So, I Am thinking about Buying a Snowboard - Tell Me What I need to Know....

[polak]

I don't know if it applies to snowboarders as much but in my 19 years of skiing, I've seen quite a few beginners hurt themselves cause they were too scared to fall and ended up building way too much speed so when they did eventually bite it, they bit it hard.

So get over any fear of falling asap or you could end up entertaining everyone on the chairlift as you fly straight down the mountain to your eventual doom.

Get a Helmet.
Also #1 complaint I hear from my snowboarder friends is boots. Just like Skiing. So do not cheap out on those once you decide to buy your own gear.

[dubc80]

Snowboard nerd here!
Lots of good advice already provided in previous posts regarding equipment and boots.

The learning curve is pretty steep for snowboarding, but once you get the hang of it, you'll love it.

Unless you were a skateboarder, I think skiing is way easier for beginners. Especially if you can rollerblade and ice skate. The edging, turning, stopping is similar and the body movement is more natural. Feet and body facing forward down the hill in an relatively upright position.

For snowboarding, lots of folks feel awkward with both feet attached to the board, going sideways down the hill. It's all about mastering how to shift weight and balance.

I remember when I was learning, I "snowboarded" falling leaf style for a while before I built up the skill and confidence to link turns, especially going from heel to toe side. I did many faceplants and knocked the wind out of myself many times trying to learn how to ride the board flat as well. LOL. Glad my learning days are way behnd me.

Good luck! Hope you guys have a great time. After riding for 15 years now, Im actually considering switching back to skiing!

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by username

I'd have to say that all this stuff about wrist and butt guards is nonesense.

My coworker (who is about the same age as the OP) tried snowboarding with his kid last year. He would disagree with you based on his experience trying to work after that with two broken wrists. I'm not sure what he did (he wasn't that excited to discuss the details) but wrist guards seem like a good investment to me.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by dubc80

Good luck! Hope you guys have a great time. After riding for 15 years now, Im actually considering switching back to skiing!

why are you considering switching back?

i was a skateboarder way back in tha day.......way back!!!

[dubc80]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

why are you considering switching back?

i was a skateboarder way back in tha day.......way back!!!

I've pretty much maxed out my potential snowboarding and I think switching back would be a fun challenge. It wouldn't be permanent, I'd just be throwing a couple ski days in here and there.

Plus, new ski equipment has evolved a lot and I'd like to take some of those wider skis for a spin.

[meanmachine13]

I am going skiing for the first time in my life next week at COP.

Everyone says that since I play hockey, that skiing would be more natural than snowboard. True or False?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by meanmachine13

I am going skiing for the first time in my life next week at COP.

Everyone says that since I play hockey, that skiing would be more natural than snowboard. True or False?

I learnt to skate @ 36 (now 41). I have skied since I was in grade school. Once the instructor to me to think of then as little skis, and it was all about the edges, it made a tonne of sense.

Think of them as long skates.

[normtwofinger]

Originally Posted by meanmachine13

I am going skiing for the first time in my life next week at COP.

Everyone says that since I play hockey, that skiing would be more natural than snowboard. True or False?

You should find skiing more natural to skating, but snowboarding is still the same theory with the edges.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by username

I'd have to say that all this stuff about wrist and butt guards is nonesense. Ya, your first day is going to be a little painful but it's not as bad as most people indicate.

I cannot stress enough how much I disagree with this. I broke a wrist the first time I went and it nearly kept me from ever trying again (which would have been tragic as it's probably my favourite activity now). I have to wear them every time now because when my left arm gets cold it hurts like hell to put too much weight on the wrist, so getting bindings on or pushing off things to get to my feet is painful without support. In my social circle I know two other that have broken wrists on their first time out, one broke one, the other broke both. You'll be falling on your ass a ton that first day, and the reflex to put your hands out to your sides will be strong.

The butt-guard I can't speak for, I've never used one. If you have back problems going in it might be a good idea. I did all my damage when I was 17, so I bounced back pretty quick (aside from the wrist).

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by username

I'd have to say that all this stuff about wrist and butt guards is nonesense.

There's a vast difference between learning to board at 15 vs 50. Besides the increase in healing time, he's also taking care of a family. It's not like if he breaks both wrists he just gets a few weeks off school. I've known a few people break wrists learning, and my ex bruised her tailbone once to the point she was off work for two weeks, which means 2 weeks of lost pay. Stories like Russic's are all too common and easily preventable.

Do I wear all that gear now? No, but there's no way I'd start now without at minimum wrist guards/helmet.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

I've seen more people turned off of skiing/boarding because of COP than learn on it. It's ridiculously icy/hard packed and not forgiving. Not to mention crowded with people also just learning (read: not paying attention to where they or anyone else is going).

