mention how comfortable the boots were?
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
