Are you sure ANYONE can learn? - Page 10 - Snowboarding Forum

MarshallV82 · 01-21-2013, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSI

A few words of encouragement to fellow newbie boarders.... If you truly want to learn please do not give up! I started boarding two years ago face planted hard and broke my tailbone on one of my first times out all in the same day. Determined to learn I stuck it out 3 different boards and two years later this last weekend was my fifth time out on my newest board (NS Infinity) and it finally clicked! It's the best feeling in the world!! I never tried lessons as my husband is a great teacher and has great patience as long as I was willing to try and have fun with it. So please please please understand it takes time and many people have said it just clicks one day and they are so very right!

Sent from my iPhone using Verticalsports.com App

Three boards and two years later?
Fantastic Husband, sure.
Fantastic teacher... Suspect

NSI · 01-21-2013, 07:58 PM

Well a lot of it had to do to the fact that I was a little scared to push myself after my falls and the fact that two years meaning maybe only like 12 times out due to work and lack of snow where we live. Also finding a board was a bit of a challenge as I'm short and tiny and not very muscular to toss a board around plus I found that a camber alone board for me made it harder. We did a lot of research and it definitely paid off.

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ig88 · 01-21-2013, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixie

I too have issues getting up heelside. I rarely sit to strap in but when I do I have to flip to toe side.

I uh, have a feeling it's due to the female weight proportion compared to males and our much lower center of gravity.

This may seem a pretty dumb question but I really want to appreciate the problem after a few people already mentioned it in this thread. Are you saying that after you rise up from sitting down (maybe doing your bindings), you would prefer to start riding with your back facing down hill as your initial posture?

sabatoa · 01-21-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennifer

I went up the resort for the 4th time today. I did 3 lessons, then today got my season pass...because it was a special deal and I only had to pay $65.

I have had high hopes. I keep reading about people who took one lesson or no lessons and were carving down the mountain by day 2. This is not me.

I seem to be an uncoordinated clutz. I cant even make it down the kiddie bunny hill. I get up there, I get going down.....and then nothing wants to work. I catch an edge, or I lose my balance, or I start spinning around as I am heading down the hill like a freakish helicopter.

Today I had my first really scary fall. I tweaked my ankle, slammed my head into the ground, and just generally messed up my back. After 4 weeks I am covered in bruises. There is a 12 inch section of each leg that is just black and blue (centered around the knee). I have bruises on my behind, on my arms. I am a mess.

So the questions are.....did you ever think of giving up? Did any of you have this hard of a time learning and then end up actually progressing beyond the point of a mentally disabled circus animal? Are you sure anyone can learn...or should some of us just realize we are hopeless and then cry over the obscene amount of money they have already spent on this?

Ok...so maybe I am just cranky and want to bitch. But I am actually sort of serious with the questions.

Super late to the thread and I haven't read any of the comments but I can tell you that I had a moment where I was just over this whole snowboarding thing. I'd been to the resort a few times, taken a lesson, practiced at home a lot on local sledding hills and then tried the resort again and fell my way down the green (later found out it was technically a blue but still..) so I sat on a snowpile sulking and wanting to quit as I watched everyone else do it with ease.

Then I looked down at my newly purchased board, bindings and boots and decided I wasn't going to give up. I was already invested in this and that was a turning point for me.

MarshallV82 · 01-21-2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSI

Well a lot of it had to do to the fact that I was a little scared to push myself after my falls and the fact that two years meaning maybe only like 12 times out due to work and lack of snow where we live. Also finding a board was a bit of a challenge as I'm short and tiny and not very muscular to toss a board around plus I found that a camber alone board for me made it harder. We did a lot of research and it definitely paid off.

Sent from my iPhone using Verticalsports.com App

Right on!

It's a fun sport, I hope to do into my golden years! I can't believe theres so many people here in Denver who don't do it..

sabatoa · 01-21-2013, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennifer

I cant get up heelside. I have to flip over to front side to get up as well. I think for me part of it is that I still have some weight to lose, I dont yet have the strength to get my weight over the board and get myself up. Is there a reason why I should not be getting up front side and working on getting up heelside? Just curious.

psh, I've been riding for a few years now and I still flip to get up toeside but can ride anything Michigan has to offer (Mt Bohemia cliffs excluded). Thankfully I strap in standing up.

It's about flexibility I think...that and I'm country big.

stevetim · 01-25-2013, 02:22 AM

Here is a little tidbit to help you deal with your new body after losing so much weight. I went from 220lbs. post ACL reconstruction to 175lbs.ll

Since you are having trouble with catching edges, it sounds like you are reluctant to actually put your board onto an edge while you are progressing down the hill or across it. I'm sure your muscles aren't used to the new pressures you are exerting and you just aren't using the right muscles.

I'm no instructor, but after a long time away from my board, I usually put the boots on, then strap into my bindings and board in my bedroom with my bed behind me in case I fall backwards, and start to do some squats with weights and practice putting the board on each edge while in a pretty athletic stance. This is just a suggestion, but it should help you get used to using the muscles a bit more than you are used to. Try doing this for ten minutes a day for a few days the first week, then 20 minutes a day and so on.

jennifer · 01-25-2013, 02:37 AM

Thanks so much for the continued replies and suggestions.

