Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Traveling with a snowboard means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Find out how to travel with a snowboard with help from a snowboarding professional in this free video clip.
Edge burrs on a snowboard can spell disaster later on if left unchecked. Remove edge burrs on a snowboard with help from a snowboarding professional in this free video clip.
There are two main different ways that you can stand on a snowboard. Learn which direction you should sand in on a snowboard with help from a snowboarding professional in this free video clip.
The edges of a new snowboard should be sharpened before you use it--a process called detuning. Many snowboard shops will perform this service when the board is purchased. If yours doesn't, do the job yourself to avoid encountering edge hooks and burrs. The edges of your snowboard are critical to your performance, and their degree of sharpness will affect how well they cut into the snow. Smooth, even, correctly sharpened edges have less resistance and give you better control. If you detune the board before use, it will give you a better and safer ride.
Snowboarders are of a different breed. While many people huddle at home in winter, waiting for the cold weather to leave, snowboarders can't wait to get outside and barrel down a mountain at blistering speeds. Like so many winter sports, snowboarding requires extensive equipment, the most important of which, no doubt, is the snowboard itself. Choosing a snowboard with the right dimensions can affect your performance. Wide boards are specially designed and more expensive than their narrower counterparts, but are worth it if your body type or snowboarding style require it.
Snowboard tricks may be appealing to many avid snowboarders. After conquering basic surface and aerial tricks such as wheelies and ollies, you may be up for something more challenging. To learn front flips, start small; use medium speed and a small jump. The trick requires that you propel yourself in the air, rotate your body 360 degrees and land with your board facing straight ahead. With plenty of practice you'll soon get the hang of it.
An all-mountain setup is a great way for beginners to get a feel for snowboarding, as it’s the setup designed for maximum versatility. Once you’ve learned the basics of snowboarding, however, you may wish to specialize your gear to match your riding style. While snowboarders who prefer to ride downhill adopt an alpine stance and stiff, short board, riders who prefer park or half-pipe riding – tackling terrain that allows them to perform a variety of tricks – must choose a more flexible board and tailor their boots and binding setup for terrain performance.
In snowboarding terms, switchfoot means riding either with your dominant foot forward or your nondominant foot forward. Riding switch, as it's also called, is a helpful skill when doing tricks in the park, as it allows you to set up for and land jumps with either end of your board pointing downhill. You don't need to change your bindings to ride switch, but you may find it helpful to adjust them slightly if you spend a lot of time in the park.
The polyethylene-coated base of the snowboard helps to prevent moisture from penetrating the wooden core. Riding on a slushy terrain will cause dirt and grime to accumulate on the underside of your snowboard. Using a liquid base cleaner on a regular basis will help ensure the bottom of your board glides smoothly across the snow. The snowboard specialists at Tactics.com recommend cleaning the base of your board before applying a fresh coat of wax.
A snowboard takes a lot of punishment from the average snowboarder. Hard tumbles on the slopes and smacks against pipes, rails and other solid objects give a snowboard its share of dings, scratches and gouges. Sometimes, the face even splits when hit in the right spot. There are a number of steps that you can take to fix a split in the face of your snowboard to get you back on the slopes on good-as-new equipment.
Learning to snowboard properly can be challenging, but it's also very rewarding. Being able to carve on a snowboard is a key skill for the sport, and can also be applied to many other board sports, such as wakeboarding and surfing. When learning to snowboard, then, a key part of the process is learning to carve with the back foot.
When carving down a hill on a snowboard, both feet are important for the carving process, though the back foot tends to be the more important of the two. If you are putting too much weight on your back foot and find yourself falling a lot of as a result, it might be worth trying to use the nose of your snowboard more.
As with any sport, having the appropriate and most effective equipment when snowboarding will aid you toward maximizing your potential and increasing safety as well. Guys who snowboard will want to make sure to have bodily protection, but also to avoid overexposure to cold. Men’s snowboarding style often balances the “hang loose” style with wider trends and other styles promoted by superstar Shaun White’s commercial endeavors.
Snowboarding is a fun alternative to traditional skiing; however, the fun will be abruptly cut short for the season if you hurt yourself. As with any sport, there are methods you can employ to stay safe while you are snowboarding, especially if you are a beginner and are unfamiliar with the most common moves. Going slowly and exercising extra caution will keep you safe out there on the slopes and allow you to perfect this exhilarating winter sport.
