Hi, I tried snowboarding earlier this year...

Question

Hi, I tried snowboarding earlier this year and I loved it! Stacked a lot though.

Are lessons necessary?

Answer 1

i'd say no, although they could be beneficial i'm sure

personally i never took them, but i was with friends who were experienced and would give pointers. Other than that, i learned on my own

Answer 2

A couple of group lessons can help - and you can practice what you learn in the afternoon. You can also do the "trial and error" method with your friends giving you pointers - that is how I learned to ride.

These are some beginner tips that I have been writing:

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.

Consider wearing wrist guards and a helmet

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

I would say that it is well worth getting lessons as a beginner - it will save you a lot of time and money - just until you learn how to turn properly.

I don't think that trial and error would work very well cause I don't think the correct method of snowboarding is very intuitive, when I learnt to snowboard I wouldn't have done it (by trial and error) the way I was taught it - if that makes sense. I couldn't believe how much emphasis is put on the position of the heels and toes. I thought it would all be about moving your body weight and leaning.  

Answer 4

If i were you, i would definitely go for some lessons. they help a lot, even when you're experienced. there is no way they are bad or could be bad for you. they are well worth the money.

Answer 5

I'd say no, in my opinion the best way to learn is by trial and error and by teaching yourself...

lessons wouldn't hurt though.