Help a newbie.. - Snowboarding Forum

10-06-2009, 03:10 PM

I'm a total newbie and i don't know anithing about snowboarding yet BUT i really want to learn it and i have loads of questions lol

BUT DON'T LAUGH PLEASE

i've never even tried it but i've wanted to do it for a year already and i think i'm gonna go for it now

Okay here are my questions

i'm sure you'll laugh but...oh nevermind x]

How old is it normal to get started?
Is it safe?or should i be prepeared to break my nose every day lol xD
Do the snowboards break easily?
How to pick a good board?
Is it worth it?
And some tips for a newbie

(sorry if i have some writing mistakes

not so good at english)

10-06-2009, 03:13 PM

there seem to be a lot of these type threads lately....

All you need your first few times is rental equipment, a lesson or two and some azzpadz for your tailbone.

It's never to late to start, just go have a fun time.

SnowProRick · 10-06-2009, 03:42 PM

We have a lot of videos that will help you out as you prepare for your fist snowboarding experience.

Check out SnowProfessor

--rick

Dano · 10-06-2009, 03:55 PM

Hey Rose, welcome to boarding.

I don't know how old you are but you are deffinately not too old to start, no one is. First thing you NEED to do is rent equipment and take a couple lessons. Even if you have friends that say you can borrow a board and they will teach you, rent and take lessons. This way you'll have gear your size and you'll know how to use it. You won't break your nose but you will fall a bit and have a sore butt at the end of the day. But you'll have a ton of fun. And YES, it's totally worth it

cifex · 10-06-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose

I'm a total newbie and i don't know anithing about snowboarding yet BUT i really want to learn it and i have loads of questions lol

BUT DON'T LAUGH PLEASE

i've never even tried it but i've wanted to do it for a year already and i think i'm gonna go for it now

Okay here are my questions

i'm sure you'll laugh but...oh nevermind x]

How old is it normal to get started? I started at 12 (24 now). My mother did it for a few days at 50 and then switched to skiing.
Is it safe?or should i be prepeared to break my nose every day lol xD Outdoor sports all have an element of danger. You control how much you are willing accept. Helmet, Ass-Padz, and Wrist Guards are highly advisable when learning (Helmet always!).
Do the snowboards break easily? No.
How to pick a good board? Rent a few times first.
Is it worth it? I don't understand the question.
And some tips for a newbie

1) Turns occur by extending the toe or heel and digging the metal edge into the snow (downhill foot first).

2) People tend to get scared when learning and they lean uphill. This unweights the front of the board and makes it almost impossible to turn.

3) Keep the P-Tex side down.

(sorry if i have some writing mistakes

not so good at english)

1000000000000000 characters

10-06-2009, 07:56 PM

How old is it normal to get started?

Well any age is really a good age to start, but it's honestly easier to start when you are younger because I've seen young adults try snowboarding and think it's too difficult and give up. I personally started around the age of 9 and I'm currently 20. I love it.

Is it safe?or should i be prepeared to break my nose every day lol xD

I think when you get the hang of snowboarding you will have a blast. I agree though, you will become very sore as far as your legs and abdomen.

Do the snowboards break easily?

Snowboards do not typically break easily. I've only snapped one board in half and that's because I landed on a downward slope off of a large jump with a cheap board.

How to pick a good board?

The board you buy is dependent on your height and weight. There is typically a chart on each snowboard when you are shopping for them in stores that is weight and height specific. These two factors help determine the length of the board and how well you will be able to control it. Another thing is to determine the "type" of riding you will be doing. Weather it is the terrain park, or free mountain, a boards flexibility and width is dependent on those factors as well.

Is it worth it?

Snowboarding is completely worth it especially when you get to the top of a mountain right at sunset. Or when there's fresh powder everywhere and you can just rip through it and create massive waves of snow. The people you meet while doing it is great too.

v-verb · 10-06-2009, 08:00 PM

I highly suggest getting butt pads, helmet and wrist guards. snowboarding is FUN!!!! But painful to learn

Kjerstin Klein · 10-06-2009, 09:42 PM

Rose,

Looks like you got a good response to your question by posting it on Twitter

Some of the people that answered your questions are great resources so I would follow them on Twitter if you haven't already.

I think the most important question you asked is whether it is worth it or not. Only you can decide - but until you do none of the other questions really matter, do they?

Snowboarding is a great way to get outside, it is social, it makes you excited for the one season many people dread. It is great exercise; it satisfies the basic human need for excitement and I call it my Mental Floss...it is my way to clear my head when the world gets too crazy.

