wolfie91

Hey y'all

I'm a new boarder from Maryland (well now I live in Maine). I went for the first time on Saturday and I'm completely hooked, but of course with a total of 2-and-a-half hours of experience under my belt, I actually have no idea what I'm doing. I've never been a big skiier (shitty knees mean it was hard to pick up), but I'd always wanted to give snowboarding a shot. Luckily it seems to be a very natural thing, and I was having no trouble keeping up even on my first few runs.

My only issue seems to be...well...the lift. My first time up I almost did fine, until the chair came up behind me and sat me right back down: I bailed and jumped into a bank about three feet below. No big deal, just unnerving. The second time up, something else must have happened, because I ended up with a doozy of a concussion and a separated shoulder.

So my question I guess is, can I hope to learn the ins and outs of the lift now that I've started off so badly? What do I do? It doesn't help that my board was normal and I ride goofy, but I haven't the foggiest idea how to practice without everybody around me taking it out on my hide. Other boarders are not very forgiving to newbies around here I guess

Nice to meet y'all.

Emmy

Donutz

WTF? The lifts are hard when you're learning to board, but getting off, not usually getting on. Take a lesson. Learning to get on and off the lift will be part of it. You're obviously doing something fundamentally wrong, and the comment about a regular board and a goofy stance rings alarm bells.

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Mountain Days: 30

wolfie91

Well I sure didn't have any trouble getting on--my falls were both getting off.

As for riding goofy, I wasn't trying to ride a normal board backwards: just rented a normal board by mistake and wound up having to lead with my other foot.

And lessons: they are a little steep for me, so at the moment I am learning from a boarder friend. Don't get me wrong, I've been working on my basics and I have no illusions about the fact that I am very, very new to snowboarding. I just want to be able to get off the lift without cracking my head all the time.

Emmy

Nefarious

Some tips to getting off the lift.

Don't wait too long to get off. If you get up and situate yourself while you're still on the flat, you'll have your balance to ride down the run-off.

You want to stand upright on your board with your weight distributed evenly. Plant your back foot centered on the board and don't lift it AT ALL. Stomp pads will make a difference the first few times, but you won't need it for very long IMO. It doesn't hurt to ram your boot against the binding to ensure it will stay in place.

When you stand up and plant your back foot, grip the lift with your hand. Either the seat or the back part. Stand up on the flat and let the chair push you to get your momentum. Make sure not to adjust your back foot until you are moving. It will feel unnatural at first, but you will become accustomed to it.

Once you start going down the run-off, adjust your back foot (toe or heel) based on the direction you need to turn. Ride straight if you can, but with busy lift days it will seldom be the case. Move your boot to the side you want to turn. It also helps to put pressure down on that edge to help dig it in. Moving it a little one way or the other will give you extra leverage to lean into the turn.

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Rider161

I would try and stay to the outer most seat that way when you stand up and push off the chair you will effectivly be out of the chairs swing

Nefarious

That was implied but should have been stated. Thanks!

Also, make sure to give yourself a medium push off the chair. Enough to get you going, but not so much that it will send it rattling around the corner.

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wolfie91

Sweet! Thanks for the tips: considering that my knowledge of snowboarding basically amounts to, "This is sick! Look how fast I can go! -crash-," this was especially useful I think part of it is that I wasn't pushing hard enough to get going. Apparently I was just sort of standing there before I got nailed in the head and face-planted down the nearest bank. Anyways as soon as I can gather my proverbial chickens I will be back out there...but maybe with a helmet.

Emmy

Nefarious

There's no Maybe in helmet. I haven't fallen the last few outings and I'm always VERY careful to look around me....that doesn't keep me from wearing it EVERY time. You can rent them for almost nothing from any resort. They're $6 a day where I am. If you only go a few times a year, just set aside money to rent them.

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Rider161

I would definitely look to at least rent one as Nefarious implied even if YOU are careful it might not be you that you have to worry about.. It could be and most likely will be someone else.. I was recording and I turned around in time to watch a kid in skis coming at me wreck enabling me to adjust my edge hold to move out of his path

Bones

For a newbie just learning to ride: there's no question....get a helmet.

You're going to fall and it's going to be unexpected and you will whack your head.

As for getting off the lift: try to be in an outside spot. Maybe mention to your next door neighbor that you're new. Most people will leave a little early and veer a bit to give you space. Especially if they're boarders...we've all been there.

Try to just go straight. If you can see that you'll have to turn when exiting, then place your back foot a little off-centre (an inch or 2) when you put it down. That over hanging toe or heel will drag a little and you'll skid a bit in that direction.

Practice on a small incline. Skate up and slide down one-footed. It'll give you confidence.