The opposing edges of the snowboard are often referred to as the heel and toe edge. The sharpened design allows the heel and toe edge to penetrate the snow during hairpin turns and high-velocity maneuvers. The heel edge of the snowboard is the edge that sits closest to the heels of your snowboarding boots. According to Mechanics of Sport, the heel edge of the snowboard often wears down more quickly that the toe edge as it is commonly used for the braking technique.
Being able to make jumps while snowboarding adds to the enjoyment of the pastime. A well-timed jump and clean landing can be extremely fulfilling and make you the envy of your friends. Improving your jumps requires repetition, however, and not everyone has the time or opportunity to spend all day on the hill perfecting their technique. Develop your muscles in order to get better at jumping on a snowboard, and work on your snowboard jumping movements -- even when you are not on your snowboard.
All snowboarders who want to add combination tricks to their arsenal need to first master the basics. The shifty is an aerial move where you spin your board 90 degrees to one side, then flip it back to your original direction. While many other flips and twists keep your body moving in a single direction, the shifty requires you to turn your board without letting the momentum turn your body. The key is control your core, flipping your hips and feet but not turning your shoulders and upper body.
The dimensions of a snowboard are uniquely suited to you, the rider, and stance width is one of these dimensions. Finding the proper stance width for you will optimize your balance and ability to control and feel comfortable on your snowboard. A couple of variables that affect snowboard stance width will be the size of your body and the kind of riding that you do. Ultimately, your stance width will likely evolve over time, along with your riding style and ability.
For many extreme sports enthusiasts, skateboarding ends when snow begins to fall from the sky. When winter takes away the pleasure of skateboarding, there is a simple trick to turn your skateboard into a useable snowboard. By making this transformation, you now have an outside activity very similar to skateboarding that was created with inexpensive material and little time.
A stomp pad is a convenient piece of snowboard technology to have installed on your snowboard. When getting off a chairlift, a snowboarder typically has only the front foot in the binding. The stomp pad provides stability and grip for the rear foot, to make controlling the snowboard with only one foot in a binding easier. The stomp pad is typically installed just in front of the back binding. It has a rough surface to provide grip to the back foot.
Catching big air in snowboarding requires a combination of dexterity, timing, strength and guts. To get to the point of jumping the big stuff in the terrain park, you need to work your way through a series of smaller skills to gain the needed set of abilities needed for the big jumps. Follow a pedagogy of moves and practice them on smaller jumps, working your way up to bigger and bigger jumps until you are ready for the big air and large jumps.
Many snowboarders, especially beginners, tend to fall when coming off the ski lift. This is partly because the back foot must be dislodged from the binding to get up and off of the lift. Stomp pads provide traction in between the bindings so that your snow boot has something to grip onto for added control and balance.
Young riders just starting out in snowboarding typically do so with toy boards. Built to mimic larger "grown-up" snowboards, toy snowboards give children adventures on snow with equipment made for young feet and coordination. Toy snowboards may have hook-and-loop fasteners that get threaded into small bars on the boards, or they might have plastic highback-style bindings that must be screwed onto the boards. Whatever style you get for your child, make sure you get the straps and bindings onto the board so the child keeps her boots solidly on the snowboard.
Snowboarding is great fun, as long as there is a hill to go down. Snowboarders tend to suffer, however, when hills flatten out, or worse, when a hill needs to be crested. Skiers have the advantage of poles and a few other techniques to propel them up hills. While snowboarders have no such advantage, they do have a few different techniques available to them to get up a hill.
Snowboards are expensive, and when one cracks or is outgrown it seems like a waste to simply throw it away. Instead of letting your old snowboard languish in storage, turn it into shelving. You can mount a snowboard to the wall to create storage space as well as a conversation piece. Fancy mounting hardware is unnecessary; simple L-brackets will do the trick. Repurposing old items into new, usable ones creates interesting home decor, saves money and keeps the planet green.
It can be difficult to take a snowboard stomp pad off without leaving behind adhesive residue. Furthermore, you pose the risk of damaging your snowboard's finish if you pry at the stomp pad, especially if it is made of a stiff, plastic material. For this reason, dental floss is used to cut through the stomp pad adhesive. This makes the removal procedure much easier, and ensures your snowboard finish remains unscathed.