The flip side is yes there is a risk. Just like in any sport there is a chance, a small chance but a chance just the same, that you will get hurt. The common injuries are to the head, tailbone, wrists and knees. Helmets, padding and common sense can mitigate these risks - and let’s face it, the risk is part of the excitement!

So you have to ask yourself - what do you want your life to be like? What other things do you do in your life and how does snowboarding fit into the overall picture?

Once you have decided that you are committed to try snowboarding then the other pieces can fall into place. You are never too old to try something new...on our local slope, 7 Springs Mountain Resort, every weekend last year I saw this little old guy - by old I mean in his 80's at least - working with a young snowboard instructor. By the end of the season I rode up the lift with him and he had a grin from ear to ear and said this was the best winter he'd had in years. You are never too old to have that much fun

The other people responding had some great advice - rent and get a lesson. Rental gear isn't always the BEST gear but it is designed with the beginner in mind. It is easy to learn on and frankly, until you try snowboarding you won't know what you want from your gear. Plus being a beginner can be hard on equipment, not that it breaks easily but it does get banged up - let the rental gear take the hard knocks then get your own stuff once you've gotten over the hump.

So how long will it take to get over that first hump? Well I'll be honest with you-the learning curve is pretty steep. Meaning it will be VERY hard at first but get easier quite soon. How hard it is at first will depend a great deal on your life experience - if you ski, water ski, wakeboard, skate, skateboard or do any other similar activities you will get the hang of the balance faster than if you have never done anything of the like. Honestly, if you take a lesson and have any physical abilities you should get the hang of it in 1-2 lessons and can build from there.

The most common mistake I see new riders make is to get too much weight on the back foot - as said in another post this is typically a fear response and will throw the balance totally off making it virtually impossible to turn - a good lesson will help you avoid this and other pitfalls-I would consider a professional lesson one of the top investments for a successful adventure

You have gotten some excellent advice from all of your responders - We all enthusiastically welcomed you to the hill and remember there are no silly questions, if we are laughing it is only because we've been there and remember what it was like to be a newbie...snowboarding is fun, laughing is fun and if you can't laugh at yourself what [I]can[I]you laugh at?

Have a great time and you'll have to let us all know how it goes!

Wishing you the best!

danielle · 10-06-2009, 10:20 PM

Best of luck, snowboarding can be very rewarding. I think you have a lot of great answers on here. Please get a helmet and a great pair of gloves!

Dano · 10-06-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielle

Best of luck, snowboarding can be very rewarding. I think you have a lot of great answers on here. Please get a helmet and a great pair of gloves!

Definately agree with the helmet. When you catch your heel edge (and you will, everyone does), your whole body kind of whips down. Doesn't hurt as much as you'd think, but because your head is at the opposite end of the body from where the "whipping" motion begins, it can get moving pretty quick. Protect that bean of yours, everyone only has one

10-06-2009, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rose Guest Posts: n/a	Help a newbie.. I'm a total newbie and i don't know anithing about snowboarding yet BUT i really want to learn it and i have loads of questions lolBUT DON'T LAUGH PLEASEi've never even tried it but i've wanted to do it for a year already and i think i'm gonna go for it now Okay here are my questionsi'm sure you'll laugh but...oh nevermind x] How old is it normal to get started? Is it safe?or should i be prepeared to break my nose every day lol xD Do the snowboards break easily? How to pick a good board? Is it worth it? And some tips for a newbie (sorry if i have some writing mistakes not so good at english)

10-06-2009, 03:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
SnowProRick Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 115	We have a lot of videos that will help you out as you prepare for your fist snowboarding experience. Check out SnowProfessor --rick __________________ --Rick SnowProfessor.com Free How To Snowboard Videos

10-06-2009, 03:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dano Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 729	Hey Rose, welcome to boarding. I don't know how old you are but you are deffinately not too old to start, no one is. First thing you NEED to do is rent equipment and take a couple lessons. Even if you have friends that say you can borrow a board and they will teach you, rent and take lessons. This way you'll have gear your size and you'll know how to use it. You won't break your nose but you will fall a bit and have a sore butt at the end of the day. But you'll have a ton of fun. And YES, it's totally worth it __________________ '12 Lib Tech T.rice / '12 Burton Cartels '10 CustomX / '10 Co2 EST Salomon F22 Last edited by Dano; 10-06-2009 at 07:20 PM.

