How to Build a Snowboard Tabletop

Snowboarding is a fun sport, simply because it offers so much more than just riding downhill. Often, tricks used in skateboarding are imported over to the snow-side, and modified so a snowboarder can do them to add variety and challenge to this winter sport. Before you hit the trick slopes, build a tabletop jump at home to practice.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Find a good location to build your snowboard tabletop jump. Make sure the area has a large enough landing space and is free from any type of hazards such as trees, rocks or other obstacles. An area with a natural slope will work best and if there is a small hill it will reduce the amount of work needed to build up the jump.
2. Bring in snow to build up the jump. This is going to be the backbreaking part of the work and it's helpful if you have some snowboarding friends who are willing to get a shovel or two and help move some snow.
3. Plan out the size of the tabletop jump you want to build. Make sure the jump is tall enough to allow the snowboarder to get some air and clear the tabletop. The landing slope also needs to be adequate enough to allow the snowboarder to land safely and glide to a resting spot, which may take up more room than you may expect.
4. Pack snow as compactly as possible to ensure there is little shifting or cracking of the snow when the weight and movement of the snowboarders are on it. The jump should be at least 4 feet high and the tabletop shouldn't be too long to avoid landing on it. The landing slope needs to be at least 8 feet long with room to stop added onto that.
5. Groom the top few layers by packing snow and misting with water to create a hard shell, then layering with snow again. Repeat this process after the tabletop jump has been worn down by continued use or when warmer weather takes it's toll.