But no matter the nature of the fail, they’re always fun to watch. That’s why we’ve compiled the ultimate list of the greatest (and sometimes not so great) snowboarding fails of all time. From rookies and pros to Olympians, we have everything on this list. But before we start wiping out, we have an important message to deliver:
You’ve got the gear. Now, it’s time to look at some of the best snowboarding fails of all time. Hopefully, your wipeouts are never so severe that you find your way onto this list.
Everybody loves a good faceplant. Well, not the people who are faceplanting. But everybody else does. This video shows a novice snowboarder going for some sort of jump and rotation. Unfortunately, he gets absolutely no air and just lands flat on his face:
We don’t know where this happened but we love the little laugh from the cameraman as the trick literally falls flat on its face. It looks like the guy is okay though, so hopefully, he could smile about it afterward.
At first, this looks like a standard fail. The snowboarder clearly has some experience and just miscalculates a landing, causing him to roll. He even gets lucky and rolls into an upright position. He would have been ready to just carry on, but the snow he’s kicked up during his roll comes back for revenge and smacks him in the back, knocking him over again. He was just unfortunate enough to get a two-for-one fail:
There’s a reason why snow parks and ski resorts have pistes. These are designated safe tracks for snowboarders and skiers. Going off-piste comes with some pretty big risks, as the snowboarder in this video discovered. Unable to see a crevice covered in snow, the guy drops down into a hole in the ground upside down. He’s only saved by his board getting wedged between the two edges of the crevice, as you can see in the first clip of this compilation:
We know this incident happened in France. Thankfully, we also know that the snowboarder and his son survived the accident. If he’d been alone, this snowboarder would have been a goner.
From the same compilation video, we have something that seems innocuous at first. A snowboarder is moving pretty slowly down what seems like a fairly simple hill. But that hill turns out to be a sheer cliff with an extremely steep drop. Check it out at 5:53 of this video:
The good news is that the boarder recognized the drop before he went over and was able to grab onto a rock while his legs dangled over the cliff. After getting rid of his snowboard, he managed to clamber back to safety.
Some snowboarders get a little overconfident in their abilities, leading to them taking on jumps that they’re simply not ready for. That’s what happened to the rookie in this video. He spots a street jump and decides to give it a go. As he comes off the jump, he seems to lose control of his entire body and ends up flopping into the snow below:
We see the boarder start getting up at the end, so we’re pretty sure he’s okay. But that little scream when he knows things are about to go wrong gets us every time.
Lucas Foster had big hopes for his half-pipe run at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. And it started pretty well as he pulled off a pair of tricks, including a double cork 1080, flawlessly. Then, the third trick happens. And it fails so badly that Foster cracks his board in half and ends up falling 7.1 meters from the top of the pipe to the bottom while in an uncontrolled spin:
We’re not exactly sure how, but Foster managed to get up from this wipeout without any injuries. This one could have ended very badly. But in the end, it only cost Foster his good score rather than leading to any broken bones or serious injuries.
Shaun White is an absolute legend in snowboarding. He may be the most recognizable pro in the world. He’s even been the star of snowboarding videogames. But there’s one trick he’s never been able to pull off at an event – the triple cork.
In this video, we see White go for the trick during a practice run. But he miscalculates, leading to a wipeout where he lands back-first on the half-pipe’s edge:
This one ended in some nasty injuries for White, who had to go to hospital and is seen limping his way out toward the end of the video. We’re pretty sure he suffered some injuries to his hips and tailbone here.
When you know how to use a drag lift, they’re quick and easy ways to get up a slope while staying on your board. They can even give you a chance to work on your balance. But when you don’t know how to use them, they’re a recipe for some amusing fails. That’s what some poor guy named Frank Spencer discovers in this hilarious fail video:
Spencer tries and tries again, falling each time as he just can’t get the hang of the drag lift. The cackling of the camerawoman really makes this video for us because she just can’t stop laughing. Still, we’ve got to admire Spencer’s determination because he doesn’t stop trying.
We go from a funny lift fail to an absolutely terrifying one. Ski lifts scare a lot of people because they leave you dangling over a mountain edge while you get transported to the top. But when one goes out of control.....
We’re not sure where this happened but the results are terrifying. The poor people on the lift have to hold on for dear life as it comes hurtling down the mountain. When it rounds the bend, the lift flings its occupants into the air, leading to them crashing onto the ground. Even then, the danger isn’t over as the lift keeps going, making every chair a potential death trap. Thankfully, nobody suffered fatal injuries in this accident. But they very easily could have.
Pain is the first thing that comes to mind when we see this video. The snowboarder makes a fast approach toward a rail and jumps in anticipation of landing on it. But the jump doesn’t go as planned and the boarder lands back-first on the rail:
The video title says that he broke his back. We hope that isn’t the case. But the screams and moans in the immediate aftermath of this wipeout tell all you need to know about how dangerous this sport can be when you try tough tricks.
Slow motion video makes everything seem so much more painful. And that’s what we get in this two-minute clip that shows every small detail of a backflip gone wrong. We don’t know the name of this unfortunate snowboarder. But you can see this jump start to go off the rails as soon as he gets some air. The rotation just doesn’t happen, leading to a flat fall onto the lower back that could have caused a serious injury:
The video description says he was okay, which is good news. But without any snow to break the fall, we can imagine this failed backflip causing a lot of pain. When we say back and tailbone injuries are some of the most common in snowboarding, clips like this show exactly why that is.
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Yet, while the idea sounds fantastic, the reality can be far from ideal.
You might be all pumped and eager to hit the powder only to get to the park and realize it’s not precisely what you imagined. It could lack crucial features, be too short, or simply have poor design. At that point, some determined snowboarders might try to push on through despite the conditions, only to never come back again. But many will just turn their backs right away and give up.
Of course, getting to a park only to be disappointed is the last thing you want, especially if you’ve taken a long trip to reach it. That’s why we’ll give you an overview of the best snowboard parks worldwide and help you find the nearest one.
However, before we go on that park-hunting adventure, let’s look at some essential gear you’ll be taking along.
A good snowboarding park should have all the jibs that allow you to do tricks. In this sense, more is always better. The essential features include:
However, that’s not all. For a snowboarding park to be considered truly great, it will have to be built expertly. This means having separate, clearly defined skill-level sections and plenty of length, so you don’t have to hold yourself back.
Let’s look at the jibs you would likely find in a decent park:
Pipes are amazing because they allow you to get vertical, something snowboarders don’t get to experience very much outside of parks. The common snowboarding pipes include quarter and half pipes.
Quarter pipes are essentially ramps that you can jump off. In the unlikely case you’ve never seen a quarter pipe, imagine a full pipe, i.e., a large tube. Then cut it in half horizontally to get a U shape. Now, cut that shape vertically in the middle – that’s more or less a quarter pipe.
A quarter pipe is ideal for practicing various jumps. These can be jumps that you can’t perform on flat terrain or those you want to take to the next level. Depending on the size of the quarter pipe, they may also allow you to get in the air and try different grabs.
If you’ve watched a snowboarding competition, the half pipe will be an immediately familiar site. When talking about snowboarding, many people will be drawn to an image of massive, U-shaped walls.
Half pipes are designed primarily for aerial jumps. Most of the stuff of snowboarding legend was done on a half pipe, so if you want to try out some advanced tricks yourself, your park will need to have this feature.
Actually, a great park will have more than one half pipe. These can vary in size and will usually be between 12 and 18 feet high and 400 to 600 feet long. But if you’re really lucky, you might find yourself on a 22-foot superpipe, although those are an extremely rare occurrence.
A snowboard park jump is a small artificial hill. Park jumps can be as small as 5 feet, as big as 100 feet, and everything in between.
When you head to a good park, you’ll find jumps of different sizes often sectioned off from one another. This is an extremely useful feature that prevents complete Jerry’s from mixing with the pros. The point of the division isn’t just so that beginners don’t get in the way of advanced snowboarders – it’s also to stop boarders of different skill levels from crashing into each other.
Granted, most snowboard parks won’t feature dozens of half pipes. But every park worth its salt must have a variety of boxes and rails. These features aren’t only present in great parks, they should be a must for all of them.
Ideally, a park should have plenty of boxes of different sizes and lengths. If you need to practice your grinds, there should be wider and shorter boxes for just that. And if you want to perfect your rock-n-rolls or box 180s, there should be several boxes for that as well.
A similar principle applies to rails. A great park will have many rails that vary in length and, if possible, height.
If you don’t want to take your chances and instead wish to go world-class right away, here are the snow parks that will provide you with every snowboarding amenity imaginable.
Nearest Airport: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Length: 6.8 miles
Features: 5 full terrain parks
Pipes: 3, including a superpipe
Whistler Blackcomb is a legendary resort that, along with Vancouver, housed the 2010 Winter Olympics. You can get the chance to try out the famed superpipe in this top-rated resort.
In total, the terrain covers more than 8,000 acres, which includes snowboarding tracks as well as the backcountry. If you want to test your mettle through the tree-filled steeps, Whistler Blackcomb will oblige.
Better yet, the Blackcomb glacier houses snowboard camps even in the summer. Though they might be priced as steep as the surrounding mountainscape runs, these camps can also represent an amazing time.
Nearest Airport: St. Gallen-Altenrhein, Switzerland
Length: 87 miles
Features: 2 full terrain parks
Pipes: 1 half pipe, 1 superpipe
Laax is an excellent resort that many people don’t know about. This makes the superpipe home less crowded – an ideal setting for honing your skills. Laax has been the home of the Burton European Open for four years straight, which should more than recommend it for snowboard lovers.
You’ll get to wherever you want with ease while at Laax since the resort has some of the fastest gondolas in Europe, as well as what’s arguably the continent’s best lift system. Together with the hidden nature of this Swiss gem, you’ll spend less time queuing and more time snowboarding.
It’s worth noting that Laax is well-suited for beginners as well as pros.
Nearest Airport: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Length: 3 miles
Features: 12 full terrain parks
Pipes: 2, including a superpipe
Mammoth Mountain park is a delight for snowboarders. With 12 parks, more than 150 trails, and a superpipe, it’s not only one of the best but also one of the largest American resorts. In total, Mammoth Mountain covers about 3,500 acres.
This resort is without doubt one of the greatest Californian attractions. The terrain parks here are legendary, welcoming professionals as well as novice snowboarders. There’s plenty of variety – you can board on an open bowl one moment and shift to a gorgeous, wooded landscape the next.
A slight downside might be that the pistes aren’t all marked properly. However, Mammoth Mountain isn’t particularly hard to navigate, especially after your first few days.
