Snowboarding

An introduction to half pipes

2009-05-27T16:35:00.001-07:00

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An introduction to half pipes
Author: Jakob Jelling
Let's face it, when snowboarding, anything that isn't flat creates an almost over powering urge to try to ride and half pipes are no exception to this. After gazing upon the glory of a half pipe it is almost impossible to resist the urge to challenge it, to see what you can do in it or to see if you too are as good as the guy who is doing a Slob Air. It is this desire that keeps us snowboarding and drives us to try new things such as a half pipe.

Half pipes can be very daunting features of a snowboarding park. A half pipe will be 4 - 12 feet high, may have 3 sides in a "U" like shape and be full of people doing crazy stunts in the air at high speeds. The big question is how do you learn to use a half pipe?

While the prospects of dropping in to a half pipe can be very daunting, the reality is that you can ease in to riding the half pipe. In fact, the preparation for riding a half pipe begins well before you ever enter it. While it is highly recommended that you are proficient at snowboarding on general terrain before trying a half pipe you can start off in a half pipe.

There are two basic skills that you need to know fairly well, hop turns, or Bunny hops, and how to snowboard confidently on varying terrain. Your confidence in snowboarding really is the key to moving on. You must be able to recover your balance on bumpy terrain when riding quickly. This ability will allow you to proactively react to the rapidly changing conditions of a half pipe. To be fair, the conditions of the half pipe do not change rather your position in the pipe changes. Remember that your speeds in a half pipe are faster than normal and thus you must be able to react to riding on a transition rather than the flat very quickly. The other basic skill is the Bunny hop. The Bunny hop allows you to launch a little higher and away from the lip of the ramp thus keeping you from catching it when you re-enter the ramp.

The next big hurtle is dropping in. When you are first learning to ride a half pipe it is best to start on the side of the smallest ramp rather than from the top of the ramp. This will give you a chance to get used to the ramp and learn how to pump it for speed and balance. As your confidence increases begin dropping in from higher and higher points until you are ready to start from the top of the pipe.

Half pipes can be daunting features of the terrain but learning to ride them doesn't have to be tough. By working with the basic skills that you already have you will be able to rider a half pipe well. The more you ride the half pipe and challenge yourself the faster your skills in it will progress. When looking at the half pipe for the first time, do not back down. Instead resolve to be the best damn snowboarder there and push yourself, as hard as you can and soon you will be the best snowboarder there.

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

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Alpine Snowboarding

2009-04-27T09:19:00.001-07:00

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Alpine snowboarding
Author: Jakob Jelling
Alpine snowboarding is for those of you who are a little more extreme about speed than most. Alpine snowboarding encompasses more than just speed. Other areas often included are racing and extreme carving.

Alpine snowboards are uniquely designed for their purpose. An alpine snowboard has a longer, narrower and stiffer construction than any other snowboards. This design allows for higher speeds, very sharp turning, and aggressive edge holding power on hard snow and excellent high-speed stability.

Alpine snowboarding is generally done on hard packed snow or groomed runs. Hard packed snow usually isn't good for snowboarding but is exceptional for high speeds, the heart of alpine snowboarding. With other styles of snowboards maneuverability is impossible on this type of terrain. Thanks to the aggressiveness of the edge of the alpine snowboard, fast, snappy control is the least of your problems.

Since the riding is so different from other types of snowboarding it only stands to reason that the gear would also be slightly different from normal. The gear for alpine snowboarding resembles skiing equipment more than it does snowboarding equipment.

In order to protect the rider and maximize control at high speeds an alpine snowboarder will use the following things. First is a helmet and eye protection. Thanks to the laws of physics we know that a hard surface becomes even harder at higher speeds. This means that a helmet and eye protection are an absolute must if you wish to stay safe when ripping down a hill at blazingly fast speeds as the impact from any mishap can be more than normal.

The next thing to consider is your boots. You must use a hard-shelled boot that resembles a skiing boot. Since the speeds on an alpine snowboard are so much higher the forces required to maintain a tight turn are also higher. In order to make shape-cornering possible you must use a hard-shelled boot to leverage your power with the snowboard.

After thinking of your boots you must also think of the stance that you wish to use when riding your alpine snowboard. There is basically only one choice but there are subtle variations for each rider. Traditionally the front foot should be set at about +70' and the rear foot at about +35'. With the advance of technology and the improvements of the snowboards the degree of the feet has become less important. More commonly the stance is determined by the width of the board as long as there is a difference of at least 5'.

Any interesting thing to note is that alpine snowboarding has seemed to have died off and been reborn again. Alpine board manufactures took the design of the alpine board to a point that it was amazingly perfect at high speeds but no longer usable for the average person. One main way of improving the snowboard efficiency was to reduce its width to as little as 16 cm in the center of the snowboard. This did allow for even greater speeds but caused the snowboard to become unstable at low speed and forced the rider to remain in a position that was uncomfortable to ride in for any length of time.

These innovations seemed to kill the industry as did skiing manufactures that started to implement the aggressive edge technology into their products. Most people began to shy away from alpine snowboarding and instead seek out freestyle snowboarding. However this has changed recently with the rebirth of alpine snowboarding. Once again people are becoming interested in the challenge and excitement that comes from ripping down a hill at high speeds and pulling turns that exert more g-forces on the body than most cars do. Manufacturers have learned their lessons and seem to be much more reasonable and consumer oriented in their snowboard designs than before.

If you are a snowboarder who enjoys speed and tight cornering then alpine snowboarding is the thing for you. Alpine snowboards are designed to be ridden hard and fast on machine groomed or packed runs. Their design allows you to move in ways no other snowboarder and possibly skier can ever hope to. Also, alpine snowboarding is easier to learn than alpine skiing. If you are looking for fast paced action filled fun like nothing else than you are destined for alpine snowboarding. Have fun, keep your speeds up and enjoy the g-forces of the mind blowing cornering.

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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A Look at The Intriguing History of Snowboarding

2009-03-28T07:56:00.001-07:00

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A look at the intriguing History of Snowboarding
Author: Keith Kingston
It has taken almost forty years for snowboarding to be recognized as a major sport that is followed and participated in by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Humanity's love affair with snow has been documented throughout the ages, starting with cave dwellers who were smart enough to figure out that snow had its advantages, such as serving as insulation to hold in the warmth in their homes and preserving the day's kill.

