Snowboarding Isnt Just For Kids Anymore

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Snowboarding Isn't Just For Kids Anymore
Author: Lauren Traub Teton

Pain and injury avoidance techniques for snowboarding are invaluable but not well known. If you know how, you can avoid the two biggest mistakes that first time snowboarders make. A positive experience your first few times out will make you more likely to stick out the hard times until you learn enough to really have fun!

"There's no reason that adults shouldn't snowboard and have as much fun as kids" says self-proclaimed Snowboard Evangelist Lauren Traub Teton who admits to being "in her 40s". "I have been riding a snowboard for four years, and am having the most fun of my life!"

She feels that the only thing stopping "oldsters" (in their mid-30s and up) from embracing snowboarding in a big way are the inevitable hard falls experienced during the short steep learning curve. She says "there are easy ways to avoid the pain. They are just not well known."

The reason "snowboard pain avoidance" is not more widely discussed has to do with the history of snowboarding. To some snowboarders, pain and injury are cool. This is obvious if you the read the hundreds of war stories on snowboard websites.

This viewpoint has its roots in the fact that snowboarding is stylistically a descendant of skateboarding and embraces some of the same traditions. For example, doing a grab, where the rider reaches down and grabs the board while airborne, is more of a necessity in skating than in snowboarding, because the skateboard is not attached to the feet. But grabs have morphed into a popular trick and a way to show style in snowboarding too.

The other tradition that has carried over from skating is the tradition of pain. In skateboarding, injury from accidental impact with the hard ground is a common occurrence and gives a skater bragging rights (as well as bruises and breaks.). A lot of skaters are also snowboarders, and so the tradition of absorbing pain as part of "paying dues" remains.

Another factor keeping some adults away from snowboarding may be the reputation for wildness on the slopes that snowboarders have. That probably comes from the fact that when the equipment was first invented, it was technologically primitive, with little ability to steer or stop. That's how snowboarding got its image as an extreme sport and snowboarders got their reputation as outlaws of the snow. Now snowboards have evolved technologically into precision devices that can turn and stop easily, when operated under control.

With older snowboarders hitting the slopes, the culture of injury and pain has outlived it's origins. Adults don't equate injuries with status. People who start riding as adults want to stay upright and uninjured. Some skiers switch over because it seems like more fun and less stress on the knees. Again, the goal is to stay whole!

I learned by trial, error and luck how to avoid injury. In fact, a fine young gentleman working at the guest services desk on Whistler Mountain (B.C.) offered to let me borrow his Rollerblade wrist guards and knee pads, one day when I was learning, and I was hooked on safety and comfort from that moment.

Don't make the two biggest mistakes new snowboarders often make when you do decide to take up this wonderful sport. To be safe, comfortable, and happy, you MUST

1. Take a lesson given by a professional your first time out.

and

2. You MUST wear padding, on your knees, butt, and wrists.

Come now, why try to reinvent the wheel? If you want to learn to snowboard, then a snowboard lesson with a trained instructor will teach you IMPORTANT basic snowboarding skills that you will use every day for the rest of your riding life.

So learn them right, right from the start. Forget about teaching yourself how to get on and off a lift safely on a board. This is what teachers are for.

And the padding is a must because falling is an inevitable part of the learning process. You WILL fall at first. But if you are padded properly, you will not have to hurt yourself. And don't chuck the padding once you have mastered the basics. You will need it when you progress to jumping and tricks!

About The Author

For Lauren Traub Teton, snowboarding is the only sport she has ever been successful at. She loves to ride the halfpipe, race, and jump (a little!). She writes the popular free "Snowboard Szine" newsletter. Sign up for it on her site http://www.SnowboardSecrets.com " http://www.SnowboardSecrets.com

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Snowboarding Holiday- Fun Places To Go For The Who

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Snowboarding Holiday- Fun Places To Go For The Whole Family
Author: Jeremy Hier

Snowboarding, is quickly becoming one of the most popular family holidays. One of the largest appeals to the family is that it is an active sport which provides plenty of exercise for everyone. With today's inactive lifestyles, more families are leaning towards taking an active family holiday that provides plenty of fresh air and exercise.

Snowboarding is a winter sport which has evolved from skateboarding and surfing. When snowboarding, you ride an epoxy-fiberglass board which resembles a large skateboard. Your feet are strapped to the snowboard while you ride it down a ski slope or a special snowboard pipe. Basically, you are surfing down the ski slope.