Nearest Airport: Innsbruck, Austria
Length: 0.3 miles
Features: 28
Pipes: 1
The Vans Penken park is one of the greatest European centers for freestyle snowboarding. Despite its smaller length, this park will provide heaps of opportunities to practice your skills.
Located in Mayrhofen, this park is situated in a valley without extremely high peaks around. While this means less natural snow on occasion, the snowmakers are always hard at work covering the trails with more than enough powder.
There are plenty of freeriding options here if the short track length is an issue. However, despite its 0.3 miles, the track will offer enough challenge for most boarders.
Nearest Airport: Portland, OR,
Length: 3 miles
Features: 3 full terrain parks
Pipes: 1
Mount Hood Meadows isn’t a massive park, but it’s exceptionally well-equipped. The limited park space is used creatively to provide numerous exciting rides and satisfy everyone from beginners to hardcore pros.
One of the greatest advantages of Mount Hood Meadows is its balanced mix of difficulty. There are trails for complete beginners to test their developing skills and those for advanced boarders. However, if you’re a hardcore pro, Mount Hood Meadows might let you down a bit. You can find very few truly challenging slopes.
If you find yourself here, make sure to grab a ticket for a night ride – it’s an experience of a lifetime.
Nearest Airport: Redmond, OR
Length: 4 miles (longest)
Features: 4 full terrain parks
Pipes: 1
Nearest Airport: Geneva, Switzerland
Length: 58 miles (total)
Features: 2 full terrain parks
Pipes: 1
Nearest Airport: Melbourne, Australia
Length: 50 miles (total)
Features: 2 full terrain parks
Pipes: 1
Nearest Airport: Kelowna, BC, Canada
Length: 7.2 miles (longest)
Features: 2 full terrain parks
Pipes: 3
Nearest Airport: Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
Length: 71 miles (total)
Features: 2 full terrain parks
Pipes: 1
Nearest Airport: Sion, Switzerland
Length: 256 miles (total)
Features: 1 full terrain park
Pipes: 0
Nearest Airport: Wanaka, New Zealand
Length: 18 miles (longest)
Features: 2 full terrain parks
Pipes: 4
Nearest Airport: New Chitose, Japan
Length: 0.5 miles (longest)
Features: 3 full terrain parks
Pipes: 1
Nearest Airport: Altenrhein, Austria
Length: 161 miles (total)
Features: 1 full terrain park
Pipes: 0
Nearest Airport: Kuusamo, Finland
Length: 14.9 miles (total)
Features: 2 full terrain parks
Pipes: 2
Nearest Airport: Kiruna, Sweden
Length: 123 miles (total)
Features: 1 full terrain park
Pipes: 0
Nearest Airport: Fagernes, Norway
Length: 29 miles (total)
Features: 2 full terrain parks
Pipes: 2
Nearest Airport: Sofia, Bulgaria
Length: 9.9 miles (longest)
Features: 1 full terrain park
Pipes: 1
Nearest Airport: Granada, Spain
Length: 4 miles (longest)
Features: 1 full terrain park
Pipes: 1
Nearest Airport: Seo de Urgel, Spain
Length: 62 miles (total)
Features: 1 full terrain park
Pipes: 1
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Nobody wants to think about wiping out and breaking bones. But snowboarding is a risky sport. Even if you’re not pulling off insane tricks, you’re still moving at some crazy speeds while trying to keep control of a plank of wood attached to your feet.
Things go wrong.
Injuries happen.
And if you’re not protected by the right gear and clothing, those injuries can be pretty severe.
Your question now is, what clothing do you need to have to lower the possibility of hurting yourself when you wipe out? This article has the answers. And in addition to running through the essential gear you need, we’re also going to explain why you need it and give you some insight into how common snowboarding injuries are.
Yes.
…
What, you wanted more than that?
Okay, snowboard protective gear is needed because injuries are pretty common on the slopes. According to Sports Medicine Australia, hospitals in Victoria dealt with 383 hospital admissions related to snowboarding injuries between 2004 and 2007. That’s a rate of about 90 per year. Emergency department submissions were even higher, with 503 during the same period equating to 125 annually.
The same organization also breaks down the stats into the most common causes of injury. Unsurprisingly, falls are the biggest culprit. However, snowboarders also get injured after being hit or struck by objects. Lose control of your board (or be in the path of somebody who’s lost control), and you’re in line for an impact injury that can cause serious damage.
Fractures were the most common injuries found in the data that Sports Medicine Australia collected, accounting for 36% of injuries. Sprains and strains came a close second at 33%, with muscle and tendon injuries accounting for 7%. Superficial injuries, such as bruising, brought up the rear at 6%. The organization is also quick to point out that many of these injuries happen during the first week of somebody learning how to snowboard.
Now, we know what you’re thinking.
That’s just Australia. What about the rest of the world? Maybe Aussies are clumsy and get themselves hurt more often. Do they even have snow in Australia?
First of all, there are plenty of talented Australian snowboarders. Second, stats from other sources show us that these injury rates are pretty consistent no matter where you are in the world.
A study published in the Western Journal of Medicine produced its own figures. Researchers examined snowboarding injury patterns in recreational snowboarders over four years. They also compared these injury patterns to alpine skiers just to get a taste of whether snowboarding is a more dangerous sport.
Spoiler alert – it is.
The study concluded that snowboarding has a comparable or higher rate of injury than alpine skiing. It also dug into where these injuries are most likely to occur. It found that 19% of snowboarders injure their wrists compared to 2% of skiers.
Snowboarders also get more ankle injuries than skiers, with 16% versus the skiers’ 6%. But there’s some good news too. The study discovered that skiers are more likely to sustain knee and thumb injuries.
Interestingly, the study had similar findings to those of Sports Medicine Australia. We mentioned earlier that Sports Medicine Australia pointed out that a large portion of snowboarding injuries happen during the first week of learning the sport. The Western Journal of Medicine study builds on that by showing that 49% of snowboarding injuries occur in beginners. That compares unfavorably to skiers, with only 18% experiencing injuries while learning that sport.
We’re not done yet.
Another study published in the Western Journal of Medicine looked further back in history to examine how many injuries happened due to snowboarding in 1994.
Its findings?
27,000 in the United States alone. That’s a rate of almost 74 injuries per day!
Why are we presenting all of these stats to you?
Understanding the risks involved in snowboarding, and the injuries it can cause, ensures you respect the dangers the sport presents. Looking cool by snowboarding without a helmet and pads isn’t going to be so fun when you wipe out and potentially break some bones.
Protective snowboarding equipment is needed because it reduces injury rates and could protect you from some major problems. With the right gear, a crash that would break a bone could sprain it instead. Or, you might only get superficial injuries, or none at all, because the gear absorbs the impact.
The easy answer to this question is that you should wear protective gear whenever you snowboard. Even if you’re not looking to pull off any amazing tricks, falls can still occur. And when you fall, you impact with some tightly-packed snow that can cause the sprains, bruising, and fractures we’ve already mentioned.
However, some types of protective gear are more critical than others.
A helmet is a must. Head injuries are no joke.
Concussions account for about 20% of skiing and snowboarding injuries every year. Repeated concussions can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a condition that leads to mood changes, confusion, and memory loss. Helmets reduce the risk of concussions and make it less likely that you’ll crack your skull if you wipe out.
Other essentials include wrist and knee guards. After all, anybody who’s gotten their board’s toe end stuck in the snow has experienced what it feels like to go flying face first toward the ground. Your instinct is to put your hands out and try to land on your knees so you can protect your face. Wrist injuries are so common because of this instinct, meaning good wrist guards can protect you.
This gear covers the essentials. But plenty of other pieces of clothing protect your body when you’re on the board. Thankfully, protective equipment is available for men, women, and children at affordable prices, so you don’t have to compromise when protecting yourself.
Imagine that you’re trying a trick for the first time. You come off a small ramp, tuck your knees in to grab the board, and start rotating. But you can’t quite complete the rotation, which means you don’t get your board back under you in time for the landing. Instead, you go spiralling off the ramp and end up landing on your tailbone.
Impacting with the snow is probably going to hurt. But what if there’s a rock or other hard object in the snow? That’s a recipe for a cracked tailbone if you have nothing in place to absorb the impact. But the right protective gear, such as Rippl’s Impact Shorts, would have absorbed that impact with their padding. You get to carry on unscathed and don’t have to make a trip to the emergency room.
That scenario demonstrates how important protective gear is. These items of clothing work because they can absorb most of the impacts caused by falls and collisions, so your body doesn’t have to.
Granted, you need to wear the right types of protective gear. And there’s no denying that some types of gear are more important than others. Prioritizing the equipment that prevents the most common injuries, such as head injuries, wrist fractures, and ankle injuries, is a good start. But no matter what protective gear you buy, it’s always going to guard you against injuries better than wearing no gear at all.
The need for protective gear is pretty well established at this point. You know that snowboarding injuries are fairly common, especially when you’re first learning. Plus, the nature of the sport means you’re likely going to fall a lot, leading to your body making repeated contact with the ground. If you’re a step above the beginner level, you also have to worry about falling on harder surfaces, such as rails and half-pipes.
This knowledge leads us to some big questions.
What are the most common snowboarding injuries? And what can you do to protect yourself against those injuries? Let’s list the injuries and gear that all snowboarders should have.
This photo posted by a Reddit user is the perfect example of what can happen with a snowboard, speed and some rocks. Had he been wearing some protective gear like Impact shorts this would have been far less worse.
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or a board master, few things – if any – can compare to that feeling of ripping up a slope on a board. But for many of us, the basic experience might not be enough. After a while, you want to learn something even more exciting.
You want to learn snowboarding tricks. And who could blame you?
The adrenaline rush, right?
But you may wonder what constitutes a snowboarding trick. It’s obviously more than merely going down a slope.
The fact is that many things can be considered a trick. In essence, it can be any manipulation of your snowboard and body that leads to an unexpected movement. Of course, that movement needs to be deliberate, precise, and hopefully end with you standing upright on the board.
Performing a trick will involve lifting the snowboard off the surface partially or completely, rotating while in motion, or a combination of both.
There are simpler, more advanced, and pro tricks, and we’ll cover each category here.
Before we start though here are some essential kit.
Safety always comes first when you start attempting tricks on a snowboard. Wiping out can be a painful experience. No matter how well you can control your falls, you still have to deal with impacts, which means protecting your body.
Rippl’s impact shorts protect you with high-performance padding throughout. This padding absorbs the shock of a fall, guarding your hips and tailbone in the process. Whether on the slopes or in a terrain park, impact shorts allow you to ride more comfortably and speed up your progress.
You wear them snuggly underneath your snowboard pants, and they’re designed to flex easily with your body.