To say who actually invented the sport of snowboarding would be impossible because people have always loved to slide down a snow-covered hill. Soaring through the snow on some kind of seat or board is nothing new. The ways to enjoy the snow are numerous, and people have devised ways to turn garbage can lids and cardboard into "snow boards" to enjoy an afternoon frolic outdoors. The various ways to glide through snow have become more sophisticated and have evolved into using polished boards or skis in much the same manner as a surfboarder would ride a wave.

There have been many attempts at developing a modern snowboard. In 1965, the "Snurfer" (a word play on 'snow' and 'surfer') was developed as a child's toy. Two skis were bound together and a rope was placed at the front end to afford control and stability. Over 500,000 "Snurfers" were sold in 1966 but they were never seen as more than a child's plaything even though organized competitions began to take place. The year 1969 brought a slightly more sophisticated snowboard based on the principles of skiing combined with surfboard styling.

The "Flying Yellow Banana" was developed in 1977. This was nothing more than a plastic shell covered with a top surface like that of a skateboard, but at the time it was considered a major advance in the little known sport of snowboarding. The first national snowboard race was held in the area outside Woodstock and was known as "The Suicide Six." The race consisted of a steep downhill run called The Face in which the main goal was probably mere survival.

Snowboarding continued to increase in popularity over the next several years. In 1985 the first magazine dedicated specifically to snowboarding hit the news stands with huge success and furthered the popularity of this exciting sport. Hoards of fans began to organize regional events and pretty soon snowboarding events were held in all parts of the world. In the year 1994 snowboarding was finally declared an Olympic event, much to the delight of fans. The not-so-new sport of snowboarding was finally recognized and meant a huge victory for serious snowboarders across the globe.

A collection of snowboarding tricks and stunts was released on video in 1996. Filmed in Alaska, the breathtaking beauty and captivating snowboarding techniques featured in the video exposed snowboarding to a new generation, and by 1998 snowboarding constituted almost 50% of all winter activity. Today, nearly all ski resorts accept snowboarders. There are still a few holding on to the past but this is unlikely to continue as the number of snowboarders continually increases.

From the first crudely built snowboards to the advanced and specialized models available today, snowboarders have carried a "bad boy" image. This rebel reputation is still common today in spite of the fact that snowboarding appeals to men, women, and children of all nationalities and social groups. At most major ski resorts you can find snowboarding gear, information, and lessons. Olympic and world wide snowboarding events are among the most popular of winter sports and the competition to be the best is fierce.

Retailers nation wide and around the world carry many types of snowboards, and the choice in specially made snowboarding gear is immense. Snowboarders have participated in the X Games and even charity events such as Boarding for Breast Cancer. From its early meager beginnings snowboarding has progressed into a fully recognized sport, and large numbers of people are turning to snowboarding for adventure, fun, and professional recognition.

About The Author

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher. Visit his snowboards and ski vacation website at http://www.all-4-snow.com " target=new>http://www.all-4-snow.com There is information also on snowmobiles, snowplows, snow sleds and skiing. ...

Which is more dangerous skiing or snowboarding

2008-12-29T05:10:00.000-08:00

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Which is more dangerous skiing or snowboarding
Author: Anthony Barretti
Snowboarders and skiers are increasing in number every year. As the numbers increase so do the number of injuries. More awareness is being placed on snowboard safety and ski safety.

During the course of a year about 11 milion skiers and 4 million snowboarders in the U.S. alone are on the slopes at least once. The average number of visits to the slopes is around 60 million. For every 1000 skier visits, there are around 2.5 serious medical injuries. This comes out to one injury every 430 days of sking and snowboarding.

The death rate of snowboarders is 40 percent lower than alpine skiers, they are more likely to be hit by skiers gone out of control than the other way around.

When skiers fall they slide alot which causes them to be 3 to 4 times more likely to crash into something or someone. A snowboard on the other hand acts more like a seat anchor, preventing sliding. Death usually is caused from hitting something.

The most common injury faced by skiers is anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprains. Those who were injured skied more years, but fewer days per year, were more likely to be female, are older, and fell less often.

Before you begin snowboarding or skiing be sure to take some lessons from a qualified instructor. Plus make certain you have the proper equpment. Ultimately you are responsible for your own safety. The safer you are the more fun you will have on the slopes.

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

For safe snowboard gear try the Burton Royale snowboard.

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Tips For Learning How To Snowboard

2008-11-29T02:19:00.000-08:00

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Tips For Learning How To Snowboard
Author: Danielle Rose -
Learning to snowboard is difficult just like any new thing that you may try. It will take time to learn, but by doing simple things and learning simple techniques, you will be snowboarding soon!

Learning how to snowboard can be difficult and certainly can be painful if you don't learn how to fall correctly. Before ever setting foot on a snowboard, you need to be aware that you are going to fall, and learn how to do it properly.

Taking beginning lessons is a good idea, because it will teach you the basic concept of falling. It may sound simple, but it will also teach you that the snowboard slides down the hill, and teach you to keep your balance on it. Once this is achieved, you can begin learning how to control the snowboard, and how to turn it. Shifting weight from the toe-side to the heal-side edges of the board is what is going to allow you to steer the snowboard. http://www.mountainsnowboarding.com/learntosnowboard/

One thing you might want to do before you ever go out to the hill is practice on the carpet first. If you set up your board and do some "carpet riding" in order to get used to standing on the board, it may help you be more comfortable out on the hill when you get started. Setting yourself up on the carpet will help you get used to your stance and practice with bending your knees before you are going down the hill.

It is easier on the carpet to change your stance to see if you are more comfortable riding goofy or regular (right foot forward = goofy, left foot forward = regular). It also gives you a chance to see which muscles you will be using and practice with pivoting and shifting your weight before the board is going to slide too much on you. Practicing on the carpet first will allow you to be comfortable with the board before you start your lessons up on the hill.

It's difficult to learn because one concept you need to be comfortable with is leaning down the hill. By nature, when we are being pulled down the hill, we want to lean back, but in snowboarding that isn't how it works. When snowboarding, you need to control the board with your front foot, putting your weight going down the hill.

Keys to learning the basics are remembering to keep you knees bent, and to look where you are going. Keeping your knees bent is going to help you relax and keep your balance going down the hill. Looking where you are going is the same as with a lot of things. If you look down, you are going to fall. Looking at your feet is not going to help your balance, but if you look to where you want to go, your feet can follow your eyes.

Getting out on the hill for the first time can be very scary, but also can be a lot of fun. Remember to wear the right clothing for the weather, so that you are warm and comfortable. If you are cold and wet, your snowboarding experience isn't going to be fun. Dressing in layers is recommended. Experienced riders can be fine out on the slopes in snowboarding pants and a sweatshirt, but for a beginning rider who may spend a lot of their time in the snow, layers are a good idea.