When we went up last weekend a few things did click for me. I did not helicopter spin once. Everytime I started to feel the board slip like it was going to happen I took a second to force myself to take the weight off my back foot and on to the front, stopped the problem immediatly. I also didn't catch any edges. I did still fall....a lot.

I was very thankfull that I was wise enough to get a helmet. It was the first day I used it. One fall was pretty nasty. Helmet took a beating. Even with the helmet on I was dizzy for a moment and had a headache most of the day. Seriously.....if any new people are reading this, invest in a helmet.

At the end of the day I was tired and my body really hurt. I was not really feeling it. But I stupidly decided that I was going to make one more attempt. Fell and almost busted my arm. I realized half way down that it was a stupid idea. Now I know that if I am just not feeling it or my body is telling me to stop that it is ok to just call it a day...better that then hurting myself.

I am working on speed control. That is where my concern is at the moment. I still feel like I dont have my speed under control, and that I can not stop when I want to.

Not sure if we will be heading up to the resort this weekend or not. We are headed to Tahoe next weekend, will be spending at some time at Sierra (our season passes here get us 10 free days at Sierra) My husband and doctor both think taking a break this weekend would be a good idea. But I am eager to get back up there and keep working on it. We will see.

that1guy · 01-25-2013, 03:50 AM

Keep at it. You will get there!

chomps1211 · 01-25-2013, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennifer

... I stupidly decided that I was going to make one more attempt. Fell and almost busted my arm. I realized half way down that it was a stupid idea.

Ahhh yes,.. The Infamous "One Last Run!!!". In the future, You'll want to quit as soon as that thought enters your head. You haven't been around here long enough probably to have read this, but that is big time Hoo Doo superstition!!

Both of my first two rides ended with that phrase and a painful injury immediately followed!!!!

I avoid thinking or saying that like the plague now!!! I even bitched out a liftie for hexing me with that for last chair once!

Glad you got rid of the spins, hang in there, the rest should come soon!

01-21-2013, 07:58 PM	#92 (permalink)
NSI Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Northern Wisconsin Posts: 22	Are you sure ANYONE can learn? Well a lot of it had to do to the fact that I was a little scared to push myself after my falls and the fact that two years meaning maybe only like 12 times out due to work and lack of snow where we live. Also finding a board was a bit of a challenge as I'm short and tiny and not very muscular to toss a board around plus I found that a camber alone board for me made it harder. We did a lot of research and it definitely paid off. Sent from my iPhone using Verticalsports.com App

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01-25-2013, 02:22 AM	#97 (permalink)
stevetim Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 119	Here is a little tidbit to help you deal with your new body after losing so much weight. I went from 220lbs. post ACL reconstruction to 175lbs.ll Since you are having trouble with catching edges, it sounds like you are reluctant to actually put your board onto an edge while you are progressing down the hill or across it. I'm sure your muscles aren't used to the new pressures you are exerting and you just aren't using the right muscles. I'm no instructor, but after a long time away from my board, I usually put the boots on, then strap into my bindings and board in my bedroom with my bed behind me in case I fall backwards, and start to do some squats with weights and practice putting the board on each edge while in a pretty athletic stance. This is just a suggestion, but it should help you get used to using the muscles a bit more than you are used to. Try doing this for ten minutes a day for a few days the first week, then 20 minutes a day and so on.

01-25-2013, 02:37 AM	#98 (permalink)
jennifer Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Central California Posts: 82	Thanks so much for the continued replies and suggestions. When we went up last weekend a few things did click for me. I did not helicopter spin once. Everytime I started to feel the board slip like it was going to happen I took a second to force myself to take the weight off my back foot and on to the front, stopped the problem immediatly. I also didn't catch any edges. I did still fall....a lot. I was very thankfull that I was wise enough to get a helmet. It was the first day I used it. One fall was pretty nasty. Helmet took a beating. Even with the helmet on I was dizzy for a moment and had a headache most of the day. Seriously.....if any new people are reading this, invest in a helmet. At the end of the day I was tired and my body really hurt. I was not really feeling it. But I stupidly decided that I was going to make one more attempt. Fell and almost busted my arm. I realized half way down that it was a stupid idea. Now I know that if I am just not feeling it or my body is telling me to stop that it is ok to just call it a day...better that then hurting myself. I am working on speed control. That is where my concern is at the moment. I still feel like I dont have my speed under control, and that I can not stop when I want to. Not sure if we will be heading up to the resort this weekend or not. We are headed to Tahoe next weekend, will be spending at some time at Sierra (our season passes here get us 10 free days at Sierra) My husband and doctor both think taking a break this weekend would be a good idea. But I am eager to get back up there and keep working on it. We will see.

01-25-2013, 03:50 AM	#99 (permalink)
that1guy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: On the biggest hill in Seattle Posts: 257	Keep at it. You will get there!