How to Snowboard a Halfpipe

Drop into the snowboard halfpipe for the first time to open up a whole new realm of snowboarding.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ski And Snowboard Stone
• Helmets
• Snowboard Bag
• Snowboard Bindings
• Snowboard Boots
• Snowboard Clothing
• Snowboard Goggles
• Snowboard Hats
• Snowboard Leash
• Snowboards
• Waxes
• Helmets

1. Learn to use both of your edges effectively on the slopes. Learn 180s, 360s, jump airs and riding fakies. Until you have these skills down, you're not ready to ride the halfpipe.

2. Realize that you are not going to get your picture in the magazines on your first run. Concentrate only on the fundamentals on your first day of halfpipe riding. Don't worry about what you've seen and what everyone else is doing.

3. Wait for the halfpipe to be clear of other riders and for it to be your turn.

4. Side slide to the top of the halfpipe, and look down. Plan your run, and do it realistically, thinking about turns and fakies.

5. Take a deep breath to calm yourself, and then enter the halfpipe, traversing across the flats toward the transition.

6. Ride a few feet up the transition, turn your head around to face the opposite direction and then ride down backwards. Absorb the transitions by flexing your knees.

7. Traverse the flats again, riding on your uphill rail and slightly downhill to keep up your speed.

8. Ride up the next wall fakie, and ride down forward.

9. Approach the next transition. Roll from one edge to the other as you reach your high point on the wall. Do a small hop to take pressure off your board and to help you through the turn.

10. Continue down the halfpipe, doing fakies and turns.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to get higher and higher on the transition each turn.
• If you fall, ride down the center of the pipe to the end. Do not try to continue riding the halfpipe.
• Don't let the other halfpipe riders intimidate you. Everyone was a beginner at one time, and you have just as much right to your turn as anyone else.
• Make sure you're ready to snowboard in the halfpipe before you go there. Don't get overexcited by everything you see in magazines and videos. Learning the fundamentals will get you a lot further then big airs will.
• Snowboarding is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.

Who Can Help Sponsored

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on 3/13/2006 The best time to learn is when the pipe is freshly groomed or when there's fresh snow on the slopes. Most half-pipes have a 10-15 foot wall and that's a long way to fall onto ice. So, make your first run on a day with fresh snow, or wear a bubble, cause you're going to fall.