Also, remember to warm up your muscles and stretch before going out onto the hill. The experience can be ruined by pulling a muscle while going down the hill. Snowboarding is a physical activity, so it should be treated as one. Warming up and stretching before going out, but also not overdoing it on the first day. Snowboarding takes time, and trying to learn when you are exhausted will only make you more frustrated.

After the first day, it may seem as though you are never going to learn, but don't give up. Falling can be frustrating, but it happens to everyone. Given time and practice, you'll be fine. Once you have the basics, you'll be able to go wherever. Don't give up! It may take time to learn, but it's worth it in the end. Snowboarding is a fun recreational sport that can be done by everyone. It can be a family event, or and event with friends.

Remember, time and practice is what it takes for you to become a good snowboarder. You are not going to be an expert right away. Snowboarding is more difficult to learn than skiing because balance is easier with speed. A person who is uncomfortable with snowboarding is typically uncomfortable with speed. However, once you overcome this fear, and learn the basics, snowboarding is easy to master. You will feel comfortable because you have learned to control the snowboard, and can feel free to explore the mountain or back country as you please.

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

Danielle Rose is a featured writer for MountainSnowboarding.com. For more help on learning to snowboard , and how to choose a snowboard , visit our site.

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The sexy shape of a snowboard

2008-10-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

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The sexy shape of a snowboard
Author: Jakob Jelling
Everyone knows that an hourglass figure turns heads. Not as many people know that the same figure is also behind the design of modern snowboards. While the hourglass figure on a snowboard doesn't turn heads as fast as a women's figure does it does help you to turn faster than any head can.

The degree of side cut on a snowboard does effect its performance on the hill. The side cut radius is the size of the circle that is cut out of your snowboard. To put this into perspective, most skateboarding ramps have a radius of 9' and professional ramps as seen on TV will have a radius of 11'. As you can imagine, there is a definite curvature to the snowboard but it is subtle enough that it isn't always easy to spot.

When a person first thinks about the side cut they may feel that it is a ploy by manufacturers to reduce the materials and thus cost of producing the snowboards. This can not be further from the truth. To understand side cuts you must think of why the map of the world has slices in it. A flat object can not proportionally represent a round object. For this reason a snowboard with a curve, or side cut, can turn faster and more aggressively than a snowboard that is straight along it's length.

The reason that this is true is due to the way that the snowboard tries to bend and comfort to the surface that it is on when riding. When you turn your snowboard your weight and twisting causes the snowboard to flex and bend. The key to turning is to have the effective edge bite into the surface that you are riding on while being flexible enough to twist so that you can control the movement. A long straight line does not like to deviate from its basic shape but a curved line will meld with the hill and still have enough flexibility to bite into the surface as needed.

When it comes time to purchase your snowboard you must think of its use and how it will react to the environment that it is exposed to. Proof of this fact comes when we think of surface area on a snowboard. A small side-cut radius means that more of the material has been cut out of the center of the snowboard. A large side-cut means that the cut is shallower thus leaving more surface area.

So what difference does side cut make to the rider? Simple, more surface area means more pressure is spread out over a larger area, which leads to more potential energy and thus greater speed due to reduced friction. Basically if you want to go fast, and reduce your maneuverability, than you want a large side-cut in your snowboard. However, if you seek more control and sharper turning than you want a small side-cut in your snowboard.

To many people snowboarding seems like an easy and simple past time that can be mastered in a very short amount of time. While it is true that snowboarding can be learnt in fairly short order there are many fine details that a snowboarder must pay attention to in order to achieve their peak performance. As you can tell from this even the seemingly minutest details can have a big difference.

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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The history of snowboarding

2008-10-21T16:42:00.001-07:00

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The history of snowboarding
Author: Jakob Jelling
How a piece of wood changed world history.

Many times someone doing something a little different and having his or her ideas catch on has changed history. The pasteurizing of milk to prevent spoiling and contamination is a perfect example. Snowboarding was also the result of someone doing something a little different. In a few short years we have taken a crazy idea and turned it into a household word and created a culture and language around it. Snowboarding has become an Olympic event and has even forced us to ask ourselves questions about our society when we use the phrase "Smoke a fatty for Rebagliati".

The history of snowboarding officially begins in 1929 with a man named M.J. Burchett. For some unknown reason, perhaps a dare from friends or the result of drinking, Mr. Burchett changed history when he cut a plank of plywood and secured it to his feet using a clothesline and horse reins. This humble beginning changed history forever.

Not much changed for snowboarders until 1965 when Sherman Poppen invented a toy for his daughter and eventually marketed it. His "Snurfer" consisted of 2-ski bound together with a rope at the nose of the skis to hold on to. This idea caught on fast and Mr. Poppen sold half a million of his Snurfers by 1966. Mr. Poppen helped create demand for his product by holding contests for Snurfers. Jake Burton took part in many of these competitions until he broke his collarbone in a car accident.

Snowboards as we know them came into existence in 1969 when riding down snowy hills on a cafeteria plate in college inspired Dimitrije Milovich. Mr. Milovich decided to make snowboards that where based upon the design of a surfboard but worked the same way skis did. In 1972 Mr. Milovich started a company called Winterstick and really fired up the idea of snowboarding until 1980 when he left the industry. To this day Milovich is seen as a very important pioneer in the industry.

In 1977 Burton came back to his first love, the Snurfer. After completing university, Burton moved to Vermont and needing to make some money, started to produce Snurfers again. Burton's snowboards where made of laminated wood and he shocked the world when he won a Snurfer competition on his own board. One major reason for Burton being able to win the competition was the skiing styled binding that he added to his boards thus allowing him to control them much better.

During this time Burton had on major competitor, Tom Sims. Sims borrowed from skateboarding technology to create his own version of the snowboard. Sims snowboards came from an idea he had in shop class when to glued carpet to the top of a piece of wood and aluminum sheeting to the bottom of the board.

In order to showcase their innovations, Burton and Sims held the first ever snowboarding competition in Vermont in 1982. This competition was more of a survival contest as the runs where icy kamikaze runs. This event helped to launch the magazine Absolutely Radical that became the International Snowboarding Magazine.

Snowboarding technology continued to improve, as did the fame of its competitions. The competitions became so popular that the International Snowboarding Federation was formed to help judge competitions. In 1998 snowboarding made its grand entrance into the world of the Olympics at Nagano, Japan.

