diver_matt

This is my first season snowboarding. Well, I did take a private lesson last year but broke my tailbone DURING the lesson....end of season for me. I've been up the mountains about 10 times this year and also took another lesson. So I was able to do large C-turns but wanted to speed things up. I watched Snowolf's video on riding cat tracks last night. Tried what I saw today and was doing quicker transitions all day. So, as many others have said before, thanks Snowolf!!! Your tips & videos are much appreciated and definitely a big help.

TomGfromCanada

how did you break your tailbone? so I know what not to do.

diver_matt

My instructor had me moving pretty fast. I'd never been on a board before and in 90 minutes I was doing J-turns. I got a bit carried away and caught a heel edge. It sent me flying up and backward. Combine that with the downslope and I had about a six foot fall landing on it. Didn't know it was broke so I did 1/2 a run before telling the mrs I was done.

I now wear a tailbone protector, elbow & knee pads, wrist guards and helmet. What does that mean? I take more chances than I would without them and still come home with aches & pains. Guess I should have started snowboarding when I was 20-30 years younger. Ha!!

TomGfromCanada

wow sounds crazy. worst I got my first time was a sore shoulder. I'm going out this friday, hope this isn't my last post.

diver_matt

I can't say enough about lessons. I did private lessons ($100 each time) twice, including last year's catastrophe. Still, money well spent and certainly other injuries were prevented.

aiidoneus

Lessons with a good instructor is a huge benefit. After spending some time teaching over the last few months I regret not doing them my first season. Learning on my own meant I fell a zillion times more.

Also, you just progress faster. Some people I teach are linking turns after 2-3 hours. Granted they tend to be fit and that helps.

The nice thing now is I get to session/clinics with the other instructors. It provides a ton of feedback.

Happy shredding!

vknyvz

wow dude, i would talk to the mountain about that instructor, he clearly was wrong about making you go faster, since it was your first time

i hear tailbones takes sometimes a year to heal if not treated immediately , glad you're ok now

__________________
Setup
2013 Never Summer Cobra X 163cm
2012 Flow Trilogy Bindings XL

backstop13

What treatment is there? As long as it's not severely displaced they just make you sit on a donut pillow as far as I know. I broke mine earlier this year and they just told me that I could ride as long as I could withstand the pain of falling. I broke mine early enough in the year that coupled with bad weather, I didn't miss any ride-able days.

diver_matt

Mine was actually the coccyx which contains nerves. No treatment other than drugs and careful sitting. I now ride with a tailbone protector. It's been a year & I do feel it sometimes even now.

racer357

I broke mine 3 yrs ago. Still hurts like hell. Oh well. it's worth it...