Help me teach my gf... - Snowboarding Forum

NSXRguy · 01-23-2012, 02:59 PM

What is the proper order of teaching my gf how to board? Recently went to killington and i was stuck on the blue bunnny hill all day... 2hrs down each time... This isnt her first time boarding either... Maybe im teaching her in the wrong order?

First i took her to the green bunny hill on camelback in pa, which is a nice slope to learn how to brake, steep enough to get going and a decent distance. I picked camel over the mountain creek bunny hill because i felt the creek hill is a bit too steep an icy for beginners. I taught her how to get up by facing up the mtn and pushing off while shes on her knees. Shes decent with it. Ive been teaching her how to heel side brake going straight down the mountain. Shes having trouble feathering side to side, not sure exactly why. I havent had her try going down straight yet and then brake until im comfy that she can brake properly.

Now, on out killington trip, i was getting pissed off because i know she can heel side brake down the blue bunny trail, but she kept sitting down and falling... She says her legs are tired... So i told her to not squat as much so not to burn her thighs too much. I watch her and her balance is fine, until she decides to stop fully and falls down and sits again.

Shes already gone like 4 times, 2 this season... She has all the protection (head, wrists, butt, knees) because shes a bit "fragile"

Am i approaching this the wrong way? I was a late bloomer myself because i didnt have anybody teaching me while i was learning.

How should i go about teaching her and what skills order should i do?

Shazkar · 01-23-2012, 03:10 PM

Maybe she should take a lesson if she's gone 4 times and still can't get down the bunny slope... (and then at least during that time you can go get some riding in)?

Smokehaus · 01-23-2012, 03:12 PM

Get her some lessons. She will learn the basics and you all won't kill each other in the process. Once that is established you can take over.

shinjisan · 01-23-2012, 03:29 PM

I have the same problem teaching my girl as well. This is her 2nd year and she hasn't improved at all! Her problem isn't the techniques; it's her fear of falling and I don't know how to help her conquer her fear

aloutris · 01-23-2012, 03:42 PM

I know the cause of the whole getting tired thing

I'm a girl and I've been boarding four times. My first two days I sideslipped entire intermediate hills (I live in the northeast and my bunny hills take less than a minute, intermediate hills less than five) and it's REALLY tiring which caused me to sit down every so often. You absolutely have to push her to make turns and finally link them. Linking turns is a ton less tiring. But I don't know anything much about snowboarding because I've never taken lessons. I just winged it and now I can link turns on the black diamond (kind of) without killing myself (still... kind of xD)

NSXRguy · 01-23-2012, 04:00 PM

Shes nowhere near turning right now... I want her to be good at braking first before i have her go down straight and then slow down heel brake...

As far as the thighs burning... I understand that... But not squating so much and stand up straight does help with the fatigue.

I ask her to heel down the slope just enough that shes slowly descending down but not completely stop and she cant even do it... Like wtf man

On the bright side... She can get off the lift fine... Makes no sense

Argo · 01-23-2012, 04:07 PM

Lessons!!!!!

Boomer · 01-23-2012, 04:11 PM

Maybe she doesn't like it? Or she's embarrassed to fall or mess up in front of you? Idk, talk to her about lessons!

stealthyc · 01-23-2012, 05:09 PM

Like someone else asked, does she want to snowboard? Assuming the answer to that is "yes" - get her lessons. It will truly be the best thing for both of you. Everyone learns differently and good teachers can recognize this and accommodate it. Your approach may not be suited for her style of learning and some of your suggestions, though I'm sure well intentioned, may not be helping her at all. As frustrated as you are, you can be pretty sure that she is at least as frustrated. Have patience. And whatever you do, don't say to her "it's easy. You just do this" she might scratch your eyes out...just saying.

mjd · 01-23-2012, 05:09 PM

I have been teaching for 7 years and I have seen so many fights between couples on the hill.

it is truly pure hell. let someone else deal with it.