This too was a controversial time. The IOC dismissed the ISF and instead had the Federation Internationale de Ski over see the events. While this policy is still in effect to this day, tensions are easing between the two factions and things are running much smoother.

Of course no history of snowboarding would be complete with out mentioning Rebagliati in the 1998 Olympics. Rebagliati, a Canadian from Whistler BC, won the gold medal that year but later tested positive for trace amounts of marijuana and was stripped of his gold medal. Rebagliati appealed the ruling and won since marijuana is a controlled substance, not a banned substance and is not a performance-enhancing drug. This event helped to decriminalize marijuana in Canada and caused many people to rethink their position on marijuana. "Smoke a fatty for Rebagliati" was a common phrase to show support for Rebagliati and show support for the reforming of the Canadian laws.

Snowboarding has come a long way in 70 odd years. Snowboarding started as a crazy idea that only fools would try and has become an accepted Olympic event due to its popularity. Arguably, snowboarding is the fastest growing sport and industry. Few other innovations have caught on this fast or have become an Olympic sport so soon.

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 Pants

2008-10-14T15:22:00.001-07:00

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Snowboarding pants
Author: Jakob Jelling
Baggie pants can be more than just fashionable.

Do you remember the days of having to put a snowsuit on in order to go out sledding or skiing? No matter what you did the snowsuit would always climb, let snow in, get wet and usually was uncomfortable because your pants where bunched up inside. Fortunately for those of us who can remember that, those days are long gone.

Modern snowboarding pants, and even regular snow pants, have vastly improved over what we might remember. Snowboarding pants are now worn like regular pants, thinner, lighter, tougher and warmer than ever before. Of course this is only possible thanks to demand and technological advances.

When thinking about snowboarding pants it helps to understand how they work. Generally snowboarding pants use a three-layer system. Some may only have two layers and are either inteended for very mild climates or to be worn over some type of underpants.

The first layer is the base layer and it is in direct contact with your skin. When riding outside you will heat up very quickly and then cool down while on the lift before repeating the process. The purpose of the base layer is to ensure that this can be done without you getting cold. The main reason you get too cold is because your sweat gets caught in the base layer against your skin and begins to freeze. A modern base material will prevent this by wicking the moisture away while providing some temperature balancing benefits.

The next layer is the insulation layer. The purpose of the insulation layer is to retain your body heat and the best way to do so is by trapping a layer of air around your body. This air will greatly decrease the heat exchange between your body and the outside world.

Generally the insulation layer mostly consists of polyesters. The most popular materials are fleece, bunting and pile. Fleece is the most common material and is a dense fabric that has been raked on one side to make the ends of the fibers stand up and trap the air. Bunting is a fleece that has been raked on both sides creating a tight solid weave with wooly air retaining surfaces on both sides. Pile is a single-sided fleece that has undergone more raking and has been processed further to create a much thicker open fabric.

The final layer is the outer shell, which is the only layer with direct contact to the outside world. The purpose of this layer is to protect against wind, rain and snow while letting moisture escape and protect the wearer from cuts, scrapes and chaffing. This layer is made from a material, such as Gore-Tex, which has holes that allow water vapor from your body to escape but are too small to allow a large drop of water in.

Now that you know how the products works you can begin shopping. After determining the number of layers you require you must look for other features. If you like to ride at night or in the dusk you may want reflective strips. For security you may wish to have inside zippered pockets. Large pockets are great for packing around food and water and a see through pocket is great for you lift pass.

If you keep in mind your snowboarding style, needs and what products are available you are sure to get the correct snowboarding pants. Having the correct gear goes a long ways towards maximizing your comfort and enjoyment while snowboarding. Have fun and stay warm.

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 Jackets

2008-10-07T10:34:00.001-07:00

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Snowboarding jackets
Author: Jakob Jelling
Winter jackets have changed a lot over the years as technology has improved. The best solution used to be those big, puffy, down filled jackets. While they where warm they really didn't stand up all that well to wear and tears, moisture or active movements. Once again technology has come to our aid with the invention of new materials.

The new materials available have resulted in jackets that are warmer even when wet, lighter, more compact, tear resistant and fashionable. The most important area of improvement is the functionality of these new products. The main areas of improvement are in waterproofing, wind proofing and breathe ability.

Waterproofing is perhaps the most obvious idea and potentially the most important as well and is linked to your jackets ability to breath. Your body heat will be drained off very quickly if your clothing is wet make you cold much faster. Waterproofing has moved way beyond a simple chemical coating. Now it is at the point where there is a standard for waterproofing that is measured by how many centimeters of water can rest on top of the material before leaking through. The best fabrics can support tens of meters of water before leaking!

Waterproofing is more than just the type of fabric used since the final product is only as strong as its weakest link. What good is a waterproof jacket of water can pour through the zipper? A good quality waterproof jacket will have many extra features built into it that may not be visible. For example a jacket should have all of its seams sealed with a waterproof tape, the zipper should be covered, the inner layer must not absorb water and the entire jacket should be made of waterproof materials not matter what the section is.

The next area to consider is wind proofing. Wind proofing is almost becoming a thing of that past. Of course the wind will greatly effect how fast you loose body heat but is a non-issue if your jacket is highly waterproof. A jacket that can with stand a column of water tens of meters high is wind proof. The only time wind proofing is an issue is if your jacket is either entirely fleece or not fully waterproof.

The final thing to consider, and arguably the most important, is the breathe ability of your jacket. As we work and ride we create heat that translates into sweat. Of course a build up of sweat is a bad thing since it will allow cold to be conducted through to us so it must be dealt with. In order to deal with moisture we must use layers of clothing. The purpose of the first layer is to pull the moisture away from our skin but it must go somewhere. A breathable cloth will allow the moisture that is pulled away from our skin to escape outside our jacket without letting water seep in.

One option that you may find when shopping for a snowboarding jacket is something called a shell. A shell is a relatively special purpose adaptation of the snowboarding jacket in that it is intended for those who live in mild climates or who are not bothered by cold very much. A shell is a stripped down version of a full jacket in that it still provides wind and water protection but does not provide much, if any, climate protection. A shell is intended to be worn in relatively warm climates where the rider may only need a little water proofing and will add their own insulating layers as needed.

After deciding the amount of protection that you require you must then think about options available and if you want them. Things commonly available include removable hoods, over sized pockets for snacks and drinks, lift pass pocket, cooling vents, waist pull cords and reflective materials. Then of course you need to consider the style of the jacket if you haven't already decided.

Putting all of these elements together will ensure that you have a good jacket for all of your snowboarding needs. While you may not need to know all of the details, being well informed will help you make a better decision that will enable you to enjoy snowboarding even more.

