poutanen

Yeah, my comment isn't so much park related, but I tell my GF and all my buddies that get into riding to learn to live with falling because it's part of snowboarding. I wipeout everyday in the offpiste...

If you're not falling, you're not trying hard enough in my books. Then you're just a tourist.

Best thing to do when you fall, laugh at yourself.

Also, if I'm about to plunge off something that gets my heart rate up, I'll take a few deep breaths to oxygenate my blood. Calms me down and sets me up for the run/jump/chute/whatever.

IdahoFreshies

I have to sit there and stare at my drop and plan it and plan it and think about it. Then once i have psyched my self up, I push my self off and commit to it. But what do I do? Wipe out and get stuck haha. So I regain my self, brush all of the powder out of my jacket, get out of there and come back for round two!

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Bear5001

There are a lot of park riders out there that are trying things they are not yet ready for. The easy way to make sure your ready is by designing a progression to get to your desired trick. Generally the more scary a trick seems, the less ready you are for it... Some people may disagree and say that anything is really really scary at first, and while this is party true, here are some sample progressions after ATML:

First be sure to know ATML (or get wrecked)
Approach: Coming straight or from the side? Flatbased? On edge? which edge? knees bent?

Takeoff:Jumping? off both feet? off nose? off tail? off toes or heels or flatbase? riding on?

Maneuver:suck your legs up (almost always true), spin? with shoulders? or with scissoring feet? where are you looking? grab?

Landing: where are you looking to spot your landing? extend your legs to meet the ground, then absorb with ankles, knees, hips

Here are some progressions, basically try to break each trick into its most basic parts, make sure to master each one individually, then combine them. This will reduce chance of injury, and make you a better rider for it

Backflip (i include this because many people will say there is no progression and you have to just go for it)
1:Without the board
a) Trampoline? Or foam pit if you live near one, there's one in PDX for about $10
b) off a cornice into powder, still without the board into pow
c) into a pool/river
2: A jump you build into fresh snow, much less scary, and less risky
3: Try in the park when you know you can land it (you will know)

270 on (shin guards not a bad idea for any rail riding)
1: Get comfortable with 360's on small jumps and just jumping off flatground and doing a 360 (yes 180's first, all 4 of them) no rails/boxes yet
2:make sure to be extremely comfortable with boardslide/frontboard just by pivoting while on the box or jumping 90 on
3: 180 on then maybe 180 on 180 off
4: trying on a almost in ground flatbox with no gap to get on
5: very slowly build to bigger and bigger features

If you follow a progression each step is small, so it is never really really scary, because you have a greater chance of landing it, and the risk is minimized. Having said that, best of luck in the park!!!

poutanen

Yeah there's a little rock band at Lake Louise I keep hitting on my way to a favorite powder stash. I usually pause on top and then take the flying leap! First couple times I landed funny and ate it, but dusted off and came back and it felt great when I finally did it!!!

'course then I got cocky and tried it up higher on the band, fell about 10 feet and just about landed on a rocky outcrop. I had that oh shit moment on the way down. Surprised I didn't need to change my drawers.

conspiracy

sadly probably. we get 4 main jumps at our park and i know some of the park crew though, we have three 50-60 footers and one 70 footer. apparently one year they made a 80 footer and it was insane...

conspiracy

right now, i have stitches in my knee on Sunday my friend ran into me on an ice day trying to stop right b4 me to scare me... well... he failed. anyway i went back out last night and 1st run thru the park, i destroy my ribs on an over sized handrail. really not fun. i ended up mainly just filming for the rest of the night :P

conspiracy

hmm thanks! i can do all the stuff for both the tricks. other than the backflip with board on which i need to do. anyway i think shin guards would really help and now that i think of it, im always scared of landing on my shins on the edge because i tried 270 on a rail and it burnt like crazy!! also i think my friend just got a free box from a nearby skihill that was junk and they had only the top four inches so i can practice on that :3

tylerkat89

What helps me? My pride. I tell myself I'd rather eat fucking shit than look like a pussy. I'd rather hurt myself, than go home disappointed that I didn't give myself that chance to do something. Its about will power, either you have it or you don't. Which person are you going to be?

What also helps is learning how to fall. I've ridden Longboards down steep streets going 25+ mph and fallin, BMX, dirt bikes, martial arts of varieties, and team sports for 15+ years including foot ball, and I've never broken a bone. I know how to fall and transfer my weight. Knowing how to do this will greatly boost your confidence to try things that will make you fall, as you know how to get out of it. Having that security in the back of your mind will help you break mental blocks. Find your mental security.

Donutz

One of the reasons for fear is not knowing how much of a repurcussion there is for crashing and burning. Will you be in traction for the rest of your life? Paralyzed? Or just embarrassed?

I've found that most of the time, the consequences are much lower than what you'd think from watching a bail. Mind you, that's downhilling or jumps. As soon as metal or wooden features are involved, that can change.

The easiest way for me is to incrementally increase the risk, so you desensitize yourself to a level of risk before upping your game. How you do that depends on what you're doing.

50-50's on a feature are relatively safe. boardslides, not so much. If I ever get to the point of wanting to do boardslides, I'm going to initally armour up like a motocross rider, including face protection, and I don't give a damn if I look like a dork. I'd rather look silly than end up having dinner through a straw for a couple of months.

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rwspear

Assuming you're able to breathe, this