How to Get Speed for a Backyard Snowboard Jump
Jumping on a snowboard is a matter of skill, courage and, of course, speed. Though approaching a jump with speed can be frightening, it can be more dangerous to approach with too little speed, as it could mess up your landing, potentially causing a injurious fall. Take some time to dial your speed in, and you'll hit it just right.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Flatten the approach and jump. Before attempting to jump, make sure that you have a clean, smooth approach and jump surface. You can smooth it out by snowboarding down and using a shovel to smooth the jump itself. You'll get more speed if you don't have powder or obstacles getting in your way.
-
2
Do a few practice runs to get a feel for your speed before taking the jump. Ride down the approach, but stop or carve out at the last minute. This will help you to visualize the jump.
-
-
3
Get in position. Bend your knees, keeping your shoulders flush with the board and your weight toward your back leg as you begin to ride toward the jump.
-
4
Avoid excessive carving. Carving slows you down, so carve early -- just enough to properly aim the board. Then let gravity provide the speed.
-
5
Use an aid. If your yard is flatter, and you're attempting a jump, you may need an aid like a bungee-based snowboard accessory.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you're unsure how fast to go, watch others hit the jump before attempting it yourself.
Always practice on smaller jumps before moving on to larger, more dangerous ones.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
