Are you sure ANYONE can learn? - Page 4 - Snowboarding Forum

jennifer · 01-13-2013, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

Jennifer,

Very few people really are in a position to be unable to learn to snowboard and that is usually do to either being seriously out of shape or a physical disability. Many of us did go through frustration in our first few days of learning to ride so that is quite normal. I never really considered giving up on but I will say that there was more than one occasion where I became so angry that I threw my board into the woods only to have to wade through snow to get it when I cooled off.....

I think the best course of action right now is to provide an outline of what your instructor covered and what he/she told you to do. Not every instructor is equal and additionally, group dynamics can be a major impediment to progression and that may not be the instructor`s fault. I have had groups that I flat just could not seem to connect with and as the coach, I walked away from the end of the session more frustrated than the clients; it happens.

I will be happy to work with you as I have with Vicki (firstx1017) over the course of a couple of years on this forum to help get you past this. Before proceeding, it is best to get a grasp of what you are doing and how you are doing it. I am not in agreement with a few here who are telling you to go to steeper terrain. While this method does work for some, it will not work for everyone and generally the last thing you ever want to do in snowboard progression is introduce new or more complex tasks and more challenging terrain at the same time. Stick to the terrain you feel comfortable on because you need to feel safe before you will be receptive to learning.

I would encourage you to watch my video of a typical first time lesson. The only real change from when I did this (other than I like to think I am a better rider and better teacher after 8 years of doing it) is the Falling Leaf. AASI no longer advocates this and I now totally agree with AASI on this.

Beginner Snowboard Lesson Part One
Skating, gliding and stopping

Beginner Snowboard Lesson Part Two
Loading / unloading the chairlift and getting up after strapping in

Beginner Snowboard Lesson Part Three
Sideslipping and Linked Traverses heel and toe side

Beginner Snowboard Lesson Part Four
Garlands and basic turns

Take a watch of this and then get back to us with a review of what you experienced in your lessons.....

Thank you so much for your response. I am feeling much better about things today (although quite sore, lol). I watched the videos and will definatly be trying some things when we go back up next weekend.

My lessons started with one foot strapped in, just skating along. Also being able to climb up the hill with board strapped to one foot. Next lesson was getting on the carpet lift and getting both feet in. Learning basic heelside and toeside turns. Ended lesson with heelside falling leaf. Lesson 3 was a disaster and a half. Went to the larger bunny hill. Instructor still had me on falling leaf because I was having such a hard time with it. But he was standing directly 2 feet in front of me the whole time, and I found it hard to work like that. I think I just had a hard time with his teaching style. Things like he would say "look that way" or "other side". What other side??? I really needed him to say left or right or down hill or uphill or front foot/back foot...something that had some sort of context and made some sort of sense without me taking precious time to figure it out. I also had no speed control and as I got going faster I would suddenly get scared and everything I had learned would go out the window. I would panic and end up falling. I would assume that over time there would be some auto muscle memory so even if you got going too fast your body would respond as you had trained it to respond...but I do not yet have that. So when a little high speed panic sets in my mind goes blank and I can not get my body to move in a way that is at all helpful to the situation.

ToKwik · 01-14-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennifer

But he was standing directly 2 feet in front of me the whole time, and I found it hard to work like that. I think I just had a hard time with his teaching style.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

The instructor was probably not a bad guy, just maybe not experienced as a teacher. Good coaching is 90% people skills and 10% riding skills.

I'll just add a quick comment about the instructing.

Think of the instructor as your employee. You are the one paying for him to be there. If there is something you don't like or understand, then say so. He works for you.

My profession requires me to attend schooling annually. The company spends thousands of dollars per employee, per session every year. If there is something I have a problem with, I speak up. If that particular instructor can't help, then I will find someone else who can. Sometimes the instructor and I just don't get along for whatever reason. End result, I find another instructor that is more beneficial to me.

This is your time and money that you are spending. If you don't like the instructor's teaching style, then find someone else. Like Snowolf stated, the vast majority of teaching doesn't involve the actual subject matter.

Good luck and keep at it.

stealthyc · 01-14-2013, 07:07 PM

Leaning to snowboard at age 36 was far and away the most frustrating thing I have ever done. Many tears were shed! Trips to First Aid, Urgent Care and the ER were all part of my learning curve. I think I took 6 lessons total, and I was still a disaster. I got pissed and determined that snowboarding was not going to beat me. Now I LOVE it!

I will never forget one day my first season when I got stuck on a flat and had to unstrap and skate. I was so frustrated, cursing, on the verge of tears and this kid went gliding by me and said "it gets better". It really does. We all progress at our own pace so don't hold yourself to anyone else's standards. Just be patient and kind to yourself and if you are determined to get it done, you will!

jennifer · 01-14-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stealthyc

Leaning to snowboard at age 36 was far and away the most frustrating thing I have ever done. Many tears were shed! Trips to First Aid, Urgent Care and the ER were all part of my learning curve. I think I took 6 lessons total, and I was still a disaster. I got pissed and determined that snowboarding was not going to beat me. Now I LOVE it!

I will never forget one day my first season when I got stuck on a flat and had to unstrap and skate. I was so frustrated, cursing, on the verge of tears and this kid went gliding by me and said "it gets better". It really does. We all progress at our own pace so don't hold yourself to anyone else's standards. Just be patient and kind to yourself and if you are determined to get it done, you will!

