Need advice, teaching my 7 year old - Snowboarding Forum

flapjack · 03-12-2012, 09:06 PM

My son just turned 7, he started snowboarding this year and we've done about a dozen days.
I've been using the snow professor vids as a guide and so far he's learned how to skate, get on/off the lift, make low speed turns with his back foot unstrapped, he's confident enough to go flat out (bomb)

on green trails and he can make pretty nice turns on green trails. He even manages to cut corners by going through trees sometimes.

I'm not sure where to go next. I'm thinking he needs to work on turn initiation, but I'm reaching the limit of how much I know how to explain. And, how far do you push a 7 year old?

Should I just leave him alone?

Here are a couple of vids, They are pretty short and crummy, but any advice would be appreciated.

The vid below is the day we tried a blue trail.
(he starts about 10 seconds into it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5n0-...eature=related

Here is another short one,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKobk...eature=related

SnowMotion · 03-13-2012, 12:24 PM

He looks very strong and confident! Snowolf is right on with "calming" the arms and getting lower at the knees. Another thing to get him thinking about is varying the size and shape of his turn (creating more or less speed without using skid). Also just to add like Snowolf said always make sure he is loving life on his board (fun fun fun fun fun)!

flapjack · 03-13-2012, 02:59 PM

Thanks for the help!

djdavetrouble · 08-24-2012, 12:18 PM

Lookin good there! I can tell when my little grom is having fun because he starts singing while he is riding.... See ya at the Belle !

timmytard · 08-24-2012, 08:14 PM

When I first started, my main snowboarding buddy was improving faster than I was but he didn't go as often . I asked him how he was getting so much better than me & he told me that every time he went, he would try & do as many carves as he could.
After he told me that, I watched him.
For every 100 yards or so, I would do 6-8 carves.
He would do like 30-40, I don't know exactly but he was doing 4 or 5 times as many carves as I was.
They weren't speed check skids, they were lightning quick little turns.
Similar to what a Slalom skateboarder would have to do to make it through a course.

Even though I went to the mountain more, he was actually snowboarding way more than I was.

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition. The whole practice makes perfect thing.

When it's yourself doing it, there isn't really a way to tell that your improving faster than you would normally.
Then you go with someone who used to be roughly the same ability as you or even a little bit better or they go a lot more than you & suddenly your better than they are.

TT

Ridethesnow80 · 08-24-2012, 10:43 PM

When I Tought snowboard especially with younger kids initiating turns will come to him. Have him work on focusing turning toe and heel side turns back using his front foot knees bent. Going toes sidebe sure he is focusing his head in the direction he is trying to go have him push his front toes down and his back leg will follow with it natuarally. On heel side same pricible except have him point his front toe up keeping his head up looking directly where he wants turn. I use to the spider man theory like your focused where your goin and you have an imaginary string pulling. I use to use my hands to show riders what I'm talking about with heel side and toe side turns . It all about confident and commitment he will get trust me kids that ate are fearless!

hope this helps!

Ridethesnow80 · 08-24-2012, 10:49 PM

I notice in the vid super comftervle riding alittle bit of sliding turns with his back leg I use to the same thing for a long time. Once I was tough using your front foot letting your back one follow knees bent strong athletic stance he will do great! He is def on the right track though he got it just need to be tweaked alittle which wont take long for what is saw!

timmytard · 08-25-2012, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridethesnow80

I notice in the vid super comftervle riding alittle bit of sliding turns with his back leg I use to the same thing for a long time. Once I was tough using your front foot letting your back one follow knees bent strong athletic stance he will do great! He is def on the right track though he got it just need to be tweaked alittle which wont take long for what is saw!

Fuck, @ first I thought you must be in a tiny little town somewhere in Russia, your English is broken @ best.

Jeeze, what are they toughting these kids in skool?

TT

Ridethesnow80 · 08-25-2012, 05:55 AM

Yeah iPhone typos every where ha! Working on that one!

03-12-2012, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
flapjack Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 67	Need advice, teaching my 7 year old My son just turned 7, he started snowboarding this year and we've done about a dozen days. I've been using the snow professor vids as a guide and so far he's learned how to skate, get on/off the lift, make low speed turns with his back foot unstrapped, he's confident enough to go flat out (bomb) on green trails and he can make pretty nice turns on green trails. He even manages to cut corners by going through trees sometimes. I'm not sure where to go next. I'm thinking he needs to work on turn initiation, but I'm reaching the limit of how much I know how to explain. And, how far do you push a 7 year old? Should I just leave him alone? Here are a couple of vids, They are pretty short and crummy, but any advice would be appreciated. The vid below is the day we tried a blue trail. (he starts about 10 seconds into it) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5n0-...eature=related Here is another short one, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKobk...eature=related Last edited by flapjack; 03-12-2012 at 09:09 PM.

08-24-2012, 12:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
djdavetrouble Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 29	Lookin good there! I can tell when my little grom is having fun because he starts singing while he is riding.... See ya at the Belle ! Last edited by djdavetrouble; 08-24-2012 at 12:19 PM. Reason: spelling

08-24-2012, 08:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
timmytard Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: I can see Santa shoveling his driveway Posts: 1,356	When I first started, my main snowboarding buddy was improving faster than I was but he didn't go as often . I asked him how he was getting so much better than me & he told me that every time he went, he would try & do as many carves as he could. After he told me that, I watched him. For every 100 yards or so, I would do 6-8 carves. He would do like 30-40, I don't know exactly but he was doing 4 or 5 times as many carves as I was. They weren't speed check skids, they were lightning quick little turns. Similar to what a Slalom skateboarder would have to do to make it through a course. Even though I went to the mountain more, he was actually snowboarding way more than I was. Repetition, Repetition, Repetition. The whole practice makes perfect thing. When it's yourself doing it, there isn't really a way to tell that your improving faster than you would normally. Then you go with someone who used to be roughly the same ability as you or even a little bit better or they go a lot more than you & suddenly your better than they are. TT __________________ If whatever doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger. Then I am so close to immortality

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-13-2012, 12:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
SnowMotion Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 224	He looks very strong and confident! Snowolf is right on with "calming" the arms and getting lower at the knees. Another thing to get him thinking about is varying the size and shape of his turn (creating more or less speed without using skid). Also just to add like Snowolf said always make sure he is loving life on his board (fun fun fun fun fun)!

03-13-2012, 02:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
flapjack Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 67	Thanks for the help!

08-24-2012, 10:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ridethesnow80 Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 64	When I Tought snowboard especially with younger kids initiating turns will come to him. Have him work on focusing turning toe and heel side turns back using his front foot knees bent. Going toes sidebe sure he is focusing his head in the direction he is trying to go have him push his front toes down and his back leg will follow with it natuarally. On heel side same pricible except have him point his front toe up keeping his head up looking directly where he wants turn. I use to the spider man theory like your focused where your goin and you have an imaginary string pulling. I use to use my hands to show riders what I'm talking about with heel side and toe side turns . It all about confident and commitment he will get trust me kids that ate are fearless! hope this helps!

08-24-2012, 10:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ridethesnow80 Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 64	I notice in the vid super comftervle riding alittle bit of sliding turns with his back leg I use to the same thing for a long time. Once I was tough using your front foot letting your back one follow knees bent strong athletic stance he will do great! He is def on the right track though he got it just need to be tweaked alittle which wont take long for what is saw!

08-25-2012, 05:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ridethesnow80 Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 64	Yeah iPhone typos every where ha! Working on that one!