Colorado Snowboarding And Mountains

We are definitely not experts at snowboarding. We do know the basics and that's all anyone ever needs to start anything. Feel free to send us any comments you may have as this will always lead to a better website for all.

First of all, don't forget any of the following items or you'll have a bad day before you ever start.

• gloves
• goggles
• hat

Dress in loose-fitting snow clothes. Plan on falling many times on your hands so if you have weak wrists, better wear some guards. Although a helmet might make your hair look funny snow can be hard at times.

Start out in a flat area. You'll need to get your feet into the bindings. First determine which foot you'll put up front. Left or right? Once you have that straight, put your front foot into the front binding. Feel good? Now place your back foot into the back binding. Once you're there move around a bit to feel what it's like to be strapped to a piece of wood.

Move up the incline. With your back foot out of the binding, find a slight incline. Face this baby hill, place your back foot in the snow and then lift your foot with the board attached and take a step up the incline. Move in this manner just like an inchworm until you have a small hill in front of you.

Sit Down and Strap In. Once you're at the top of the incline, sit down and place both feet into the bindings. When you stand up make sure your board is not pointing down the hill and stand up. Notice how your weight will shift from front to back. If you point forward the board will start to move down the hill. Leaning back will slow the board to a stop. You must first learn this concept since stopping is important.

Once you're at the bottom of your incline you must now learn how to move around with one your back foot out of the binding. It's called skating and that's all there is to it. You keep your front foot in the binding and push off with your back foot.

Next step is the chairlift. To practice getting off the lift point your snowboard down a small incline again, shift your weight forward and start to glide down toward the flat area. Just as you start moving, take your back and stomp the pad alongside the rear binding. This will stop you.

Find The Beginner Lift. Every resort has one so find it and watch how everyone else uses the chairlift. Once you can skate, glide to a stop, and feel comfortable move to the chairlift area and head to the top of the hill.

Moving Down The Hill. To get to the bottom of the hill without injury it's always better to move back and forth across the hill rather than straight down. Once your at the top, skate your way to a safe spot, sit down, put your back foot in the binding and stand up. Make sure to point to the other side of the hill when you stand up and then shift your weight forward until the board starts to move. Slide across the hill and then stop by shifting your weight back. Now shift your weight forward and head back the other way. Slowly but surely make your way down the hill in this fashion.

We'll leave the rest up to you at this point. There are a series of J Turns and multiple turns which will make more sense as you progress. Right now you have the basics and with some practice you'll be snowboarding like a champion in no time.