snowboarding guide

The overall surface of a snowboard should be kept smooth and able to easily prevent debris from collecting on the board itself. The smooth surface makes it much easier to control the board while in play. The better your control of the board, the easier is it to get the most of your speed and ease of turning. Obviously, the less effort you have to exert in order to control the board, the better your endurance and the longer you can actually engage in the sport in a short period of time. This can be very important when you choose to engage in snowboard competitions.

As far as the board itself, a good quality snowboard wax helps keep your board in top condition, extending the life of the board itself. Over time, a board that is not maintained properly with a good wax job will develop a rough texture and more stress will be placed on the board as it is used. The wax will help you to get the most out of your board, by extending the life of the board.

When it comes to applying the snowboard wax, make sure you have a dry room that is well ventilated to do the job. As with many products, the fumes can make you dizzy. Make sure that you have laid some sort of a cloth, such as an old sheet or a dropcloth, so the excess wax will have something to drip onto. You also will need to have a couple of blocks or bricks to prop the board onto, so that it is not resting on the ground. A cheap pair of household gloves will also help to protect your hands while applying the wax.

Snowboard wax usually comes in the form of a bar, similar to a bar of soap. Before you begin to apply the wax, heat it up by using an old iron. If you do not have a waxing iron, you can use a conventional iron that is free of rust and ideally with a non-stick surface. The idea is to have the wax liquefied enough to spread, but not so hot that it will begin to smoke.

After dripping the wax onto your board, spread a coat evenly across the surface, using a plastic scraper, similar to the types that are used to scrape frost and ice from the windshield of a car. The layer does not have to be a thick coating, but it is important that it be as even as you can manage. Once the wax is evenly spread, allow it to cool. While it is cooling, the wax will begin to seep into the texture of the board.

Once the wax is cooled, use another scraper to gently remove any excess wax. Don’t use the scraper to dig down into the board. What you want is a very clear veneer on the board with no spots that have any wax buildup. For a final step, take an abrasive pad and polish the surface to further smooth out the layer of wax.

There is some difference of opinion on how often you should wax your snowboard. A good rule of thumb is to apply a new coat of snowboard wax after every three uses. You can adjust this based on your own experience, and how much of a beating your wax job takes during your routine use of the board. Also remember that a board which has been in storage for some time should have a new coat of wax before you begin to use it again.

By taking proper care of your snowboard, you will greatly extend the life of the board and enjoy your snowboarding time even more. Snowboard wax is one of the best ways to ensure your board stays in the best operating condition at all times.

Board Anatomy

Nose - the nose is the end that usually point’s downhill

Tail - the tail is the end that usually points uphill

Toe edge - the side of the board where your toes are

Heel edge - the side of the board where your heels are

binding - the thing that binds your foot to the board.

Regular vs. Goofy

Picture yourself sliding downhill sideways. Which side is facing downhill, you’re right or left? Alternatively, imagine yourself sliding across the kitchen floor in your socks. Which foot is forward? If you answered left, you’re “regular”. If you answered right, you’re “goofy”. On a snowboard, your feet are not perfectly pointed straight toward the toe edge, they are slightly angled either to the left (regular) or to the right (goofy). Your “leading foot” (the foot that goes down the hill first) for a regular person, this is the left foot, for a goofy person, it’s the right. The board pictured above is a regular board. On a goofy board, the nose is on the right and the tail is on the left.

Riding the Board

The first unusual factor you need to get used to thinking about is that you can face any direction while riding downhill on a snowboard. You can go down the slope backwards, that is, with your toes pointed uphill and your back in the direction in which you’re traveling. You can go down the hill nose end first or tail end first. You can go downhill facing downhill, or you can do anything in between. Wicked hey?

