Are you sure ANYONE can learn? - Page 6 - Snowboarding Forum

wrathfuldeity · 01-15-2013, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ig88

Yes. You do deserve credits. You did great. Paying your girlfriend's lesson is a very generous endeavor.

it was not generous nor great....it was self preservation

East§ide · 01-15-2013, 11:27 AM

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.

my girlfriend started a similar way..she's been out on the hill about 10 times now, and she's gone from struggling with the bunny hill to just finishing her first blue run this past sunday. she's got bruises on her legs, her knees, her butt, she sprained some ligaments in her shoulder..but she kept kicking. the point is, its really all about how badly you want it. learning to snowboard sucks..it sucks more for some than for others, but it definitely sucks. how badly do you want to learn? what's your motivation? what is it that seems to stop you from progressing? if you've taken 3 lessons and are still struggling with the basics id start to be concerned with who was teaching you.
stick with it, it really is worth it once you get the hang of it..but it is definitely a struggle.

jml22 · 01-15-2013, 12:23 PM

Helmet, butt pads, wrist guards, knee pads.
Learn how to stop
Then Get the F off the bunny hill.

East§ide · 01-15-2013, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jml22

Helmet, butt pads, wrist guards, knee pads.
Learn how to stop
Then Get the F off the bunny hill.

this. my gf progressed exponentially when she started wearing protective gear.

redlude97 · 01-15-2013, 12:57 PM

I have a friend who can't even get up heelside and has to flip over and get up toeside everytime, she also can only heelslide right now so it makes for a very interesting time. It took her 2 times to finally ride the beginner chairlift because she was afraid. I also have friends I've taught to link turns(not carve) in a single day. The learning spectrum is quite wide in my experience.

ThunderChunky · 01-15-2013, 01:14 PM

It took me three hours to get down a 100 yards hill at my resort the first day I learned to snowboard. Now I can spin off 30ft booters. It takes time. It's one of those sports where it all of the sudden clicks. Now don't get me wrong there is progression after that, but the concept comes all of the sudden.

jennifer · 01-15-2013, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redlude97

I have a friend who can't even get up heelside and has to flip over and get up toeside everytime, she also can only heelslide right now so it makes for a very interesting time. It took her 2 times to finally ride the beginner chairlift because she was afraid. I also have friends I've taught to link turns(not carve) in a single day. The learning spectrum is quite wide in my experience.

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.

chomps1211 · 01-15-2013, 03:47 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.

Hey Jennifer, part of that is also being on a gentler slope. I had some trouble with it on the BH's in the beginig too. Takes a bit to build the core mscls for that if u aren't in best shape yet. It is easier on a steeper pitch, but seems u r still nervous about that. I wouldnt worry about it, I don't know of any particular reason it would b a problem or interfere, but if it is I'm sure someone will correct me.

Now the only time I seem to have trouble is if I got too much shit in my camlebak pack along with my water!

. Makes me too top heavy.

poutanen · 01-15-2013, 03:49 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.

Hey Jennifer, can't remember from your previous posts, but are you doing a regular workout routine? It'll be really tough to get the basics down without the strength in the core and legs. Just thinking that may be holding you back... If you could either get to the gym or do these exersizes at home, it should be a good start.

- squats and/or leg press (squats are fine to start with no weight, then you can add weights later, or do jumping squats to increase the explosive force needed to pop off moguls/jumps etc.)
- core exercises: plank, back extensions, crunches, side crunches, etc. there are a million different core exercises so pick a variety and have fun with them
- calf raises: will help on your toeside and also with foot pain from weak foot muscles... Again start with no weight and then move up to dumbells or whatever hand weights you want to use

I'm the first to admit I DON'T do this stuff when I should, and I suffer every season because of it. Strong muscles will be able to do what your brain tells them to do!

jennifer · 01-15-2013, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poutanen

Hey Jennifer, can't remember from your previous posts, but are you doing a regular workout routine? It'll be really tough to get the basics down without the strength in the core and legs. Just thinking that may be holding you back... If you could either get to the gym or do these exersizes at home, it should be a good start.

- squats and/or leg press (squats are fine to start with no weight, then you can add weights later, or do jumping squats to increase the explosive force needed to pop off moguls/jumps etc.)
- core exercises: plank, back extensions, crunches, side crunches, etc. there are a million different core exercises so pick a variety and have fun with them
- calf raises: will help on your toeside and also with foot pain from weak foot muscles... Again start with no weight and then move up to dumbells or whatever hand weights you want to use

I'm the first to admit I DON'T do this stuff when I should, and I suffer every season because of it. Strong muscles will be able to do what your brain tells them to do!

Yes, I work out 5 days a week, then count snowboarding as day 6. My husband turned our garage into a gym for me. I do a lot of cardio as well as strength training. I have a stationary bike, eliptical, treadmill, weight bench, weights, etc.. I am a lucky girl. I have was doing everything you suggested except the squats....I added those after my first lesson.

I also dusted off my mountain bike this week, working on getting in at least some light biking as soon as I get a new bike rack for the car.

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01-15-2013, 12:23 PM	#53 (permalink)
jml22 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 201	Helmet, butt pads, wrist guards, knee pads. Learn how to stop Then Get the F off the bunny hill.

01-15-2013, 12:57 PM	#55 (permalink)
redlude97 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle/Portland Posts: 993	I have a friend who can't even get up heelside and has to flip over and get up toeside everytime, she also can only heelslide right now so it makes for a very interesting time. It took her 2 times to finally ride the beginner chairlift because she was afraid. I also have friends I've taught to link turns(not carve) in a single day. The learning spectrum is quite wide in my experience.