"just last year, I was surprised to find out that i was riding with a 58-year old german lady in a clubmed group class of advanced level snowboarders!" - Seth
THE LEARNING PROCESS...
Watch the process my dad made in a day HERE! (IG REEL)
One of the many benefits of teaching a family member is that we can make preparations earlier rather than wasting precious time on the slopes. We started off the night before, going through an introduction to snowboard equipment. (i.e the snowboard itself, snowboard boots and bindings) With this, my dad was ready to get on the slopes the next day and immediately begin sliding around on the snow!
The next day on the slopes, the main focus was getting to feel comfortable and in control of the snowboard. Starting at the bottom of the slope, I went through the basic snowboard stance and how to skate around with one foot strapped into our boards. This is the most crucial part and we spent the longest time during this stage in the process. As a beginner, try not to rush the process of getting up the chairlifts immediately! Getting used to moving around with the board is crucial before heading up the chairlift, similar to the old saying “Don’t run before you can walk!”
The next stage in the process is to learn to slide down the hill and come to a stop. This was a repetitively tiring process of hiking up the hill, sliding down, falling and getting up from the fall. My dad took many falls, struggled to get up and was visibly out of breath. The key here was overcoming the fear of sliding downhill and staying balanced in the right snowboarding stance. And after multiple attempts, he finally managed to slide to a stop without falling!
From here, we took a long break to celebrate his success before my dad was able to muster up some courage to take the chairlift up the beginner slopes. What followed was the quickest progress I’ve ever seen from a beginner learning snowboarding for the very first time!
My dad was able to apply some of his skiing experience with balance and body movements to grasp my instructions. He stayed balanced and in control of the board; shifting his body weight from left to right and navigating down his first ever chairlift run safely!
My 61-year old dad was able to make it down his first ever beginner run on his first day learning how to snowboard, and you can do it too!
If you are looking to learn snowboarding for the first time, I’ve compiled some tips to help you get started below!
Watch my dad’s beginner progression: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqkpCh7h5XE/?igshid=YjNmNGQ3MDY=
Learning snowboarding can be physically demanding, even more so the older you get. Here are some guidelines to follow if you are just starting out.
When you are older, you don’t have the same luxury as the young kids to take huge falls and be fine. Just like learning to drive for the first time, take it slow and easy to avoid heavy falls and season-ending injuries. Progression might feel slow, but stay safe to ride another day!
Listen to your body! Don’t be afraid to stop and let everyone know that you need a break. As a snowboarder, you have the luxury to stop and sit by the side of a run. Take advantage of this and make those skiers envy your choice of snowsport!
Always be wary of others behind you. A good practice is to look up the hill or wait for everyone to pass before setting off. Don’t leave your own safety in the hands of others behind!
Avoid stalling your snowboard progression! Sign up for some lessons with a snowboard instructor. You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can progress in just a single day of lessons.
1Pace yourself! Start slow and take small steps with your own safety in mind.
2Listen to your body and stay comfortably within your limits!
3Be wary of your surroundings!
4Keep improving! Sign up for snowboarding lessons with an instructor.