The uphill edge

bare in mind while you are snowboarding, always put pressure on the uphill edge of the board. So, if you are going down the mountain backwards, that is, facing uphill, your pressure will be on your toes. This way of facing the mountain is called “toeside” for obvious reasons. If you are going down the mountain facing downhill, your pressure will be on your heels. This is called “heel side”. DON’T put pressure on the downhill edge. It will cause you to fall over. Think about it. If you are heel side (that is, traveling downhill and facing downhill) and you dig the downhill edge (the toe edge) into the snow, what do you think will happen? The board will stop and you will keep going, causing you to tumble over your board and fall flat on your face. Similarly, if you are toeside (traveling downhill backwards) and your heel edge digs in, what is going to happen? Your board will stop and you won’t, causing your backside to slam into the ground. And guess what this is known as ?????????

Balancing front-back

The balance point is the center of your weight relative to the surface of the board. Try this: at a standstill, position the board so that it is perpendicular to the slope and you are facing downhill. Now, tilt the toe edge of the board up and down using your ankles, move yourself front and back until you find the spot where you won’t tip over. That’s your balance point. The balance point changes with the softness of the snow because in soft snow, you’ll have to tilt your board away from the incline more so than you would on hard-packed snow. Try going heel side slowly down an incline by reducing the pressure applied by your heels.

Balancing left-right

For the most part, try to keep your weight evenly distributed between your two feet. You don’t want to put more weight on the uphill foot. Why not? The surface of the board under the leading (downhill) foot is largely what steers you. Just think of a sled going down a hill. The steering is in the front; friction on the sides of these blades will make it turn. If that analogy didn’t work for you, then consider this one: Ever done a pop-a-wheelie on your bike as a kid? What happens when you steer while your front wheel is in the air? It has no effect on your direction, right? No control. Same thing with a snowboard, if there is no pressure on the leading end (the downhill foot), you have no steering.

Stopping

a stop is a lot like a hockey-stop on ice skates. You bring the board perpendicular to the slope and dig the uphill edge in. If you are heel side (if you are facing downhill) you stop by digging your heels in. If you are toeside, (if you are facing uphill) you stop by digging your toes in. Slowing down is basically the same thing. It’s just that when you want to stop you apply a lot of pressure fast. At the same time, you’ll be balancing your weight (shifting your balance point) so you don’t upset your position to the point where you tip over. Practice stopping heel side. Then practice stopping toeside.

Turning

Okay, this part is important, so pay attention. Start with your board perpendicular to (that is, horizontal across) the slope and then apply less and less pressure to the edge and see what happens. The leading foot tends to go downhill. If you stay in this position, with the lead foot downhill and the board parallel with the slope, you’ll go fast. To turn, start digging the heels in. What happens? You turn heel side. If you had dug your toes in instead, you would have turned toeside. WAIT UNTIL the nose of your board is pointed directly downhill BEFORE digging in the edge. Always look in the direction where you want to go. You have a tendency to go where you are looking because your head is followed by your shoulders/upper body and then by your hips. It may help to stick your hand out in the direction you want to go. This will help get your shoulder to turn. Avoid looking at the ground right in front of you, especially when you are toeside. Instead, when you are toeside, look over your shoulder in the direction you think you want to turn. When you want to actually turn, let your shoulder follow your head. Your hips and feet will follow.

One of the most important pieces of equipment of snowboarding is your snowboard boots. They are your connection to the snowboard, by not spending time in finding the right boots; you can ruin your snowboarding experience. some quick tips for buying boots.

Should I buy Step in or Strap in boots…

The first decision is if you want the traditional strap-in boots or the newer step-in boots. If you decide to go for the step-in boots you will have to buy the bindings and boots together, this is because the strap-in boots will not work with the step-in binding. The trend at the moment seems to be softer boots with strap-in bindings.

the fit of the boots…

No matter how much you have to spend on boots it is very important that you take time finding the best fitting boots. If you buy boots that are comfortable in the shop you will find aching feet on the slope. So find boots that are snug. Remember be patient. Different brands of boots suit different types of feet. So go forth and find your boots.

Trying On Boots…

Here are a few things to remember when trying on your boots. Firstly wear proper socks. Put on a boot and push your heel into the back of the boot to make sure that your foot is secure. Then tie the boots laces tight but not too tight. Then close the outer lining of the boot, repeat the process with the other boot. Attach the bindings and stand up. Notice how secure your feet are, move forwards and backwards making sure there is no rubbing that may cause you discomfort later on.

heel lift…

Heel Lift is when you lean forward in your boots and your heel lifts and not your snowboard. But this will be minimized if you find the best boots for your feet.

