Beginning snowboarder...need some tips?

Question

So I'm going snowboarding next week for only the second time ever. Went once last year and fell alot. Just want some tips on how to go down cause I couldn't get a groove facing either way. I am right legged(guess thats how to put it). Should that be my lead leg? Also, when I'm just walking around or whatever, which leg should be tied to the board. Don't want to look like an idiot walking around with the board in front of me if that is wrong. Plus any other tips would be awesome, THANKS!!

Answer 1

If you were pushed from behind which foot would you catch yourself with?  That should be the front.  don't mess around with trying to go both ways when your learning.  That will just make it take longer to learn.  

I always say the most important things is to know when to just fall. If your going down don't fight it. Just try to sit down or fall on your chest.

Answer 2

You will probably be renting, so let the staff fit the boots and board correctly for you - and take a group lesson for a couple times and practice what you learn in the afternoon. Here are the basics of learning the way that I teach:

To determine your stance, have a friend push you, the foot you put out first is usually your front foot. Slide on a hard floor in your socks, which foot is in front? Left foot in front - Regular stance, Right foot in front - Goofy stance. The rental place will ask you this.

Day 1 lesson usually includes:

Learn how to fall. Forward on to your forearms - never your hands as you can break yours wrists. Backward onto one side of your butt and try to roll - never your hands or the center of your butt as you can break your tail bone.

Turning - think about turning as additional pressure on the front toe or heel. Turning a snowboard is all about edge control. When you have the board across the hill and stand up on the heel edge, you can tilt your feet forward to slide down the hill, tilt back to get more edge bite and stop - the basic side slip.

To turn, you bite the edge into the snow and then put pressure on the downhill egde of your front foot. This will release the edge in the front only and the nose of the board will start to swing down the hill. This will also put your weight forward which is correct. Then, put equal pressure back on the uphill edge with both feet and you will turn back across the hill and stop. Practice this a lot until you can get the board almost straight down the hill before returning to a stop.

Day 2 lesson:

A complete turn is just a continuation of this exercise. Use more pressure on the downhill side of the front foot to release the front of the edge and the board will swing faster toward the fall line. You MUST wait for the board to cross the fall line (straight down the hill) before you transition your weight to the other edge (or you will catch the downhill edge - ouch). Then use equal pressure on both feet on the new uphill edge to get the board to move back across the hill - this is a complete turn.

Once you are doing these in both directions, you can start linking the turns.

Good Luck

Answer 3

First off, if you mean your righty, I think you mean you're regular footed. This means your left foot should be in front of you. When you are going on a chair-lift you're right foot should be clipped out. Pay attention to the weather, if you are a beginning snowboarder you don't want to go on ice or deep powder. For going downhill, avoid catching an edge or like I just said, look out for ice (even though it's kind of hard to spot it) if you go on ice you can't steer yourself and your basically done for. For turning in the easy stuff, slightly turn on your heels, then, keep your balance and shift you weight to your toes so you're basically facing the mountain. Repeat from heels to toes going downhill and avoid going straight down the mountain at full speed for that will increase your chances of falling. If you're feeling like a daredevil, go through the powder (just don't get stuck, it's really hard to get out). To go through the powder, you want 90% of your weight shifted to your back (so your right foot, if you're regular footed) and glide along it, don't put too much stress in your legs or you will sink...

Good Luck!

Answer 4

have some one push you from behind and what ever leg you step out with first is your lead leg. Not to say that you shouldnt work on both legs as lead because thats an important part of getting comfortable when going down the hill. Also try some basic carving and go down slow a few times  and try slowing down using your toe and heel edge

Answer 5

get crash shorts, save your bottom

Answer 6

when snowboarding you can snowboard with the right leg out first (regular) or left leg out firs (goofy).  Most people right leg dominant would board regular.  But some prefer to board goofy even if right leg dominant and vice versa.  Your dominant foot is the one you would usually kick a football with.  You always push the board with the back foot and the front foot is clamped in.  If you want speed with one foot clamped out you push with a skate board motion but this is stressful on the ankle and will end to move you to one side.  But if you just want to walk with the board push from the back of he board.  When starting out practice carving.  Put pressure on your toes to move right if goofy and left if regular.  Put pressure on heels if turning left for goofy and right for regular.  Basically practice makes perfect.  You cant be a pro on the firs day. Like riding a bike you'll fall a lot but eventually you ll get it.

Answer 7

everything that everyone said is pretty much dead on...for me i snowboard the same way i ride a skateboard...some ppl are different though...your not going to go and be flying down the mtn on your first trip and you will fall and yes it does hurt sometimes...but remember when you fall if you put your hand out to catch you make a fist do not fall onto an open palm or chances are you will break your wrist...and about the lesson i never took a lesson i taught myself and i learned just as fast if not faster than my buddies who did take the lesson

Answer 8

I'm a righty but I ride better goofy(right foot forward)  

if you have a long hallway or tile kitchen floor, run around in socks and slide.  the foot you put in front for balance is most likely the foot you want in front on your board. try it both ways. that is the foot that stays strapped in.

more importantly, go get the knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards for rollerblading and wear them under your ski clothes.  if its your second time ever, you will most likely be falling a lot.  this will keep you from getting hurt to badly, and no one will know you have them on.  helmets are also a good idea. they keep your head warm and protect the brain box.  

stay on the green dot(beginner) runs until you can turn on your heel side and toe side and stop w/o falling

take it slow, and have fun

best of luck