Snowboarding Techniques for Beginners

Best Moves for Beginners

Snowboarding stands out as a sport with many maneuvers varying greatly in difficultly, but novices will be pleased to find plenty of early techniques they can practice right away. First, it's important to get a good command of standing on your snowboard and driving it through the snow. You can start gliding it forward by walking with one foot behind or in front of the board. Dragging one foot behind the board slows you down, while dragging one in front propels you forward at a quick rate. To turn, simply lift your free foot in the direction you want to go.

With basic movements under your belt, you can move onto edging and skating. Edging will help you gain valuable experience balancing yourself on the board as it moves. To do it, try bending your knees and tilting the toe edge of the board, with one foot near each end. Prolonged skating may be done by starting out like the free foot in front and free foot behind moves mentioned above. The difference involves giving your snowboard enough of a push to advance, while keeping your feet on it for a long enough period of time to place both feet back on board and enjoy the glide.

Going down hills is one of the greatest thrills any snowboarder can experience. Beginners should start out with a safe and low slope to practice on. Walk your board to the top of the hill, and then get on and skate down, keeping your knees bent and body forward. To stop for safety reasons, you need to turn your board in an arc movement. The easiest way to do this is by pushing the toe side of the board at an angle while pressing down with your back foot to brake.

Techniques for Different Environments

All of the moves discussed are excellent for most conditions, but snowboarding in deeper snow demands alternate techniques for success. In heavy snow, keeping control of the board becomes somewhat like dealing with a vehicle in water sports. You'll want to keep your board “floating” on top of the snow, and the most effective technique is by applying constant pressure toward the back end, while using your feet to bounce the board as it moves.

As long as this skipping motion is maintained, any of the other beginner techniques are fair game. The main threat in deep powder comes from your snowboard getting stuck in a pocket of loose or densely packed snow, kicking it up in your face or stalling the board until a wipe out occurs.

With common sense and a gradual entry into the snowboarding world, you can enjoy this fine winter activity immediately. It takes time to master the basics, but they are all crucial building blocks for more advanced strategies. Once you have them down, you'll see sensational gains come quickly.