Rippl’s Impact Knee Pads feature high-performance padding that absorbs most the impact on your knees. They offer a snug and secure fit, they are made with breathable materials and dry off quickly if they get too wet.
>> Read our full guide: Essential Snowboarding Protective Gear [Ultimate Guide Before You Ride] <<
Beginners, Start Here (Intermediates, You Already Know This Stuff – Move Down)
If you’ve just started snowboarding and gotten the hang of the basics, that doesn’t mean you can’t put some great tricks under your belt. Besides being fun to do, these beginner tricks will also become your foundation for more advanced stuff. Here’s what you can start learning right away.
You’ll be surprised at how many tricks snowboarding beginners can do with some practice. You can learn surface, aerial, and even rail tricks, including:
Presses aren’t so much tricks as they are an essential technique. A press means you’re shifting your balance on the board, pressing one end into the ground.
To practice presses, start on flat ground. For the nose press, bend the front knee and lean forward until your hip is over the board nose. At the same time, keep the back leg straight, lifting the tail end of the board slightly.
The tail press will function the same way, only you’ll be bending the back leg and straightening and lifting the front.
Once you can do both presses with confidence, start shifting from tail to nose press and vice versa. The main thing here will be to keep your balance during the movement. This should also be done on flat ground.
Finally, when you’re completely confident, practice presses on a slope. Make sure to start with gentle slopes.
After mastering the press, you’ll be much better prepared for the wheelie.
A wheelie is when you’re riding the board with one end of it in the air. This is a basic trick that might not look as impressive as others but will do wonders for your snowboarding technique.
Learning wheelies build up your balance and power. Here’s how you do it:
First, find a good place to practice. You should choose a slope that isn’t too steep and doesn’t have much traffic. Once you start riding in preparation for the wheelie, go straight and keep your speed moderate.
Next, get ready to perform a tail wheelie. Bend your knees slightly and lean back.
Shift all your weight on the back foot, lifting the front. The nose of your board should lift off the ground. Try to keep your balance and stay in this position for as long as you feel comfortable.
Start shifting your balance forward until the nose of the board is back on the ground. That’s it – perform these steps, and you’ll successfully do a wheelie.
Note that falling backward is completely normal on your first attempts, which is why you should never go too fast while practicing wheelies. It takes some time to find that balance sweet spot.
Once you get the hang of the tail wheelie, you can start practicing the nose wheelie. It will include the same types of moves as the tail variant, but your balance will shift forward to perform the trick.
Butters are turns where your board is in contact with the ground. You’ll essentially be performing a 180 turn either on the nose or tail of your board.
It’s best to start practicing this trick on a very mild slope. You should also start doing butters only when you’re capable of maintaining a wheelie for at least three seconds.
Begin with a wheelie but only lift one end of the board slightly. Start to turn your chest towards the slope and your board will follow the upper body movement. Keep shifting until the tail and nose switch positions, i.e., until you turn 180 degrees.
As your back foot is getting forward, gradually shift your balance to the other foot. Once you’ve completed the rotation, shift further until the entire board is on the ground.
Note that after doing a 180-degree turn, you’ll end up riding switch. This means your back foot will now be at the front. If you don’t feel comfortable in this position, you’ll need to do another 180 to get back into the initial position.
However, it would be much better if you took the hard way and actually continued to ride switch. Of all snowboarding skills, this one will bring you the most benefits.
Riding switch will help you develop both sides of your body equally and play a crucial role in performing many tricks, from beginner to advanced level. That’s why you should learn the technique as soon as possible.
Here’s an awesome video on how to get comfortable riding switch:
An Ollie will be the first aerial trick you’ll learn. It’s the first time your entire snowboard will get off the ground – the basic jump.
Note that you should already be very stable on the board before attempting an Ollie.
While moving on a gentle slope, gradually shift weight to the back foot. At the same time, go down into a slight crouch. Shift your weight to the back until there’s no pressure on the front foot. When the board nose starts lifting off the ground, spring from the tail to jump.
Immediately after getting in the air, bend your knees towards the chest. Your board should be level with the ground and aligned to the center of your body.
When landing, try to get both feet on the ground simultaneously while straightening the knees. However, don’t get your knees completely straight – keep them slightly bent when contacting the ground to absorb some of the impact.
Once you’re comfortable landing with both feet, practice landing nose-first.
If you want to perform beginner tricks reliably, you’ll need the right snowboard for the job.
The best type of snowboard for beginners will have the following:
What does all this mean, though?
The camber profile determines how stable your feet are on the board. A Flat to Rocker variant is, as the name implies, flat under the foot, while a hybrid will feature a camber. Both types will provide great stability, ideal for beginners.
The board flex will make it easier or harder to bend and manipulate. Stiffer flexes achieve greater speeds, which you won’t need when just starting out. But a soft flex will come in quite handy when learning those butters and wheelies.
In terms of length, the standard will be determined according to your height. Ideally, you should opt for a slightly shorter board – literally an inch or two smaller than standard. This will give you just the right amount of stability and control.
Boards with true twin shape are symmetrical, which will make it easy to master riding switch early on. This shape will also improve your balance even further.
The stance refers to where your foot bindings are relative to the middle of the board. You’ll want to choose a centered stance rather than a setback. Similar to the shape, this will provide greater balance.
Finally, snowboard bases can be extruded and sintered. In essence, extruded bases are easier to maintain, less likely to damage, and slower than sintered.
As an intermediate snowboarder, you have little issues with balance and stability. You’ve mastered your wheelies, butters, and Ollies to the point where you’re starting to itch for more. Luckily, there’s plenty to learn still.
Intermediate tricks will require you to use a combination of previous skills and start getting familiar with one of the snowboarder’s best friends: the rail. Here’s what you can master as an intermediate:
Air to fakie is a compound movement that requires you to master all the previous techniques. It will incorporate elements of the press, wheelie, riding switch, butter, and Ollie. The result will be you performing a 180 turn in the air.
Riding straight on a gentle slope, you’ll need to do three things nearly at the same time:
Using the Ollie technique, spring off the ground. The moment you jump, your chest still shouldn’t face the slope completely.
Once airborne, continue twisting your shoulders until you complete the 180 degrees rotation. Prepare to land similar to the Ollie. The main difference will be that you’ll always land on both feet in an air to fakie – never on the board nose.
This trick will require plenty of fine-tuning, so try not to get frustrated if you don’t get it immediately. By now, you’ll be used to jumping in a straight line and doing 180 turns with one end of the board on the ground. However, making all that come together in a precise airborne 180 turn will be a completely different beast.
Here’s what a good air to fakie should look like:
If you’ve only done tricks on the ground so far, the 50/50 will be your introduction to the rail. There are two things to note about the 50/50:
First, don’t expect too much from it. In terms of flashiness and the cool factor, the 50/50 might rank lower than a really good butter. It definitely won’t be as impressive as an air to fakie. However, it will be the foundation for every other rail trick.
Second, don’t underestimate the 50/50. While it might seem like a piece of cake, chances are you’ll get a bit weak in the knees when attempting your first 50/50. This isn’t your usual ride on a wide slope – it’s a precision rail move that needs to be executed perfectly.
A 50/50 consists of riding nose-first in a straight line over a rail or a box. The main challenge here is to maintain your balance and direction to stay on track and not fall off.
To achieve perfect accuracy, you can start by drawing a box and trying to keep your snowboard completely flat while going over the drawn shape. The box should be about as wide as three snowboards stacked one beside another.
When you can confidently ride this drawn box without veering off to either edge, progress to the real deal.
You should choose a relatively short and wide box for your first attempt. Also, make sure there’s a ride-on to allow you to get on the box – you won’t want to jump on it immediately.
If you’ve achieved sufficient balance and precision, riding over the box shouldn’t present a huge challenge. Riding off the box will be the most delicate part. Here, you’ll need to keep your eyes on the edge and your landing point. When you get to the end of the box, tuck your knees slightly and land with both feet.
After you’ve mastered the basics of the 50/50, you can take it up a level or two. First, start with thinner and longer boxes. Then, once you’re comfortable, you can add presses or even Ollies.
The rock-n-roll will be your introduction to the real fun and excitement of rail grinding.
This trick involves riding the box with your chest turned front. The only part of the board in contact with the box will be the center, while the ends will go out from both sides of the box.
There will be three things to consider here: speed, how you turn coming on and off the box, and your balance.
As with the 50/50, it would be best to start with a shorter and relatively wide box. Approaching the box, you’ll need to develop enough speed to cover its entire length. You’ll need a couple of attempts to nail the right speed, so muster your patience and take your time.
When you get to the box, you’ll need to do a 90-degree turn. If the box has a ride-on (strongly recommended for first tries), the rotation will be similar to a butter turn. When you progress to a box without a ride-on, you’ll essentially do a half-air to fakie, which will also be the case when jumping off the box.
Finally, achieving balance will be something of a challenge, especially when you get on longer and thinner boxes. Ideally, you should be straight over the central axis of your body, not leaning too far back or forward.
You should be happy with your rock-n-roll grind once it looks like this:
If you want to do a 180 grind, you’ll have to become a master of the 180-degree turn on regular slopes first.
After you can do the turn without issues every time, you’ll be ready to take it to the box. Timing will be everything here as you’ll need to perform the turn just before getting on the box and right after getting off.
While timing your turn will be the most delicate part, you’ll also have to be precise enough. Unlike the regular surface, you can’t end the rotation at the approximate right direction. When you land, your board needs to be aligned with the box precisely.
The best way to do a successful 180 grind will be to turn your chest forward as you approach the box. Then, relax your legs, allowing them to follow the rotation of the upper body. Continue to twist the board until it aligns with the box and follow the movement through with your shoulders and chest.
It should go without saying that you likely won’t nail this trick on your first try. It’s also quite hard to practice it at very low speeds – you’ll need to move at a moderate pace to get across the box.
A goof intermediate snowboard should have a directional shape, sintered base, slight setback, hybrid camber profile, and medium flex.
Directional shape means that the nose of the board is slightly longer and softer than the tail. You could also choose tapered directional or directional twin according to your preference, but we feel it would be best to start with standard directional.
Sintered base, the setback, and medium flex should all give you more speed than a beginner board. Getting the flex medium – not harder or softer – is particularly important since it will provide speed while maintaining enough stability for tricks. Finally, the hybrid camber will make the board more stable.
Have you honed your snowboarding skill to a fine edge? If you’ve progressed so far that smooth turns, basic jumps and grabs, and riding switch are second nature and you feel as comfortable freestyling as you are in the park, it’s time for the next level.