Don't get me wrong, I think COP is an awesome thing to have in the city and I would have killed to grow up with access to it. It's a great place to let the kids go after school with buddies, or to play around in the terrain park. However it's not a learning hill. Possibly after getting a feel for things, doing a lesson or two, use COP as a 'second turns' kind of learning. But I wouldn't start there.

For learning I strongly recommend Nakiska. Challenging enough runs to keep everyone entertained for the day, easy enough runs to learn. You're not waiting in line for half an hour for a 30 second ride down. You can spend more time on a single run to actually get a feel for things. No major flats to hamper boarding.

Panorama is also a good hill to learn on, albeit it's more suited to a weekend getaway. I first learned to board at Marmot, but that's definitely a weekend getaway.

I learned to snowboard on COP. I had no issues with it. Your first few times you're going to be unable to stand/turn. Why pay extra for a bigger hill or drive further out of the city?

You're first 2-3 times you need to just focus on being able to stand and do basic turns. Getting off at the halfway point of COP is absolutely fine for this.

Once you have basic turn down, I'd reccomend somewhere else, but it's not as though your going to be capalbe of carving on powder your first time up.

I'd also caution on spending a lot of money on boots. Instead focus on fit. My boots are extremely cheap. Since I have skinny ankles, my feat tend to slide out of the expensive boots, that are usually lined with fancy fur. Find a boot that fits you properly. You don't need to overpay for all of the "features" that top end boots provide.

[Northendzone]

since i am married, breaking both wrists, or my right wrist would likely result in a slow descent into madness as it would be difficult to do stuff........

[polak]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

since i am married, breaking both wrists, or my right wrist would likely result in a slow descent into madness as it would be difficult to do stuff........

"stuff"

[Jonrox]

Above everything else, take a lesson. And not from a friend. Learn from a real instructor. The good ones will take you through a progression of skills that should have you making connected turns by the end of your lesson (this was my experience). If you do this, your wrists and body will be in decent shape (you'll be sore, but nothing too bad). People who are feeling terrible at the end of the day feel this way because they tried making turns before they were ready to.

Then spend a few days on the hill practicing those skills. Take another lesson a few weeks later. After that lesson you should be good for the season.

I can't stress it enough... Do not try to learn on your own. There's no sense starting the bad habits when you're working with a clean slate. Do it correctly from the start. It will be way less frustrating and your progression will be much faster if you learn from a good instructor.

And get a helmet. When you're ready to buy the rest of your gear, buy whatever you can from last season's inventory. You'll get essentially the newest technology but at a good discount. I've only ridden Burton and really like the feel of their Flying-V boards... I find them a little easier to ride than a traditional camber. I also like the flexibility of their EST binding system - it's very easy to adjust and it allows for an unlimited number of setup options.

And if COP is hard-packed an icy, don't learn there. Snowboarding is hard enough to learn, so there's no sense making it even harder.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by polak

"stuff"

like waxing things, doing dishes, vaccuuming - you know "stuff"

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

like waxing things

waxing on and waxing off?

[dubc80]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

Above everything else, take a lesson. And not from a friend. Learn from a real instructor. The good ones will take you through a progression of skills that should have you making connected turns by the end of your lesson (this was my experience). If you do this, your wrists and body will be in decent shape (you'll be sore, but nothing too bad). People who are feeling terrible at the end of the day feel this way because they tried making turns before they were ready to.

Then spend a few days on the hill practicing those skills. Take another lesson a few weeks later. After that lesson you should be good for the season.

I can't stress it enough... Do not try to learn on your own. There's no sense starting the bad habits when you're working with a clean slate. Do it correctly from the start. It will be way less frustrating and your progression will be much faster if you learn from a good instructor.

And get a helmet. When you're ready to buy the rest of your gear, buy whatever you can from last season's inventory. You'll get essentially the newest technology but at a good discount. I've only ridden Burton and really like the feel of their Flying-V boards... I find them a little easier to ride than a traditional camber. I also like the flexibility of their EST binding system - it's very easy to adjust and it allows for an unlimited number of setup options.

And if COP is hard-packed an icy, don't learn there. Snowboarding is hard enough to learn, so there's no sense making it even harder.

Oh, you're one of those guys...

[FLAME ENVY]

Originally Posted by TheGrimm

Anyone else miss Fortress? Cheap and close and decent terrain, albeit small.

Yes. Fortress had some of the best natural terrain in Alberta. Loved getting untracked powder at 2:00PM in the afternoon.

Sucked when the wind blew hard which was quite often. I would love to see Fortress open again.

[surferguy]

I have a free snowboard for you. It is older but it does the trick. Im tied up all week but can touch base early next if you are keen

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by Nammer403

Buy used.
COP is a good place to learn, lessons are worth it

COP is not a good place to learn. Its overly crowded, icy and dangerous for someone who has no skill or experience on a ski hill. Do you really want to be edging it across a skating rink with 200 other people trying to get down the run as fast as they can?

If you're a beginner, go to Nakiska or another large resort and find some un-crowded, ice free terrain to learn on.