Top 7 Ways New Snowboarders Can Minimize Injury
Posted August 27th by Womens Snowboarding Enthusiast in Womens Snowboarding Gear
Photo by Pal Berge of Flickr
One of the very top reasons many of us are shy to try snowboarding, including myself, is because we are not into hurting ourselves. I don’t want a broken arm or sore behind and I’m sure you don’t either, right?
We want to protect ourselves at all times! Here are some of the ways to do that.
1) Choose the right size snowboard
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Choosing the correct snowboard size for you can depend on your riding style, your height and body type and the conditions you plan to ride in. The general rule of thumb for choosing the right size snowboard is to find a board that from the floor, reaches between your nose and chin. See the snowboard size chart guide to help you figure out your perfect size snowboard.
2) Choose the right snowboarding clothing
- Jeans and hooded sweatshirts may look totally rad when your slicing up the slopes, but there’s a reason why snowboard gear makers pour so much moolah into researching the best new way to keep your body warm and dry. Avoid becoming cold and wet and you’ll save yourself from succumbing to hypothermia.
3)Wear boots that fit
- Wearing the wrong size boots or boots that aren’t made for snowboarding limits the control you can have over your snowboard. Boots should fit your foot and your board so that your feet don’t slide around in your binding and potentially break your foot off at the ankle. (hey, it could happen)
4) Wear padding and wrist guards
- When I was new to snowboarding, I fell a lot. I mean A LOT! Unless you’re a snowboarding genius, and let’s face it, we are of course, you’re likely to fall a number of times while you get the hang of it all. If you can squeeze an extra pair of thick sweat pants under your snowboard pants that could give you a little more cushion for when you fall on your bum. New riders should also consider using wrist guards as many of us naturally use your hands and wrists to catch ourselves when we fall.
5) SPORT A HELMET!
- Protect your melon peoples. Not only can helmets be stylish and keep you from suffering a bump on the noggin, but if someone starts chucking snowballs, they won’t be able to take you down so easily. Helmets double as shields!!! Seriously, helmets are very important to keeping your hair from staying perfect and protecting what’s important under it.
6) Take a lesson from a professional instructor
- Taking a lesson can be a very enlightening and rewarding experience. Instructors are paid to help you learn the ropes and you know, they may actually be totally cool and might invite you to a basher after a day on the hills. If nothing else, an instructor will help you learn good technique that will catapult you ahead of where you were just a couple hours before. It could save you some frustration too.
7) Stay on your own pace
- Just because your friends are throwing 360 misty flips and putting polish on the rail slides doesn’t mean you skating down the bunny hill isn’t totally gnarly. In fact, doing your thing is the coolest thing about snowboarding. You can be yourself and enjoy the sport at your own pace. It’s great to push your limits, just take some time to find out what those limits are. If you stick with it, you’ll be mcflippin’ in the super pipe in no time.
Have any other thoughts on how to ease into snowboarding?