Inner Boots…

There are many advantages of having inner boots or lining, usually the inner boots can be laced like the outer boots, and they provide a little extra stability on the slope. You can take the inner boot out to dry after a long day snowboarding.

Some Boots have additional features…

As you search for the perfect pair of boots you will notice that as the price for boots goes higher with the features. For example air-pumps. All you must remember is that these features are useless if the boots don?t fit you in the first place.

Snowboarding Equipment Made By Riders For Riders!

The Burton Snowboarding equipment Company is owned and run by snowboarders, by having this setup, Burton is continuously improving their products from snowboard boots to snowboard’s, bindings to snowboard clothes.

From a small operation in Southern Vermont, this small family run business that is known as Burton has grown in to a global company with offices across the world. As many would agree Burton has been a major factor in shaping what Snowboarding is today.

Burton has been established as a snowboarding company since 1977. It is a company that does extensive research in order to develop some of the leading snowboard’s, snowboard boots and snowboard bindings in the world. So along with the company history and the vast experience of the staff Burton are manufacturing some of the best snowboard’s and snowboard equipment in the world. Because of this extensive research riders always know when they buy Burton they are buying quality.

So, what’s so special about their jackets. Well they have something called Continuum which is exclusive to Burton. What’s Continuum? its an exclusive technology to Burton. Its based around a seam welded origami construction, it basically eliminates almost all seam tape, stitching holes and thread. This allows the fabric to breath more easily and also takes the moisture away from your body and into the outer wear faster then previous snowboarding jackets. Also because the fabric is more breathable it means that the it can dry faster.

Another factor that concerns some riders is the actual weight of the jacket it self. The Continuum Technology also takes care of that. Due to there being no need for seam taping this reduces the overall weight of the jacket. Now, I’m sure you’re wondering what does that mean for a snow boarder? well that means no matter what you are doing in the snow you’ll be able to do it for longer, faster and drier.

Snowboarding is one of those sports that can get expensive very quickly, so you want to make sure to choose the right gear for your style. By careful searching, you can save yourself from spending $500 on the wrong type of snowboard… and still enjoy the riding that you like to do.

A great place to find good deals on snowboards is at your local snowboard shop (if you have one in your area). You can also check shops near your favorite snowboard locations. It is also good to look on the internet to research prices and manufacturers and ratings of the various snowboards.

After snow season, mainly during the spring and summer, you can find good deals on snowboards (since they are not being used much). Oftentimes, during the off season, rental shops ugrade their equipment and you can find good deals on their used stuff. Also, you might be able to find a good deal on a snowboard by checking the classifieds at the local college or university school newspaper.

In snowboarding, there are three main styles. Freestyle, Freeride and Freecarve-Race. Snowboarders are fairly divided between Freestyle and Freeride, and Race boards are fewer, as you’d probably already know if this is your style. The manufacturers design these boards for an intended style of riding, so once you know what style you like, you can narrow you choices to that style of snowboard. Knowing this in advance can save you a lot of money.

One of the things to do is to try different styles by renting the various equipment for a day and try riding. See what you like… and if you want to invest in your own equipment… go for it!

Here’s a brief description of each style.

Freestyle

Freestyle riding is whatever you feel free to do at the time. It focuses on tricks, jumps, rail slides, halfpipes and switch riding. Snowboard videos usually show freestyle riding; since it is easier to film, it’s entertaining to watch and gives the snowboarder the chance to really showcase their skills. Also… the most popular snowboarding events are freestyle competitions. And… many places will have a snowboard park for the freestyle riders, with halfpipes, rails and some jumps.

Freestyle boards have a soft boot and are comparatively shorter. This helps the maneuverability for doing tricks, jumps and getting airborne. Some freestyle boards are designed for a speciality, such as the halfpipe. If you can afford a board for every occasion, these specialty boards will ride extremely well in the condition for which they were designed — but are not likely to perform well outside of that specific terrain.

