Snowboarding

Short movie from Gigi Ruf...4funfun - Gigi und Danny on Vimeo

I'm going to a ski resort for the first time in February, I'm only going for 3 or 4 days, and I want to try snowboarding. Is this a bad idea? Everybody says I'll hate it because it takes 2-3 days to learn how to even snowboard so I'll spend my entire trip on my knees/butt/hands/head etc.

I went to Leeds XScape once about 7 years ago and tried snowblading, I made it to the bottom first time and stopped fine, it didn't really seem difficult at all, not saying it's going to be easy, but I just feel like everyone is exaggerating.

You should never admit to snowblading...
Snowboarding isn't difficult to pick up at all.
You will fall over, but it is fun.
Skiing is still better.

(deliberately stirring the pot)

Ha, a guy I lived with at uni was a keen snowblader, he told me it would be easiest so I went with that.

For your first 3/4 days I'd definitely choose snowboarding> skiing.
Learning to ski still follows a pretty boring pattern, whereas if you have a friend to teach you- you will probably pick yourself down a decent slope in a couple of hours on a snowboard, and have more fun doing it.

(Started off snowboarding, hurt my knee, twin tips came out, and swapped over. For what I prefer on the mountain, skiing beats snowboarding, but I don't deny my envy of snowboarders occasionally)

If you get a chance its probably worth doing a lesson in the snowdome before you go. Its much easier learning from an instructor then it is a mate who is effectively on holiday for a good time. The first time I went boarding my mate said he'd teach me on the mountain and it didn't really work, it was alot of fun sliding the whole way down the mountain on my arse with him laughing at me but i didnt really learn anything.

I'll do that as I'm going with 2 skiers and one other n00b who wants to learn snowboarding too so there's nobody to teach me.

If you get a chance its probably worth doing a lesson in the snowdome before you go. Its much easier learning from an instructor then it is a mate who is effectively on holiday for a good time. The first time I went boarding my mate said he'd teach me on the mountain and it didn't really work, it was alot of fun sliding the whole way down the mountain on my arse with him laughing at me but i didnt really learn anything.

That's how I was forced to learn. Bastards underhyped their experience till we got to the top and lo and behold, they were fucking good. Ten minutes of training and they got itchy to leave me. had to learn the hard way. I was pissed. I just went for it. HTFU and forced myself to learn. By days end I was sore but could keep up down the slope with them. Well worth the ache.

It's a skill that doesn't seem to leave you when you don't do it. I.e. The first run each season, I am at the same level I was when I was at the last run, last season. Muscle memory?!
It's worth it to set down a good base of skill so when you next go, you'll get better and better.
Blah blah, I'm boring myself. Starting from scratch? Get lessons to maximise returns.

I'll teach you in a snowdome, I should take bf there anyway.

I wish it didn't leave me, every time I go it takes me around 5 days to get back to where I was last time, that's why I try* to make it to the snowdome freestyle nights when I'm in london.

*and fail miserably.

ok maybe second run gets me back to last season....but this season, the first run I absolutely smashed it down and it felt unreal!

That feeling, strapping on for the first run, it's just, THE BEST!

I'm going for a few days snowboarding in a couple of weeks after a gap of ~5 years. i'm thinking of doing a couple of hours here before I go to remind myself of the basics at least - Im thinking Hemel or MK....anyone got any advice??

The lesson pricing structure seems pretty steep (and strange) at MK, £160 for a full course, or £30/lesson (4 lessons). It's cheaper to do it in 4 separate lessons than it is do a full day course, I'm guessing you get more advanced training in the full day course.

£120 or £160 just seems like a lot of cash to throw down as pre-requisite to the holiday, would it be cheaper to get a decent lesson on day 1 of the holiday?

Mands I'd take you up on that offer but I'm a little worried about getting thrown off the slope. If IIRC from Xscape Leeds, n00bs aren't allowed on the main slope for fear of injuries. You had to say you had a certain amount of experience and if you looked too shit out on the main slope then you were told off and made to leave. When I went snowblading (sorry) I managed to get away with it, but a mate of mine was asked to leave the slope, he was incredibly bad.

Hmmm... I was thinking of actually just going for a couple of hours and hoping it would all come flooding back! Bit worried about being thrown off tho! How bad do you have to be I wonder? I should remember how to use a button and be able to turn and stop at least after a couple of goes....I did used to be reasonable ok on the mountain, but that was quite a few years ago1

If you've actually done it before I'm guessing you'll be fine. My mate was on skis and all he did was fall over for 45 mins straight. He couldn't even stand up for longer than 10 seconds.

I hope I'd do a bit better than that!! Thanks - I'll give Hemel a go next week once I've dug my board and boots out!

^ get some wrist guards and and impact shorts... makes learning a lot more fun as you will scorpion a few times.

Just got back from 8 days in tignes... great fun until i had my board swiped from outside a bar in val claret on day 6.

new board choice... YES Asym / Greats or Capita BSOD?... replacement cartels already sourced.

You should never admit to snowblading...
Snowboarding isn't difficult to pick up at all.
You will fall over, but it is fun.

This, this and this.

Skiing is still better.

Not this

It's a skill that doesn't seem to leave you when you don't do it.

This!

^ get some wrist guards and and impact shorts... makes learning a lot more fun as you will scorpion a few times.

Definitely this. I still wear my wristguards, feels good man.
First time I ever went, just did morning lesson on the nursery slope to get the basics, then hit it with my mates. They obvs totally left me and I had to just HTFU, but by the end of the weekend I could sort-of-snowboard.

Just got back from 8 days in tignes... great fun until i had my board swiped from outside a bar in val claret on day 6.

fuckers :(

Yeah it was annoying as it was only 2 seasons old and a great setup! Insured so hopefully will be able to replace.

http://vitaminl.tv/video/2145?ref=fbsm

much interest...is it wide?

You after a long wide board? I have a Ride Mountain, which is around 168 IIRC.

Watch some scott Stevens! The man is insane.

^ most of the capita team are insane... scott stevens, dan brisse, dustin craven, mike rav...

Watched defenders of awesome the other day again and then pulled the trigger on a new BSOD 59. Just arrived! Now just need to add snow!

while this is a snowboard thread, any suggestions for a decent bag for a single set of ski's (to haul back and froth on planes, but not a solid box).