How To Snowboard

 If you are reading this article you must be at least considering the idea of learning how to snowboard. Maybe it’s because Shaun White inspired you to do great things. Maybe it’s because you skateboarded or surfed before, and think you might be good. Or maybe you just think snowboarders look cool, and you want to be a part of that. Whatever the reason, here are a few tips that will help you make the step from steep learning curve to clean mountain carving.

To learn how to snowboard, you will need:

• snowboard (purchased or rented)
• snow
• mountain

1. Regular or Goofy-Footed Figure out whether you're regular or goofy-footed. Before you can start tearing down the mountain, you need to know which foot you are going to be most comfortable with having on the front of the board. If you skateboarded or surfed before, then you already know the answer to this question. If not, there is an easy way to figure it out. Stand with you feet about shoulder width apart. Have someone stand behind you and push you forward. Whatever foot you step forward with is the one that you will have in front of you when you snowboard. Left foot forward is regular, and right foot forward is referred to as goofy. Tell this to whomever you are renting or buying your snowboard from and you will be good to go.
2. Don't be too proud to practice on the bunny slope. It’s probably a good idea to start out on the bunny hill until you get your bearings.
3. Control your speed. When snowboarding, the most important thing to remember is control. In order to control your speed, you will need to go back and forth diagonally down the mountain. Lean back on your heels to slide slowly from one side of the slope to the other, like a falling leaf. If you just bomb straight down the middle, you'll go way too fast and end up hurting yourself or someone else in the process. Most people have an easier time turning to their heel side so you should probably start with that.
4. Turning To turn to your heel side, lean back towards your heels until the board shifts over onto its heel side edge and you begin to turn. Try and do this slowly, because if you shift your weight too quickly you are going to end up falling backwards. Once you have turned to the point that your board is perpendicular to the slope you are on it is time to start turning the other way.
5. Toeside turn. Now it’s time to do a toeside turn. To do this you need to do what is called “linking” your turns, which just means going from one type of turn to the other. The easiest way to do this is to watch your front knee. If you are finishing up a heel side turn your knee should be pointed more towards the heel side of your board. Gradually trace the front of your board with your knee until you are over on your toe side. This should be a slow gradual movement that takes your board from pointing at one side of the mountain to the other.
6. The lift. The only other thing you need to know about snowboarding is how to get on and off of a lift. This can be a little challenging at first, but you will get use to it pretty quickly. To board a lift un-strap your front binding and take your foot out. Now push off with your now freed front foot in a skateboard like motion towards the lift line. This is called ‘skating. ’ Once you skate over to the chair lift and sit down you have two choices. If you have either a step in or easily assembled binding you can strap your front foot back into the board while you are on the lift. If you can’t do this safely while riding to the top of the mountain don’t worry, when it’s time to get off you will simply place your front foot in the area between the two bindings and slide off to one side or the other and strap your foot back in.

And that’s it, now get off the computer and go try it!