time and perseverance. It also takes some courage.
When you coordinate all of these actions, your turns will be fluid. In the beginning, concentrate on just where you want to make the next turn, and go for it with commitment. Although toe-side and heel-side turns may seem quite different, try to feel their similarities in terms of weight shifting and edging. The driving force always works through your hips. Keeping your weight forward will pull the board back into the fall line for the next turn. If you start to favor one direction, force yourself to work the opposite turn repeatedly until it becomes the easier and the more fun.
If you are keeping low and forward like you should, your front leg will be burning quite a bit in the early stages. Training and more advanced skills will eventually cure this problem. Don’t worry; just bear it for now.
One major reason that snowboarders “lose it” during skidded turns is that they put too much weight on their back legs. They then over-rotate and spin out. This error can come from inattention, from not knowing better, from front leg fatigue, or from a fear-based tendency to lean back. Recognize any cycle of “fear of falling” and “falling from fear” and break it early. You can break the cycle by not trying to progress so rapidly. Go back to traverses or to a shallower slope. Keep comfortable to keep progressing.
After the first day or two, depending upon local conditions, you will have a feel for turning and linking your turns together. This early learning needs to be reinforced. You can continue to improve when you are not on the slopes by using visualization techniques. Close your eyes, and with intense concentration play back the necessary moves in detail. Rehearse. Use mental imagery. Also watch snowboarding videos and let your mind and muscles get involved. Think about snowboarding during all of your spare time.
Stopping
The way to stop is by holding an abrupt turn. The idea is to get the board on edge perfectly perpendicular to the fall line (like sideslipping). Snowboards have an incredible ability to keep moving and drifting if they are kept flat. They also have an amazing ability to keep moving even on an edge if the board is pointed downhill. Since you do not have any poles, or any anchors to toss overboard, you’ll need considerable finesse and skill to make the board “stick” in a particular place at the bottom of the hill.
Rider: Chris Karol Photo: Gwyn Howat
Applying the brakes
To change an abrupt turn into a stop, apply weight to both legs, as needed, to maintain board position. Remember the lessons you learned in the earlier edging practice. Do not keep all your weight over your front foot. Experiment with different amounts of pressure when engaging and releasing the edges. As before, practice using each edge to stop.
Once you can turn in both directions and stop at will, victory is yours. You are a snowboarder.
Now start linking turns together. Make them short, make them long, make them rhythmical. Synchronize them to a musical beat. Turn, turn, turn. Try getting even lower. Don’t try to add style by arching your back or experimenting with strange accents and arm movements until after you have mastered the basics.
Get these basics down solid and log as many hours as you can. The next chapter gives you the necessary information for understanding, getting around, and making the most of ski areas.
CHAPTER 3
About Ski Areas
Choosing where to go usually means going to the most convenient area, but be sure they permit snowboard skiing. (Snowboard skiing is the term preferred by the National Ski Areas Association, a member of the United Ski Industries Association—USIA.) Ninety percent of all ski areas accept snowboard skiers. If your options are open, use the considerations listed below to help you choose your location. Look for these features if you want to minimize your time waiting in lift lines and maximize your time on the slopes. It is always educational—and great fun—to check out new ski areas.
Select a ski area that:
♦ is not near a town built solely as a resort
♦ is not near a big city
♦ is not famous (for anything)
♦ has no interstate highway nearby
♦ has no railroads or sizeable airports nearby
♦ has other big resorts nearby
♦ has recently increased its lift capacity
The more you know about a ski area, the greater your enjoyment. The following information quoted from the USIA Skier Education Action Kit will help you better understand what to expect and how to behave on the slopes.
The four symbols illustrated here (see p. 24) comprise the standard international trail marking system. It is extremely important to keep in mind that these symbols describe the relative degree of challenge of that slope or trail compared with all other trails at that particular ski area. Therefore, it is always a good idea to start off on the “Easiest” trail when you visit a new ski area, then progress to the “More Difficult” as you get a feel for the area’s general degree of difficulty. Never head straight for the trails marked “Most Difficult.”
Figure 4. Trail marking symbols
The ability to do one black diamond trail does not guarantee that you can do all black diamond trails.
Know Your Mountain
When going to a ski area for the first time, get a trail map and keep it in your pocket for quick reference. A trail map will show you where the various runs and lifts are located and will give you an indication of the degree of challenge on each slope or trail. The map and international trail marking symbols will help you make responsible choices of which portions of the mountain are right for your ability. Keep in mind the day’s weather and snow conditions when selecting your runs, as these can have an impact on how much you enjoy a particular run on a given day. Match your desire for challenge with the prevailing conditions.
Skier’s Responsibility Code
If you see a snowboarder (or anyone else) flagrantly ignoring this code, common sense, or any other rules of etiquette, tactfully stop them or report them before it is too late.
Read and figure out the reasons for each of the rules listed in the code.
The Snow Factor
Snowmaking and snowgrooming are essential for providing snow surface dependability, a longer ski season for you to enjoy, and generally improving the quality of the snowboarding. You may find yourself scraping off icy glasses or goggles or with a spectacular frosted beard if you go under a snow gun. Therefore, extra caution and control are especially important around snowmaking equipment. Remain as far away from equipment as possible; or otherwise move through the wet spray area with extreme caution. Avoid, for example, snowguns, hoses, hydrants, pipes and valving stations. Visibility may be impaired when snow is being made. Slow down considerably. The machine-made snow surface can vary greatly. Sometimes the snow is wet, sometimes dry.
Also, be on the alert for snow vehicles used for slope maintenance. They may approach from any direction. When you see one coming, stop, wait for it to pass, and only then continue down the trail.