Snow won't do much damage to the bottom of your snowboard, but rocks, sticks and rails will if you venture into the board park or areas out of bounds on a hill. To fix the burrs that show up in the edges of your snowboard, it is crucial to know just what edge angle your snowboard is at, so you do not mess anything up by inadvertently trying to change the edges of your snowboard.
After gaining some experience as a snowboarder, you may not be content with simply heading down a hill. Luckily, resorts provide an alternate venue that poses new challenges for avid snowboarders. A curved snowboard box is an advanced rail that allows you to traverse either up and down like a hill, or horizontally in a curve. While you may see other snowboarders overcome these boxes with ease, grinding a curved box requires a precise technique. If you plan to try this, preparation can save you a lot of frustration and possible injury.
There are various techniques in snowboarding. Unlike regular carving, which is a basic form of turning, dynamic carving is more fluid and versatile. Aside from looking more professional, dynamic carving lets you turn quickly to avoid obstacles such as ice, rocks or other potential dangers. Depending on your affinity for snowboarding, this technique can require months or even years of practice. However, it is ultimately necessary for more advanced hills, which call for quick reflexes and precise timing.
Snowboards use components called bindings to attach your feet to the board. There are two types: strap-in bindings and step-in bindings. As their name entails, strap-in bindings use straps to secure you in place. Getting the strap in properly is critical, because doing it wrong can reduce maneuverability or cause you to fall. If you plan to try this sport, knowing how to fasten the strap will help make your overall experience more productive and less frustrating.
Snowboarding as a sport involves more than just surfing down a mountain covered with snow. Unlike skiing, a snowboard works like a skateboard on snow. A user performs tricks with both snow and any nearby structures, depending on his skill level. One popular piece of equipment involves the grinding rail. With the basic structure supported by various anchored vertical supports and banked-up snow, a snowboard can utilize a rail for a variety of snowboard tricks and slides.
After your day of riding, it helps to give the snowboard a good wipe down and once over to keep it functioning at peak performance. Snowboards, by design, are made to withstand extreme elements that include slush, ice, snow and -- when those melt -- water. Even though the boards are sealed to prevent delamination, it doesn't hurt to dry the board as soon as possible after your day's session.
Snowboarding is a sport that allows riders to perform a variety of tricks and maneuvers. One of the key tricks that any serious snowboarder should know is hitting a down rail. This trick involves the rider jumping onto a rail and either grinding on it vertically or sliding on it horizontally. Although it might take several attempts to get the hang of it, following six steps should help most snowboarders learn to successfully hit rails.
A stomp pad is an adhesive traction pad that you put on your snowboard to provide grip while skating with your rear foot out. Since snowboard top sheets tend to be slippery, you'll want a little extra grip to keep you stable. Stomp pads come in all different shapes, sizes and colors, so pick one you like and put it on; it's one of the easiest parts of setting up a new board.
Early-season powder riding satisfies the snowboard jones. However, be aware of rocks lurking just below the snow's surface that can ruin your ride by creating deep gouges in your base. The dangling base material will result in a sketchy ride down. Plus, melted snow that makes its way under your base can cause core failure. If you have the right tools, you don't have to pay for an expensive shop repair. Just be sure to mend the wound before hitting the slopes again.
There's nothing like carving through a patch of powdery snow or catching air off of a new jump on your favorite hill. The key to a good day on the slopes is feeling confident in your skills and equipment. After a few months of storage, salt, melted snow and traces of metal from your binding screws can cause rust buildup on the edges of your board. With a few household products and some elbow grease, removing this corrosion is simple.
One of the most fundamental aspects of snowboarding is setting up your bindings correctly. Doing so helps you achieve a comfortable stance position, which in turn makes it easier to ride and perform tricks. To fix and optimize your stance, it's important to make the appropriate adjustments to your bindings. Following six steps should make it possible for most snowboarders to accomplish this.
Snowboarding is an exhilarating sport that can be performed by people of all ages and athletic abilities. Before hitting the slopes, the first thing you need to know is how to place your feet on the snowboard. Determine whether your left or right foot should lead and how far apart your feet should be using simple techniques, and you should adjust and fine-tune your position until it feels comfortable. A strong stance makes for a more enjoyable performance.
