As I've posted before, I'm very new to boarding. At Whistler, my home mountain, I notice a lot of boarders and skiers listening to music while bombing down the slopes. Is that a good or bad idea? Is it safe to listen to music while boarding - especially in a place like Whistler that can get crowded? Or is is potentially dangerous because it can limit one's ability to detect other skiers and snowboarders nearby, increasing chances of collisions?
I'm of a mixed mind about the matter. Since I'm new to the sport I'm pretty hyper-vigilant about those around me so I can avoid accidents with others. But I'm thinking about listening to music while boarding because it could improve my rhythm and help me feel more relaxed.
Personally I use earbuds, though its because I usually ride alone. The last time I went was with a bunch of friends, and I didn't use them because we would just talk the whole way down. I do like them because the music helps me concentrate, and I associate certain songs (Sloan-ill placed trust) with snowboarding.
Helmet audio, always on. I just love riding to music. If I'm with people I have it quiet, if not its cranked. I just use my head and always know whats around me since I can't hear but mostly I ride faster than the rest of the hill so I'm not overly concerned with whats behind me.
only time im w/o music is when i ride with my kids, i want that together time...i sometime turn it down for the lift if it looks to be someone i may want to talk too, then crank it right before my run
make a mtn playlist so you dont have to fuk with it...learn your pause and vol button so you can adjust thru your jacket
The only downside is I don't get to hear all the people yelling "wow your amazing" and all the girls screaming how gorgeous I am and how they want to rip my clothes off. I'm sure I've missed mulitiple sponsorships because I couldn't hear the rep on the lift offering me 6 figure contracts.
I asked about the music because the other day a beginner skier just nailed me from behind. I don't listen to music while riding because I want to hear everyone around me. But the skier came out of nowhere and plowed into me. I did hear her at the very last second, which allowed me to prepare for the impact. Fortunately, I was fine. But I wondered that if I had music on I might not have heard her at that last second.
Music is almost always on at one level or another.
I have the Smith bluetooth enabled audio kit though, so to turn on and off is the push of a very large button on the side of my helmet. Works every time I push it.
The only time I won't have it on is if I'm in thick long tree runs with, or without for that matter, others or back in the gated/expert terrain areas.
Things like hearing running water can make a difference.
I've usually got buds on and at lower volume while riding: low enough that I can hear and have a conversation. I tend to ride to the rhythm and find it helps on the steeps and the moguls: no shopping for turns
I'm also a climber and have often listened to music while bouldering because it helps me feel the flow, gets me amped to pull down hard, and can sometimes distract me when I'm a bit nervous on high ball problems. But I don't listen to music when I'm route climbing because the risks of making a mistake while 1,000 feet up are so much higher.
I can see how listening to music with earbuds at low volume could improve my boarding by getting me in a groove. But as a new boarder I try to be really aware of everything gone on around me. I think music might impair that ability.
When I get better at boarding and feel more comfortable perhaps I'll put on some Iron Maiden, Pantera, or Opeth.
When I am riding solo, I am almost always riding with music. If I am riding with someone else, I don`t and it gets mildly irritating when you are riding with friends who dont turn off their music. They cant hear when you call out to them and then when they talk to you, they are yelling....:laugh:
I bought Red helmets for both my girl and myself and put the Redphones in them. Way better than earbuds with the volume control on the cord and since you don't have buds in you can listen to music but still hear other people really well. Doesn't help the non-helmet guys but I love it. I find the music just helps me relax and then I can ride better too.
I don't cause its a distraction. But it also depends on the conditions...riding in the deep poo safety...in trees or leap frog....ya want to be able to hear. And on gaper groomer days I like to hear folks coming up along side.
I have music playing all the time when i'm out - they are inbuilt to the ear pads on my helmet (skullcandy - go figure).
It's kept at a moderate level where I can still hear people and enjoy the music at the same time.
To be honest with you, when i'm actually riding I get so focused on doing that, that I barely hear any of the music then.
It's all fun and games until I see a jump and I believe I can fly comes on........:yahoo:
A side from this being my next toy I've been trying to find the song they play in the video. The closest I've come is a remake I heard on sat. radio. I Shazammed it and it came up as Sail by awol nation.
When I'm out free riding, surfing pow, hitting natural features...that kind of stuff I always always have music, if not part of the riding experience for me is ruined. If I'm riding park however I almost never have music on, because the slightest slip in concentration (say from my mind focusing on the song vs the next movement on the rail) and I fuck up the trick or rail and get hurt or really pissed and have to do it again.
When I do ride with music it's with ear buds and I usually have only one in, unless it's a really kick ass song in a big area full of a foot of pow. Then I put both in and completely drop out from reality.
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