Snowboarding on your first Day, Top Tips and Advice

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

I remember the first time I went snowboarding, Mad River Mountain in Ohio. All my friends were signing up for middle school ski club and so of course my brother and I signed up too. Buying used equipment at our local skate/snowboard shop Sunsports, we were set up to go every Tuesday and Thursday after school. After a day or two of learning how to make it down a run, I was hooked. Something about riding down the mountain on a snowboard, it’s different, a freedom like feeling. No coaches telling you what to do or how to do it, just you, your board, maybe some friends, and the mountain (or Hill lol).So maybe you’ve thought about giving snowboarding a try or you’ve been considering switching over from skis for a day to see what it’s all about. One of the most rewarding activities you’ll get into is snowboarding (also pretty challenging at times).

Riding a snowboard will teach you a lot of life lessons through your successes and failures on snow.! It’s also a great way to meet other like minded people who want to spend time outdoors in the winter. Who knows, you might even meet some of your lifelong best friends through it. In this post I’ll be going over the basic fundamentals to get started with snowboarding, what gear to wear, renting equipment, and lastly what you can expect. Alright lets gooo.

What should I wear

I’m not going to lie, snowboarding gear is EXPENSIVE. However, there are ways to make it affordable if you’re not looking to spend a whole lot of money. Consignment shops, holiday sales, sales on previous years gear, and getting a job at a ski resort (resort employees get discounts on winter gear) are all ways to save money on snowboard gear. If you’re unsure on if you’ll like snowboarding or not I would go the route of cheaper before you invest a bunch of money into the sport. Below I listed the items you’ll need for your first day.

• Jacket- This needs to be waterproof and have some warmth. If you’re starting out, it’s better not to get too technical on gear and to have something that will keep you warm as well as dry on the mountain!

• Snow Pants- These also need to be waterproof and warm. A good pant to start with is Burton’s Cargo pant. They make this pant in tall sizes and also short sizes. The Burton women’s Society Pant is also a great starter snow pant.

• Goggles- You’ll need these to protect your eyes from snow, wind, and sun. Oakley, Anon, Smith, and Giro all make great goggles for someone starting out.

• Gloves- Gotta keep your hands warm when on the mountain or strapping into the board. Hestra and Burton will offer some great options that last longer then one season. If you don’t want to spend too much, Walmart or Amazon will sell more affordable options that will also keep your hands warm for the day.

• Helmet- The majority of people wear a helmet on the mountain and rental shops will include them in your rental package. Although not a requirement, I would highly recommend wearing one.

• Ski socks- Stay away from Cotton! Anything that has wool or polyester will be able to wick moisture and keep your feet warm!

• Base Layers- Wear these under your pants and jacket. Again stay away from anything cotton! Burton will make some of the best base layers. Since they offer a lot of options, I would recommend a mid-weight option.

Should I use protective equipment other then a helmet

It doesn’t hurt to wear protective equipment with being new to snowboarding, Burton makes wrist guards, knee pads, and impact shorts

Sizing

You’ll want the board to be shorter as it is easier to turn. Boots should be snug, about a half size down from your normal tennis shoes. Bindings will have a boot size range you’ll need to follow. Binding sizes come in Small, Medium, and Large.

Key Snowboard Terms

Stance Width- The width between your feet on the snowboard.

Bindings- What keeps your feet attached to the snowboard.

Binding Angles- Bindings will have numbers on them that correlate with how each foot is angled on the snowboard. This is a personal preference for every snowboarder.

Regular- Riding down the mountain with the left foot forward

Goofy- Riding down the mountain with the right foot forward

Base- The bottom of the snowboard

edges- The sharp metal part that goes around the entire snowboard

Topsheet- Top of the snowboard

Straps- The parts that go over the snowboard boot, locking in the boot to the binding.

Highback- A Part on the binding that supports the back of the snowboard boot.

Channel- A way to mount snowboard bindings to the board using only two points of contact for each binding.

4 Hole pattern- A more traditional way to mount snowboard bindings to the board using 4 points of contact for each binding

Heelside- Edge of the board where the heels of your snowboard boot are

Toeside-Edge of the board where the toes of your snowboard boot are

Skating- Pushing the snowboard with your back foot to get from point a to point b. Your lead foot will be strapped into the binding when doing this.

Stomp Pad- a grippy pad that is placed in between the bindings towards the middle of the snowboard. It helps with stability when getting on and off a chairlift.

Can you rent gear for Snowboarding

Yes! However for most places you’ll only be able to rent the board, boots, and bindings. Some shops will rent the jackets and pants, but I have found those places to be few and far between. Goggles and gloves you will always have to buy.

