Learn to Snowboard
- Written by
- Deepika Sulekh
I’m keen to take up a new challenge this winter. And with Mt Ruapehu’s ski area so close, why not make the most of it by learning one of its most popular extreme sports? This is undoubtedly one of the best ways to enjoy the season!
Imagine the feeling of floating down the slopes, carving your way through fresh, crusty snow, and the pure enjoyment of almost flying. Once you’ve learnt the tricks, you can glide without thinking. So, give yourself a new learning opportunity, master speed and coordination with a new skill, and some variety to your body with a new workout.
I sought out Kat, an ex-snowboard instructor, to learn what it’s going to be like from an expert’s perspective. Her first-time experience on a board at the age of 18 lead to a hobby and soon became a job at 21. She loved being able to share her passion through teaching, and making snowboarding fun for learners aged from 4 years old to 60 (that means you can do it too).
If you’re keen to give it a go, here’s what she recommends:
Get a lesson
Whether you want to commit to a season or try snowboarding for the first time, it’s important that you learn the proper technique from the start, how to do it right and safely (otherwise you’ll probably spend hours trying figure out how to balance). One lesson takes about 1-2 hours and you’ll learn the basics to be able to get started on your own.
What’s included in a basic lesson?
- Learn about the board and its setup
- Safety on the mountain
- Body position technique
- Board mobility skills
Commit!
Fully commit by buying a season pass. If you approach it casually and don’t get up the mountain regularly, it’s going to be hard to stick to and will slow down your learning. But if you give yourself a good season, you’ll be able to get through the initial challenging days and soon be able to do it without thinking and really enjoy it.
Try before you buy
It’s nice to have your own gear, but for your first season, hire it. You don’t yet know if snowboarding is for you so there’s no point in owning expensive gear if you don’t end up using it again. Take one financial hit at a time; season pass the first year, your own gear the next year.
Etiquette – don’t be ‘that guy’
- Always stay in control, and be able to stop when you need to.
- People ahead of you have the right of way, the reason is simple, they’re always looking downhill and can’t see you.
- Never stop where you’re in the way of another trail, or aren’t visible.
- Read all signs and warnings.
- Before using any lifts, make sure you know how to load, ride and unload it safely.