Unlike skiing, where you shift your weight from one ski to the other, when snowboarding you shift your weight from heels to toes as well as from one end of the snowboard to the other end.

Although many people think that snowboarding is similar to skiing, it is really more similar to skateboarding and surfing. The only similarity to skiing is that both are done on snow and can be done on a ski slope.

Colorado is a great state for a snowboarding holiday

Colorado is infamous for being home of the largest skiable mountain. Vail resort is at the top of this mountain and boasts 33 lifts, 193 trails, and 5.289 skiable acres of land. Vail resort has also been recognized for offering the finest of services and ski and snowboarding instruction.

Vail is great place for a family snowboarding holiday because they are challenging enough for the intermediate snowboarders in the family, while at the same time their 1,500 instructors are always available to provide help to beginners. At Vail, snowboarders will find themselves in friendly territory. A special map will show you where to find places for freestyle snowboarding as well as half-pipes and snowboarding terrain parks.

Crested Butte in Colorado is another area that is well known by snowboarders. However, Crested Butte is not the best place to go for a family holiday. It is not a good area for children or beginners and is best left to intermediate snowboarders. It is very steep and ungroomed and it is packed with cliff jumps and tree runs. The night life in this area can also get a little wild, and the area is not really suited for family entertainment.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is another area to consider for a family snowboarding holiday

Jackson Wyoming has changed in more recent years. Historically, it was known as a summer hunting ground for various Indian tribes. The United States acquired Wyoming from France in 1803, and it was a frontier town for all of the nineteenth century. The busiest time for Wyoming is the summer months when people head out to visit Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Park.

Winter is their off season, which makes it a nice spot for a snowboarding family holiday. It is easy to find accommodations, prices are lower in the off season, and you are not apt to find a lot of people, lines and waits while you are there.

The Jackson Hole Ski area is an excellent place for both beginners and intermediate snowboarders, making it a wonderful family holiday spot. Located on Rendezvous Mountain, this resort consists of two peaks. It is an excellent playground for all levels of snowboarders with its uncrowded lifts and variant degree of difficulty trails. The top half of Rendezvous Mountain is for extreme snowboarders, while the lower half has easier more manageable trails.

Because Jackson Hole is at a lower elevation than some other areas, they do get a shorter season. However, they still get around 32 feet of good fluffy snow every winter.

Utah Resorts are welcoming families for their snowboarding holiday

In an attempt to increase business, Utah resorts are making it easier for families to choose them for their snowboarding holiday destination. The statewide program is called "Kids Ride Free". Nearly every resort in Utah is offering free children's lift tickets with the purchase of an adult lift ticket. In addition to this, many resorts in Utah are making themselves "family friendly" by offering snowboard classes, day camp programs for children and child care centers for babies as young as three months.

Alta Resort, located in the Albion base area, offers childcare for children 3 – 12 months old and classes for children four years – teens.

Brian Head resort is well known for their family atmosphere. Brian Head has a Kids Camp, for children age 12 and under. This is a fully supervised childcare winter sport instruction program. Brian Head also offers child care for children aged 6 weeks and older at their fully licensed child care center.

Brighton Resort has always been known as a fun, affordable place for a winter family holiday. They offer an affordable all day ticket at a price that hasn't gone up for several years. An adult lift ticket is still $41 and children 10 and under continues to get free lift tickets. Brighton offers all levels of snowboarding instruction classes. They also have instructors that will take you to areas of the resort that you would not have found on your own.

Some other resorts in Utah that are also great family snowboarding holiday destinations include Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, Solitude and Sundance. All of these are following the Utah State Wide movement to become the favorite family snowboarding holiday spot. They each offer some form of child care, classes and instruction, and have facilities for advanced and intermediate snowboarders alike.

Snowboarding can be a wonderful family holiday

Whether you go to one of these destinations, or visit a ski area closer to home, snowboarding can be a holiday activity that the whole family can enjoy. While some family members might pick up the sport quickly and advance to more challenging trails or snowboard pipes, you do not have to be an expert at snowboarding to enjoy it.

Snowboarding is a great family activity which provides a lot of exercise, fresh air, fun and laughter for everyone. Why not consider it for your next family holiday?