Freeride Style

Of all the styles of snowboarding, Freeriding is the most general. Freeride equipment also uses a soft boot. Boards in this category are relatively longer and more directional in their shape. If you don’t know what kind of surface terrain you like, or you like everything, this would be for you.

This is where you get to experience all of the mountain for yourself. You can snowboard through open terrain, hit backcountry chutes, get the fresh powder, and manuever through trees. This is where the rider and the mountain can come together, with no one else to interrupt.

Freecarve - Race

Freecarving is done on hard pack or groomed runs and focuses on hitting the ultimate carving turn. Usually here, there’s not much jumping. In contrast with the other two styles, Freecarve equipment has a hard boot and the boards are narrow, long and stiff. This style can have competitions that are similar to skiing events, with the snowboarders going around poles.

So what type of snowboard should you get? In making a choice for the right equipment for you, if you are just starting out, get a general all-around design snowboard, setup for freeride or freestyle.

Try renting some equipment that is not highly specific to any one style. This will give you the chance to try out a variety of your skills, so you can see what you like before spending the money on any specific board (or if you like a couple different styles, and can afford it… get a couple different boards).

Just be sure to understand riding styles before you buy, then look for equipment that meets your needs.

Are you getting a bit bored with your current hobby? Do you love your stamp collecting but feel you need something a bit extra- something with a bit of oomph? The needlework or knitting is enjoyable but granny’s being overwhelmed with all those sweaters you keep

making for her?

How about an exciting, thrilling, fast paced all action hobby? Snowboarding may just be that new hobby you’ve always wanted to take up but never quite knew where or how to start. It is gaining in popularity with each passing year and is a very fashionable or ‘hip’ kind of hobby to be involved with, and is more accessible than ever before.

But what do we need to get started with this wonderful pastime? Well, first things first- get yourself on to the nearest computer and get online. Type’snowboarding’ in to whatever search engine you happen to use and you will find that the internet is a goldmine of information for anything to do with snowboarding, and you will learn plenty by just surfing around different snowboarding sites and forums. This will help you understand what snowboarding really involves before you decide to take the plunge.

It can be dangerous and physically taxing, as well as being an expensive hobby to take up, so bearing all this in mind, you have to decide whether you can participate both from a physical and financial point of view.

Once you have taken the decision to try snowboarding out, the next thing you have to do is look for the appropriate equipment and clothing. Don’t make the mistake of buying a top quality board to start with. Go for a cheaper version especially designed for beginners. These boards are readily available online but can also be found in a wealth of sports, ski and extreme sports shops. Ebay would be the perfect place for a beginner to pick up some cheap equipment but as always with online auction sites, make sure you buy your gear from a reputable seller with a decent amount of positive feedback. Clothing and accessories are also readily available online or in stores, and some of the things you should be looking to acquire are hats, sunglasses, thick socks, gloves, etc. Just make sure you are prepared for anything Mother Nature can possibly throw at you!

You may want to look in to the possibility of having snowboarding lessons to help you on your way. Again by checking online you should be able to come up with some local or fairly local instructors but failing that the ‘yellow pages’ should sort you out. You have to be

aware that lessons will vary greatly in quality and price but if you do take up lessons always listen very carefully to what you are taught, not only from a performance perspective, but more importantly, from a safety one. And don’t forget the old adage that practise makes perfect. Get out there between lessons to keep improving your technique and you will see improvement. It may take a lot of hard work initially but you will definitely get there in the end and it will only help you enjoy your new hobby, or sport as it is officially known!

As we mentioned before, snowboarding can be dangerous- it is an ‘extreme’ sport, after all. Using a bit of common sense on the slopes and being well prepared well set you in good stead. Enjoy yourself but most of all- be safe!

A lot of people claim to be able to slide around on the hills without wearing a snowboard helmet. Of course, it’s possible, but there is no circumstance under which it should be acceptable. There are all sorts of incidents in which a snowboard helmet can save your life and all sorts of incidents in which not wearing one can cost it.

