Practice at the foot of the slope first

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How to Snowboard

Practice at the foot of the slope first

Publication Date：2017/10/23

before snowboarding

beginner

This article has been published more than a year ago and may differ from the actual information

When trying snowboarding for the first time, it's difficult to get used to the feeling of the snow and your equipment. You might not know where and how to snowboard on the slope. Here, we'll present important points for practicing snowboarding, as well as precautions.

Don't get on a lift straight away

Although ski resorts have gentle slopes for beginners, it's not recommended that raw beginners who have never snowboarded before suddenly get on a lift and try to make their way down the run. They might be unable to snowboard well and continually fall over, making it impossible to snowboard down to the bottom. If that's you, first, either take a snowboarding class or try snowboarding on an almost-flat surface near the lift platform.

First, get used to snowboarding on a flat surface

First, start by getting used to snowboarding on an almost-flat surface such as near the lift platform. Areas with gentle slopes are excellent for practice, as you're unlikely to pick up speed. Some ski resorts have a beginner's area where you can practice snowboarding at a safe site fenced off with a net.

Choose a practice site with few people

When practicing snowboarding, avoid sites with many passersby. In particular, sites that skiers and snowboarders pass through at high speeds are dangerous due to the risk of collision. Gently sloped areas where there are few people, such as the edges of courses, are best.

Check the course level

Ski resort course levels are divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced. Check the course level on the piste map and signboards within the course, and select a route that suits your skill level. If you're not yet confident, we recommend that try the easier beginner courses and avoid steep runs designed for advanced skiers and snowboarders.

Challenge yourself starting from gentle slopes

Beginner courses have gentle slopes, so it's difficult to pick up much speed on these. These runs are perfect for practicing the basics and gradually improving your skills, as it's easy to slow down and stop. You can snowboard with peace of mind as you can easily control your movements.

We recommend snowboarding lessons

When snowboarding for the first time, we recommend that you take lessons at the ski resort school. Knowledgeable instructors carefully teach you the basics of snowboarding, stopping and turning in a way that's easy to understand. This means you can improve more quickly than if practicing alone.