Experience the thrill of performing snowboard aerial tricks such as the grab. A snowboard grab occurs when the rider holds or grabs either edge of the snowboard using one or both hands. There are many different types of grabs and learning them can be very enjoyable, especially if you are an experienced snowboarder. Grabs, often used in combination with tricks like spins and the "Alley Oop," also help you to balance your body as you initiate turns and prepare to land.
Snowboarding is a challenging and exciting winter sport for kids. However, the high speeds and cold temperatures involved can be dangerous. Proper attire and supervision can help prevent significant injury from falls or frostbite. Dress the child carefully before going out on the slopes, and check in periodically to ensure clothing stays dry and warm. Check weather predictions before a day of snowboarding, but always bring enough layers to accommodate colder temperatures than expected. When properly dressed, children will enjoy the athletic challenge of snowboarding in relative safety.
Snowboards, like any sporting equipment, accumulate wear and tear over time. The base of the snowboard, where the board makes contact with the ground, picks up the kind of damage that affects the way a snowboarder rides. The amount of wear that a snowboard base incurs depends on how often the board is ridden, but the fact is that untreated damage will get worse over time. Maintain your snowboard with a DIY base grind and it will pay off in a smooth ride down any hill.
Gliding gracefully down the slopes is the dream of every beginner snowboarder.Most novices make the mistake of pointing the noses of their boards straight ahead and picking up too much speed, which usually results in a painful tumble. Carving, or the act of making long, sweeping turns down a hill, is the best way to shave off excess speed and maintain control while riding. A backside carve, also called a toe-side carve, involves tucking inward to make the turn.
The stomp pad is an accessory that is placed between the bindings on a snowboard. The pad helps the rider maneuver his board when only one foot is strapped down. For example, riders use one foot to push themselves into position for the chair lift or around the mountain. Riders can have their stomp pad customized to fit the designs on their snowboard.
When trying to learn how to butter on a snowboard, just remember that if your board resembles a knife and the snow resembles butter, you're doing it right. If you end up face first in the snow, the metaphorical butter is on your face and something has gone wrong. Buttering on a snowboard is a move that improves balance, because it involves constantly shifting your weight. The move is best learned gradually by adding one move to another, but once you combine all these moves together you will be spreading butter on the slopes in no time.
Jumping on a snowboard makes you feel like you are flying. Holding on to this feeling for longer means learning to jump even higher. Higher jumps also allow time for front or back side grabs, spins and flips. Learning to jump higher involves mastering the basics of jumping and then moving up to bigger and bigger jumps. The keys to jumping higher are the speed at which you approach the jump and the timing of the pop.
Pro snowboarding has grown in the last decade from a popular event at the X-Games to an Olympic medal event. Athletes such as Shaun White and Gretchen Bleiler are household names. For every Shaun White, dozens of other pro snowboarders make a living from their sport at various levels, competing in competitions and exhibitions, and helping to market snowboarding apparel and gear. Pro snowboarders earn a wide range of salaries, with top riders making the most money. Those most successful in their sport and most visible as celebrities earn the most money.
LIke their two-plank cousin skis, snowboards require drilled holes to mount bindings. Most modern snowboards have a set of pre-measured markings on the deck, making binding installation easier. It is possible to drill out the board two or three times, to adjust or mount new bindings. As important as changing the holes, it is also necessary to fill the old holes on the board before use. Special hole plugs are made for this purpose.
Controlling a snowboard can be difficult when you reach high speeds, but carving will help you maintain your balance and take turns without skidding. Carving is where you put your weight on your heels or toes to tip the board on its edge. If you have mastered basic balance and turns, you can advance to carving. It takes practice but with time you'll be carving fast.
The edges of your snowboard are absolutely vital for executing those perfect turns. Unfortunately, where there is moisture there is the potential for rust. Rust dulls snowboard edges. If the rust is not removed, it will deteriorate the edge and render your snowboard ineffective at carving up that snow. Proper storage goes a long way in preventing rust. Even if rust has already appeared, all is not lost.
The metal edges on a snowboard allow the user to grip snow and ice sufficiently to control, turn and stop the board. Over time, these edges can become worn down. While the metal edges can be replaced professionally, you can replace the edges yourself with the correct tools.