You should never gamble with your life based on not wanting to look anything less than cool, so wear a snowboard helmet and let safety be your top concern as you tackle new snowboarding adventures all over your favourite mountain. Saving your life is far more important than aesthetic value.

Snowboarding headgear does not need to be uncool by any extent, though, as there are plenty of helmets that look great and add a tremendously cool vibe to your entire gear setup. Get ready to wow people on the slopes with your helmet as you cruise down the mountain with your new flashy helmet.

Not only are you not protected, but look a lot better because you can hide that inevitable problem hair that comes with the blowback from the hill. There are tons of designs that you can look at to make your headgear look great and make your snowboard helmet the epitome of cool safety greatness on the snowboard hill.

Getting Geared Up

Snowboarding is considered an extreme winter sport by the governing bodies of sport in most of the countries of the world. It is considered dangerous in most instances, despite being located on normal mountains and not necessarily bound to exotic locations in the middle of nowhere.

The sport of snowboarding has evolved beyond that of extreme sport for most people and families are now taking to the hill to snowboard with the skiers. All the more reason, say the experts, to wear a snowboard helmet at all times when you are out on the slopes. You can never have too much protection.

A lot of people you may be snowboarding with will not know all of the basics, including the basic snowboard stance, and could create a lot of havoc for you on the hill.

For this reason, you need to be prepared with the right safety equipment and the right gear including your trusty snowboard helmet. Without it, you could be risking a lot for yourself and even more for other people on the hill. Always be prepared.

More women are getting interested in snowboarding. As a sport that does not require a great deal of upper body strength, and the fact that snowboarding provides an excellent cardiovascular workout, it is a lot of fun and very healthy for both genders. However, the equipment is not designed to be a uniform fit for males and females alike. If you are in the market for a quality women’s snowboard, there are several factors you should keep in mind.

One of the most basic differences between snowboard manufactured for women is that they are different in the width of the board itself. The deciding factor here is the obvious differences in the width of the male foot from that of the female foot. Smaller feet need a more narrow board in order to allow the rider to have optimum control of the snowboard. A good rule of thumb is to see how your foot rests on the surface of the board. If your toes or heels do not come near the edge of the board, then you know it is too wide. Choosing a board that is too wide for your feet will result in a decreased ability to maneuver, especially when it comes to making a turn.

Once the width has been addressed, turn your attention to the length of the snowboard. As a general rule, the ideal length of the board should correspond to the height of the intended rider. To get an idea of whether a board is the correct length, stand the board on end and see how close the overall length comes to the chin. A board of approximately that length will be fine if you plan on participating in park or pipe snowboarding. If carving or freeriding is your intention, then the board should be a little longer, coming up to approximately between the cheek and eye level.

One last factor to address is the flex of the board. Your body mass will come into play here. If you are lighter, then you will need a board that is slightly more flexible. You can test the flex factor of the board by pressing against the board along toward the middle. Just remember that the greater the weight load, the less flex you need in the snowboard.

Sporting goods shops will carry a vast array of snowboards, each with various combinations of these essential elements. Since women, just like men, come is all heights, weights, and shoe sizes, it is important to try out several boards until you find the one that most closely will meet your needs. Do not allow yourself to be directed toward any one board that is promoted as being a good fit for any woman. With a little effort, you can find the perfect women’s snowboard for you.

It is recommended that you buy boots before purchasing a pair of snowboard bindings, since you can fit your snowboard bindings snugly without worrying about the shoes being too big or too small. You will find the snowboard bindings in small, medium, and large. The shoes also come in many shapes.

The heel cup as well as the base plate can affect how well your shoes fit your feet. Once you have your boots on you can take them with you when you shop for snowboard bindings. Wear your boots when you try on the snowboard bindings while pointing your toes down, and inside them. Make sure you push the heel so that it goes back and fits well into the pair of heel cups.