Advanced tricks will build up on the strong foundation you’ve gained so far and test your skills to the maximum. Some of these won’t be just fun and exciting – they’ll leave everyone around you breathless:
If there was an official international flag for snowboarders, it would probably picture a board master performing a method.
You might think that this iconic grab isn’t so difficult – people seem to perform it all over the place. But the difference between a barely pulled-off method and one done right is huge. If you want to rate snowboarders by skill level, compare their methods, that one grab will tell you everything you need to know.
To really nail a method grab, you’ll need to do the following:
The combination of the shiftie and the melon grab is largely what makes a method. To get the most out of this trick, you’ll want to maximize your shiftie. After all, the melon grab looks terrible on its own, and you should do everything to get as far away from it as possible.
For the ultimate shiftie, slightly round your back leaning forward just before you jump. This will give you the momentum to rotate more. Then, once airborne, extend the back leg as much as you can. Ideally, the back leg should be higher than the front, or at least parallel to it.
Finally, while you’re doing the method, push your hips in the direction of movement and arch your back. The further you can do these two, the better your method will look.
The stalefish grab requires plenty of balance, power, and flexibility. In this grab, you’re holding the board to the heel edge with your trailing hand. The trick is to get your hand right behind the rear foot.
To perform this grab, you’ll need to shift your balance back while bending the back knee and keeping your front leg straight. This should allow you to reach the board. At the same time, your other hand should be extended straight up.
The board should be parallel to the ground, ideally creating a 90-degree angle with the extended arm.
This trick doesn’t seem like much as you’re practicing the position on the ground. But as soon as you try doing it in the air, you’ll see that it’s a real challenge.
Imagine doing a classic 180 in the air, then performing another 180 right after the first one. That’s pretty much what a frontside 360 is.
As an advanced snowboarder, you’re probably proficient in 180 turns, so the first part won’t be an issue. But once you’re airborne, you won’t have the opportunity to add momentum to the rotation. Instead, you’ll need to account for it before you jump.
This is the main trick with the frontside 360 – getting the 360-degree turn right.
Splitting the trick into two 180s might be helpful in terms of orientation. Since you know how it feels to do that turn, you can use it to measure your rotation. However, don’t get confused and start to relax your knees halfway through – you’ll need to keep them bent until you land.
If you’re ready for some heavy-duty snowboarding, you should choose a board with a rocker or directional camber profile. The shape should also be directional – either tapered or twin. You should also go for medium flex or eventually stiff if you’re planning on getting some serious mph.
These features will allow you to manipulate the board perfectly. At the same time, you’ll get more than enough speed and sharpness of movement for higher jumps and razor-edge turns. When it comes to the base, most advanced snowboards are sintered.
If everything you’ve read so far seems like child’s play, you might be on the verge of joining the big leagues. In that case, it’ll take something truly special to impress you.
Why not look to some of the champions of snowboarding for inspiration? Here are only some of our picks.
Who else would we feature here than the legendary Shaun White? As a snowboarding champion who pushed the edge throughout his career, White did plenty of amazing tricks, including:
If you want to see White at the top of his game, here’s his 2012 run at the Winter X Games that scored the historical 100:
Another absolute legend of snowboarding, Travis Rice became famous after doing a 117-foot gap jump with a backside rodeo. He was only 18 at the time and, like a fine wine, only grew better with age.
See the video below for some of Rice’s most hardcore moments.
Pro snowboards come in various shapes and sizes. For instance, twin shape might be a go-to universal option since it allows for riding either in regular or goofy stance. But if you’re more interested in developing insane speeds and cutting through the powder, you might want to go directional.
The flex should be at least medium if not stiff. You’ll need plenty of speed for some of the most advanced tricks. In terms of profile, rocker or camber will always do a good job for easier-but-powerful turns.
Pro boards often boast some unusual features, too, like reinforced edges and carbon fiber construction. If you’re at the pro level, there’s no reason not to opt for these additions – they’ll only help make your snowboarding game god-tier.
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Or, maybe you’re well past that level. You’ve already mastered a few basic tricks and want to take on something a little more complicated.
Whether you are a jerry or a seasoned pro, that’s where this guide comes in as we look at the gear, the preparations, and some fun tricks for you to try. As a bonus, we’ll also recommend some parks for you to try these tricks. Plus, there’s a special little something at the end for people who enjoy a good wipe out.
Before we start though here are some essential kit.
Safety always comes first when you start attempting tricks on a snowboard. Wiping out can be a painful experience. No matter how well you can control your falls, you still have to deal with impacts, which means protecting your body.
Rippl’s impact shorts protect you with high-performance padding throughout. This padding absorbs the shock of a fall, guarding your hips and tailbone in the process. Whether on the slopes or in a terrain park, impact shorts allow you to ride more comfortably and speed up your progress.
You wear them snuggly underneath your snowboard pants, and they’re designed to flex easily with your body.
Rippl’s Impact Knee Pads feature high-performance padding that absorbs most the impact on your knees. They offer a snug and secure fit, they are made with breathable materials and dry off quickly if they get too wet.
>> Read our full guide: Essential Snowboarding Protective Gear [Ultimate Guide Before You Ride] <<
Do you know when you bend your knees and really start picking up speed on the slope? It feels great, right? But as much as the adrenaline starts coursing through your veins when you speed up, going fast isn’t a trick. It’s just something you can do on a snowboard that feels cool.
Tricks are more complicated. They involve developing the ability to manipulate your body and board, so either or both do something unexpected. Tricks are showy. They’re fun. And they come with a higher chance of you wiping out.
We can separate snowboard tricks into five general categories.
If the board comes off the ground, you’re doing a jump trick. Many basic snowboard tricks fit into this category, including nollies and ollies. But you’re also likely going to start with a jump, or some way of getting air, for a lot of more advanced tricks as you start developing your skills.
These tricks usually involve you pressing one end of your snowboard into the snow while lifting the other end. Think of them the same way as doing wheelies on a bike. They’re among the simplest tricks, but they look pretty impressive.
As Dead or Alive once put it, “You spin me right round baby, right round” with these tricks. Well, you spin you. Not us. You get the point.
Rotation tricks are any that involve spinning your board on the ground or in the air. Naturally, the more rotations you do, the harder the trick becomes.
Grabs are usually combined with a jump or used when you go flying off a ramp. More advanced snowboarders will even mix a grab into a rotation trick. The trick is simply anything that involves you grabbing your board when you’re in the air. It sounds simple but grabbing requires plenty of coordination.
This is where you start moving into the complicated stuff. These tricks involve sliding on a rail, which means you need to master accurate jumping and keep your balance when your board is on a fairly thin surface. The best snowboarders can even mix other moves, such as jumps and rotations, into the rail tricks. But wiping out on a rail is not a pleasant experience.
You’ve got the gear, and feel ready to try a few tricks. You have the basics down, so what’s the harm in trying an ollie or two when you’re on the slope? As it happens, a lot of harm can come from even the simplest of tricks if you haven’t prepared your mind and body before your attempt.
There are several things you should do before you think about attempting a trick on your board.
Executing tricks is as much of a mental game as a physical one. Even the smallest moment of doubt can lead to you overthinking to the point where you make mistakes. And those little mistakes lead to you wiping out.
Mental preparation should start before the upcoming season. If you haven’t had a chance to get on your board in a while, you’re likely not in the mental zone you need to be in to execute tricks. Start thinking about snowboarding before you get on the slope, so you’re in the right headspace when the time comes.
Your preparation goes a little deeper when you start thinking about the tricks you want to pull off. This is where visualization comes in. For example, let’s say that your goal during your next ride is to pull off an ollie. Try to picture that ollie in your head. What does it look like when you execute the trick perfectly? Think about your body’s movements and what the board should be doing. Do the trick over and over in your head.
How does that help?
Visualizing tricks in your head helps to reaffirm the steps you’ve got to take to execute the move. It also helps with your confidence by getting you into the mindset of pulling off the trick successfully.
Don’t think about wiping out. That’s not what you want to happen. Visualize pulling off the trick perfectly. When it’s time to make an actual attempt, you’ll be mentally ready for the challenge.
You’re going to use a lot of muscle groups when attempting tricks.
Take a grab as an example. You need your leg and core muscles to maintain your position leading up to the grab. When you go for it, you’ll extend your core and arms, in addition to twisting your back. If those muscle groups aren’t loose and limber, you could end up hurting yourself.
Stretches are vital because they reduce the risk of injuring yourself while executing your trick. Focus on stretches that work your core, back, arms, hamstrings, calves, and quads. You’ll need all of them. Practicing yoga and keeping good posture also helps you gain flexibility and keep your main muscle groups strong.
Poor cardio leads to you feeling exhausted before you can even try a trick. You’re constantly working your body when you’re snowboarding. If you aren’t at a certain fitness level, you’ll have a rough time trying to execute tricks because your body may not do what you want it to do. Fatigue is dangerous on the slopes.
Aim to do about 30 minutes of cardio two or three times per week in the weeks leading up to your trick attempt. Plan ahead here. It’s no good starting your cardio routine the week before you get on the slopes. You want at least six weeks of cardio preparation to ensure you’re ready.
As for the exercises you can do, anything that gets you breathing and your blood circulating does the trick. Biking, hiking, swimming, and running are great for cardio. If you want to reduce the risk of knee injuries, consider using an elliptical machine.
You don’t have to be on your board to practice snowboard tricks. When you boil them down, tricks are just bodily movements that happen to involve a board. You can nail those movements down before you get on the slopes.
Think of practicing at home as an accompaniment to your visualization. You can see how you should execute the trick in your head. Physically doing it in your living room allows you to confirm that you’re physically capable, which increases your confidence when you get on your board.
If you want to know how to get started with practicing tricks from home, check out the below video from Tommie Bennett. He runs through drills for the tail press, backside 180, and stacked 180, all of which you can practice in the comfort of your living room.
You’re mentally and physically prepared to try a trick. So, you pack up your board and gear, head to the slopes, and start snowboarding. And that’s when it hits you:
You don’t know any tricks!
We’ve got you covered there as we’re going to run through a couple of tricks in this section. We’ll give you something simple for beginners and go through the steps for the hardest trick we can recall. But before we do that, we’re going to look at the craziest trick we’ve ever seen a professional snowboarder pull off.
Picture the scene.
British Olympian Billy Morgan is catapulting at high speed toward a ramp. He hits the ramp perfectly and goes flying 133 feet over the snow. As he’s in the air, Morgan starts rotating. And he just keeps going. In the space of three seconds, he rotates 1,800 degrees, pulling off the quad cork 1800 for the very first time.