Copyright © Jeremy Hier

PERMISSIONS TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in its entirety free of charge, electronically or in print, provided it appears with the included copyright and author's resource box with live website link.

Jeremy Hier is the Business Manager and Webmaster of http://www.snowboard-guide.com " target=_blank>How to snowboard

Elizabeth Fox-Wise is a freelance writer for http://www.snowboard-guide.com/ride-snowboards.html " target=_blank>riding snowboard guide and a small business owner who enjoys pursuing active winter sports in her free time.

To learn more about choosing the best snowboard equipment for you go to http://www.snowboard-guide.com/snowboarding-boots.html " target=_blank>snowboarding boots

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Snowboarding Boots

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Snowboarding boots
Author: Jakob Jelling
The key to comfort on the hill.

The boots that you wear when snowboarding will make a huge difference with your ability to control your snowboard and your comfort on the hill. You will quickly find that cold, sore or wet feet will destroy a day of snowboarding faster than anything else will.

When it comes time for shopping for your snowboarding boots it is important to get the correct style of boot for the type of snowboarding you intend to do. There are three types of snowboarding boots commonly available, the soft boot, the hard boot and the hybrid boot.

While each boot is different on the outside, the insides tend to be the same. All snowboarding boots have a liner called the inner bladder. This inner bladder cushions and supports your feet, draws away water keeping your feet dry and keeps your feet warm. Generally the inner bladder will have its own laces so you will be able to secure the inner bladder to your foot in a way that is comfortable to you.

The soft boot is a specially designed boot that is very different from skiing boots. Soft boots are the most comfortable style of boot and can be used with Highback Bindings and Flow-in Bindings. The soft boot allows for a large amount of movement in just about any direction. For this reason soft boots are a must for pulling tricks since they are great for doing whatever you want. Also, soft boots are fairly comfortable for walking and even driving your car when you're not on the board.

Hard boots are quite a bit different as they are designed for precise control and are only used for a specific style of snowboarding. Hard boots support your foot, ankle and lower leg firmly, making them a must for racing and high-speed carving on hard snow. The hard outer shell is made out of hard plastic and is usually closed using buckles or ratchet bails. The benefit of having hard plastic as an outer shell is that it gives riders more precision and power in edging movements. In order to provide some flexibility, hinges are often built into the ankles.

Hybrid boots are a combination of both types of boots. Hybrid boots combine the flexible, soft upper part of soft boots with the sturdy hard soles of hard boots. They are used in combination with step-in bindings. People who are looking for a mix between the comfort and flexibility of soft boots and the control of hard boots will often opt for hybrid boots.

When shopping for boots it is important to bring along the footwear and leggings that you wear when snowboarding. If you do not wear these items when trying on your boots you may end up with a pair of boots that are too small when you wear heavy socks or pinches your legs due to your leggings.

Another important thing to do is to walk, run and jump in the boots you are thinking of purchasing. If you find any discomfort while doing this in the store you can be sure that they will also be uncomfortable when on the hill. If you keep all of this in mind you are sure to get the correct pair of boots and will be able to enjoy many days of snowboarding without complaint from your feet.

About the Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snowboardinghelp.com. Please visit his website to discover the world of snowboarding!

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Snowboarding At Night

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Snowboarding at night
Author: Jakob Jelling
Nighttime snowboarding is another aspect of snowboarding that is unlike any other that you may have tried so far. Many people find snowboarding at night to be very relaxing, exciting and offer a new perspective on hills that they are constantly riding.

On of the most important aspects of nighttime snowboarding is being very familiar with the run you are about to ride. Ideally you should know your path so well that you can visualize each corner, the time it takes to get from one turn to the next and what obstacles are where on the trail when you close your eyes. This familiarity will help to offset your lack of vision.

Regardless of how well you know the run you are about to attempt, you will be in for a surprise the first time you try it at night. In the dark everything looks different and feels different. You may not have realized how much you're relied on visual cues for when and where to turn slow down or speed up. You will not longer be able to see the stump that marks the start of the moguls or other trail details and shadows will make things seem to appear or disappear.

When it comes to night riding you have three options to improve your sight. You can use your eyes and no light, ride a mildly lighted trail or use a headlamp to light your way. You will have to try each option to determine which method is best suited for you.

