1. Exciting Spectator Sports
Snowboarding really came into its own during the 1998 Winter Olympics when it was added to the lineup. Since then, snowboarders continue to come up with new and innovative ways to defy gravity and Mother Nature. The halfpipe and quarterpipe competitions are two of the biggest draws in the Olympics and during winter X-Games, where the athletes get more daring every year. Another big draw at any snowboard event is any rail competitions.
2. Taking a Cue
Snowboarders have adopted many of the same tricks and techniques from skateboarders, who really turned the sport on its head. Skateboarders have long been known to jump their boards on any narrow surface and slide their boards between the wheels. You see them on railings and walls and on the tops of the pipes in the skateparks. Snowboarders take their boards on similar slides, using any non-snowy surface in sight, or on rails built specifically for the tricks in regulated games.
3. Ollie Up
A snowboarder Ollies up onto the narrow surface, which could be a handrail just like a skateboarder might use. Snowboarders get creative on the slopes and often use tree trunks or fallen trash cans. Most ski resorts provide specially made rails for sliding. However, rails must have be a lot of room to get the board going fast enough to make the jump onto the rail. When the snowboard nears the rail, the snowboarder pops the back up and jumps up to land the board on the rail. A good sense of balance is required to keep it up there.
4. Slide on Down
Once on top of the rail, the momentum should carry the board to the end. The snowboarder has to maintain balance with his arms and keep his knees bent as the board slides along the rail. At the end, he needs to bend the knees lower again and jump off the rail. Land on the snow and keep going. After a while, a good rail rider will perform even more tricks while sliding, such as turning around in the middle of the rail, or jumping up and down on the rail.
5. Cover Yourself
A helmet is a must when riding the rail on a snowboard. The odds of injury increase drastically when you begin to do tricks on the rail. Take the risks seriously and protect yourself with the proper gear. Make sure the rail is secure before you go sliding on it too. And you should see plenty of snow around it to allow you to board up to the rail and to jump off safely. Never snowboard when you are overtired or intoxicated. Don't try a new trick until you feel really confidant; fear and anxiety can cause you to tense up and get hurt a lot easier.
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