That was the craziest trick we’ve ever seen a snowboarder pull off. But how did Morgan do it? We’re pretty sure he had to take these steps to land this mind-blowing trick:
The quad cork 1800 is insane. It’s an extremely challenging trick for even the best pros to land. But what about somebody who’s only just gotten to grips with staying balanced on the board? Of course, you’re going to start with something a lot simpler.
Every snowboarder starts with small tricks, and there’s one that we believe is the easiest for beginners to learn:
The ollie.
This is a simple jumping trick that’s easy to execute and doesn’t require you to do a lot of complicated spins or grabs. Better yet, the ollie is the basis of a lot of other tricks. It’s what you’ll use to jump over obstacles and onto rails. Here’s how to do it:
What is the hardest snowboard trick ever pulled off?
That’s such a subjective question. You could ask 10 different snowboarders, and you’ll probably get 10 different answers. We could argue that the quad cork 1800 is the hardest just because of how rare it is and how crazy fast you have to be moving to pull it off.
But if we’re going to pick one that may be even harder, we have to go for the triple cork 1440 executed on a half-pipe. This trick is rarely landed and is dangerous if you wipe out. Just ask Shaun White. This is the trick that landed him in the hospital when he tried it in 2013. It’s also a trick that he’s never managed to land at an event.
Sounds pretty tough to us. And even now, the steps for executing it are a little difficult to map out. But we’ll give it our best shot.
Beyond those steps, just pray to the snowboarding gods that you’ll be able to land this one without injury. Of course, these three tips are just a smattering of what you can execute on your board. For a more in-depth guide containing more tricks for all levels:
Check out our main snowboard tricks post: |
You know what trick you want to try. Next up, you need to find the right snow park to do it in.
A complicated intro is unnecessary here. We’re just going to point you toward five great parks every snowboarder needs to try out. And if you want to learn about more parks:
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the park that’s hosted a bunch of Winter X games makes the list. Buttermilk is actually a collection of five parks, all of which have a crazy number of lines for you to play around with.
The main Buttermilk park has a two-mile line that really tests your stamina. It also has four jump lines for the more advanced boarders who want to get some real air. The Olympic size half-pipe is also great for anybody who wants to test their skills against the pros. In all, Buttermilk has plenty of lines for beginners and experts.
With 150 obstacles for boarders to tackle, Whistler Blackcomb offers a bunch of different challenges. Like Buttermilk, it’s divided into five parks that can test everybody from beginners to experts. It’s also the perfect park for people who want to practice rail tricks as it has 90 rails ready for your experimentation.
Add banked turns, wallrides, boxes, kickers, and rollers into the mix, and you have the perfect playground for snowboarders who love busting out tricks.
Combining easy and medium parks, Glacier Park Kitzsteinhorn is ideal for beginners who want to practice some tricks without worrying about getting shown up by the pros. The Easy Park opens in December and contains some basic obstacles ideal for practicing jump and rail tricks.
Central Park opens a month later, with South Central Park following that in February. South Central is particularly fun because it has an array of 20 obstacles you can take on in a row, almost like a snowboarding obstacle course. Add a 150-meter long and 6.5-meter high superpipe into the mix, and you get a great snow park.
Sunny Southern California may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of snow parks. But Bear Mountain has everything that a trickster could want. This park is built with freestylers in mind, with over 120 jumps and 80 rails for you to practice on.
Beginners will also love the Skill Builder Park. The park has a set of progressive lines that are great for newbies, designed to help novices hone their skills. Once you’ve mastered the Skill Builder Park, you can move up to Red Bull Plaza, which features a bunch of street-inspired rails and jumps to master.
One of Europe’s first freestyle snow parks is also one of its best. The Classic caters to snowboarders of all skill levels, with its parks divided into XS, S, M, and L categories so you can cater your experience to your skill level. The pros will also love the Burton Stash Park, which features several woodland elements to create some trickier lines.
The Classic is also great if you have kids you want to introduce to snowboarding. Its Lil’ Stash and Burton Kids Parkway parks offer plenty of smaller obstacles. Add a pair of half-pipes, including a 120-meter superpipe, into the mix, and you have a park that provides plenty of variety.
We all love seeing somebody land an impressive trick.
But let’s face it…
We also love seeing people wipe out.
Some snowboard fails are so epic that they’re almost as impressive as actual tricks. Others are more like blunders that would barely make a blooper reel. If you want to check out our top snowboard fails and wipeouts, we have a whole post dedicated to them. For now, we’re just going to give you four that show you just how dangerous snowboarding tricks can be.
We mentioned it earlier in the article, so it has to go into this list. Snowboarding legend Shaun White came within inches of pulling off a triple cork, only for the move to end in a near-disaster.
During his training for the 2014 Winter Olympics, White attempted the triple cork during a practice run. This is how it turned out:
Seeing his back bend over the lip like that still makes us wince. The wipeout left White in the hospital and caused some serious issues with his hips and tailbone. Watch this video if you ever doubt the need for safety gear.
We go from a potentially life-threatening wipeout to an attempt at using a drag lift that goes wrong again and again. Apparently, this poor guy, Frank Spencer, just can’t get the hang of the lift and ends up falling a bunch of times. Check it out here:
This one is hilarious!
We think it’s the cackling from the camerawoman that really makes this video. And Frank just keeps trying until he gets it right. There’s a lesson in there somewhere.
This video is pretty simple. A random guy sees a street slope and wants to give it a go. The problem is that he’s clearly never taken on a slope like this one before. The guy seems to lose control of his entire body as he starts the jump, leading to him crashing into the snow without any control:
Thankfully, it looks like the snowboarder didn’t experience any serious injuries from this fail. He’s up on his feet pretty quickly and hopefully ready to try again.
Lucas Foster’s half-pipe run at the Beijing 2022 Olympics started so well. He pulls off a cool double cork 1080, which he follows up with another nice trick. Then, he goes for his third trick. And he comes down horribly, landing his board directly on the pipe’s edge. The impact from the crash bounces Foster up and into an uncontrolled spin that could have caused a serious injury:
Miraculously, Foster came away from this wipeout unscathed. That’s amazing, given that Foster bounced from the top of a 7.1-meter pipe all the way to the bottom. Unfortunately, the wipeout cost Foster the run, though we’re sure he’s just happy to come away from it without any severe injuries.
As a responsible safety-based snowboarding company, we have to advise you to read this really boring research on snowboard accidents (our lawyers said so). This does NOT mean you should not be going out there and pulling off the best tricks you can. But at the very least, check out our Rippl Impact Shorts and knee pads to protect yourself – don’t be a Jerry!
How common are snowboarding injuries?
US national library of medicine research on snowboarding accidents
We take no responsibility for the tricks we advise you do in this article. Every trick is done so at your own risk. We are purely here to help you have fun safely.
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“Well, I’m screwed!...
Was all that was running through my mind as I was propelling forward, destined to take a generous bite out of the snow, and possibly leave a tooth or 2 behind.
But… before I knew it, I had popped back up on my feet and was sailing back down the slope, dignity intact and not a single tooth missing!
Let’s face it. Falling hurts. We’ve all felt it. Catching edges, bailing on jumps, wiping out on boxes and rails. When you come down - it hurts like hell!
Although I haven’t been able to save myself from all the gnarly encounters with the ground that I’ve had, I have definitely reduced the odds of incurring a bad injury and I am thankful for a few tools and techniques that I have picked up over the years to help me better fall properly.
“Fall properly”. I know, sounds strange, but bear with me.
Well, when we lose balance and are about to fall over, our legs are usually the first port of call. We simply step out to regain balance.
However, as your feet are glued to that one single beautiful deck of yours, they can’t move independently. You can’t just regain your balance just by stepping out or stepping back.
So you rely on the other usual methods, such as outstretching your arms to save yourself. It’s instinctive, and makes sense in principle. Your body is trying to protect those vital organs of yours from getting trashed! The problem is that it's a bad idea as it can put an insane amount of pressure on the wrong parts of your body which can cause injuries, breakages and an awful lot of pain.
This has huge implications for a number of reasons:
You have to fight the urge to outstretch your hands, and not put too much pressure on a particular body part. But, you still need to protect your vital organs, avoid breaking a rib or two, and avoid cushioning the blow with your face! So, what do you do?
Having these tools and techniques in place to fall safely has saved my skin more times than I can count, and I would like to share these with you.
I know it sounds obvious, but let’s start with the basics. I couldn’t tell you just how many people I see that are too stiff when riding, or stiffen up when they lose control.
Seriously! Stiffening up is the worst! If you’re stiff, you don’t absorb the contours of the slope or surface. Keep relaxed, keep your legs bent and your body fluid. You’ll find that your board will flow better with the changes in terrain and your legs will act like little shock absorbers to help counter any sudden lumps and bumps in the piste. If in doubt, bend your legs and try to get lower to the ground.
Also, when you fall, a loose body will better absorb the impact and the energy from the fall will better disperse over your body. If you’re rigid, the vibration from the impact will hit you directly and will more likely cause breakages.
Even experienced snowboarders should wear a helmet, goggles and wrist guards at the very least. Beginners and more advanced riders doing tricks may also wear hip/butt pads, which cushion the backside against backward falls, or chest/torso pads and knee pads for protection during forward falls.
Protective gear is like an upgrade to the human body - allowing you to push harder, reduce damage caused from painful falls and get back up again and continue riding. I feel like superman when I’m armoured up!
You want less pain, more growth and quicker recovery? Get yourself some protective gear!
One of the main keys to falling well is to spread the force of the impact along maximum surface area, so that it’s not concentrated on a particular body part; wrist, knee, collarbone etc.
Ever wonder why stuntmen and street performers can lay on a bed of nails? Because that piercing pressure is spread across multiple different points or surfaces. If they tried to lie on one nail... instantly skewered!
Manage forward falls by keeping your forearms up in front of you - when you land, instead of outstretching your hands, plant your forearms (from your hands to your elbow) to further cushion the impact. Careful though. Make sure you don’t have any stray fingers dangling around. Try and keep your fist clenched to avoid breaking one of those little piggies off. And don’t fall directly onto your hands. That is a fast track ticket to wrist brokensville.
Fall backward with less risk of injury by tucking your chin against your chest, to keep the back of your head from hitting the snow; do your best to fall butt-first, then roll smoothly onto your back so as not to take the entire impact all at once.
Keep your arms in front of your chest if you can but, if you fall prey to instinct, use the entire surface area of your forearms and don’t just outstretch your hands. As with a forward fall, trying to catch yourself on your hands can cause serious wrist injury.
Rolling with the fall can greatly reduce the impact from a fall. Learning how to break roll has saved me more times than I can count. A break roll is where you tuck and roll into the fall, thus reducing the shock on any particular body part, and easing the pressure over time, rolling with the momentum until the momentum is spent.