I recommend renting an LTR set up for your first day. LTR stands for Learn to Ride. The set up will be much softer and more playful, allowing you to learn the basic fundamentals of snowboarding. For busier times of the ski season make sure to, make a rental reservation in advance through the ski resorts website!

Is Step ON worth trying on my first day

You can, however, since Step on Boots and Bindings are more performance oriented the flex will be stiffer. A stiffer set up makes it harder to initiate a turn on a snowboard if you have never done it before. I think LTR is still the way to go on your first day. If you like snowboarding after trying it, Step Ons are great for getting in and out of a board without having to deal with straps.

Do you recommend taking a lesson

I definitely recommend taking a lesson on your first day. Resorts will typically offer half day, full day, and group or private lessons. They will be able to teach you the basic fundamentals of snowboarding as well as how to use your snowboard gear. However! Lessons can be expensive so hopefully this guide will help you as well.

How much is it to snowboard on the mountain

Ski resorts require a lift ticket or season pass to be able to snowboard on their mountains. You can pick these up at the base of the resort. If you plan on snowboarding for more then 3 days, I would recommend buying a season pass ahead of time (spring and summer will be the cheapest prices on passes for the following season). To save money and time, purchase your lift ticket(s) ahead of time online at the ski resorts website. Resorts also only sell so many ski passes, so the earlier the better when buying a pass.

Depending on the resort and location lift tickets can cost anywhere from $50 a day to over $200 a day.

Where should I start once I have all of my snowboard gear

Alright so you picked up your gear, and you are all set up for your first day on the mountain or hill. I would say 99% of ski resorts have a beginner area where you can learn the basics. I wouldn’t even try to get on the ski lift until you have tried the beginner hill, which will more then likely have a magic carpet. Look on the trail map or talk to someone at the ticket office to find out where the beginner area is!

What should my binding angles be set to

I would say +9 and -9 degrees for your bindings is a good start with the stance centered in the middle of the board or at reference. Each binding should be angled out slightly. Your board will also have reference points for the stance so you know if it is centered. It’s also helpful to have someone at the shop where you bought the board at, to set it up. Your bindings will have numbers on them in increments of 3, look for the 9 on both bindings. If you are really short, bump the stance width in and if you are really tall, bump the stance width out.

For rentals, the shop will set the board up for you, but it doesn’t hurt to double check how they set the board up!

How do I get into the snowboard and decide which way to ride down hill

With snowboarding you’ll either ride down the hill right foot forward or left foot forward. There’s a number of different ways to find out which way you slide sideways down the mountain. Examples include, what foot you use to kick a soccer ball with, which foot goes first if someone were to push you, and the list goes on. However! I would say the best indicator is.. the foot you use to strap into the board first, will more then likely be the lead foot used to go down the mountain!

The easiest way to get into your bindings, unless you have Step-Ons, is to sit down. Clear the snow off your boot and binding and start to crank down the toe and heel buckles. Once both feet are strapped in, see if you can pop up off the ground and balance yourself over the snowboard. If standing up is easier for you try that instead when strapping in.

What next once I’m strapped in

The first run will probably be challenging and be prepared to fall! Falling is part of the learning process. Your main goal on the first day is to get a sense of balance between your snowboard and the snow, understanding somewhat how the board turns.

Beginner Tips to help with getting down the hill or Mountain

You’ll want to first learn how to stop on your heel edge. Do this by putting pressure on the heel edge with both feet as the board slowly moves down hill. You can go straight and then stop with your heel edge once you get comfortable. Please note, this will take some practice! Another way to practice getting comfortable stopping heelside is to ride down “falling leaf”, meaning you go heelside the whole way down the run, while slightly going forward with your front foot then going forward with your back foot.

Once you start to feel comfortable with your heel edge try see if you can go toe edge. You’ll do this by putting pressure on the toes of your snowboard boots and toe edge of the board, while looking downhill. Again, this will take some practice. If you can’t get this on the first day, keep trying!

The key to any board sport is to try to get to a place where you have a good center of gravity and balance. To do this flex the knees a bit and try to maintain an athletic stance. Note, you don’t need to be athletic to snowboard, but try to understand that being centered over the snowboard will drastically improve your day and prevent falls.

Skating on your Snowboard

This is where you push with your back foot to get from point A to B. You don’t really need to learn this on Day 1, however as you progress and start to ride a chairlift it’s important that you know how to do this! Practice at the base of the mountain on a flat surface. It helps to have a stomp pad in the middle of your board for balance and stability.