01-23-2012, 02:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
NSXRguy Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 69	Help me teach my gf... What is the proper order of teaching my gf how to board? Recently went to killington and i was stuck on the blue bunnny hill all day... 2hrs down each time... This isnt her first time boarding either... Maybe im teaching her in the wrong order? First i took her to the green bunny hill on camelback in pa, which is a nice slope to learn how to brake, steep enough to get going and a decent distance. I picked camel over the mountain creek bunny hill because i felt the creek hill is a bit too steep an icy for beginners. I taught her how to get up by facing up the mtn and pushing off while shes on her knees. Shes decent with it. Ive been teaching her how to heel side brake going straight down the mountain. Shes having trouble feathering side to side, not sure exactly why. I havent had her try going down straight yet and then brake until im comfy that she can brake properly. Now, on out killington trip, i was getting pissed off because i know she can heel side brake down the blue bunny trail, but she kept sitting down and falling... She says her legs are tired... So i told her to not squat as much so not to burn her thighs too much. I watch her and her balance is fine, until she decides to stop fully and falls down and sits again. Shes already gone like 4 times, 2 this season... She has all the protection (head, wrists, butt, knees) because shes a bit "fragile" Am i approaching this the wrong way? I was a late bloomer myself because i didnt have anybody teaching me while i was learning. How should i go about teaching her and what skills order should i do?

01-23-2012, 05:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
mjd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: neverbored RI Posts: 374	I have been teaching for 7 years and I have seen so many fights between couples on the hill. it is truly pure hell. let someone else deal with it. __________________ Try this trick and spin it, yeah Your head will collapse

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01-23-2012, 03:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Shazkar Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 137	Maybe she should take a lesson if she's gone 4 times and still can't get down the bunny slope... (and then at least during that time you can go get some riding in)?

01-23-2012, 03:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Smokehaus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NoVA Posts: 891	Get her some lessons. She will learn the basics and you all won't kill each other in the process. Once that is established you can take over.

01-23-2012, 03:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
shinjisan Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 9	I have the same problem teaching my girl as well. This is her 2nd year and she hasn't improved at all! Her problem isn't the techniques; it's her fear of falling and I don't know how to help her conquer her fear

01-23-2012, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
aloutris Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 28	I know the cause of the whole getting tired thing I'm a girl and I've been boarding four times. My first two days I sideslipped entire intermediate hills (I live in the northeast and my bunny hills take less than a minute, intermediate hills less than five) and it's REALLY tiring which caused me to sit down every so often. You absolutely have to push her to make turns and finally link them. Linking turns is a ton less tiring. But I don't know anything much about snowboarding because I've never taken lessons. I just winged it and now I can link turns on the black diamond (kind of) without killing myself (still... kind of xD)

01-23-2012, 04:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
NSXRguy Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 69	Shes nowhere near turning right now... I want her to be good at braking first before i have her go down straight and then slow down heel brake... As far as the thighs burning... I understand that... But not squating so much and stand up straight does help with the fatigue. I ask her to heel down the slope just enough that shes slowly descending down but not completely stop and she cant even do it... Like wtf man On the bright side... She can get off the lift fine... Makes no sense

01-23-2012, 04:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
Argo -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Vail, CO Posts: 1,955	Lessons!!!!!

01-23-2012, 04:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
Boomer Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 53	Maybe she doesn't like it? Or she's embarrassed to fall or mess up in front of you? Idk, talk to her about lessons!

01-23-2012, 05:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
stealthyc Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 46	Like someone else asked, does she want to snowboard? Assuming the answer to that is "yes" - get her lessons. It will truly be the best thing for both of you. Everyone learns differently and good teachers can recognize this and accommodate it. Your approach may not be suited for her style of learning and some of your suggestions, though I'm sure well intentioned, may not be helping her at all. As frustrated as you are, you can be pretty sure that she is at least as frustrated. Have patience. And whatever you do, don't say to her "it's easy. You just do this" she might scratch your eyes out...just saying.