Techniques on Getting Up When You Fall From Snowboarding

Techniques on Getting Up When You Fall From Snowboarding
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Nothing will put a damper on your day of snowboarding quicker than a high-speed crash. Losing control of your board for even a brief moment could send you tumbling across the riding terrain. While falling is an inevitable part of the learning process, you should wear a polycarbonate helmet while practicing your snowboard maneuvers.

Forward Fall

Losing control during a toe-side turn may cause you to fall forward onto your chest or stomach. Bend your knees as you begin to lose your balance. Tru Snow recommends using your forearms to break your fall. An effective technique of getting up involves placing your hands flat against the riding terrain. Extend your arms to lift your chest off the snow. Balance on your knees for a brief moment before leaning back onto the heel-edge of the snowboard. Straighten your legs to stand in a stationary position.

Backward Fall

Catching the heel edge of your board in the snow will often cause you to fall onto your back. To prevent your head from slamming against the riding terrain, keep your chin pressed against your chest in the event of a backward fall. Rotate your snowboard to ensure that your feet are pointed down the mountain slope. Lift your back off the snow with your elbows. Apply downward pressure to the heel edge of the snowboard while extending your legs to stand.

Side-slipping

Without the proper grooming techniques, snowboarding slopes often accumulate patches of ice. Snowboarding across a slick terrain may cause a high-speed slide-out. When stuck on a patch of ice, you'll need to use a side-slipping technique to get back to the soft snow of the snowboarding slope. Rotate your snowboard to a horizontal position with your chest facing down the slope. Extend your legs to stand in a crouched position while leaning onto the heel edge of your snowboard. ABC-of-Snowboarding recommends keeping your shoulders parallel with the board while side-slipping across the ice.

Checking for Injuries

Checking for injuries is an essential technique when getting up from a snowboarding fall. Roll onto your back when checking for fall-related injuries. Move your arms slowly to ensure that nothing has been hurt. Extend your legs to check for any sharp pain in your knees. Never attempt to get up after hitting your head during a snowboard fall. Lie on the slope with your hands extended in the air to alert the mountain resort's safety patrol.

References

Article reviewed by DanL Last updated on: Aug 25, 2011

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