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 Isnt Just For Kids Anymore

2008-09-30T08:20:00.001-07:00

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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

2008-09-23T03:55:00.001-07:00

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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?

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

2008-09-16T03:20:00.001-07:00

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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

2008-09-08T20:56:00.001-07:00

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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

2008-09-01T20:42:00.001-07:00

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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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Snowboard Safety Injury Prevention and Treatment

2008-08-25T20:14:00.002-07:00

Snowboarding
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Snowboard Safety: Injury Prevention and Treatment
Author: Jeremy Hier

Snowboarding is one of the most popular snow sports and like any other physical activity, it is susceptible to injury. However if the right precautions are taken and the correct protective gear is worn, the body can be protected from any severe injury. Here are a few snowboarding safety tips dealing with common injuries, how to treat those injuries and what can be done to prevent them.

Common Snowboarding Injuries

Snowboarding injuries occur mostly in the upper extremities of the body and the ankle, the most common being sprains followed by fractures and contusions. Upper body injuries are common as snowboarders usually fall forwards or backwards. With a forward fall, snowboarders will protect themselves by stretching their arms outwards to stop themselves from falling. This leads to sprained wrists, wrist fractures, elbow, shoulder and head injuries. If a snowboarder falls backwards mild head as well as coccygeal injuries can occur such as bruising to the tailbone. When they fall snowboarders are advised to try and keep their arms tucked in and to roll with the fall therefore distributing the impact of the fall over a larger portion of their body. It is better to rather have body bruises than a fractured wrist!

Lower body injuries are rare and occur mostly in the ankle and knee area. This is due to the feet being strapped into the board and both feet pointing in the same direction, which localizes knee movement and prevents twisting. However, as the level of snowboarding expertise increases so does the risk of knee injury due to the frequency of aerial maneuvers and the use of hard boots. Aerial maneuvers also present more abdominal, chest, spine and head injuries. Ankle injuries are very common such as sprained and fractured ankles, also known as snowboarder's ankle. Contusions are common on the head, face, chest, abdomen and pelvis, lacerations on the head and face and dislocations in the upper extremities. Severe head and spinal injuries have occurred when snowboarders have lost control of their board at high speed.

It is important to note that a fracture of the lateral process of the talus (LPT) can masquerade as an ankle sprain and is frequently undetected on plain x - rays. Misdiagnosis of this fracture may lead to severe degeneration of the joint, disability and pain.

How to Tell if Your Injury is Serious

There are various symptoms that suggest what type of injury you have and what should be done to heal it. Swelling is a definite sign of an injury and shouldn't be ignored. It usually occurs around a joint and causes pain and reduced range of motion. Tenderness will be found if you press the injured body part with your finger. Weakness in the injured area can occur as well as numbing and tingling, which are often related to nerve compression and should never be ignored as they may be signaling a serious injury.

How to Treat Any Sprain

If you have sprained your wrist, ankle or knee RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Exercise) is the safest and easiest way for anyone to heal an injury. It is important to follow these steps, as swelling can cause pain and loss of motion which will limit the use of the muscle, resulting in the weakening, shortening and delayed healing of the injured limb. After following RICE it is advisable to visit a physician for a proper diagnosis of the injury.

Rest

You should rest the sprained limb for 24 48 hours post injury.

Ice

Ice should be used to reduce swelling and pain, and should not be applied for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. If you do not have ice on hand, you can use anything frozen such as a bag of frozen peas. Never apply heat to an injury as this will increase swelling!

Compression

There are various options for compression:

Elasticated tubular bandage (Tubigrip) which can be strapped either single or doubled over. This should not be worn too tight as it may lead to thrombosis.

Crepe bandage

Elastoplast strapping

Elevation

Elevate the sprained limb horizontally to decrease swelling and discomfort.

Exercise

As soon as symptoms allow gently exercise the injured limb.

Prevention and Protection

Snowboarding injuries can be prevented by following a number of safety precautions. A fitness programme is essential to train the body for the maneuverability needed for snowboarding. Taking a few snowboarding lessons and having a good instructor helps to minimize the number of injuries that occur, teaches you how to snowboard effectively and what gear must be worn for your safety. The most important of injury prevention is wearing the right protective equipment. There are different types of gear that are specifically designed to protect certain areas of the body.

Helmets

Helmets are very important in preventing head injury as it is common for snowboarders to fall and injure their heads. There are different types of helmets from lightweight to heavyweight, with venting or no venting, with or without ear flaps, as well as different styles. It is important to choose a helmet that fits you snuggly, is comfortable and not too heavy.

Boots

There are three kinds of snowboarding boots that differ in the support they give to the ankle and foot. Soft boots are used by most snowboarders and offer sufficient stability and flexibility. Hard boots are usually worn by racers and provide ample ankle support. Hybrid boots have the support of hard boots with the comfort and maneuverability of soft boots. It is important to choose the right footwear for the particular snowboarding activity that you will undertake, i.e. beginner, racer, etc. as each of these boots place the body under different injury risks. Soft boots present twice the risk of ankle injury compared to hard boots due to their moderate ankle support, however hard boots present twice the risk of knee injury than soft boots because they offer less movement. Hiking boots must never be used as they can lead to serious injury. It is important to note that boots and bindings must be bought together as the choice of boots depends on what type of bindings you want to use such as step in bindings or strap bindings.

Wrist and Elbow guards

Wrist guards help support the wrist and are available in different styles for over and inside the glove as well as integrated into the glove. Wrist guards used for inline skating and skateboarding can also be used for snowboarding. Elbow guards help to protect the elbows from bruising and fractures.

Knee and tailbone pads

Knee pads help to protect the knees from bruising, and should be worn if you have weak knee caps. Tailbone pads help to protect the tailbone and should be worn with beginners, as they frequently fall backwards.

Padded jackets and pants

Padded jackets and pants help to prevent other parts of the body from bruising.

Goggles

Goggles help to keep the snow and wind out of your eyes. They also protect the eyes from the harmful rays of the sun which are also reflected by the snow. If you are wearing a helmet and goggles make sure that the goggles fit comfortably with the helmet.

Follow these snowboard safety tips and you will have the ultimate pain free snowboarding experience!

