December 25, 2024

Advanced Tips for the Seasoned Snowboarder

How do I become a better snowboarder?

The coming of winter signals the season of snow angels, a hot cup of cocoa, and Christmas. It’s also the most awaited season for all winter sports lovers.

And one of the most exciting and awaited winter sports would be snowboarding. However, it can also be quite frustrating.

Just like any other sport, it takes a lot of patience and practice to level up your skills. There is always room for improvement.

At some point, snowboarders may experience a deadlock. Even after more than a few falls, learning and performing basic turns, using a chair lift, they will feel like their performance has reached its dead end.

The good news is snowboarders should not fret because advancing is easier than they think. Look into the following tips and tricks to get your love for snowboarding to the next level. 

Get Fit and Stay in Shape 

Snowboarding is a seasonal sport but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to practice. There are plenty of ways to keep yourself productive when it comes to snowboarding. The very obvious thing that you can do even if you are not in the snowy mountains is to get fit. 

Getting fit and staying in shape is one way to advance your skills even before hitting the mountains. You can either go to the nearest fitness gym in your neighborhood or do some effective home workouts.

There are a plethora of helpful program exercises specifically designed for snowboarders that you can easily find on the web.

If you don’t want to do any tiring gym or home workout routines, you can also go for other options.

One best option would be doing wakeboarding, surfing, or any balancing on-the-board-related activity like skating on the skateboard.
Because of the availability of various brands and styles in the market. It might be tough for you to choose the better one. But don’t be too concerned! There are some companies like skates.co.uk that specialize in selling affordable and cool skateboards, ice skates for all age groups. This will not only keep your muscles in shape but you will also have a lot of fun at the same time.

Improving your core, leg strength, and flexibility can go a long way. Consistency is always the key when it comes to achieving your goals.

Staying fit will help you get into the advanced level very quickly and safely. You can push through with your desired techniques while reducing any soreness in your body and most importantly, preventing you from any injuries. 

Personalize Your Gears

The gears you use while in the snowy mountains can significantly affect your performance as well as your safety. Investing in a good and proper setup is not just a good idea but rather a must. 

Do not forget to include your personalized helmets and magnetic ski goggles together with your snowboard, bindings, and boots. Magnetic ski goggles are very important if you want to go all in on snowboarding because they assure you that it won’t fall off even if you drop ten-footers. And they also look really nice.

There is no need to go the extra mile and personalize your clothes. However, just make sure to cover up and use comfortable and warm jackets, pants, socks, gloves, and even base and mid-layers.

Finding the right setup for you is not as easy as simply choosing a design and color.

You must get your snowboarding set up in a shop that has someone qualified to help you choose a board that is suitable for you considering your riding styles, size, and goals. This way it can speed up your way into advancing as a rider. 

Shift Focus on Your Knees

You must forget what your snowboard instructor told you about turns and that they should be made with your shoulders when you are still a newbie in the sport. As you go to the next and the advanced level, you should now shift your focus on your knees. 

Practice aligning your chest over your thighs and then bending your knees in your every turn and in no time you can easily perfect your turns plus with more power and precision. Then you exit the turn by standing then releasing the pressure on your knees.

Controlled and powerful turns start with your lead leg. Applying pressure on your front knee can make your turns faster and more precise than ever before.

You can always practice your turns until you can perfect it. You can now easily look effortless and get beautiful photos just like your favorite pro snowboarders

Getting fit and staying in shape will help your body do the balance in shifting position and controlling your direction with your knees.

Switch Your Ride 

A riding switch is when you use your opposite foot instead of your natural stance to go back to the basics of riding.

Being an intermediate rider means you have already built a habit of performing your usual techniques and turns. However, doing the basics now and then can help you remember the fundamentals. 

In this way, you can easily shift your rides and turns easily. This will boost your confidence for better and even bigger maneuvers.

Remember that a way to become an advanced snowboarder is to build a routine, master the basics, and then try a new switch to spice up your ride.

Conclusion

Whatever the goals that you are trying to achieve, you can easily achieve them by being consistent in everything that you do and pushing yourself to your limits. If you have reached a standstill, give yourself a moment to rest. If you are always scared then you will never be ready. 

The first step to advance your skillset is by making a habit out of your routine and mastering the basics. This way you can assess your strengths and weaknesses to look for room for improvements.

Needless to say, keep the famous tagline of Nike in mind, “Just do it!”. So get up, get back on track and go to the next level.