Thank you so much! I am so glad to know I am not alone. I do love it, but it sure does have its frustrating moments.

I plan on taking a few more lessons. Might even do one when we head to Tahoe the first week of Feb.

Magnum626 · 01-14-2013, 08:14 PM

Here's another tip. When trying to achieve your goals for the day I would say relax. Maybe don't 'try too hard'. It was probably after my 5th or 6th trip that I realized that I wasn't trying way way too hard to turn. Like all my moves were exaggerated.

It definitely does get better! And great job on the weight loss! My first time I was sweating and so out of breath from trying to snowboard. And that was on the bunny hill. Keep it simple on your head and make subtle movements and really try to 'feel' what's going on instead of getting so focused on all the technical stuff.

Good Luck and Have Fun! Keep us updated!

ankkassa · 01-14-2013, 08:17 PM

im going to calli in a couple weeks if my anti snowboard cousins are willing to drop me there im willing to help you for a hour or something and if your hubby shreds why doesnt he just teach or help you out?

jennifer · 01-14-2013, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ankkassa

im going to calli in a couple weeks if my anti snowboard cousins are willing to drop me there im willing to help you for a hour or something and if your hubby shreds why doesnt he just teach or help you out?

My husband is not so good with the teaching. lol Love him to death, but I knew that if I let him play instructor I would wind up wanting to throttle him.

He also learned when he was a teenager, and he says he finds it hard to explain how to do things. He just "feels" it, and doesnt know how to break it all down into a lesson or anything really helpful.

ToKwik · 01-14-2013, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ankkassa

... and if your hubby shreds why doesnt he just teach or help you out?

I'd stick with the lessons for now. It can add more stress to your learning having the significant other there.

Once you are comfortable with the basics, then enjoy the slopes together.

Just my opinion.

And it does get so much better and easier. Don't forget that you are out there to have fun.

MarshallV82 · 01-14-2013, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennifer

My husband is not so good with the teaching. lol Love him to death, but I knew that if I let him play instructor I would wind up wanting to throttle him.

He also learned when he was a teenager, and he says he finds it hard to explain how to do things. He just "feels" it, and doesnt know how to break it all down into a lesson or anything really helpful.

Yeah, don't let your husband teach you, that one of the biggest fights I've had my girlfriend. I have no patience and when I'm at the resort, I want to ride not stand around and try to teach my girlfriend. I'll gladly pay for lessons to avoid that.

She can make it down blues without falling now. None the less I still hate going with her, she's to slow and gets irritated when I don't wait for her or I tell her I'll meet her somewhere. I'm a terrible boyfriend.

jennifer · 01-14-2013, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarshallV82

Yeah, don't let your husband teach you, that one of the biggest fights I've had my girlfriend. I have no patience and when I'm at the resort, I want to ride not stand around and try to teach my girlfriend. I'll gladly pay for lessons to avoid that.

She can make it down blues without falling now. None the less I still hate going with her, she's to slow and gets irritated when I don't wait for her or I tell her I'll meet her somewhere. I'm a terrible boyfriend.

My husband spends most of his time on single and double black diamonds. I dont know if I will ever get to the point of being comfortable doing that...but I certianly dont see it anywhere in the near future. He does his thing, I do mine...we meet for lunch. When I am doing a lesson he does have to stay on the easy terrain with my daughter (she is 7 and she loves to ski!). But otherwise I dont expect him to hang out with us when he could be up having fun.

It would be nice when I get to do an actual run instead of the bunny hill if he would do 1 run with me every now and then though.

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01-14-2013, 07:07 PM	#33 (permalink)
stealthyc Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 46	Leaning to snowboard at age 36 was far and away the most frustrating thing I have ever done. Many tears were shed! Trips to First Aid, Urgent Care and the ER were all part of my learning curve. I think I took 6 lessons total, and I was still a disaster. I got pissed and determined that snowboarding was not going to beat me. Now I LOVE it! I will never forget one day my first season when I got stuck on a flat and had to unstrap and skate. I was so frustrated, cursing, on the verge of tears and this kid went gliding by me and said "it gets better". It really does. We all progress at our own pace so don't hold yourself to anyone else's standards. Just be patient and kind to yourself and if you are determined to get it done, you will!

01-14-2013, 08:14 PM	#35 (permalink)
Magnum626 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC looking for snow... Posts: 589	Here's another tip. When trying to achieve your goals for the day I would say relax. Maybe don't 'try too hard'. It was probably after my 5th or 6th trip that I realized that I wasn't trying way way too hard to turn. Like all my moves were exaggerated. It definitely does get better! And great job on the weight loss! My first time I was sweating and so out of breath from trying to snowboard. And that was on the bunny hill. Keep it simple on your head and make subtle movements and really try to 'feel' what's going on instead of getting so focused on all the technical stuff. Good Luck and Have Fun! Keep us updated!

01-14-2013, 08:17 PM	#36 (permalink)
ankkassa Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: South East Michigan Posts: 53	im going to calli in a couple weeks if my anti snowboard cousins are willing to drop me there im willing to help you for a hour or something and if your hubby shreds why doesnt he just teach or help you out?