Indoor Snowboard Lessons

Indoor Snowboard Lessons
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Avid riders often hang up their snowboards during the hot summer months. To combat the problem of melting snow, numerous companies and organizations have constructed indoor training facilities. According to Transworld Snowboarding, indoor terrain parks are equipped with numerous riding obstacles, including launch ramps and boxes. Indoor parks allow novice riders to participate in lessons throughout the year.

Learning the Basics

Indoor snowboarding lessons are quite similar to lessons held on outdoor slopes. As opposed to the steep terrain of advanced slopes, beginner lessons take place on a level terrain known as the bunny slope. According to the indoor Snowboarding Academy at Ski Dubai, beginner lessons involve learning how to maneuver your snowboard across the riding terrain. To keep novice riders safe, beginner lessons often highlight the different ways to slow the momentum of your snowboard.

Intermediate Lessons

Once you have mastered the basics, your intermediate lessons will begin on a slope that features a downward sloping angle. Indoor snowboarding lessons at the intermediate level involve learning how to shift your body weight between the edges of the snowboard. Most intermediate snowboarding lessons focus on the S-turn. Lean onto the heel edge of the snowboard to traverse the slope. Shift your body weight forward onto the toe edge to turn in the opposing direction. Lean back onto your heels to complete the S-turn.

Advanced Lessons

After learning how to link your turns, you may want to progress into the beginner obstacles of the terrain park. Advanced lessons often teach the basics of freestyle, including an aerial jump known as an ollie. Advanced teachers will demonstrate how to catch air off of an inclined ramp. Taking an advanced lesson at an indoor training facility allows you to learn how to snowboard in a switch riding stance. Riding switch refers to snowboarders who are riding with their unnatural foot facing forward. Learning to ride switch is useful when practicing aerial spins.

Foam Pit and Tramp Boarding

Indoor freestyle lessons often make use of a training obstacle known as the foam pit. The foam pit consists of an expansive hole in the ground that is filled with large pieces of high-density foam. The foam pit allows you to practice new and more difficult tricks without the threat of serious injury. According to Windells snowboarding camp, students often utilize an indoor trampoline to get comfortable with the sensation of flipping through the air.

References

Article reviewed by Anne Matera Last updated on: May 12, 2011

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