Make sure that the heel slides in with ease. However make sure that there is not too much of movement either. Compatibility of your shoe and the snowboard binding is an important factor too. Basically, all of the latest snowboard bindings fit to match the latest bindings. However Burton is the only snowboard binding shoes that uses the three-hole patterns. With this, it means you will need to purchase three-hole patterned shoes that fit Burton brands.

Snowboard bindings are found in a varied price range. The price line is high in some brands, where Burrton’s selections can cost you up to $400. The features provided here include the TOOLESS adjusters. With this feature, the adjusters allow you to slide your toe onto the ramp and then onto the gel-pad base plate. However it is more than likely that you will need to pay more for these shoes.

Snowboard bindings offer a choice between plastic and metal base plates. Of the two, the metal base plates are the preferred choice in terms of durability. However you are provided with sufficient and sufficient support from both styles of base plates.

There are several brands of snowboard bindings available today in the market. Some of the manufacturers include Burton, Drake, Flow, Flux, GNU, Forum, K2, Rome, Union, Rossignol, M4, Nitro, Ride, Technine, Salomon, et cetera. If you are searching for

some classy styles, the Nitro Raiden Phantom Blue Fades is one of the neater pairs of snowboarding bindings. Flux Super Emblem, including the Titan 2, green is another nice pair. If you are looking for something elegant, classy, stylish, et cetera you will find something like you need in the line of PRO Snowboard bindings. One of the more stylish pairs is the Flow Pro-S-FR Red. These bindings have shades of black, with fire red glowing off its binding.

Snowboarding is an extreme sport that should not be avoided. It is exhilarating and adventurous and when mastered is so much fun! I know that just thinking about it is daunting - but it might just be easier then you think - but it can still be tricky for many people to learn. Before you take your board out there on the slopes you need to know what you need and the basics of how to do it.

The first thing we want to talk about is how you need to dress when you go snowboarding. Make sure that you were a helmet that is specifically for snowboarders. Make sure it fits well and does not move around on your head or sit too low on your forehead. At the same time it shouldn’t be too tight.

Wearing the right type of boots is also important. Make sure that this too fit your feet well - but are not too tight. You want to be able to move around easily - but not have them fall off.

Underneath those shoes you should wear high socks. Tuck your pants into your boots. You’ll find that when your boots rub against your skin all day it will rub them raw. I don’t care what people say - you should never wear more then one pair of socks. It will make your boots tighter and decrease the circulation of blood that travels to your feet. This can increase your risks of frosty toes.

Snowboarding For Beginners

The first thing you need to do is figure out which foot will be your lead foot. It is common that people who are right handed will lead with their left foot or the other way around. Of course this does not always apply to everyone. If you are not quite sure which one you should lead with then you should just do what is comfortable for you.

Once you have figured it out place your lead foot into the front binding and fasten it tightly in. If you are using the step in type of board then you want to make sure that it fits in perfectly and tightly. Once the lead foot is secure place your other foot in the right position. Try to get a feel for the board by bouncing around and moving a little. Try not to fall over!

Obviously you should have someone with you who knows what they are doing so that if anything happens to you or you need any help then can assist you. Have them make sure that you put your board on right and let them lead you to the proper ski lift. Remember to get on and off the ski lift with your snowboard.

Once you have left the chairlift you will not start to go very fast down the mountain. You will be starting off on a small hill where you will be able to turn and board your way to a much larger hill. These small hills are called bunny hills or practice hills. Go to the edge of this hill. Sit down and make sure that your board is perpendicular to the hill and place your foot in the binding. Make sure that the binding is secure. You shouldn’t be able to move your foot around.

Stand up and then apply pressure to your lead foot - the one in front - and bend your knees and keep your back straight. You need to feel well balanced. When you apply pressure make sure that you and not leaning your body. Just pressing your feet firmly to the ground. Now you are ready to take off. Just remember that you are a beginner and you are going to fall down a few times before you get it right.

Reminders For Snowboarders

Please remember to follow any safety instructions that your trainer has told you. You also need to make sure that you have the proper snowboarding equipment before you hit the slopes. To make sure you have done this ask a clerk at the store which one would be best for you (a beginner) to use.