Winston

I live in Texas and I only get a chance to snowboard once or twice a year at the most when I visit Colorado. So far I have only snowboarded twice. I stayed on the bunny slopes and all I did was work on balance and go down hills without falling. Still dont know how to stop very well but I can at least turn. My next snowboard trip wont be until December and I want to learn now so I can be better prepared before going.

What tips do you guys have for learning at home? I want to be able to eventually catch air, ollie, air grabs like backside, frontside, 180s, boardslides etc.

Would it be useful to actually buy a snowboard and practice moves at home? Watch youtube videos? What do you guys think?

poutanen

Unfortunately there's only so much that videos and living room riding can do for you. To be honest with you if you can get out wakeboarding I think that'd be far better practice. Better yet if you can make it to somewhere that still has snow for a vacation and take some lessons while you're there.

One reason I gave up golf for a few years is because I can't afford to golf the 10+ times a year I'd need to at least start getting a little better. I don't want to discourage you but if you really want to get into snowboarding you'll have to do it 10 times a year or so, or probably wakeboarding would be the next closest thing to help practice.

If you can wakeboard you'll have the basics of keeping your edge up at all times, leaning back a bit when hitting bumps, bending your knees, etc. In fact learning to wakeboard, and then taking the keels off the board and trying again would really help show you how important it is to not spend much time flatbasing the board.

Good luck!

schmitty34

Do you have a yard with a decent sized hill? If so, you may be able to create a little park in your yard using astro turf or other material specifically made to simulate snow. There are some youtube videos of people with "backyard snowboard parks".

Does texas have indoor "snow" facilities? You could also use a place like that to work on the basics.

Simply having a board at home and hopping around in your family room or on the grass likely won't help you make any progress.

Also, look into long boarding. It's different than snowboarding for sure, but I have to beleive that some of the skills and balance required translate pretty well. It would help a little. However, Texas probably doesn't have a ton of hills so long boarding my not be much fun

Edit: I second the idea of wakeboarding if you have access to a boat. It's awesome, and does help a little with snowboarding. I wakeboarded for a few years before learning to snowboard and I think it definitely helped me learn quick without ever taking lessons.

Grizz

Buy one of these and practice.



After giving lessons to multiple kids with ripstick experience, all were linking turns in less than an hour. It's rare to have this happen for kids of the same age with no caster board experience.

Winston

I might give wakeboarding a try. I skateboarded for 16 years but quit about 10 years ago. Honestly the first time I tried snowboarding I was quite cocky in thinking because i skateboarded for so many years, snowboarding would become second nature and an instructor would not be necessary. Ummm boy was I wrong, it was very different and difficult getting used to not being able to step off my board. I did eventually get the hang of it by the end of my trip. The second time I went, too much time had passed and I forgot most of what I learned on my own but it came back to me quickly and I did MUCH better than the first time. When I go again in December I will most definiely hire and instructor. Until then I'll just do what I can, which probably aint much.

uh oh a virus 2

Build a backyard jib. Thats my project for this summer.

Winston

My yard is pretty flat. I googled info on indoor snow facilities in texas. Houston might be building one soon but so far that's all I've found. I will look in to wakeboarding though. Thanks!

Pow?POW!

Get a freeboard man, i've tried my friend's out before and it's pretty tight.

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Liv4Sno

Get a Freebord or one of these Vewdo Balance Boards

Winston

Texas kinda sucks, all we have here is heat.

We do have some hillcountry, there is some pretty nice hills that outside of Austin where I live. Defininitely no mountains though.