10 Beginner Snowboard Skills – First Day Riding

In the video titled “10 Beginner Snowboard Skills – First Day Riding” by SnowboardProCamp, Kevin shares 10 essential skills for beginners to learn on their first day of snowboarding. These skills include turning down the first run, navigating the mountain with a snowboard, and preparing for the chairlift. Kevin acknowledges that learning pace varies for each person, so it’s perfectly fine to spread these beginner skills over a few days of riding. He covers various techniques such as skating, walking up hills, one-footed riding, and controlling speed using both heel and toe edges. Kevin concludes by encouraging viewers to use the hashtag #firstdayriding to connect with other snowboarding enthusiasts and share their experiences.

Skating

Skating is a fundamental skill that every beginner snowboarder needs to learn. It’s how you get around with one foot strapped into your board, and it’s essential for getting to the run and to and from the chairlift. There are a few different techniques for skating, but a popular method is to skate with your free foot behind the board, using it to push yourself across the flat area. This allows for better stability and control while skating, making it easier to maneuver around. Skating is a skill that may take some practice to master, but with time and persistence, it becomes second nature.

Walking Up Hills

Walking up hills is another important skill for beginners to master. There will inevitably be times when you need to hike up a slope, whether it’s to reach a specific spot or to get back on track after a fall. The best way to walk up a hill with your snowboard is to put your board across the slope and walk with your free foot in front of your board. With each step, dig in your toe edge to prevent your snowboard from sliding downhill. This technique provides stability and control, allowing you to navigate uphill more efficiently.

One Footed Riding

One footed riding is a skill that is absolutely necessary for getting off the chairlift. When you disembark from the chairlift, you’ll need to ride with only one foot strapped into your board. To practice this skill, find a small slope where you can point your board straight and ride with your free foot between your bindings. To stop yourself, move your free foot to the edge of your board and drag your heel or toe in the snow. This will allow you to control your speed and come to a safe stop. One footed riding may feel challenging at first, but with practice, it becomes easier and more natural.

Strapping Up

Strapping up is an important step before starting your descent down the slope. To strap up, you need to secure both of your feet onto your snowboard. If you need to put your board down for a second, make sure it is upside down to prevent it from sliding away. The easiest way to strap up is to sit down facing the bottom of the run with your board below you. Begin by strapping up one foot at a time, making sure your knees are bent so you can reach the straps easily. Once both feet are securely strapped in, it’s time to stand up and start sliding.

Controlling Speed on Heel Edge

Controlling your speed is crucial when snowboarding, especially as a beginner. One way to control your speed is by sliding on your heel edge. As you slide, the more you lift your toe edge away from the snow, the more your heel edge will dig in and slow down your speed. To maintain control, your body should bounce over your board with your knees and hips bent, while your back remains fairly straight and your hands are at your sides. By sliding back and forth and putting a little more weight into the direction you want to go, you can effectively control your speed on the heel edge.

Controlling Speed on Toe Edge

Another technique for controlling your speed is sliding on your toe edge. However, since we haven’t covered turning yet, this method requires sitting down and rolling over. To find your rollover position, lay back and grab your leg, pulling your board over as you roll. When sliding on your toe edge, you can control your speed by lifting your heel slightly away from the snow to slow down or letting your heels get closer to the snow to slide faster. It’s essential to push your knees forward into the snow as you slide to better engage your toes and maintain control. By pointing and looking in the direction you want to go, you can slide back and forth across the hill.

Going Straight Downhill

Once you’ve gained confidence in controlling your speed with your heels and toes, it’s time to tackle going straight downhill. To make your board go straight, start by putting more weight over your front foot. At the same time, point your front hand and shoulder downhill, while your back hand and shoulder point up. This body position and weight distribution will help your board maintain a straight trajectory. It’s important to note that you should only take the pressure off your board’s edge if it is running flat or you want to slow down. Otherwise, you want to keep your board on edge to control your speed effectively.

Turning with Toe Edge

Turning is a critical skill in snowboarding, and turning with the toe edge is one of the basic techniques to learn. To initiate a turn with your toe edge, start by positioning your board across the hill and apply pressure on your toe edge. This will create the necessary edge engagement to turn your board. At the same time, turn and face the top of the slope, allowing your body to follow the direction of the turn. By applying the right amount of pressure and maintaining your balance, you can execute a smooth and controlled turn.

Turning with Heel Edge

Turning with the heel edge is another essential skill for beginner snowboarders to learn. Similar to turning with the toe edge, you’ll need to position your board across the hill and apply pressure on your heel edge. This will create the necessary edge engagement to initiate the turn. Unlike turning with the toe edge, when turning with the heel edge, you need to turn and face the bottom of the slope. By applying pressure on your heel edge and maintaining control, you can smoothly execute a turn and control your speed.

Conclusion

Mastering these ten beginner snowboard skills will provide you with a solid foundation for your first day riding. Learning to skate, walk up hills, ride one footed, strap up, control speed on the heel edge and toe edge, go straight downhill, and turn with both the toe edge and heel edge will give you the necessary confidence and control to navigate the mountain effectively. It’s important to remember that everyone learns at their own pace, so don’t rush the process. Take the time to practice and hone these skills, and soon enough, you’ll be cruising down the slopes with ease.