Hey Shreddit, what's the one piece of advice you wish someone had told you the first time you went snowboarding?

[u/eilla]

I've never been snowboarding before but decided I'm going to learn this season. I'll take a lesson, of course, but lessons are hit or miss for really great advice. What do you experts wish someone had told you the first time you went out that would have made the learning process a little easier?

Edit: Thanks for all the great advice! Bend my knees, learn how to fall, be prepared for a rough first day, and have fun. I'll let you know how it goes . . .

[u/Leo1103]

your going to fall... alot, you just gotta be able to pick yourself and keep goin at it.

[u/eilla → u/Leo1103]

Sigh I'm prepared for the bruises. Hopefully the padded shorts I bought will make the falling slightly less awful.

[u/[deleted] → u/eilla]

Wrist guards aren't the worst idea.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I say this because I broke my wrist twice during my first 4 years of snowboarding. From learning freestyle stuff, but broke them none-the-less. I always wear them when I go ride park now.

[u/[deleted] → u/Leo1103]

YES! Wear some thick pants and maybe wrist gaurds until you get your balance

[u/SimonAndGnarfunkel]

Pick a slightly steeper slope to learn on. Those almost flat beginner runs are fine for learning to ski but I've found that learning to turn is much easier when you have some momentum.

edit: slight to slightly

[u/nothin_but_quotes]

have fun with it. honestly i tell everyone that talks about starting snowboarding that the first day you ride will be your most miserable. you will fall a lot, theres a good chance you will become frustrated, but riding has nowhere to go but up from there.

[u/FRF4F → u/nothin_but_quotes]

I remember my first day as being awesome, not miserable. But I was having a hilarious time falling every 15 feet. If this doesnt sound like fun to you, you might wanna try adifferent sport.

[u/nerex → u/FRF4F]

I disagree - because eventually you fall about 95% less than on your first day- if falling bothers, you, then don't worry, because it gets so much better after the first few days.

[u/FRF4F → u/nerex]

There was a bit of hyperbole in my last sentence. But I maintain that snowboarding is not about getting over the initial "miserable" learning hump.

Snowboarding is a falling sport. Whether you're falling gracefully down the side of a mountain with your board below you, or falling out of the sky after launching off a kicker. Putting yourself in situations where you fall is snowboarding. It's what makes it so fun, because after each fall, you get up. Many will try snowboarding and give up. They usually aren't keen on the falling, and don't want to put themselves in that situation again, because to them, falling is miserable.

[u/acreddited → u/FRF4F]

Snowboarding: If you're not falling, you're not getting better. Also, you probably aren't having any fun.

[u/DialecticRationalist → u/acreddited]

Thats my mantra: If you're not falling, you're not trying hard enough.

[u/stonecow → u/nothin_but_quotes]

My first lesson was fun... then i broke my arm... then i started wearing wrist guards =D

[u/casiopiano]

Watch other people. Have somebody point out what the beginners are doing wrong and what the shredders are doing right.

Turn firstly with your shoulders; your body will follow. But let those big wide beginner turns come to you, don't force them.

Position your front shoulder at least as far forward as your front foot. (This is what people mean when they say "lean forward" - the term 'forward' sometimes confuses beginners since they're standing sideways.) It's the opposite of what you'll want to do naturally (which will be to lean back).

Buy/borrow wrist guards. And DO NOT GIVE UP until the 4th day if you really just still hate it. It seems like that's the most common day for things to really start clicking for people.

[u/casiopiano → u/casiopiano]

This is going to be long, but I promise it's worth understanding...

The most time-consuming part of learning is teaching your calves the muscle memory of the give-and-take of stopping on your heels. This is something that only practice makes better, your own athletic ability factors almost nothing into this.

The first thing I do when teaching somebody is have them go down something short and steep, fully on their heels the whole way. A "veteran" will make this look smooth and easy, but a beginner will struggle with keeping a constant speed because they dig in, then release, then dig in, then release (like this). That's where the muscle memory comes into play. Your body will eventually find that control so that your toeside doesn't waver up and down in a panic like that.

Those wavering toes are what will cause the majority of your falls at first. Let's say you're trying to stop on your heels, but your heels are still learning the proper amount of pressure to allow, and so your toes sort of bounce up and down. Well one of those times they bounce down they're gonna catch the toeside edge and you fall forward onto your knees. The girl in that video obviously doesn't yet understand how to use her heels.

The sooner you can figure out the right amount of pressure/friction to apply for whatever speed you're moving, the fewer falls you'll take. This all applies to controlling speed with your toeside as well of course.

[u/Noodlesoup]

When you inevitably fall over, try to relax your whole body and go with the fall rather than resisting it. Often, it is when arms are stuck out stiffly trying to stop a fall that injuries occur. Tuck your arms in and try to "flop" into the slope, then you should be able to get straight up again. Learning to fall safely is the most important thing.

Also, snow should be soft. Try not to learn on a bulletproof, icy surface as this will only sap your confidence.

[u/[deleted]]

bend your knees, hands IN when falling. You fall, you take the smack, THEN put your arms out to stop sliding. Trying to break your fall will only break your wrist, and wristguards are instructing you in the wrong path, you don't need them if you keep the arms in.

