Don’t Pay for Lessons; Teach Yourself to Snowboard!
April 23rd, 2008It is possible to teach yourself to snowboard. Snowboarding is very challenging. It will take you a considerable amount of time to teach yourself. You must be patient. In many ways, you will become a much better snowboarder if you teach yourself.
There are a variety of things things you can do and use to help teach yourself:
Books: There are many books about snowboarding. Some that attempt to teach you how to snowboard. You should read some of these books and go over the pictures a couple of times before you begin to learn.
Video’s: There are also a variety of how to videos available to teach you how to snowboard. You can find books and videos at your local library.
Internet: The Internet has a wealth of knowledge available to help teach you to snowboard. There are Ebooks and videos that you can watch for free.
Watch other riders: Head to the slope and watch people snowboarding (especially the younger kids). I remember the first time I tried to snowboard. It was really tough to turn from side to side and it felt like my back leg just locks up and doesn’t move. After many failed attempts, my frustration took the best of me. I blamed my board and took it back to the rental shop and complained that it wasn’t the right size. I explained what was happening and that’s when the snowboard technician recommended I simply go to the top of the slope and watch other riders for a while. I have to admit that his recommendation was priceless! Watching others is a key part of learning. You have read your books and watched your videos. Go to the slope and watch other people. Then try and do what they do.
Skateboard: Another thing you can do to help learn to snowboard is to practice on a skateboard. There are similarities between the two sports. Find an oversized board and start practicing. I have even seen skateboards that had bindings fitted on them. This was a unique idea. It allowed the person to strap in and get the same feel of the snowboard. I would only suggest this if you are wearing protective padding in case you fall. Concrete is not as forgiving as soft snow.
Skateboarding can help teach you the balance you will need when trying to snowboard for the first time. I would advise anyone who wants to teach themselves to learn snowboarding should first try skateboarding.
Practice: The last and most important thing you should know about teaching yourself to snowboard is practice. Be prepared to practice until you are proficient. You will fall, you will tumble, but you will get it. It will not be long until you have taught yourself to snowboard.
No Magic ‘Rule’: 4 years of riding (and 3 years of helping friends), the most important thing I learned and kept telling people (and still do) is that there is no magic ‘rule’. Just like walking and riding a bicycle, you need to give your body some time to get comfortable with a board. After that, it’s all about confidence, style and practice.