10-06-2009, 07:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
xtimmy13x Guest Posts: n/a	Hey How old is it normal to get started? Well any age is really a good age to start, but it's honestly easier to start when you are younger because I've seen young adults try snowboarding and think it's too difficult and give up. I personally started around the age of 9 and I'm currently 20. I love it. Is it safe?or should i be prepeared to break my nose every day lol xD I think when you get the hang of snowboarding you will have a blast. I agree though, you will become very sore as far as your legs and abdomen. Do the snowboards break easily? Snowboards do not typically break easily. I've only snapped one board in half and that's because I landed on a downward slope off of a large jump with a cheap board. How to pick a good board? The board you buy is dependent on your height and weight. There is typically a chart on each snowboard when you are shopping for them in stores that is weight and height specific. These two factors help determine the length of the board and how well you will be able to control it. Another thing is to determine the "type" of riding you will be doing. Weather it is the terrain park, or free mountain, a boards flexibility and width is dependent on those factors as well. Is it worth it? Snowboarding is completely worth it especially when you get to the top of a mountain right at sunset. Or when there's fresh powder everywhere and you can just rip through it and create massive waves of snow. The people you meet while doing it is great too.

10-06-2009, 08:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
v-verb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 362	I highly suggest getting butt pads, helmet and wrist guards. snowboarding is FUN!!!! But painful to learn __________________ 09 Bataleon Evil Twin 55 08 Bataleon Fun.Kink 53 08 Bataleon Enemy 61

10-06-2009, 03:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Augie09 Guest Posts: n/a	there seem to be a lot of these type threads lately.... All you need your first few times is rental equipment, a lesson or two and some azzpadz for your tailbone. It's never to late to start, just go have a fun time.

10-06-2009, 09:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kjerstin Klein Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 43 Blog Entries: 3	A Bad Day on the Mountain is Better Than a Good Day Inside :) Rose, Looks like you got a good response to your question by posting it on Twitter Some of the people that answered your questions are great resources so I would follow them on Twitter if you haven't already. I think the most important question you asked is whether it is worth it or not. Only you can decide - but until you do none of the other questions really matter, do they? Snowboarding is a great way to get outside, it is social, it makes you excited for the one season many people dread. It is great exercise; it satisfies the basic human need for excitement and I call it my Mental Floss...it is my way to clear my head when the world gets too crazy. The flip side is yes there is a risk. Just like in any sport there is a chance, a small chance but a chance just the same, that you will get hurt. The common injuries are to the head, tailbone, wrists and knees. Helmets, padding and common sense can mitigate these risks - and let’s face it, the risk is part of the excitement! So you have to ask yourself - what do you want your life to be like? What other things do you do in your life and how does snowboarding fit into the overall picture? Once you have decided that you are committed to try snowboarding then the other pieces can fall into place. You are never too old to try something new...on our local slope, 7 Springs Mountain Resort, every weekend last year I saw this little old guy - by old I mean in his 80's at least - working with a young snowboard instructor. By the end of the season I rode up the lift with him and he had a grin from ear to ear and said this was the best winter he'd had in years. You are never too old to have that much fun The other people responding had some great advice - rent and get a lesson. Rental gear isn't always the BEST gear but it is designed with the beginner in mind. It is easy to learn on and frankly, until you try snowboarding you won't know what you want from your gear. Plus being a beginner can be hard on equipment, not that it breaks easily but it does get banged up - let the rental gear take the hard knocks then get your own stuff once you've gotten over the hump. So how long will it take to get over that first hump? Well I'll be honest with you-the learning curve is pretty steep. Meaning it will be VERY hard at first but get easier quite soon. How hard it is at first will depend a great deal on your life experience - if you ski, water ski, wakeboard, skate, skateboard or do any other similar activities you will get the hang of the balance faster than if you have never done anything of the like. Honestly, if you take a lesson and have any physical abilities you should get the hang of it in 1-2 lessons and can build from there. The most common mistake I see new riders make is to get too much weight on the back foot - as said in another post this is typically a fear response and will throw the balance totally off making it virtually impossible to turn - a good lesson will help you avoid this and other pitfalls-I would consider a professional lesson one of the top investments for a successful adventure You have gotten some excellent advice from all of your responders - We all enthusiastically welcomed you to the hill and remember there are no silly questions, if we are laughing it is only because we've been there and remember what it was like to be a newbie...snowboarding is fun, laughing is fun and if you can't laugh at yourself what [I]can[I]you laugh at? Have a great time and you'll have to let us all know how it goes! Wishing you the best! __________________ Kjerstin Klein from The Jib Shop

10-06-2009, 10:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
danielle Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Washington Posts: 172 Blog Entries: 2	Best of luck, snowboarding can be very rewarding. I think you have a lot of great answers on here. Please get a helmet and a great pair of gloves!

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