k8xp

They seemed pretty good. Just fogged up a bit a few times.

wrathfuldeity

get smith goggles...which ever model will fit your face....but get the blue sensor mirror lens. Its the standard for pnw snow, flat light, fog and puke.

sounds about right for the first day...get some lessons or find someone other than your bf to help you out on the small things...like skating, falling, how to get up, on/off the lift, how to tie-up your boots, how to strap-in with out sitting. these little things add up

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k8xp

For sure. He taught me a good way to get up. He has only been once before so isn't much ahead, but I do need formal lessons. Definitely when I'm back from vaca we'll go back ASAP : D

I think it was my third or fourth run, got off the lift smoothly, didn't fall, strapped in while standing, and rode down halfway smoothly. Buuut then that's when my luck ran out and I ate shit and got all pissed off haha. Almost had it!

Kayeby

I also have trouble with the chairlift so you're not alone! It's my first season and I feel like such a pro doing my little linked turns on blues only to faceplant straight off the chairlift 1/5 of the time. And then I need to do the quick scuttle of shame to get out of the way.

Do you by any chance have short legs? I'm short and have short legs for my height so when it's time to get off the lift sometimes I can't even reach the ground. I have to hop a little to get off and occasionally the board points in an unanticipated direction, I overcorrect, and then down I go. Maybe try a stomp pad to see if that helps? That's what I'm about to do because I figure extra traction can only help.

k8xp

Reassuring I'm not alone, but we needa get this down! I have a stomp pad. It kinda only helped while skating when I decided to put my foot up and cruise, but not while hopping down. I think I fall cause the transition is too sudden and I don't prepare quick enough. I'm about 5"2 with long legs lol.

One thing that did kinda help was holding onto the lift bar when I touched ground. I held on until somewhat balanced. But that only worked when I got balanced fast enough it didn't move out of my reach on it's own.

Consonantal

When you're almost at the dismount for the lift, sit sideways and have your board pointed straight.

Wait for the chair to bring you to the ramp of the dismount, don't get off too early or you'll be in the flat spot. Once you're at the ramp of the dismount, get up and push off the chair with your hands making sure your unstrapped foot gets onto the inside of your binding so you don't get your leg caught under the chair.

You can also push off with the free foot but using your arms to push off the chair should be enough.

Final tip is to go straight! Don't try to go sideways and slow down too early, that's what will make you fall. The further away from the chair when you fall, the better. That way you don't get in the way of the next chair. Just remember to get that initial push! If you're just being shoved by the chair, it'll just throw your balance. It may seem scary and counter intuitive at first but going slow is worse than going fast. Speed is your friend.

Donutz

You're going through the same learning curve that everyone goes through, whether boarding or skiing or backpacking or mountain-biking or whatever. There are strategies for handling the various issues you're going to run into, and you have to learn those strategies. For instance, I always bring two pairs of gloves and two sets of goggles. One gets too wet, use the other. I have a different strategy for supporting my board with the Flow bindings vs the board with the 390s. You'll get used to a particular way to get on the lift and to get off the lift (which BTW nearly everyone has trouble with).

It sucks, and it makes you want to scream curse words at the top of your lungs. But it'll get better.

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Mountain Days: 30

k8xp

Good. Now I feel like less of a fool. I did scream some rated R words, but there was barely anyone up there ; )

I'm still pretty happy about everything, and can't wait to get back up there to learn.

Consonantal

That's the spirit! I have a couple friends that literally said fuck it after the first day of snowboarding and went back to skiing.

Shmucks.

Varza

I feel like lifts are a snowboarder's worst nightmare! I'm not sure why supporting your board hurt your ankle... maybe try a lighter board?

Anyway, I feel like I got the lift stuff down, but I've only been out 5 days, so watch me screw it all up next time! This is what I do (and a lot of it is what Consonantal just said):

I actually sit a bit sideways on the lift chair when I get on and point my board straight, keeping the nose slightly up. This requires that I twist my body/ankle a little bit but seems to work. When getting off, I prepare by sitting kinda sideways again and pointing my board. And I actually put my back foot next to the back binding before I ever get off. After that it's just a matter of sitting up properly and looking straight ahead, that usually gets me off in one piece.

This video explains what I just said, it might help you with that pesky lift:
How to Snowboard: Step 5 - Riding the Chairlift - YouTube

Taking lessons is probably the best choice you can make in the beginning. Since your bf isn't that experienced, he might benefit from one too

And you are surely not alone! I became a master of the faceplant on my second day of riding (and lessons)

Edit: blah, video embedding didn't work for me.