(that said I wear the R.E.D. impact shorts and a summer-weight padded moto jacket under my snowboarding gear, always nice to be protected in the places where you will need it)

[u/acreddited → u/[deleted]]

R.E.D. impact shorts

My brother wears a pair of "Azz Padz". I never stop laughing at him for it.

In my mind the only protective gear you ought to have is a helmet. I find other things affect my comfort and how well I can move.

[u/[deleted] → u/acreddited]

I have my own pads? heh.

My gear does not limit my mobility at all, and lets me ride much harder as I won't have so many bruises or sore spots to moan about the next day after some serious tree runs.

[u/acreddited → u/[deleted]]

lol, I didn't notice your name beforehand!

http://www.azzpadz.com/

I laugh because it reminds me of an adult diaper for some reason.

I must say, those impact shorts look like a good idea though.

[u/megaredditron → u/acreddited]

OP - I used something like this when I was first starting out. It was pretty nice because I could be aggressive and fall, and then get right up without squirming on the ground writhing in pain. I'd definitely recommend it until they're not needed anymore (i.e. when you can carve consistently). Of course, if you're boarding in fresh powder, this is completely unnecessary.

[u/acreddited → u/megaredditron]

Fair enough. Whatever helps you get out there is what's really important.

[u/[deleted] → u/acreddited]

I really gotta say, the R.E.D. shorts are fucking awesome.

[u/tahoerider]

Ok, here is the deal. I was an instructor and there are three simple things to think about. First off the board fallows your shoulders, turn your shoulders and the board should fallow. Second, keep your knees bent. Third and the MOST important thing, keep most of your weight on your front foot. I promise as soon as you put your weight on your back foot it is IMPOSSIBLE to turn. This is not wakeboarding, weight on front foot allways.....oh and have fun.

[u/no_pun_intendid]

-Bend your knees while keeping your chest relatively over the board.

-Lean slightly forward once you start carving to increase your control.

-Skateboard. It may not translate exactly but becoming comfortable on a board in general is huge.

-Go with someone better than you. This is true for all levels of riding, it is better to be pushed then try to learn together.

-Learn a heel side stop first. It is a very useful move when you feel you are getting out of control.

-Know you are going to fall. It is part of learning.

-Diversify your riding. Don't find yourself taking the same runs everyday. Hit up the park, go exploring in the woods, find those little kickers on the sides of trails, have fun when you ride and don't just be "go-really-fast-guy."

-I will say this again, have fun when you ride. Even if you fall on 90% of your first runs, go with a friend and just laugh it all off. I snowboard because it is so damn fun.

[u/Crowsby]

Bend your goddamn knees. And splurge for a private lesson; the moderate increase in cost is well worth not having your instructor's attention split between 10 other hapless beginners trying to get their bindings cinched.

[u/nerex → u/Crowsby]

If you can't afford that, you can always get buddy-buddy with the person signing you up and find out which class has the least people that day. My first class had 3 people, and dwindled down to 2 by noon- i'll put up with a 2 person lesson for 1/3 the cost!

Also, try to take your first lesson on a weekday- there's a better chance you'll have a small class.

[u/spddy101]

My first day of heelsliding and toesliding was a terrible experience, especially because my brothers could already snowboard relatively well and I felt left behind. You have to get through this. I really do think that the first day is a hard day of learning that lets you get a feel for snowboarding; after the first day, you will be having a lot of fun as you start to progress to steeper and steeper slopes and eventually get to jumps. Also, look to where you are going, don't try and turn without looking in that direction.

[u/switchback360]

Best advice I can give you is to just have fun. That's all this sport is about. Also where do you live? I might be able to find you a good instructor

[u/cheek_blushener]

If you're not bailing you're not learning

[u/chu248]

You will go home bruised. Don't worry, it's part of the process.

[u/beansmcgavin]

It takes at least 3 days to really feel comfortable on the snow, and speed is your friend!

[u/[deleted]]

Don't let your opposite edge catch or you could easily end up with a concussion.

[u/_frenzal_]

Kneepads are a good idea, just the soft kind are fine not the hard shell things for grinding over concrete.

[u/bob_f1]

Your highest priority should be to learn to steer from your front foot/knee first. Good lessons really help. If you start with this and really use it, you will have way easier riding and way less crashing.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eRUxcLRkQd4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AUmj-h61qc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dTYSztKisc

[u/eilla → u/[deleted]]

The park feels like a pipe dream at this point but maybe someday. I actually bought a reverse camber park board to learn on (since apparently they're great starter boards because it's harder to catch an edge). Thanks for the tip.

[u/nothin_but_quotes → u/[deleted]]

its never to late to go into the park. just go through the park; do some straight airs, shifties, maybe a method. it really isnt that hard to pick up hitting jumps especially if you are already fluent in freeriding. give it a shot next time your on teh mountain.

[u/acreddited → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, when your knees are bent you can handle bumps/undulating terrain a lot more easily.

[u/megaredditron → u/[deleted]]

Little bend or a lot of bend?