You usually do this by dipping a shoulder and tucking your head in. I studied this doing mixed martial arts, but I see plenty of free runners use this technique.
This dude rolls like a pro!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_RCNpvz2hc
He lands on concrete! Bad… ass! And see how he uses the momentum to his advantage.
Let me just say that I do not suggest practicing this on concrete. And I would highly suggest getting a qualified instructor to teach you how to do this properly.
You may say, “but Nick, that’s not instinctive”. Then drill it, practice it, repeat it. Practice it somewhere safe though in an MMA gym, with a parkour instructor, in a gymnastics class. Somewhere that you can learn safely.
Honestly, once you have this down, it will be a game-changer! I have come over a fair few times now, and managed to roll over and pop back up the other side.
And this s***’s transferable!
I curbed my mountain bike and flew over the handlebars. As I had drilled the break roll at MMA, I managed to tuck in, roll and avoid a gnarly injury without even thinking about it!
Luckily people were watching so I looked like an absolute boss! (well, after the clumsy superman over my bike anyway).
Finally, choose a slope, surface or trick that suits your skill level, or just pushes past it. Countless accidents are caused by people overestimating their ability and taking on runs and features way beyond their capability.
Beginners should stick to gentle, uncrowded slopes with soft, groomed snow until they have developed enough confidence to go to that next level.
Those more advanced should think about their skill level when thinking about sending it, and definitely don’t fall prey to your ego or kodak courage. Do you want to ultimately do the trick? Or do you want to be injured so badly that you can’t perform the trick again?
Sure, push your limits, but progressively. Gradual progression is actually speedier over the long run as you injure yourself a lot less. People don’t consider the time that you may end up sitting out in recovery.
When it comes to life, be the smart person and try to be as proactive as possible. You aren’t going to avoid every accident on the slopes, but you can reduce your odds of falling and causing a serious, more long term injury.
Long term damage can have long lasting effects. As I mentioned. I know people that can’t ride anymore because they’re broken. And we don’t want that. We want to be riding until we’re old and grey.
That being said, despite these smart precautions, you still will fall at some point, and having a decent set of protective gear is a no-brainer! Explore our gear here.
]]>For those that have never been before, the first trip can be both exciting and nerve-racking. The anticipation of trying this epic activity should not be diminished by any potential anxiety as to what to expect. By taking some time to make sure you are aware of what you need to bring and how to stay warm, safe and shredding, will guarantee that your first time snowboarding will only leave you wanting more.
You may be wondering then, what gear you are going to need to stay safe, comfortable and stylish. This article lays out what you need to stay warm, dry and protected - without cramping style.
A quick note about renting...
There is no denying it, snowsports can be expensive, particularly if you are new to it and not 100% sure if it is for you. Luckily, many of the things that you will need can be rented either prior to going, or from the resorts themselves.
If you are looking to go snowboarding, you will be well aware that you are going to need a snowboard. These are definitely one of the items to consider renting if it is your first time; and can be rented at snowsports stores at resorts. Whilst gear like snowboards can be rented, clothing is typically bought and should be purchased prior to the trip.
A quick note on quality...
Nothing ruins a snowboarding trip faster than getting caught without the right gear. It is worth knowing that with snowboarding, two things are necessarily true - you are going to fall and you are going to be sitting on your butt in the snow. alot. This snow will naturally melt on you and if you are wearing the wrong types of gear, you will get wet. and cold. It is therefore important to make sure that you have good quality gear that will allow you to stay warm and dry, even after spending a day rolling around in snow.
This guide will go through everything you need to get out on the slopes confidently, allowing you the freedom to hit it harder, with more style and less worries. With this guide, you will be ready for whatever the mountain throws at you.
NOTE: This checklist is for snowboarders, but if you ski you can swap out the boots and board, for skis boots and poles and the rest still applies!
See also:
Get 10% off Impact Shorts, kneepads and back protector, use code: gear-list-offer-10 |
If you do not own a snowboard, boots or bindings, you will need to rent these from the resort. it is normal to rent these and they can be expensive to buy new, so don’t feel obliged to fork out unnecessarily. Below we will go into a little detail as to what to look for in the three pieces, regardless of whether you’re buying them for the first time or renting. It is worth bearing in mind that the quality will likely be higher if you purchase, but don’t let that put you off.
Choosing your first snowboard can be tough. There are different types of boards (alpine, freestyle, and freeride) depending on what style you want to try. These might all look the same, but the paint job is not the only difference between snowboards. If you’re big into the sport, you might have a quiver of boards for varying conditions and styles of riding. For those newer to it, stiffness and shape of the edges are key factors that can drastically change the way a board rides.
If you’re new, you’ll most likely want a snowboard that is on the smaller side of your size range, this will give you more of an ability to manoeuvre the board. Beginner boards are typically softer and have less aggressive edges. These can be more forgiving if you make mistakes and won’t take as much energy to flex and manoeuvre as an advanced board. Beginners often prefer freestyle boards, as they are shorter and easier to control. A twin-tip shape on a board will also assist in your learning because you will be centrally placed on the snowboard, providing you with the ability to ride both ways.
Boards made for riding in terrain parks tend to be more flexible. They also have more of a dish-shaped base (called a rocker). This means it won’t grab an edge as easily but is great for presses and spins.
A race board or something made to go fast might be stiffer so it can hold an edge at speed. They also can be longer which gives a more stable ride when you get going faster. However, they also catch an edge far easier as well.
Backcountry boards are built wider to float on deep snow better and now come in a variety of shapes to aid in the ‘float’. You may also have heard of splitboards, which are a new trend for backcountry.
Rent: a rented snowboard has a few features that will make your initial boarding experience more forgiving.
Bindings will also come with your board. These fasten your boots to the board and come in different sizes to fit your boots. There are two main types of snowboard bindings that most people ride these days. There are three main types of bindings – strap-in bindings, step-in, and speed entry bindings (a.k.a Rear Entry Bindings). There are others but they are rare these days and highly specialized. For more info - see somewhere else.
Strap in These are the most common bindings on the market. They come with two straps (toe and ankle), a chassis and a highback. They are generally highly customisable. Adjustable heelcup, forward lean, straps, gas pedal or canting, strap-in bindings can be tweaked to your liking and are suitable for any kinds or riding. They are not the fastest bindings to adjust but they're super reliable and pretty comfortable.
Step On bindings only work with Step On boots.
Rear-entry bindings have a hinged highback which can be lowered. This opens the rear of the binding and allows you to slide your boot in. To close it, just pull the highback up and lock the switch. It literally takes seconds and can be done on the fly. If you've never used it, the first tries can be a little tricky but rear-entry bindings are a real time saver. If you don't want your skier friends to wait for you anymore, this is your option.
There are also different types of binding mounting systems on snowboards that may only be compatible with certain bindings. In most cases you can get special base plates that will allow compatibility, however we won’t go into those details here.
These specialised boots will connect you to your board through the bindings. Snowboard boots come in regular shoe sizes, but sizing can vary among different companies. Your boots should be snug, but not tight to the point of restriction.
Boots come in an array of lacing systems, styles, flexes, and fits. You’ll want a boot that fits just right, as they’re one of the most important parts of your gear. As a beginner, you’ll be taking a few diggers and moving in all directions. Having a boot that secures your foot and fits properly is highly important in developing your snowboarding skills.
There are many things that go into building snowboard boots, but the biggest difference is how stiff they can be. Some are quite soft, which makes for a comfortable and smooth ride. Comfort comes with a tradeoff though, a soft boot will lack control on hard snow or at speed. The opposite is true for stiff boots. While they can offer you more control over your board, they make for a less comfortable ride. You’ll always need to stay focused on your movements. A stiff boot can be less forgiving- shift your weight ever so slightly in the wrong direction and you’ll have caught an edge and be tumbling down the hill! The stiffness of the binding front to back plays a large part in how your edges connect with the snow. The amount of torsional (twisting) flex in the bindings has an impact on the way your board will flex and react to your movements. Of course, the weight of the binding impacts your riding too. It can affect the ease of how you move the board, and of course how high you can jump!
Rent: just like a board there are several styles of boots, but admittedly boots have less features.
Stiffness: the stiffer the boot the easier it is to engage a turn but until you get muscle memory up you won’t have the fine motor control to effectively make use of stiffer boots. If you buy a non freestyle pair of boots new they will generally be stiffer than forgiving rentals.
Lacing mechanism: this might sound odd, but there are several types of mechanism for lacing up boots and quite a few are not intuitive for the beginner boarder. Renting will get you a quick lesson in how the mechanism works as well as giving you a chance to find out which you prefer.
Nothing ruins a day on the snow like an injury. Snowboarders are particularly susceptible to sprains and broken bones because they fall a lot when learning and because of the tricks they perform in the terrain parks. Here is some of the safety gear you should have:
A helmet is really key for two reasons: 1) Everyone else has one and sooner or later, you'll have a collision. You don't want to knock noggins without a helmet; 2) if you're a novice, you will fall and you will whack your head ... and snow does not act as a cushion. Gone are the days where only the “uncool” wore helmets. The majority of people on the slopes wear helmets now. Even if you trust your own ability, most injuries happen because of other riders! Nowhere is safe. If you’re on a beginner slope you’re more at risk of being cleaned up by an out of control newbie. If you’re on an advanced slope, while collisions are less common, they tend to be even more devastating.
Your brain is the most important organ in your body, so wearing a helmet should be an easy decision. As a beginner, you may struggle with control, so protecting your head is paramount. If you do not own a helmet, the resort will have various options to rent one that ensure you will find one that fits.
This should be obvious with all the research out there about safety and sports, however, helmets will give you some protection against concussions by lessening the blow and ultimately protect the rider from the potential of skull fractures. Protect your noggin (head) every day on the slopes by throwing on a helmet.
You shouldn’t wear a beanie underneath your helmet as this will compromise the fit of the helmet, making it less safe to wear. Helmets have built-in insulation anyways, so you’ll be fine without. I usually bring a beanie with me to wear when the helmet comes off in the chalets, or while I’m hiking and touring.
Most helmets tend to be built for a single (large) impact. It’s unfortunate, but after a big collision, your new helmet won’t protect you as well as it used to. This is why I recommend against rental helmets. Not only do you avoid all the nasty sweat from strangers, but you have the peace of mind of knowing no one else has compromised the integrity of your helmet. Snowboarding (and skiing) are extreme sports. It’s important to invest in a quality helmet.
Knee pads, elbow pads, hip pads, and butt pads are all designed to keep you from seriously injuring or bruising yourself on the slopes. So for whatever area you prefer to be protected, get yourself a pad. They also make falls while learning new tricks a lot more comfortable.
