Snowboarding is all the rage. Every year, more and more people of all ages are encouraged to learn this fun winter sport that will get your adrenaline pumping and make you enjoy outdoor exercise to the fullest.
Not everyone has the same physical and mental capacity to learn snowboarding at a good pace, so today we'll give you some snowboarding tips for beginners to help you improve your skill.
Choose a team according to your level and height
Beginners typically start out on fairly "soft" or "comfortable" snowboards. It's essential to choose a board that's appropriate for your height, foot size, and weight.
Let the experts in the shop advise you until you improve your level and become more aware of the type of snowboarding you like to ride:
- All-Mountain (or All-Terrain) Snowboards: These are versatile boards that work on all types of terrain, including piste, off-piste, and snowparks. They're usually the most common boards for beginners.
- Freeride snowboards: These are slightly longer boards that are specifically designed for off-piste terrain with virgin snow.
- Freestyle snowboards: These are somewhat shorter and more manageable boards, perfect for creating tricks in the snow park.
In addition to your board, it's essential to have good equipment: appropriate clothing, snowboard boots, helmet, gloves, goggles, etc. Comfort is essential for learning properly.
What is your favorite foot?
Tip: On a level surface, stand on the board. Which leg did you instinctively put forward? It's almost certainly your favorite.
Left-handed people generally put their right leg behind (Regular mode), while right-handed people usually put their left leg behind (Goofy mode). The back leg acts as the "rudder" and is usually our strongest leg.
What is the correct position?
Don't stand completely rigidly on the board, as this will throw you off balance. It's best to keep your legs slightly bent.
As for your shoulders, have complete control over them, as they'll also act as a steering wheel. The arm you hold in front of you will be the one that "calls the shots."
Learning to brake
When descending very slowly, we can brake by applying pressure to one of our heels, which will gradually reduce our speed. However, if the speed is slightly higher, this practice isn't enough.
Learn to do the “hockey stop”: Press down hard on the front edge of the snowboard (called “toeside” braking) or press down on the back edge (called “heelside” braking), while simultaneously turning your upper body decisively.
It's not easy at first, but with repetition and patience, everything is learned. This type of braking is much more abrupt than the previous one, and with it, you'll be able to stop better on steep slopes, when you're going at high speed, or when an unexpected obstacle appears in front of you that you need to avoid.
We hope these simple snowboarding tricks for beginners will help you get started in this fascinating sport.
Where to snowboard?
The Catalan Pyrenees are full of great snowboarding resorts for all levels, including beginners, of course.
From Hotel Les Brases we recommend some of the following: Port Ainé Ski Resort, Virós-Vallferra, Sant Joan de L'erm, Espot Esqui, Tasvascan or Baqueira Beret, all located in the Pallars Sobirá region.