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

Sylvia Kontogeorgis is a work from home freelance journalist for http://www.snowboard-guide.com/ride-snowboards.html " riding snowboard guide and an avid snowboarding fan, who enjoys researching all aspects of snowboard safety from injuries to prevention, as well as other topics such as http://www.snowboard-guide.com/snowboard-goggles.html " target=_blank>snowboard goggles

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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Snowboard Safety Injury Prevention and Treatment

2008-08-25T20:14:00.001-07:00

Snowboarding
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Snowboard Safety: Injury Prevention and Treatment
Author: Jeremy Hier

Common Snowboarding Injuries

How to Tell if Your Injury is Serious

How to Treat Any Sprain

Rest

You should rest the sprained limb for 24 48 hours post injury.

Ice

Compression

There are various options for compression:

Elasticated tubular bandage (Tubigrip) which can be strapped either single or doubled over. This should not be worn too tight as it may lead to thrombosis.

Crepe bandage

Elastoplast strapping

Elevation

Elevate the sprained limb horizontally to decrease swelling and discomfort.

Exercise

As soon as symptoms allow gently exercise the injured limb.

Prevention and Protection

Helmets

Boots

Wrist and Elbow guards

Knee and tailbone pads

Padded jackets and pants

Padded jackets and pants help to prevent other parts of the body from bruising.

Goggles

Follow these snowboard safety tips and you will have the ultimate pain free snowboarding experience!

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

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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Snowboard Girls Take Your Skills To The Next Level

2008-08-18T19:50:00.001-07:00

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Snowboard Girls Take Your Skills To The Next Level At Girls-Only Camps
Author: Jeremy Hier
Women who love to snowboard are commonly called snowboard girls. They love snowboarding freestyle, freeride, and freecarve. A great way for you snowboard girls to improve your skills quickly and have alot of fun is to go to a girls-only snowboard camp.

All-girl snowboard camps provide snowboard girls the perfect environment to improve their skills and take their skills to the next level and beyond. In Timberline, Oregon their is an all-girls camp called Progressive Ski and Snowboard Camps.

This is a girls-only park and pipe camp. The newest coach is Hannah Epps who is joined by veteran coaches Sarah Burke, Emily Bonnett, Denise Jaworsky, Jen Critchton, and Jesse Bennie. They will be teaching the ski and snowboard girls.

At the camp you'll be able to improve your halfpipe, rail and jump skills with the help of some of the best female coaches in the sport. Ski and snowboard girls can progress in the park wether you are dropping into the halfpipe for the first time or are looking to add another trick to your already amazing slopestyle run.

Depending on your needs their are a variety of packages to choose from. An all-inclusive package covers meals, lift tickets, coaching and accomodations. Ski and snowboard girls can get more information at progressionskicamps.com.

Before you go off to camp make sure you have all the necessary snowboard equipment such as snowboard, boots and bindings, and outerwear.

About The Author

Jeremy is an avid snowboarding fan and writer. To find out which snowboard is best for you go to: http://www.snowboard-guide.com/ride-snowboards.html " target=new>http://www.snowboard-guide.com/ride-snowboards.html . ...

Optical illusions when snowboarding

2008-08-11T19:32:00.001-07:00

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Optical illusions when snowboarding
Author: Jakob Jelling
While Shifties are a snowboarding trick they are also an optical illusion. When doing a Shifty you are creating the illusion of doing a 180-degree turn in the air and reversing it before you land. Of course since it is an optical illusion you do not really turn 180-degrees.

Twisting your body in opposite directions once you are in the air creates this optical illusion. While this can take a little bit to get used to it isn't as hard as it sounds. As with all aerial tricks the key to this is timing.

The first step is to become airborne. This can be done by via an Ollie, a ramp or whatever else you happen across that will get you off the ground. Ideally you should launch up in to the air more than you want to move forward. Going up more than forward will improve the look of your trick and provide you with more time to set it up and recover from it.

Once you have left the ground you can begin to twist the upper and lower portions of your body in opposite directions. The technique for twisting your lower body is much the same as doing a 180. Push your forward foot to the side that you wish it to spin while keeping your rear foot basically planted so as to act as a virtual pivot point. An important thing to bear in mind is to not twist your hips.

Twisting your upper body may be a little easier. The easiest way to twist is to simply point your head the way you want your body to turn and the rest of you will naturally follow. Once again be careful not to twist your hips, as they are the anchor points for your body. If you do twist your hips you may find that you turn too far and thus have trouble giving the impression of having turned 180-degrees or landing your trick smoothly.

If you time everything correctly you will complete the maneuver just as your reach the peak hieght of your air. At this point it is time to start returning to your normal position and preparing for the landing. The hardest thing to realign is your feet. Make sure you focus on twisting them back to normal even before you start to untwist your upper body. As you approach the ground make sure that you are looking where you want to go, that your snowboard is straight and your knees are slightly bent to absorb the impact.

As you can see a Shifty is an interesting optical illusion that you can easily learn to do. While challenging yourself is a great way to improve your skills quickly, begin learning this one by turning only 45-degrees the first few times. This will help you avoid an uncomfortable landing that can put an end do your day of snowboarding.

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

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Lindsey Jacobellis The End Of Snowboarding Innoce

2008-08-04T18:57:00.001-07:00

Lindsey Jacobellis: The End Of Snowboarding Innocence Snowboarding
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Lindsey Jacobellis: The End Of Snowboarding Innocence
Author: Terry McDermott
Lindsey Jacobellis flew into the frigid Italian atmosphere as a celebrated and admired snowboarding superstar but, after an adrenalin-fueled grab at her board in mid-flight, she returned to earth in a meteoric flameout destined to make her a lock for membership in the sports Bonehead Hall of Fame. But her gaffe also represents a watershed moment for a sport once typified by such actions.

Snowboarding is a serious sport populated by serious athletes. Participants in competitions throughout the world work and train and sacrifice to race and win and be recognized as the best in their sport. But the ascension of snowboarding from a wild, rebellious and carefree winter activity to a corporately-sponsored, mainstream, Olympic-level competition has resulted in attitudes and expectations that are radically divergent from the once-radical personality that dominated the sport.

Lindsey Jacobellis began snowboarding in rural Roxbury, CT when she was 10-years old. Coached by her older brother, Ben, Lindsey was forced to compete against boys since there was no girls' division for the sport. This co-ed racing helped her develop a highly competitive spirit. Leading up to the Olympics she trained with the American men since she is the only U.S. woman competing in snowboard cross. She is, quite simply, the best women's snowboard cross racer in the world. But, as a result of her fall in the Italian Alps, she will not be an Olympic champion in 2006.