Linking “S” Turns

S Turns are where you essentially make an S in the snow as you ride down the mountain. This is the last beginner fundamental in snowboarding, so if you're able to do this on the first day, that’s pretty amazing. Combine the heel edge and the toe edge together to link turns which will allow you to ride down the mountain more smoothly. The key to doing “S” turns is to look in the direction that you want to go.

How to get on the Chairlift

If you feel comfortable enough to ride the chairlift on your first day, go for it! The easiest way to get on is to skate up to the line and then look behind you as the chair is approaching. Take a seat and when everyones ready, put the bar down. Either rest your board on the footrest connected to the bar (some chairlifts only have the bar) or put your foot under the heel cup of your binding (see photos below).

How to get off the Chairlift

Once the lift approaches the top, lift the bar up, put your back foot in the middle of the board, push off the seat cushion, and ride straight. Try to be graceful when doing this and avoid getting tangled with other people and your board!

Where to buy a snowboard

Hopefully you caught the bug and want to buy a set up! If so, welcome to the Dark Side as they say. There’s a number of different places to buy a board, boots, and bindings with the best being your local snowboarding shop! Shop employees will be the most knowledgable and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction based on your size, skill level, and type of snowboarding you are interested in. To find the nearest shop, google “local snowboard shop.”

If you don’t live near a snowboard shop, then your next best option is online. Most online sites will have tools and customer service that will be able to assist you in buying a set up. Below I listed a number of great local snowboard shops and their location.

Darkside- Vermont

Tribute- British Columbia

Underground- Breckenridge Colorado

Gravity- Copper Mountain Colorado

The Boardroom- Ellicottville New York

Wave Rave- Mammoth Mountain California

Radio Boardshop- Aspen Colorado

That’s it for how to enjoy your first day on a snowboard. Just remember snowboarding is challenging at first, but stick with it and you’ll have a new activity and a way to spend time outdoors! If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below! It’s always cool to connect with people:) Interested in taking a snowboard trip? Check out Steamboat, an authentic mountain town with awesome terrain (including beginner), amazing restaurants, and of course natural hot springs.

Buying a skateboard, Everything you need to know and how to Grip your first Board

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

With summer in full swing and skateboarding being in The Olympics this year, I figured a lot more people; upcoming youth, adults who once participated, snowboarders, surfers, etc. would be interested in trying skateboarding or getting back into it.

What’s great is skating has a fairly low cost of entry and you can do it practically anywhere, with the majority of skateparks being free. Complete skateboards average around $130-$150 and can last quite a long time depending on use and skill level. In this post I’ll be going over where to buy a skateboard, how to set up a board, and the different parts that make up a complete skateboard. Alright lets do thisss.

Brief History

Skateboarding originally started in the early 50’s as a way for surfers to get a similar feel when the waves were flat. In the early 70’s a crew of surfers/skateboarders named Dog-Town and the Z boys from Venice Beach California changed skating entirely with a more creative approach. Fast forward to almost five decades later and skateboarding continues to grow in popularity with more people from all different walks of life participating. It has become an activity as well as outlet for many young people across the world!

Where to Start

The best place to start when looking to purchase a board is your Local Skate Shop. Skate shops will have staff that can provide helpful knowledge as well as point you in the right direction based on ability level and experience. If there isn’t a skateshop nearby I would suggest shopping online. However, the experience will never be the same as going into a local shop. Most skateshops have an e-commerce shop and you can either call the shop directly, shoot them an email, or even use an online Chat Service to find the information you need. Each product should have a brief description as well. I like Tactics Boardshop , based out of Oregon. They have three Brick and Mortar stores along with an online shop.

Other skateshops that sell product online that I really like include Embassy Boardshop (Columbus Ohio), Rose Street (Encinitas California), 303 Boards (Denver Colorado), and Val Surf (Los Angeles California).

Deciding what to buy

Boards

There’s a lot of different board companies out there and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. A wider board is typically better for skating transition (bowls, mini ramps, half pipes) while a narrower board will be better for what’s considered street skating (rails, ledges, flat ground). Some great skate brands include Baker, April, Chocolate, Girl, Primitive, Quasi, Toy Machine, DGK and Alien Workshop. Most shops will also have shop decks that cost about $10-$20 cheaper then a branded skate deck if you’re looking to save a little bit of money. Some shops will throw in grip tape when buying a skate deck or you might have to buy your own for an extra $5. Jessup, Mob, Grizzly, and Miles are all great grip tape companies.

Wheels

The diameter of the skate wheel as well as the durometer will be the two contributing factors that are needed to decide which wheels will work for your skating style and experience. Diameter is measured in Millimeters. Typically the larger the wheel the better it is for transition and cruising around the streets or skatepark. Larger wheels are faster and can go over bumps and cracks much easier. Smaller wheels are better for technical street style skating because they are lighter, smaller, and will pop those Kick Flips and Ollies better.