Regardless of which method you wish to use, you must work to improve your night vision. The first step is to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark. Your eyes will under go a chemical change to allow you to see better in the dark and this process takes time, usually about 30 minutes. During this time it is best to sit and wait for it to happen. While waiting, and afterwards, be very careful not to look at any man made light source. Doing so will kill your night vision and you will have to wait another 30 minutes to get it back. If you find you must look at a light, close and cover one eye so that it doesn't loose its night vision ability.

Something that most people do not realize is that their daytime activities also effect their nighttime vision. Studies conducted on pilots show that exposure to bright sunlight, especially for 10 days or more, can reduce your nighttime vision, range and clarity by 50 percent. You may wish to wear gray full spectrum sunglasses on the day or the days leading up to the night that you wish to snowboard in order to maximize your night vision.

The other option available is to use a headlamp of some kind. The first choice most people think of is a bright white light. While this does allow you to see the colors of your surroundings, it isn't the best choice for nighttime viewing. The second option that most people think of is a red bulb. This too isn't a good idea as red is the first spectrum of light to become invisible at night. The range of a red light at night is very limited and thus you will not be able to see the details that you need to see.

Perhaps the best choice for a light is a yellow-green LED light. Often you can insert a suitable LED into the socket of the regular bulb on your headlamp. Yellow-green makes a very good choice for nighttime riding as it will illuminate your surroundings and allow you to see the most detail possible.

However a blue-green LED also has its advantages. While a yellow-green light helps activate the cones in your retina to see details, a blue-green light is fairly dim and works with the rods in your retina. The rods are the parts of your eyes responsible for allowing you to see at night. If you are in a fully dark area then blue-green is a better choice since it does not hinder your night vision ability.

Nighttime snowboarding is a very fun and interesting experience that should not be missed. You will find that you will discover all kinds of things about your favorite runs and yourself while doing so. Make a point of trying it the next time you find yourself becoming bored with your favorite hill.

About the Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snowboardinghelp.com. Please visit his website to discover the world of snowboarding!

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Snowboarders The Youngest Pros Of All

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Snowboarders: The Youngest Pros Of All
Author: Gray Rollins -
The world of professional snowboarders is one where youth is often more of an asset than a disadvantage. In many sports, years of experience are necessary before it is possible to compete against the top tier of athletes; but the youthful spring of teen snowboarders often gives them enough of a leg up that they can reach the pinnacle of their field before they are even old enough to drive a car. Boarders sometimes turn pro as early as thirteen or fourteen years of age.

Snowboarding is surrounded by a very youthful culture, and the fact that so many of the sport's stars are so young contributes to its appeal among kids and preteens. Skiing, which is similar to boarding in many ways, can feel very remote to young people because its stars are mostly somewhat older and very experienced.

There is a lot of debate surrounding the question of whether skiing or snowboarding is easier to learn, but the fact that so many famous boarders are so young seems to suggest that excelling as a boarder does not require quite as many years on the slopes as it usually takes to become a top skier. A dedicated and talented snowboarder can master the sport fairly quickly, and it is not unusual for a boarder to progress from novice to expert in as little as four or five years. Because many boarding role models are still in high school, and some are even still in middle school, excellence in snowboarding feels like a very attainable goal to today's kids.

Of course, just because snowboarding is popular with young people doesn't mean that it is off limits for older people who are interesting in boarding. Many habitual skiers choose to make some time on the snowboard a regular part of their sports regime. Taking up snowboarding is a great way to capitalize on and further develop the balance skills and agility that you have gained by pursuing skiing or any other sport. Boarding can be a lot of fun, and there are many intricate tricks and twists that are unlike the maneuvers that athletes perform in any other sport.

Some older sports enthusiasts are intimidated by the fact that pro boarders are so much younger than them, but there is no reason to let the fact that the leaders in the field may be less than half your age stop you from trying your hand at the art of snowboarding. For anyone who enjoys pursuing winter sports as a hobby, it is worth spending at least a few days on a snowboard learning the basics. The skills that you develop on a board can translate into many other arenas, and learning to board can make you a better skier, a better runner, or even a better football player.

If you are looking for a way to have a blast while adding some new elements to your training schedule, snowboarding might prove to be just the thing you are looking for.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for MountainSnowboarding.com. To learn more about snowboarding competitions and for snowboard reviews , visit us.

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