A Punter is a someone who is learning how to snowboard. Most likely up for the weekend. Most likely hiring his gear. Most likely overconfident and going to break something.
He is probably having more fun than you are or anyone else on the hill, because he's stoked with his 'balls to the wall, haul-ass bombing on a hire board' skills.
But lets face it, if you don’t want to be in the same category as the Punter and look like a dork, here are a few tricks that won’t cost you a thing, to dispel The Punter inside YOU:
Problem The Punters Gap. This one can creep up on you, so watch out. Its the gap between your goggles and your beanie. There shouldn’t be any forehead/tufts of hair to be seen. If you’re riding with a helmet in the park and think you’re s**t hot, then you might just choose to have a gap between your goggles and your helmet. You’re probably an accomplished park skier, why you guys do this is beyond me.
Solution Fix it. It will take you two seconds and have you looking less like a ‘Special Simon.’
Problem The Punter Stance. This is basically where the bindings are the closest possible setting to the centre of the board. Front foot ducked and back foot most likely on zero degrees. It makes you turn like a muppet, carve like Stacey Peralta and is easily worse than than the Punter Gap.
Solution Instructors prefer you to have this stance for learning, why? because it sends this message, “I’m new at this snowboarding thing and out of control, so get the hell out of my way!”. So, while nobodies looking get the screwdriver out and put those bindings on the widest setting. No need to use the base plate to slide it out further, just use the widest inserts on the board. Just do it.
Problem The Punters Wave. If you’re regular, its your right hand. Goofy, its your left hand. People learning to snowboard will often use this hand as some kind of ‘rudder’. Its looks like you’re shaking hands with your invisible friend behind you. It looks spastic, so fix it.
Solution The problem with this Punterism is that you will be focussing so hard on riding you won’t notice you’re doing it. The solution is easy, tell yourself to grab your pants at the outside of your thigh. After a while your hand will know to be in this position instead of waving like an idiot Santa on his sleigh.
I hope this has helped you out and shed light on your own riding..
Peace
He is probably having more fun than you are or anyone else on the hill, because he's stoked with his 'balls to the wall, haul-ass bombing on a hire board' skills.
But lets face it, if you don’t want to be in the same category as the Punter and look like a dork, here are a few tricks that won’t cost you a thing, to dispel The Punter inside YOU:
Problem The Punters Gap. This one can creep up on you, so watch out. Its the gap between your goggles and your beanie. There shouldn’t be any forehead/tufts of hair to be seen. If you’re riding with a helmet in the park and think you’re s**t hot, then you might just choose to have a gap between your goggles and your helmet. You’re probably an accomplished park skier, why you guys do this is beyond me.
Solution Fix it. It will take you two seconds and have you looking less like a ‘Special Simon.’
Problem The Punter Stance. This is basically where the bindings are the closest possible setting to the centre of the board. Front foot ducked and back foot most likely on zero degrees. It makes you turn like a muppet, carve like Stacey Peralta and is easily worse than than the Punter Gap.
Solution Instructors prefer you to have this stance for learning, why? because it sends this message, “I’m new at this snowboarding thing and out of control, so get the hell out of my way!”. So, while nobodies looking get the screwdriver out and put those bindings on the widest setting. No need to use the base plate to slide it out further, just use the widest inserts on the board. Just do it.
Problem The Punters Wave. If you’re regular, its your right hand. Goofy, its your left hand. People learning to snowboard will often use this hand as some kind of ‘rudder’. Its looks like you’re shaking hands with your invisible friend behind you. It looks spastic, so fix it.
Solution The problem with this Punterism is that you will be focussing so hard on riding you won’t notice you’re doing it. The solution is easy, tell yourself to grab your pants at the outside of your thigh. After a while your hand will know to be in this position instead of waving like an idiot Santa on his sleigh.
I hope this has helped you out and shed light on your own riding..
Peace