Snowboarding is a fun winter activity and alternative to skiing. But riding downhill on a board at high speeds in the snow has some challenges. The sport can be a bit intimidating if you are trying it for the first time. The equipment can seem complicated, and the elements can present some problems if you are not prepared. Be sure you are aware of certain information and tips before you head out to the mountain.
Proper Clothing
You should not be surprised that snowboarding is a cold sport. You will find yourself at elevations with temperatures that can get quite low. And being a first time snowboarder, you are likely to find yourself falling in the snow quite often. So make sure you are wearing some warm, water-resistant clothing. A hat is important to help keep in your body heat. Some long underwear top and bottom will help keep you warm under your clothes. Wear a turtle neck to keep your neck warm, instead of a scarf, which can get tangled or blown off. You should be wearing ski pants that are rugged and resistant to water. Ski gloves or mittens are important for warmth, as well. And some thin wool socks will help keep your feet warm and dry. Avoid wearing cotton clothing as it traps moisture on your skin and lets your body heat escape too easily. Wearing the proper clothing will keep you warm and dry and make snowboarding much more pleasurable.
Gear
Snowboarding, like skiing, requires the proper equipment. For your first time, you will likely want to rent equipment at the resort. You will need a snowboard, one that is specific for first-timers. It will likely be brightly colored and less attractive than other boards. But it will help you during your learning curve. You will also needs boots and bindings that are compatible with the board; also available as a rental. Some resorts will allow you to rent your equipment for up to a week at a time. Or, you could look into buying used equipment. This way you are not risking damaging brand new equipment as you learn how to use it.
Safety
There are also some safety items you should have and safety tips to keep in mind. Get yourself a pair of ski goggles to protect your eyes from snow, ice, branches, rocks and other obstacles. They should also be polarized, or tinted, to protect your eyes from the glare of the sun. Even though it may be winter, the sun is still strong. So make sure you wear sun block on any exposed skin, which will likely be your face. Also put on some lip balm that protects your lips from the effects of sun. Being a first-timer you should also be wearing a helmet and padded gloves to help you with your falls. And remember, snowboarding is a strenuous activity, so stay hydrated and drink lots of water. Try to avoid drinking alcohol before or during snowboarding.
Skills
Obviously, it is recommended that you take lessons from a trained instructor before you attempt snowboarding. The experts make it look easy. But there are a lot of things you need to learn, from attaching your boots to the board properly, to using the chairlift and riding downhill on your board. You will also need to learn how to fall properly by making a fist to protect your fingers while falling forward onto your arms and knees, or backward onto your fists and rear end. Once you fall, you need to know how to get back up without falling again. You can thrust yourself back up by tucking your feet under your rear end and pushing off your hands from behind. Or, you can roll over from the sitting position and push yourself up from the kneeling position. Stopping on a snowboard is a skill that takes time to learn. Basically, you need to bring both feet perpendicular to the hill and scrape on the edge to a stop. It will take time to learn. There are also many other maneuvers and tricks you can learn while snowboarding.
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