Beginner snowboarders experience injuries to the wrists, knees, and ankles as they learn how to snowboard. If you would want to protect these parts of the body, invest in appropriate guards and pads. Knee and butt pads are readily available online and cheaply. Most people underrate wrist guards but they can mean the difference between having safe hands or a twisted wrist in the evening.
I would add knee pads to the list of items to buy, borrow, or steal as well, since--as a beginner--you will likely do a lot of falling and kneeling. After snowboarding for over 12 years, I still wear a pair of knee pads every time I go out. They're pretty cheap, easily fit under outerwear, and provide just enough protection to keep your knees from feeling like they're going to fall off at the end of your first day. Plus, they provide some extra warmth on the coldest days.
While skiers may benefit from the warmth and protection of padding around the derriere, padded shorts are generally more useful for snowboarders (especially those just starting out). These shorts tend to have padding around the coccyx, hips and thighs, which will protect you from a lot of pain when falling backwards or sideways onto hard snow (a no brainer for beginners).
Admittedly, some people don’t like the bulky nature of many of these shorts. However, as with back protectors, the snow protection gear industry has advanced leaps and bounds, creating items that are incredibly comfortable and flexible while still providing ample protection. For example, Rippl Impact Shorts are ergonomically designed to move with your body while still providing optimal impact protection. It does pay to make sure that, whatever padded shorts you invest in, they fit under your saloppettes before you buy them though, to avoid any annoying first-day-of-holiday realisations!
Not only do padded shorts offer protection, but if you are learning to snowboard, you are probably going to spend quite a bit of time sat on the snow. This can result in a very cold bottom if you don’t have the adequate insulation. While thermal leggings and salopettes can do the job, many padded shorts come with enhanced thermal technology that can be a very well received addition.
Back injuries are uncommon for snowboarders, but when they do occur, they can be severe and long lasting. Back protectors sometimes also come with shoulder padding, however they can seriously restrict your upper-body movement.
Back protection is a big one when it comes to skiing and snowboarding, especially if you are an adventurous rider who loves to explore the mountain. While back injuries are not the most common injuries seen in ski resorts, they do happen and can be extremely serious when they do. For freeride and freestyle skiers, who are most at risk from falling objects, solid impact or awkward falls, back protection should definitely be something to consider. Back protectors are also very useful for beginners as you will be constantly falling on your back and a back protector simply makes that less painful when it’s happening over and over.
Previously, back protection has been avoided by many due to its heavy, rigid, uncomfortable nature. However, with modern advances in technology, the SpineShield back protector shown above has become a lot more comfortable to wear. Created with more flexible material, they fit better with the shape of your back and are able to move as you do (kind of like a spine).
Back protectors come in either a harness, vest or jacket style. It tends to just be a matter of personal preference that sets these apart; all have their various pros and cons. The harness style, such as the Rippl Impact SpineShield above, is often more solid than the vest, and can be lighter and easier to manoeuvre. The vest style however is extremely lightweight and can be more comfortable for some people, fitting easily onto your body and staying in place well. Although for some people the vests can get too hot. Additionally, the back plates can usually be taken out in order for you to easily wash the vest, which is likely to get a bit sweaty while you’re working yourself on the slopes!
Finally, the jacket style offers all-round body protection, often including elbow, shoulder and chest protectors, but can also be very bulky, especially when worn between a base layer and an outer jacket. This offering from Dainese is the prime example – though it may be bulky and restrictive it offers a huge amount of protection for those that may need it!
It has been estimated that knee injuries account for around 25-45% of all ski injuries. If you’ve ever known someone that has injured their ACL skiing, or done so yourself, you will know how debilitating knee injuries can be, particularly for ski-lovers. Designed to cushion the force of impact, knee pads come in two types; hard and soft (like these Rippl Impact Knee Pads). Both are effective, but skiers and boarders tend to opt for the softer option as they fit better under salopettes and allow for more freedom of movement in the leg.
If you already have knee problems, knee supports and braces are something we would definitely recommend to help you get the most out of your ski holiday while remaining as free of pain as possible. There are many knee braces around, such as the discreet Ski Mojo brace, that takes up to a third of the strain off the legs, reducing impact, alleviating leg and knee pain and delaying muscle fatigue. It’s all about what works best for you and your specific needs, so make sure you do your research either online or by speaking to those in the know, such as your physiotherapist. Also, be sure to try the brace on before you head to the mountains to make sure it’s comfortable (you could even take it to your local slope!).
During a fall, the first natural movement is to brace yourself with your hands, especially for beginners. Even minor wrist injuries can take about eight weeks to heal. So buying a good pair of wrist guards is never a bad idea when you’re new to snowboarding. As you become experienced, you’ll learn how to fall safely and slide with it, making wrist guards not as necessary.
Wrist protection is definitely something that is more important for snowboarders than skiers. If you’re a skier, you can probably get away without these, but as a boarder (particularly if you are a beginner), wrist guards can be incredibly helpful. Website www.skiinjury.com found that snowboarders are twice as likely to get wrist fractures than skiers.
Snowboarders are much more likely to put their hands out to break their fall, which, if you fall the wrong way, can have devastating consequences for those precious wrists! Apparently, 40% of snowboard injuries are to the wrist and 24% of injuries are wrist fractures. So, wrist protection can do you a world of good if you are a keen boarder and we would definitely recommend investing in some protective gear.
When it comes to wrist protection, you have two main options; gloves or mittens with inbuilt protection, or standalone wrist protectors that fit under a glove. As with back protectors, there are pros and cons for each. Protection inbuilt into gloves tends to be slightly more comprehensive in protecting the entire wrist, and also means that you don’t have to worry about fitting or forgetting your wrist guards because they are always with you.
Once you have the warm base layers, you need some snowboard-specific gear to keep you dry and for best performance on the snow. Wearing the right clothing on the hill goes beyond just a matter of style. You need attire that will keep you warm, but not too warm. Layers are the way to go. When you make your first trip down the hill, your body isn't warmed up yet. As you warm up (and on those sunny days), you'll want to have layers you can strip off to stay comfortable.
Here are some suggestions for how to dress for comfort without overdressing:
Layering is key when dressing for a day of snowboarding. Start with your base layers of thermal underwear and a synthetic long sleeve shirt. Your mid-layer is your insulating layer. It should be a soft-shell (or fleece) jacket or pullover. Your next layer is your protective layer including your snow pants. They should be waterproof, and wind resistant. Make sure you wear your waterproof socks, and maybe tuck an extra pair into your snowboard bag in case water or snow gets inside your socks. Gloves are very important as well. Don’t forget your goggles, buff and any other accessories you want to wear. Make sure you only wear inner layers that are made of wool or a synthetic (polypropalene, nylon etc.) These will keep you warm even wet. That is especially vital for socks.
A good snowboard jacket will have a wind and waterproof outer shell. The jacket should also be breathable, which means it will allow sweat to escape and keep you warm. While on the mountain, the weather can fluctuate on a whim, so owning a jacket that specializes in temperature control is important to feeling comfortable throughout the day.
Like your jacket, your pants/salopettes also need to be weather-proof and breathable. When your body touches the snow, good snowboard pants will prevent water from seeping through.
Base and mid layers are worn underneath your jacket and pants. On particularly cold days, proper base layering is crucial to staying warm. You want to avoid cotton products because they are neither breathable nor waterproof. Synthetic materials or wool are effective with wicking moisture and maintaining a comfortable body temperature. These are your next to skin tops and bottoms.
Baselayers will help wick moisture from your skin and keep you dry and warm. I usually take a few different weights of Merino wool baselayers on a snowboarding trip. These are odor resistant so I can wear them for a day or two before they need a wash. Plus they are quick to release moisture on the slopes. When I do wash them they’re dry by the next morning! This layer wicks sweat off your skin and keeps you warm. Choose wool, synthetic or silk (not cotton). You’ll want lightweight or midweight depending on the outside temperature and whether you run hot or cold.
On very cold days, adding a mid layer on top of the base is suggested. Mid layers are fleeces, sweaters, sweatshirts, or other common clothing items that add warmth. You don’t usually wear a midlayer on your legs, only on your upper body. This can be anything from a second thin baselayer, to a full on down jacket (advisable in a shell only).
Insulated and waterproof snowboard gloves are also very important. Your hands will be in periodical contact with the snow, so these specialized gloves will protect your hands. Durability is also key, as a typical ride will test the wear and tear of your gloves.
My personal favorite is mittens because all my fingers get to huddle together for warmth. GORE-TEX® has one of the best waterproofing materials out there. As you are learning to ride, your hands are in the snow a lot, to protect them and keep them dry, treat yourself to waterproof or water resistant and insulated. Generally, greater thickness equals greater warmth, and mittens tend to be warmer than gloves, but you sacrifice some dexterity (though inner liner gloves offer versatility). You don’t need ski- or snowboard-specific gloves or mittens, but they do have some nice features, like built-in goggle wipes and long cuffs that go up to mid-forearm to keep snow out.
What’s the Difference Between Ski and Snowboard Clothing?
Traditional skiwear was sleek because of the sport’s Olympic heritage and need for speed. Snowboard clothing is slightly looser, kind of like the sport’s renegade origins. That styling carries over in ski and snowboard brands today, but the features aren’t dramatically different. Which is a long way of saying skiwear would work fine for snowboarding and vice versa.
Snowboard socks are essential because cold feet will quickly ruin your day. Since your feet will sweat from the heat of your boots, you need socks that wick moisture. Thin, synthetic socks work best since your boots are already insulated. If your socks are too thick, your feet will sweat and lose warmth. Also, your socks should be high enough so your skin does not rub against your boots and cause irritation.
Ski and snowboard socks are taller than your boots and not overly thick (thick socks can actually make your feet colder if they make your boots too tight and restrict your blood circulation). Some have padding at the shins. Go with wool or synthetic socks and avoid wearing cotton socks because, when cotton socks get wet from snow or sweat, they take forever to dry out.
Thicker socks will hold on to more moisture and might make your boot not fit as well. I’ll usually buy ski socks to wear in my snowboard boot. They’re made from techy fabrics that work well at keeping my foot dry and warm without compromising my boots fit.
Snowboard goggles help battle glare and protect your eyes from the snow and wind while riding. When riding down a mountain, snow and debris can fly against your face, making goggles a necessary piece of equipment.
Depending on the type of lighting you’re typically riding in during the winter months, you’ll want to get a goggle lens with a tint that matches your typical sunlight exposure during the winter. For us in Minnesota, you’ll probably want a low light lens, like amber or clear. For all who are blessed with numerous bluebird winter days, a dark lens will do. This can get overwhelming and complicated, if you’re concerned, purchase a pair with multiple lenses or talk to a product specialist.
