Saturday, October 10, 2009

Rising to the Challenge of Snowboarding

By Byron Jonas

Snowboarding is a sport that is growing more popular every year, largely due to its association with youthful, hip culture and style. Nonetheless, most people are oblivious to the fact that snowboarding is and always will be a very physically demanding activity that not just anybody can master, requiring that participants be in relatively decent physical condition in order to actually have a good time, not to mention prevent serious injury!

Indeed: if you are careless and fail to take the right precautions and consider the physical demands of snowboarding, you could convert your otherwise pleasant and enjoyable snow sport vacation into a dreaded nightmare! Therefore, before you pack up your boots and your board, take a moment to actually contemplate whether or not you are up to the challenge, with the ability to avoid injuries not only to yourself but also to others on the slopes besides you (a frequent occurrence with first time riders).

First things first: don?t try the sport if you are not a relatively physically fit person. If you have doubts about your condition but want to try snowboarding out anyways, then be modest. Only hit a few trails and stop within a relatively short time, after a couple of rounds?don?t over exert yourself! Many people make this mistake and only realize how tired they are when they are about to cause an accident.

Furthermore, make sure that you stick to the kinds of trails and courses that are at your level. If you have never been on a snowboard before, don?t try performing any of the insane stunts you have seen on TV; avoid the moguls and generally avoid the icy patches and hard snow surfaces, as they demand more skill to be properly navigated.

Additionally, ensure yourself that you are heading out onto the mountain in the right state of mind. When snowboarding (as with skiing and basically any sport for that matter), it is simply irresponsible to head out with a hangover or worse yet, still drunk! Obviously this needs to apply with all kinds of mind altering substances such as whatever medications or drugs you may be taking, as the effects on your body and judgment could have horrible consequences.

A serious issue with snowboarding that newbies are not prepared for is the rate of acceleration which can be achieved, bringing riders up to incredible speeds over very short distances. Whereas with skiing riders have the ability to execute the "wedge" position that reduces speed quite effectively, a snowboard is a little trickier in terms of braking. Hence, new riders should stick to slopes with a relatively shallow incline and should practice constant swerving to help reduce speed.

Make sure that you are wearing the proper protective gear when you go out riding, both to keep the effects of the cold at bay and to protect yourself from the risks of a serious fall. Protective goggles, water-resistant and padded clothing and other gear that the local site operator may provide is highly recommended for this sport.

Finally, keep the right attitude present when out enjoying the slopes: don't ruin the occasion for yourself or for others. Be aware of your own skill level and expect that others on the trails are beginners, not talented pros (just like when out driving!). With these considerations in mind, you should have a pleasant experience and allow the same for others as well.

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