crystal

This will be my first real season without renting gear. I've been on the hill 2 times and I can link turns, carve pretty decent, and hit a couple wide boxed, keep in mind this was all with rental shite. I not have my own gear and find it way more comfortable. Should I wing the first season and see how I do, or should I just hop right into lessons so I don't form any bad habits right off the start ?

24WERD

Wing it and watch youtube videos on how to snowboard.

its all about visualization first.

if you think you can, then you can.

Sassicaia

I cant recommend highly enough taking a lesson right off the bat. That way you dont have to unlearn bad habits you are almost guaranteed to get on your own. If you can afford it spring for a private lesson. Check out your local resort because some of them offer deals on private lessons at certain times. The other option is to book a group lesson mid day mid week and be one of if not the only one in the class.

Take a lesson. You will never look back and wish you didnt.

hktrdr

Agree, with one caveat: As long as you get a decent instructor.

Above statement is certainly true if you get wolfie, etc. Not so much if you have some of the instructors I had early in my riding career - and I still see plenty of similar types around the mountains these days (well, not in the areas that I ride, but you get the drift).

wrathfuldeity

if you can get a class or group of lessons...1 or 2 lessons a week for 5-6 weeks.

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john doe

http://www.snowboardingforum.com/tip...ons-video.html

Beginner snowboard lesson

Watch those videos repeatedly. Get those concepts drilled into your head and practice the motions in your living room. Just that small bit of effort will get you farther then the vast majority of beginners.

After doing that, go one time and see if you still feel the need for lessons. Some people simply need another set of trained eyes to tell them what they are doing wrong.

I personally went three times before ever seeing those videos and I was using all the wrong techniques. The next season, after watching those vids, I did better my first day then at any other time. And I was on more difficult terrain then ever.

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Ridethesnow80

I was a snowboard instructor for two years out east. Private lessons is not a bad idea but can cost more then a group lesson. If your already linking turns you should be fine. It all about how confident you feel in your riding ability. Try a technigue called the falling leaf where you stay on your heal side going right then left keep your head up and focus of where your going. Then try the same method on your toe side. I have found when I showed my class this that it helps for linking turns better. watch vid you tube or what ever. I used to watch a snowboard class when I was learning and started to figure it out from there.

KnoxBoarderX

I think it really depends on the instructor. If you are at a smaller mountain, the instruction is going to mostly be the basics that you already seem to have a grasp on. Watch the suggested videos and go out and have fun.

hktrdr

Not everybody agrees with that - see here.
Now, I don't have a strong opinion on this, but some people clearly do...

IdahoFreshies

If you have only been up twice and have not taken a lesson either of those times then you would greatly greatly benefit from at least one lesson right off the bat. It is very important that you start with a good foundation to improve on correctly. I think you would be surprised at certain things you will learn from a lesson you didn't know from just teaching yourself. It will probably feel like starting from square one.

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