Goggles don’t only protect you from UV rays reflecting off the snow, but also make a huge difference in the clarity and contrast you’ll see on the hill. The better suited your goggle is to the conditions, the better you’ll be able to make out the definition of the snow. If you can see what’s in front of you, you can make adjustments to your riding and be a better rider.
You don’t want to wear sunglasses on the hill unless they are specifically made for winter sports. Of the rack glasses are likely not shatter resistant, are almost certainly not optimized for clarity on the snow. Unless they are a close fit, they won’t protect your eyes from wind and wayward UV rays as well as goggles too.
Goggles are generally classed in 4 categories, depending on the percentage of VLT (light) they let in.
Category 1 lets in the most light and is best for overcast and snowy days. Category 4 lets in the least light and is really only suited to a bluebird day in the high alpine.
For someone looking for an all-round goggle, I’d recommend a Category 2. You won’t get the best performance in sunny weather, or snowy weather, but you’ll get adequate performance no matter what the conditions.
Other gear that's optional but that will make your day more comfortable and enjoyable includes:
Along with the necessities, like a snowboard, these items are super nice to have with your setup, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.
Stomp Pad: They are huge in helping you not fall and feel like you’re going to get hit by the chair when you’re getting off the lift. They help create a stable spot on your board that you put your foot down on when exiting the lift and gliding with one foot out of your bindings.
Wax: This will help you glide over the snow smoothly. Watch House employee, Guf, show you how to properly wax a snowboard.
And because you don't want to gear up before your drive to the mountain, you need something to haul your gear around. If you have your own snowboard boots, get a boot bag that can hold your gloves, goggles, wrist guards, knee pads, sunblock, and even some water and snacks. If you're renting your board and boots, any type of tote bag, backpack or sling bag will do.
Snowboarding Travel Insurance
You won’t regret having travel insurance when you leave for your snowboarding trip, even if it’s just for peace of mind. Especially if you’re traveling overseas, you’ll want to make sure you’re covered. We love using World Nomads any time we travel because they cover the costs for lost or stolen luggage, flight cancellations, and medical expenses in the case of an accident on the slopes.
Universal Power Adapter
Don’t get stuck without a way to plug in and charge up your electronics when you get to the mountain. Particularly if you’re headed on a snowboarding trip abroad, you can’t go wrong with packing a universal power adapter. This one works almost everywhere in the world and includes USB ports so you can plug in multiple devices at once.
Don’t forget the sunscreen: Avoid the racoon look and slather on the sunscreen on exposed skin. Sunlight is more intense at higher altitudes, and snow glare reflects the sun and intensifies sunburn and skin damage. Don’t forget the undersides of your chin, nose and ears
Board Tools
A multi-tool to tighten bolts and make adjustments to your bindings on the fly can be handy to bring with you. Most resorts have tool stations near the lifts, but these are helpful if you’re venturing further away or want to make adjustments as you go.
Camera/GoPro
Capture all your tricks and falls with an action cam. Bring along a GoPro or other action camera to mount on your helmet and film yourself and your friends. If you’re bringing your expensive camera make sure you have a well-padded camera bag.
Helpful hints
In Conclusion
This might seem like a giant investment all at once. But many of the apparel items you can reuse for climates with below-freezing winters. Or, borrow a friend's.
Learning to snowboard is "tough" enough on a lot of adults, who are not used to the sensation of being a total beginner. Don't make it harder for yourself not suiting up appropriately, and being cold, wet, and miserable out there.
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There is no denying it, snowboarding can be painful at times. No matter the skill level, you will likely experience pains in places you didn’t think possible. It’s worth remembering that often, the situations that have this effect are avoidable, or at best mitigatable. There are many ways in which we can help ensure we have a pain-filled day out on the mountain, as well as ways to avoid it if we choose. Explore this list to find out how to be a complete masochist, or save yourself and body from harm.
Being on camera is a great way to show off what you can do to the world. It is also a great way of pushing yourself to your limits. Ultimately, this is likely to end up sometimes in accidents as you push it that little bit to far. The tendency to go beyond your limits when being filmed is not a snowboarding exclusive, however it is hard to resist the temptation to try and send it as hard as possible when it does arise. Whilst you can edit out the crash reels from this ego-inflation exercise, the damage done in the meantime is harder to erase when your limits get stretched that little bit too far.
Hit it hard and look good doing it, but know your limits and how far you can push them and still walk away at the end of the day.
For the seasoned snowboarder, ‘Apres’ is rarely dedicated to the final booze up at the end of the day. From lunchtime shots, to hip flasks for on-mountain ‘refreshment’, alcohol finds a space for many throughout the day for many on the mountain. A cheeky top-up can shed that extra chill factor, as well as encourage you to be a bit more daring - whether it is bombing runs, or going bigger in the park. But it is worth remembering that besides a drop in inhibitions, alcohol can also result in impaired postural stability and balance, meaning that you may not be as steady as you hoped. Many accidents happen on slopes due to this alluring mixture of speed, snow and booze. Know your limits, be aware that you are under an influence and act accordingly, or save it all for the end of the day once you are off the slopes.
You are going to crash or fall. At some point, this will be true. Whether you are a beginner who may be struggling with your balance or edges, or a veteran who is pushing their limits, we can all expect to be a bit too up close and personal to snow at some point. Being aware of this fact and working to mitigate any risks from this is, therefore, a pretty useful approach. Apart from not falling (i.e. improving your technique - and luck), the two best things you can do to prepare for the inevitable are to learn how to fall properly, and wear protection that can soften the blows when you do.
When learning to snowboard, one of the most common falls is the infamous edge-catch. This type of fall can really rack up the nerves as they are often unexpected when they occur. Whilst a certain degree of ‘learning by falling’ does happen to help avoid this issue, there are some easy steps to help avoid this from happening.
The main issues that affect catching an edge are ultimately all technique, but can be whittled down to speed, clearance, gradient, and changing edges. Commit to your turns, take it slow and gentle and pay attention to how much clearance you are giving your board (particularly when you are stopping) and you will be well on your way to avoiding this issue.
Here at Rippl, we have an unavoidable mantra: you will fall. Like the Liam Neeson of snowsports, at some point it will catch up with you, even if you try endlessly to avoid it. As this guide goes to show, there are many ways that you can make sure you avoid the bigger crashes, and that when you do, the impact is softened. But also knowing how to fall can make a significant impact on your winter sports longevity and so practicing the falling movements can help.
When falling forwards, you need to be careful not to put your hands out. Instead, opt for your forearms as a brace, which may also help protect your face.
When falling backwards, you want to avoid large impacts to your head and ideally also your tailbone. Spreading the impact by curling up and using your arms to absorb some of the impact can all help.
Spreading the impact is key to damage mitigation here, but make sure you are prioritising the parts you can’t live without, such as your head.
Snowboarding in switch definitely feels weird if you are new to it. The little part of your brain telling you to carry on in your normal stance because it feels way easier may be tempting, but can cause big problems later down the road. You may even opt for a uni-directional board because you like the direction so much. But at some point you are going to find yourself careering down the mountain in switch(other foot forward). At this time, if you are not comfortable in the stance, you could find yourself making beginner moves and mistakes that you are not prepared for, and ultimately crashing. Dedicate the time to get as good as possible in switch and it will definitely pay off in the long run.
Of a different caliber but possibly even more important are risks from the mountain itself. If you head out onto the mountain, you have to be aware that there is always an avalanche risk. If you go to a resort, there are people who make it their duty to inform the public as to the conditions of that day, the chances of an avalanche, and in many resorts, also work to reduce that risk. It definitely pays to be aware of the information that they give out, as injuries for avalanches are mostly unexpected and can range from broken bones to death. Resorts release avalanche awareness information that can be consumed to get a general idea of how to read the reports, as well as the daily reports themselves for more up-to-date information on the day. Heed the warnings and don’t think ‘you’ll be fine’, particularly if it is all new to you.
If you’re lucky enough to have every day as a bluebird day, then good for you. For the rest of us, the chances are that a large proportion of your mountain-time is going to be spent in overcast conditions at best. On days when the cover really comes in, your ability to identify potential terrain obstacles and tricky conditions vastly depletes.
When bad visibility comes in, your spidey senses become much more important. Unfortunately, for all of us that aren’t Peter Parker, this can often mean we hit things we didn’t see coming. In bad visibility, slow it down, take your time and make sure you know where you are going. Both you and your family will thank you for it.
There is perhaps no better way of becoming an on-piste target than making yourself into a ten pin for other skiers and snowboarders. Most people who choose the snowsports life also embrace the flow of the mountain. This means that people come to expect a certain level of ‘rhythm’ from everyone on it. Coming to a quick stop in the middle of the piste is, as a result, likely to not be counted on by most of those that are behind you. In fact, even if you have been standing there a while, chances are there are people weaving their way down that may not account for you being completely stationary.
Do yourself, and others around you, a favour and stop at the sides of the slope if you need to.
It goes without saying that they are called ‘snowsports’ for a reason. Ice is rarely going to be your friend, particularly on a snowboard. However, learning to snowboard in icy conditions can really save you, and your behind. You want to stay relatively close to the ground, partially to help your center of gravity, and also for damage mitigation in case you do slip. Remember to stay relaxed and avoid turning too sharply - both are likely to significantly improve your time on the slidely stuff.
Tunes on the mountain are a real winner. There is nothing better than having your favourite jam on whilst heading down a run. However, remember that this will also impair your ability to sense your surroundings. Make sure that when you are out on a crowded slope, that you keep as much of an eye as possible on what is around you. Getting taken out on your blindside because you didn’t see it coming can often result in feelings of injustice (and pain)that can often be avoided by better 360 perception.
Skating is how you get around on your snowboard, when you only have your front foot strapped in and is an essential skill in snowboarding. Whether it's getting on or off the chair or traversing flatter terrain, not knowing now to skate can quickly find you on your ass and potentially the laughing stock of the slope. Whilst this type of fall mostly lands in the less-painful category, your ego may not like it all that much. Taking the time to learn to skate properly will help you cover more laborious ground faster, as well as avoid those avoidable moments of beginner awkwardness from falling unnecessarily.
If you're choosing to snowboard, we love you for it. It's clearly a passion of ours too. Alongside this passion though, the truth is that you will experience some accidents or incidents where you will hurt yourself. It's inevitable.
But you can take control of the odds. You can reduce how often these painful experiences happen, and how severe they are.
If you want an extra helping hand in controlling these odds, feel free to check out our gear here and be well on your way to slaying those slopes!
Happy riding!
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