Experienced snowboarders challenge themselves by finding new ways to perform tricks. Jibbing is when snowboarders perform tricks using landscape elements not typically thought of as ski-slope features. For example, snowboarders might glide down hand rails, wall edges or the sides of picnic tables. In its noun form, a jib is any physical feature a snowboarder uses that is not a regular jump.
History
When snowboarding first emerged, many ski resorts banned it because they felt it posed a risk to skiers. But today ski resorts market directly to snowboarders, competing with one another to establish themselves as the best, most exciting place for snowboarders to visit. For example, many ski resorts have terrain parks, which are slopes that have physical features snowboarders can use to perform freestyle tricks. These terrain parks often feature picnic tables, rails, small walls and even garbage cans. The objects in a terrain park have metal edges to prevent wear due to continual use.
Considerations
Snowboarders don't need to visit ski slopes to jib. So long as there is snow on the ground, they can perform tricks on steps, walkways, curbs, tree stumps or any other features of their environment. The goal for many freestyle snowboarders is to invent new tricks, so experimentation is important. Snowboarders who successfully invent a trick earn the privilege of naming it.
Risks
Regular snowboarding presents safety risks. For example, snowboarders traveling at high speeds can crash into an object or another person, or simply lose their balance and tumble headlong down the slope. To minimize these types of dangers, snowboarders should always wear protective gear, especially helmets. Snowboarders who jib face increased risk because they are attempting to perform advanced tricks using hard objects that could hurt them should they lose their balance and fall the wrong way.
Equipment
Another risk of jibbing is a damaged board. Normal snowboards might not be able to handle slamming into hard wood, metal and concrete surfaces. Some snowboards are designed to handle rigorous jumps and grinding along hard edges. If you're interested in jibbing, ask experienced snowboarders or the staff at a ski shop which type of jib-specific board will work best for the features you plan to ride on.
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