Fear in snowboarding can create a vicious cycle. Fear makes your body tense, which slows your reflexes and increases the likelihood that you'll take a fall. Falls hurt, which can make you that much more afraid the next time you hit a slope. The good news is that the opposite is just as true. Relaxed, calm snowboarding can mean fewer falls -- and fewer falls means being even more relaxed and calm on your next run. There's no one "magic bullet" for conquering your fear, but you can try a variety of methods until you find the one that helps you the most.
Step 1
Get instruction from a qualified teacher. A coach can look at your form and structure and teach you techniques for staying upright. There's also the benefit of confidence you gain simply from knowing you've gotten competent instruction. If you opt for lessons, be realistic about your skill level. Taking a class that's above your head can hurt your confidence and have the opposite of your desired effect.
Step 2
Learn how to fall, and practice taking falls on snow and regular land. Most of the fear from snowboarding comes from fear of impact when you fall. Falling techniques will reduce your chances for serious injury and limit how much the minor dings hurt.
Step 3
Breathe deeply and slowly before you begin your run and as often as possible while actively snowboarding. Slow breathing calms your mind and body and can limit fear and other negative emotions.
Step 4
Dress properly for a day of snowboarding. If you're cold, your fear is likely to increase as the stress of the chill reduces your physical and emotional resourcefulness. Similarly, thick cold-weather clothes can pad your body in a fall.
Step 5
Practice bread-and-butter moves until you can do them easily. The more reflexive you make these moves, the less you'll fall and the better you'll be able to pull off advanced techniques. This builds general confidence while simultaneously giving you skills that can help you recover from near falls on the slope.
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