A great wheel size range to start out with, right in the middle is 52-53mm in my opinion. Once you go above 60mm you’re looking at a longboard/cruiser wheel. Top wheel brands include Spitfire, Bones, OJ, and Ricta.

The durometer is how hard or soft the wheel is. The lower the number, the softer the wheel, the higher the number, the harder the wheel. Most skatepark/street skating wheels will have a durometer of 98-103a. These wheels are lighter, slide easier, and have better response for popping the board and doing flip tricks or grinds. Cruiser wheels will have a lower durometer making them faster, softer, and better for cruising around on a sidewalk, bike path, or a boardwalk.

Once you’ve picked out your wheels you’ll need bearings. The rule of thumb with bearings is the higher the price tag the less maintenance required and better materials used for the bearings. Bones REDS are probably the number one bearing company on the market. When it comes to bearings, you get what you pay for, so pay a lil more and you’ll have bearings that last much longer.

Trucks

The last part of your set up will be the trucks, essentially what turns and maneuvers the board. Trucks are an interesting part of the skateboard set up and I’m still learning new things on them. Top Truck brands include Thunder, Independent, Venture, Krux, and Royal. There are Low, Mid, and High truck height sizes. I noticed a lot of trucks on the market these days are Mid height. A taller truck allows you to turn the board quicker while a shorter truck allows you quicker pop and snap. You’ll also want the truck axle width to match the deck width properly. The truck axle is what the skate wheels are attached to.

A local skate shop can help you with that or if you buy your trucks online, there should be a size chart. Each company has a different way of measuring their trucks, therefore always refer to the size chart! For example I skate an 8.38 inch skateboard and ride Thunder 148’s with an 8.25 inch axel. Try to keep the axel width within 1/4 of an inch of your deck size.

The last part about trucks is weight. Trucks come in standard , light, and even hollow light weight sizes. Lights or Hollow Lights will have hollow king pins and axels that allow you to pop everything higher with less effort. If you skate more transition or your a beginner, the standard truck will work better in my opinion because the added weight gives the board more control. Standard trucks are also less expensive compared to lighter versions.

Gripping the Skateboard

Now that you have some skate product knowledge and may have purchased what you need for a complete, I’ll show you how to grip a skateboard below. If you’re new to skating the shop can grip your board and also most online stores provide an option for the board to come gripped. None the less it’s a fun skill to learn over time.

1. You’ll need a Skate Tool, File, Razor Blade and a #2 Philips screw driver (Burton Bullet Tool)

2. Line the Grip up

You’ll want to make sure that the grip tape is as even as possible around the board before you press it onto the top of the deck. I’ll usually stand above the deck and eye it. It’s ok if it doesn’t line up at first because the grip tape can be easily adjusted as long as you didn’t completely press it down.

Once it is lined up, press evenly starting at one end and working your way towards the other end. Getting rid off any air bubbles. I like to re-use the piece peeled from the grip tape to press better on the top of the grip.

3. File Around the Board

A file can be purchased at your local hardware store, Lowes or Home Depot. Use any part of the file and start to scrape around the edge of the skateboard creating a white line. This is allows you to cut the grip tape around the board smoothly and evenly so make sure to create a nice even white line.

4. Cut around the Deck

I make four different cuts around the board in order to cut the grip tape off in sections. One on each side, near the nose and tail. You’ll then want to cut carefully and smoothly towards yourself holding the razor in one hand and the cut off grip tape in the other.

5. Wheels and Bearings

This requires some muscle, but a good way to put new bearings into new wheels is to either use a skate tool or the axle of your skate truck. If you’re using a skate tool, be careful not to damage the bearings only pressing down on the inner metal circle. You’ll want to line up the bearing to the wheel as evenly as possible.

6. Attach trucks

This is the final part of setting up a complete skateboard. Use your Philips #2 screwdriver, your skate tool, skate harware (bolts/screws) and start to screw the trucks to the board. Don’t over-tighten, until the grip tape breaks in a little bit. If you over-tighten the hardware, you risk pressure cracks with a brand new skate deck. Also don’t tighten your trucks at all, let the bushings break in. The bushing will be the soft gummy part you see on the truck.

With Bones Bushings, they come broken in, which is why I suggest swapping your factory bushings out with a set of Bones. Again, you can purchase these at your local skateshop or online.

Once you’re board is all set up, find the nearest curb, driveway, or skatepark and have fun! Skateboarding is full of amazing life lessons and allows you to connect and meet a lot of different people from different backgrounds. Just remember to have fun with it and enjoy the process of getting better. Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post!