Learn How to Snowboard

While it’s possible to teach yourself to snowboard, it is strongly encouraged you to take lessons, as they are the best way to learn. On your own, it’s easy to pick up bad habits that will be much harder to change as you progress. The following guidelines are thus intended to give you a glimpse of the techniques involved before trying the sport. They can also be used as a handy refresher course, or they can be a basic introduction for those of you stubborn enough to go it alone.

Regular or Goofy?

First, decide if you are a regular or goofy rider. In simple English, that means do you ride with your left foot forward (regular) or your right foot forward (goofy)? Here’s how to decide. Stand with your feet together, and have someone push you forward (do this before reading any further!). Which foot did you put forward to keep you from falling? That’s the foot that should go forward on your board. Or try running and sliding on a slick floor in your socks. Again, which foot went forward? You may notice that the foot that stayed behind is your stronger side, the one you use to recover and keep you balanced.

First Time on the Mountain?

You’ll most likely be riding up in a chairlift, which requires a little caution getting on and off. Here’s what to do: Put your front foot in the front binding. Then strap the leash from the binding onto your front leg just above the top of the boot. Then you will need to skate to, on and off the lift. If you are nervous getting on a chairlift, tell the lift operator it’s your first time. The operator can slow down the lift or even stop it for you.

If the mountain you’re riding has a gondola, getting up is a cinch. Just carry the board or put it in the outside carrier if one is available. Some ski resorts may have a T-bar lift or two. Our advice is to avoid them, as they are trickier to negotiate than the other lifts.

Standing Up

Once you’ve skated off the lift, sit down on the snow to get your board on (unless you have step-in bindings). With the board below you, put your other foot into the binding and close the straps. With high-back bindings, buckle the ankle straps first and then the other one or two straps.

To stand up from this sitting position, there are 2 common methods:

1. Roll over onto your knees, keeping your board downslope from you. (To roll easily, lie on your back, kick the board up onto its tail with your front foot and roll onto your hands and knees as if doing a cartwheel.) Kneel with the board across the hill, dig in the toe edge, and walk your hands toward the board. Then shift your weight forward over your front foot and push yourself up.
2. Lean back and thrust or pull yourself up with the toe edge of the board.

When standing, you should always put the same amount of weight on both feet and make sure the board is across the hill before trying to stand. Check that all straps and buckles are firmly closed. Then stand in ready position. The basic stance is to keep your weight balanced over the front leg, arms forward and ankles, knees and hip joints slightly flexed. Except when finishing a turn or in deep snow, always keep your weight forward over your front foot.

Walking the Board

To walk the board, lift one foot and then the other, keeping the board relatively level when raised. Next try walking the board by taking a step and then sliding the board forward as you go.

Pivoting

Place your hips over your front foot in the ready position with your rear foot placed on its binding. Balance yourself, bend your knees (especially the front one) and balance on the front foot, using the rear foot to push and pull the board back and forth as if to make an X in the snow.

Walking Pivot

When your rear foot is out of the binding, pick up your board by bending the knee of your front leg and setting it down perpendicular and ahead of the rear foot. Pivot on the rear foot and then repeat again to make a 180-degree turn.

Skating

With the front binding attached, balance on your front foot and push forward with the rear foot. Glide by holding your rear foot above the board or by balancing it on the traction pad.

Sideslipping

Sideslipping is a controlled way to get down a steep slope. Keep the board across the fall line and slide sideways on and off the board’s edges.

To toe sideslip, face into the hill putting balanced weight on your toes. The uphill edge should grip the snow. Then to start moving, release the grip and flatten the board on the snow so it begins to slide. To stop, go back on your toes, and put knees into the slope. To heelside sideslip, do the same steps, but use your heels to the slope. To stop, lift your toes to roll the board back to the heel edge.

Traversing

Glide across a fall line using a sideslip motion.

Climbing

With your front foot strapped in, face the slope so that the board is across the fall line. Take small steps with the rear foot and kick the uphill edge into the snow on each step.

Turning

Start and finish a turn by being low and balanced. Start the turn by rising and turning your torso toward the inside of your turn. At the same time, use the rear foot to pivot by pushing or pulling the back of the board. Once into the turn, roll the board to the inside edge for control.

Frontside Curve

Go down the slope on a slight diagonal with your knees bent, then straighten up and put weight on your front foot. The board will level out, allowing you to switch to the other edge. Your weight will shift to the front of your feet when you straighten up. Then lean forward, and your weight will shift to the frontside edge. Return your weight to the center of the board and continue on a diagonal descent.

Backside Turn

With your knees bent, go downhill on a slight diagonal with your weight over the center of the board. Next, straighten up. The board should be flat, you should feel pressure on your heels, and your body and eyes should face the direction you’re moving. Shift your weight from your toes to your foot and then to your heels to transfer pressure to the backside edge. The weight should be on your front leg. Begin the turn by bending your front knee forward, still facing the direction you are moving. Keep pressure on your front leg, and bend your knees to lower your center of gravity. Bend your knees and ankles more as you shift on the backside edge to complete the turn. Move back to the center of the board, balance and prepare for the next turn. Straighten up and face the direction you are going.

Moguls

Moguls are simply a field of small “bumps” in close proximity. Maneuvering through them may seem a little intimidating at first, but it can become fun and exhilarating once you learn a few basic techniques.

• As you approach moguls, keep your body and legs relaxed, your hands and arms forward, and your shoulders horizontal. Go into the mogul at a moderate, yet controlled, speed.
• When you change edges to turn, bend your ankles and knees and bring them as close to your chest as possible. Use your legs as you turn the board, stay low and avoid unnecessary movements. Keep the pressure distributed evenly along the length of the edge. Use your legs to absorb the shock and as springs to lighten the board for direction changes.
• To start, get comfortable riding moguls by staying in the troughs (the valleys between the bumps). Once you’re able to maneuver through the troughs, try banking off the walls they create. Then try jumping a mogul, clearing the trough and landing on the crest (top) of the next one before going into your turn.

Once you’ve mastered these basics, you’ll be able to add your own techniques. That’s when you’ll discover that the mogul field offers one of the best places on the slopes to express yourself.