What Lindsey Jacobellis will be, to many, is a showboating hot dog. She will be derided for being cocky, over-confidant and foolish. One television reporter stated that Lindsey had left a "blemish on the sport of snowboarding." Another said that the "nation's hope for a gold medal" in this event rested "solely on her shoulders." Her agent is probably on suicide watch after seeing his dreams of gold medal endorsement deals get swept away in an avalanche of shattered dreams.

And how does Lindsey feel about all of this? "I went for the jump because I was having fun," she said. "Snowboarding is fun, and I wanted to share that with the crowd. ... I was caught up in the moment and forgot that I had to race."

Poor Lindsey. Doesn't she realize that competing at this level is not supposed to be fun? That getting "caught up in the moment" was a reckless, selfish and careless demonstration of naïve exuberance? How could Lindsey have been so irresponsible that she would have allowed the thrill of flying down a frosty hill, free, fast and in first-place by a snowboarding mile, to be manifested in a flamboyant maneuver for which snowboarders used to be hailed?

"Used to be" That is the operative phrase at the moment. Snowboarding has come of age. Millions are watching world-class athletes compete for gold, silver and bronze. Fame and fortune await the winners. Only memories of a temporary place on the world stage await the rest. But Lindsey Jacobellis will forever straddle the chasm between Olympic winners and Olympic losers. She now carries the weight of Olympic silver around her neck and the stigma of Olympic failure on her competitive resume.

By her self-inflicted disaster, Lindsey Jacobellis has elevated snowboarding to a premier winter sport. No longer will the freewheeling, high-flying, "hey dude, watch this," X Game-style mentality apply to competitive snowboarding. It's about winning and money and national honor and endorsements. Getting ramped up and having fun are no longer permissible attitudes for the sport.

Dude, this is serious!

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

J. Terrence (Terry) McDermott does not ski nor can he snowboard. He does, however, manage a website that offers tons of ski and snowboard equipment at www.snowboardsandskis.com SnowboardsandSkis.com . If he did snowboard, he hopes that he would share the same healthy perspective that Lindsey Jacobellis has so far demonstrated.

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How A Piece Of Wood Changed World History

2008-07-21T18:35:00.001-07:00

Snowboarding
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How A Piece Of Wood Changed World History
Author: Jakob Jelling
Many times someone doing something a little different and having his or her ideas catch on has changed history. The pasteurizing of milk to prevent spoiling and contamination is a perfect example. Snowboarding was also the result of someone doing something a little different. In a few short years we have taken a crazy idea and turned it into a household word and created a culture and language around it. Snowboarding has become an Olympic event and has even forced us to ask ourselves questions about our society when we use the phrase "Smoke a fatty for Rebagliati".

The history of snowboarding officially begins in 1929 with a man named M.J. Burchett. For some unknown reason, perhaps a dare from friends or the result of drinking, Mr. Burchett changed history when he cut a plank of plywood and secured it to his feet using a clothesline and horse reins. This humble beginning changed history forever.

Not much changed for snowboarders until 1965 when Sherman Poppen invented a toy for his daughter and eventually marketed it. His "Snurfer" consisted of 2-ski bound together with a rope at the nose of the skis to hold on to. This idea caught on fast and Mr. Poppen sold half a million of his Snurfers by 1966. Mr. Poppen helped create demand for his product by holding contests for Snurfers. Jake Burton took part in many of these competitions until he broke his collarbone in a car accident.

Snowboards as we know them came into existence in 1969 when riding down snowy hills on a cafeteria plate in college inspired Dimitrije Milovich. Mr. Milovich decided to make snowboards that where based upon the design of a surfboard but worked the same way skis did. In 1972 Mr. Milovich started a company called Winterstick and really fired up the idea of snowboarding until 1980 when he left the industry. To this day Milovich is seen as a very important pioneer in the industry.

In 1977 Burton came back to his first love, the Snurfer. After completing university, Burton moved to Vermont and needing to make some money, started to produce Snurfers again. Burton's snowboards where made of laminated wood and he shocked the world when he won a Snurfer competition on his own board. One major reason for Burton being able to win the competition was the skiing styled binding that he added to his boards thus allowing him to control them much better.

During this time Burton had on major competitor, Tom Sims. Sims borrowed from skateboarding technology to create his own version of the snowboard. Sims snowboards came from an idea he had in shop class when to glued carpet to the top of a piece of wood and aluminum sheeting to the bottom of the board.

In order to showcase their innovations, Burton and Sims held the first ever snowboarding competition in Vermont in 1982. This competition was more of a survival contest as the runs where icy kamikaze runs. This event helped to launch the magazine Absolutely Radical that became the International Snowboarding Magazine.

Snowboarding technology continued to improve, as did the fame of its competitions. The competitions became so popular that the International Snowboarding Federation was formed to help judge competitions. In 1998 snowboarding made its grand entrance into the world of the Olympics at Nagano, Japan.

This too was a controversial time. The IOC dismissed the ISF and instead had the Federation Internationale de Ski over see the events. While this policy is still in effect to this day, tensions are easing between the two factions and things are running much smoother.

Of course no history of snowboarding would be complete with out mentioning Rebagliati in the 1998 Olympics. Rebagliati, a Canadian from Whistler BC, won the gold medal that year but later tested positive for trace amounts of marijuana and was stripped of his gold medal. Rebagliati appealed the ruling and won since marijuana is a controlled substance, not a banned substance and is not a performance-enhancing drug. This event helped to decriminalize marijuana in Canada and caused many people to rethink their position on marijuana. "Smoke a fatty for Rebagliati" was a common phrase to show support for Rebagliati and show support for the reforming of the Canadian laws.

Snowboarding has come a long way in 70 odd years. Snowboarding started as a crazy idea that only fools would try and has become an accepted Olympic event due to its popularity. Arguably, snowboarding is the fastest growing sport and industry. Few other innovations have caught on this fast or have become an Olympic sport so soon.

About The Author

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

Fabulous Fun Snowboarding for Women or men

2008-07-14T11:05:00.001-07:00

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Fabulous Fun... Snowboarding for Women (or men!)
Author: Lauren Traub Teton
Fabulous Fun... Snowboarding for Women (or men!)

Why don't more women over the age of 30 take up snowboarding? It is Fabulous Fun! Perhaps you haven't tried it because you have heard that you will fall down a lot when learning. True. But it is possible to learn without pain. 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 at http://www.SnowboardSecrets.com site and receive "16 Secrets for Successful Snowboarding." Register your boards against theft at http://www.SnowboardRegistry.com.

