Ridethesnow80

I see what you mean! It doesn't work for everyone ! The mean deal is that what ever you do with snowboarding, if you can visualize you can do it! Have confidence your self. If your not falling your not trying. I agree with who ever said learn switch early , something I wish I had done in the begging.

Ridethesnow80

Meant beginning

poutanen

I suggest a mixed bag. I wouldn't go into weekly lessons right away if you're only getting out once a week. Best thing I've seen is an early season lesson to start you out, then board for a month and try to learn on your own, then have a mid-season lesson to get you over the next plateau, then an end of season lesson to hopefully tie it all in and reinforce the positives before the summer.

My GF essentially did this, taking 2-3 lessons a year for the first two years. I've got videos to show how she's progressed in that short period of time. She's clumsy, gets discouraged easily, needs praise and coaching from an authority, etc. and lessons really helped for her.

IdahoFreshies

oh my god, every time I see someone riding like that i want to go over there, slap them in the face, and give them a lesson for free just so they learn how to do it right and quit self grooming the runs.

__________________
If you don't like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk.

MeanJoe

I'm a big fan of lessons, at all skill levels not just beginner. I'm still periodically taking lessons after 20+ years riding - mostly to focus on some fine tuning and to break some bad habits from teaching myself and riding for years and years without ever any formal instruction.

On the other hand, this is snowboarding and you just want to go get after it ya' know? Take a few if you are a beginner to get those fundamentals ingrained. Then spend time just riding, just having fun, and pushing yourself. Then go back for a check-up, get an instructor to review all you've been working on and make corrective suggestions or provide more advanced techniques that may help you step up a level. I liked the idea of a lesson early season, mid-season, and end of season, especially for a beginner.

gjsnowboarder

Wow, just wow. I teach at a small resort in Colorado and that statement is pretty darn false. We have guests that actually come to us because the experience they had at large resorts was bad. Large class sizes, disenchanted instructors, busy hills, etc. The size of the resort DOESN'T dictate whether of not the lesson is basic. The type of instructor does. Typically, a certified instructor is the best way to go since they have put in the education time to get certified. However, I know instructors that whent to all the inhouse training that can teach as well if not better then some certified instructors. At our "small" mountain we teach everything from the basic Level "1-4" lesson using the SAME standards as larger resorts. We also teach "upper" level lessons that cover every type of riding and provided clinics to instructors that explore teaching advance students. In fact, knowing how some of the larger resorts training programs are provided and the "turn-out" that happens in them I would say it is rather easy for a smaller resort to compete in over-all instructor know-how. The only time I would suggest seeking out a big resort is for a specific type of terrain that they might offer that a smaller resort might not have, or a specific instructor one might have been referred to.

Jed

Not sure why you wouldn't take lessons. Lessons are ALWAYS a good idea.

__________________
I write for Snomie.com - How To Snowboard Videos, Snowboard Tips & Snowboard Lessons

Donutz

When I see that, I start chanting "scor-pi-ON! scor-pi-ON!"

__________________

Illegitimi non carborundum

I hate the parts between winter...

GreyDragon

The fact that you think you can "carve pretty decent" after being on the hill twice indicates to me that you don't know carving. This leads me to believe that you are deluding yourself about your skill level.

I definitely recommend lessons. If you can get into a sequential program - say 6 weeks of 2 hour group lessons at the beginning of the season with the same (good) instructor, you will be set up for the rest of the year and well into your next year. Having the same instructor will help with continuity, and a lesson program is usually cheaper than a group of single lessons.

Most of all, if you're not having fun, that's when you're definitely doing it wrong!

Good luck.

Cycle4Fun

I took this to mean small resorts out East. Where resorts can actually be small. Our local hills in Ohio typically have a 250ft vertical where most of the snowboard instructors uncertified high school kids. I took two beginner lessons. One girl knew how to teach snowboarding. The other did not. The best instructors on the hill are the women ski instructors that teach the women's weekly group classes.

It comes down to this. Instruction is a must for a beginner to ensure proper form for later development. Your best bet at a good bang for your buck is knowing a local who can guide you to a good instructor, or calling the local ski shop who can guide you to an instructor. Then take a private lesson from that instructor for the fastest learning curve.

I think the private lesson gives you the best bang for your buck despite double/triple the price. Especially past the I can link skidded turns stage.