Church Snowboard Trip - Snowboarding Forum

deafflier0011 · 01-08-2012, 01:44 PM

So my church goes on a yearly trip to the slopes, and this year, I have been assigned with teaching all the first-timers how to snowboard. I am a solid rider, very aggressive on the mountain, with 10 or so years of knowledge in riding. The thing is, I know it's one thing to ride, and an entirely different thing to teach others to ride. So I was wondering if anyone had any advice or tips on how I should go about teaching them? Their age range goes from about 10 years to 16 years old. (They are a part of the youth group) Any help would be much appreciated!

wrathfuldeity · 01-08-2012, 01:53 PM

Start out by prayer, put the fear of God in them and tell them this is how Jesus started to learn about walking on water. Good thing is they are probably good at falling on their knees and lying prostate.

BTW, no disrespect...I'm a son of a preacher man.

EatRideSleep · 01-08-2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafflier0011

So my church goes on a yearly trip to the slopes, and this year, I have been assigned with teaching all the first-timers how to snowboard. I am a solid rider, very aggressive on the mountain, with 10 or so years of knowledge in riding. The thing is, I know it's one thing to ride, and an entirely different thing to teach others to ride. So I was wondering if anyone had any advice or tips on how I should go about teaching them? Their age range goes from about 10 years to 16 years old. (They are a part of the youth group) Any help would be much appreciated!

Perhaps a group lesson by an instructor of the resort would be the best option all around? They might even have deals or discounts for a group of that number.

If you search around here you'll see some opinions and good tips on teaching others. Just because a person can do something doesn't mean they can teach it. Then there are those who can. Either way, chances are your time during this trip (teaching beginners) is not going to be spent doing much riding for your own enjoyment, if that matters to you.

I often have clients, family, and friends (who've never been on a snowboard) ask if I would teach them. I always say it's best to get a lesson; even though I could teach them, I'm not an instructor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrathfuldeity

Start out by prayer, put the fear of God in them and tell them this is how Jesus started to learn about walking on water. Good thing is they are probably good at falling on their knees and lying prostate.

BTW, no disrespect...I'm a son of a preacher man.

I was nearly in tears reading this...hilarious in so many ways.

And no disrespect either; I was raised Catholic (which might be why I thought it was so great).

linvillegorge · 01-08-2012, 03:03 PM

Yep, encourage them to get a group lesson. I wouldn't burden myself with trying to teach them. It'll probably be far less frustrating for all involved to just get them a lesson with a real instructor who knows how to teach.

Tarzanman · 01-08-2012, 04:33 PM

How many kids are you trying to teach? Smart money says to tandem teach with an instructor. Hire a guy for a group lesson and then (if it is cool with her/him) split the group down the middle. This way you don't have to memorize drills and sequences ahead of time, the instructor can dictate the pace/schedule.

Its better for everyone that way.

deafflier0011 · 01-08-2012, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

How many kids are you trying to teach? Smart money says to tandem teach with an instructor. Hire a guy for a group lesson and then (if it is cool with her/him) split the group down the middle. This way you don't have to memorize drills and sequences ahead of time, the instructor can dictate the pace/schedule.

Its better for everyone that way.

I'm trying to teach about 5 kids, not too many. I figured it wouldn't be too bad, but I'll definitely look into getting an instructor if that makes it a lot easier. I didn't know you could split the group like that... Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrathfuldeity

Start out by prayer, put the fear of God in them and tell them this is how Jesus started to learn about walking on water. Good thing is they are probably good at falling on their knees and lying prostate.

BTW, no disrespect...I'm a son of a preacher man.

No disrespect taken... that was probably the highlight of my day!!

Snownad · 01-08-2012, 08:32 PM

You carry a heavy burden friend.

More than teaching techniques, I'm just going to pass on what I've done with newbs. Make sure they have a good time. Give them the basics; goofy or reg, stay on an edge, falling leaf, then make sure they're having a good time..they wont get it all at once but if they enjoy themselves,chances are they will actually want to learn in the future

wrathfuldeity · 01-09-2012, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafflier0011

No disrespect taken... that was probably the highlight of my day!!

Just to add, their butts are also...shall we say calloused from the pew.

Toecutter · 01-09-2012, 10:07 AM

Teaching five youths seems like a lot to me. I'm with everyone else. Leave the teaching to a pro and the kids will have a better time (as will you).

wrathfuldeity · 01-10-2012, 09:41 AM

From my experience with boyscout hiking trips.

Have a required gear check and introduction night before the trip.
Make a check list of the right clothing, demonstrate good fit for boots and how to lace them up.
Bring your board and show them toeside, heelside etc.
Show them the mechanics of good position/posture and how the board turns.
Talk to them about how not to fall to prevent injury
Watch some of Snowolf's vids
Watch a good shred movie and eat pizza.
Then the night before actually being on the hill...repeat it.
Good luck.

01-08-2012, 01:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
deafflier0011 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 14	Church Snowboard Trip So my church goes on a yearly trip to the slopes, and this year, I have been assigned with teaching all the first-timers how to snowboard. I am a solid rider, very aggressive on the mountain, with 10 or so years of knowledge in riding. The thing is, I know it's one thing to ride, and an entirely different thing to teach others to ride. So I was wondering if anyone had any advice or tips on how I should go about teaching them? Their age range goes from about 10 years to 16 years old. (They are a part of the youth group) Any help would be much appreciated!

01-08-2012, 01:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrathfuldeity Resident poet Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bham Posts: 2,733	Start out by prayer, put the fear of God in them and tell them this is how Jesus started to learn about walking on water. Good thing is they are probably good at falling on their knees and lying prostate. BTW, no disrespect...I'm a son of a preacher man. __________________

01-08-2012, 03:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
linvillegorge Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Evergreen, CO Posts: 4,540	Yep, encourage them to get a group lesson. I wouldn't burden myself with trying to teach them. It'll probably be far less frustrating for all involved to just get them a lesson with a real instructor who knows how to teach. __________________ "People say that marijuana smoking is going to get in the way of my career. I say to them that on the contrary, my fighting career is getting in the way of my marijuana smoking." -Nick Diaz

01-10-2012, 09:41 AM	#10 (permalink)
wrathfuldeity Resident poet Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bham Posts: 2,733	From my experience with boyscout hiking trips. Have a required gear check and introduction night before the trip. Make a check list of the right clothing, demonstrate good fit for boots and how to lace them up. Bring your board and show them toeside, heelside etc. Show them the mechanics of good position/posture and how the board turns. Talk to them about how not to fall to prevent injury Watch some of Snowolf's vids Watch a good shred movie and eat pizza. Then the night before actually being on the hill...repeat it. Good luck. __________________

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01-08-2012, 04:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tarzanman Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,394	How many kids are you trying to teach? Smart money says to tandem teach with an instructor. Hire a guy for a group lesson and then (if it is cool with her/him) split the group down the middle. This way you don't have to memorize drills and sequences ahead of time, the instructor can dictate the pace/schedule. Its better for everyone that way.

01-08-2012, 08:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Snownad Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 189	You carry a heavy burden friend. More than teaching techniques, I'm just going to pass on what I've done with newbs. Make sure they have a good time. Give them the basics; goofy or reg, stay on an edge, falling leaf, then make sure they're having a good time..they wont get it all at once but if they enjoy themselves,chances are they will actually want to learn in the future

01-09-2012, 10:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
Toecutter Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mt. Bachelor Posts: 1,512	Teaching five youths seems like a lot to me. I'm with everyone else. Leave the teaching to a pro and the kids will have a better time (as will you).