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Building a half pipe for snowboarding

2008-07-13T10:21:00.001-07:00

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Building a half pipe for snowboarding
Author: Jakob Jelling
Perhaps one of the most exhilarating things to snowboard on is a half pipe. A half pipe is a combination of gracefully arcs and glorious straight stretches that allow you to perform skateboarding tricks with your snowboard. The only other thing that can compare to a half pipe is a snowboarding bowl.

A half pipe is a ramp that is constructed partially with terrain and partially engineering snow placement. For this reason it may not be feasible for most people to build their own half pipe at home. Of course, where there is a will there is a way and for that reason we will look at the basics of how to build your own half pipe.

The first aspect to consider is the location of your half pipe. You wish to find a location where the terrain will reduce the amount of work that you must do. If you are trying to build a half pipe that is 6 feet high on flat ground you will need at least one full dump truck load of snow for each side of the ramp. If you happen to have 6 feet of snow or more you may be tempted to try to dig out your own ramp. Unfortunately the volume of snow you need to remove is even greater than that needed to build the contours.

The ideal solution is to find a spot where a small hill or bank can form one side or more of your ramp. Being able to use an existing detail of the terrain will greatly reduce the amount of work that you need to do. When looking for terrain features to work with keep in mind the basic details of any half pipe. A half pipe should be about 6 feet high, 8 feet across, have a flat surface about 8 feet long and a landing pad at the top of each ramp about 4 feet wide.

One of the most important details of a half pipe is the transition or curvature of the ramp. Getting the right curve is critical to the ride ability of your ramp. If the curve is too tight then your snowboard may not be able to flex enough to land securely and you will tend to fall or be off balance each time you land. If the curve is too gently then you will find the ramp to be slow and you will have a very hard time getting air. Following the edge of an imaginary circle that has a radius of 8 or 9 feet creates the ideal curve of a ramp. This is a fairly standard radius for any ramp regardless of how high the ramp is.

Another important consideration is the final construction of the ride surface and the maintenance of that surface. There is quite an art to constructing the best surface and many companies offer courses and tools for this purpose. The surface of your ramp is a combination of hard packed snow and ice. You want to have a solid surface that will not shift or break up when being ridden on but not solid ice either.

One way to help create a good surface is to layer snow with water and allow it to freeze. Your actual construction process will vary depending upon the type of snow you are working with and the temperatures. Begin by compacting a layer of about 12" of snow and then, if needed, misting water on top of the compact snow. As you mist the water on the compacted snow add another foot of snow so that it will adhere to the layer that you just created. The thickness that you will require will vary but 2 layers is usually a good start.

Building a snowboarding ramp can be a huge undertaking but is possible to do. With a little hard work, some training and the correct tools, you too will be able to build a reasonable half pipe.

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

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Bonking - The snowboarders High Five

2008-07-12T10:02:00.002-07:00

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Bonking - The snowboarders "High Five"
Author: Jakob Jelling
Bonking is on of those strange little things that people do for the fun of it or to make a person jump. As far as tricks go there really isn't much point to learning this as there isn't much you can add this to. For this reason Bonking is done purely for fun.

Bonking is the art of slapping an object with your snowboard as you pass it in mid air. Depending upon what you are Bonking this will result in a satisfying sound that will make any unsuspecting person jump. As with most other tricks you can Bonk, Tail Bonk or Nose Bonk depending upon which part of the snowboard is used to do the Bonking.

To learn to Bonk you must first find a suitable object to practice on. Approach the object so that you will pass along side it about 2 feet from it. As you get close to it Ollie into the air. While gaining air pull your feet up so that your knees are bend almost 90-degrees and your snowboard is parallel to the surface that you intend to Bonk. When the height and moment are correct simply extend your foot slightly to bring the appropriate edge in contact with the surface briefly.

One important thing to keep in mind is the reaction that you will experience after Bonking the object. When thinking or Tail Bonking the force from tapping the object will tend to try to spin you into the surface of the object. Make sure you bend your knees to allow you to cushion the force of the impact and try to slide you snowboard onto the object instead of driving it into the object.

Bonks are a fun thing to do on the hill. There is often a gratifying sound that will turn heads and the act itself can look pretty cool. Perhaps the coolest Bonk of all is when you do a true "High Five" and Bonk against the snowboard of a person also Bonking. Have fun trying to "High Five" and turning heads with the resounding smack that comes from Bonking.

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

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Bonking - The snowboarders High Five

2008-07-12T10:02:00.001-07:00

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

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Attention All Skiers Try Snowboarding

2008-07-11T09:28:00.001-07:00

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Attention All Skiers: Try Snowboarding!
Author: Martin Stoleman -
Do you love winter? Or, more importantly, do you love spending time in the cold winter weather? If so, and you are looking for a great new activity to try this winter, consider snowboarding.

For many people, the idea of snowboarding sounds dangerous, like it was only for crazy teenage boys. The idea of skiing down a large hill or mountain sounds scary enough and the idea of doing it with a snowboard sounds too hard to be tried. If these are your thoughts, you should think again. Whether you have been skiing for years or if you have never made it down a winter mountain, snowboarding can be a great way to spend winter days.

If you have been a skier and are thinking of branching out into the world of snowboarding, congratulations. The best advice I can give you is to be patient. Because snowboarding is similar to skiing and yet very different, some people who ski well will find that snowboarding comes naturally and quickly while others will find the learning process grueling and frustrating. Stick with it because eventually the tricks of snowboarding can come to almost anyone.

If you have never been a skier, have no fear. Having a skiing background is not always necessary or even beneficial in learning snowboarding skills. You, a non-ski expert, may actually pick up the techniques of snowboarding much easier than your skier friends. After some time you may find that snowboarding fits you like a glove.

Allow me to offer a couple of words of advice to anyone, ski expert or not, that desires to enter the world of snowboarding. First, do not expect to jump on a board and pick up the skill all on your own. Most people will benefit greatly from taking snowboarding lessons at least to learn the basics of the sport. So do not hesitate to sign yourself up for a lesson or two before you head out to the slopes.

A second and perhaps more important piece of advice is simple: rent. Resist that temptation to run out and buy the latest board and snowboarding gear just to look like a seasoned pro on the slopes. On your first few times out you should rent equipment and take the time to learn what kinds of boards best meet your needs. By renting you can avoid making a costly mistake that will leave you frustrated later.

So, whether you have been skiing for years or not, when winter comes around again make the choice to learn a new skill. Who knows, snowboarding could fast become your favorite source of winter fun.

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

Martin Stoleman loves to write about all of his favorite sports and activities. He has recently fallen in love with snowboarding himself. Check out www.snowboardingplace.info for more details about this great sport.

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