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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Introduction to Snowboarding

Sherman Poppen is credited with providing the inspiration for snowboarding. In 1965, he watched his daughter trying to stand as she rode her sled downhill. This gave him the idea of creating the ‘Snurfer”. Snurfer was nothing but two skis screwed together and word comes from combining snow and surfing. Over years thousands of Snurfers were sold and though the Snurfer was not designed for technical riding, it was instrumental in inspiring snowboarding as we know it today.

Snowboarding clothing

Important snowboarding clothes is the jacket. Your jacket should have the capacity to keep you warm and dry. Remember, snow can turn into water very quickly once it comes in contact with your body heat and the feeling is never nice. Therefore, you jacket should be waterproof. Make sure that the lining of your jacket is thick enough to keep you warm but at the same time your jacket should not hinder your movement. Your jacket should fit you snugly while ensuring it does not cut into you. A parka with a hood or a ski jacket are best depending on what you are comfortable with.

Also consider snowboarding pants. They should be waterproof just like your jacket. Clothes manufacturers make snowboarding pants with suspenders which are similar to waders made for fishing. While other snowboarding pants are just like conventional pants.

The most important part of your snowboarding clothes is your helmet. It is designed to protect you from the cold and from any serious head injuries in case of an accident.

Goggles or sunglasses are important to have when snowboarding. The sun can be blinding and make the glare off the snow very difficult to tolerate, making sunglasses almost a necessity.

Things to consider before snowboarding

Most experts would recommend beginners invest some time and money in some lessons. Snowboarding looks extremely easy but the truth is it is very difficult to master. Snowboard lessons will help you become a safer rider, teach you how to mount and dismount the chairlift properly and show you the proper way to control your snowboard. Snowboarding is an exciting sport to participate in. With the proper gear, a lesson or two and a ton of practice you will understand why it is the fastest growing winter sport these days and why it is so much fun.

Tips for snowboarding

Always be in a relaxed position. Like any sport, snowboarding requires a calm and hang-loose mindset. Most accidents and injuries in snowboarding happen when one is in tensed position. As you mount your snowboard, keep your knees bent; a stiff stance will only make you absorb impacts between your snowboard and snow.

Try steering the snowboard over the small area you are in. Practice making turns, learn the finer points of toe-side turns, which means turning by lifting your heels up while pressing your toes to the snowboard; or heel-side turns, which make use of your heels for your turning. Once you have mastered the basics of balancing and steering your snowboard, you can move to a bigger patch of snow, but do not try a long and steep slope just yet.

CONCLUSION

Finally, just remember not to copy another person's stance. Yours is unique and will feel right to you. Everyone else has their own unique stance. Snowboarding is a great outdoor sport that can be made even better if you take the time to ensure that you are comfortable on your board.