SNOWBOARD TIPS

Ready or not, winter's coming.  Why not make the best of it?  There's no need to sit indoors enduring cabin fever

this winter.  No matter what your age, gender, or if you think you're "gravitationally challenged," snowboarding is a

fun winter activity.  And the whole family can enjoy snowboarding, not just the kids!

The tips in this article come from Betty, a Canfield's employee who loves snowboarding and participates in this

exciting activity with her husband and son.  Check out what she has to say!

Before you start:

Betty starts with a mild caution: don't jump into snowboarding if you're totally out of shape.  Snowboarding is pretty physically demanding.  You'll need to strengthen your legs by doing squats or wall sits.  Do dips and pushups to give your arms the strength to push yourself up off the ground all day when you're first learning.  Working your core will help immensely by giving you greater balance and control, so do lots of pushups, crunches, and plank exercises.

Before you hit the slopes, make sure you protect your gray matter and buy or rent a helmet.  Many resorts rent helmets.  Make sure it fits correctly so it doesn't flop around, get down over your eyes, or bother you by moving around.  A helmet not only protects your noggin, but it will keep you warm!

You'll need snowboard boots, too (remember, you can rent everything at resorts, which will let you decide what you do and do not want to buy later).  Snowboard boots should be comfortable, yet as snug as possible.  Wear the socks you'll be 'boarding in when you get fitted for boots.  You don't want cramped toes, but your foot shouldn't slide around inside the boot, either.  A boot that fits snugly around the heel is necessary to prevent heel lift.  The reason you want your boots to fit snugly is to prevent loss of control of your board.  You can also employ adhesive inserts inside the boots to help get them as snug as necessary.

Getting Dressed:

As always when dressing for outdoor activity in the winter, avoid cotton!  Dress in layers of synthetics or in wool from head to toe, from skin to outerwear.  Layers are key because you can remove one or two if you're too warm, and add them again if you get cold.  Synthetics (man-made fabrics) include Coolmax, Thermax, Polypropylene, and polyester. 

For socks, get wool knee-high models that will keep you warm but not bunch up inside your boots.  Smartwool is one great brand, and you'll find them at Canfield's, of course! 

For snowboarding, baggy clothing is good, because you need plenty of room to bend, sit, kneel, and twist.  Snowboarding pants should have reinforced knees and seat.  Your jacket shouldn't restrict arm movement, and should allow you to wear layers under it.  They should be waterproof, too, which will keep you more comfortable. 

On your hands, wear mittens or gloves with wide cuffs that fit over your coat sleeves to help keep snow out.  Other accessories include a fleece neck gaiter, a lightweight beanie to wear under your helmet and keep your head warm, and goggles, both to protect your eyes from UV rays, blowing snow, and glare, but to help keep your face warm.  Hand- and toe-warmers are nice if you're sitting or standing still for awhile.  Some mittens and gloves even have little pockets specifically designed to hold handwarmers.  Also, be sure to wear sunscreen on any exposed skin.  The snow reflects UV rays and you can easily burn.  Wear at least 30 SPF sunscreen.  Knee pads will protect your knees from all the kneeling you'll do while learning.  A Camelbak hydration bladder backpack is great to use for keeping you hydrated - then you don't have to carry a water bottle, and you'll drink more, which is good for you!Plus, you can carry a tool kit, snacks, and whatever else you need in the pack.  Another nice tool to have is two-way radios.  That way you can keep track of others in your group if you get separated (some are speed demons, others like to float along and take in the scenery).  One last item to consider is a lock to protect your investment while you're in the lodge warming up.

Getting Started:

If you've never snowboarded before, you're strongly encouraged to take a lesson.  Learning how to do it right the first time, from a professional instructor who knows how to teach beginners, will get you up and going on your own WAY faster than trying to learn by yourself.  You'll need to know how to stand up, turn, stop, and avoid obstacles before you can hit the terrain park and the halfpipe.  Without these skills, you're endangering not only yourself, but everyone else around you.

Choosing a board:

If you're going to rent a board at first (recommended), the staff in the rental shop will know how to fit you.  If you decide to buy, be sure to choose the right board for YOU.  Determine length by standing it up in front of you.  It should fit between your chin and your nose.  Verify the weight limit for the board and be sure it matches your weight.  When you stand on the board, your boots shouldn't overhang the edges.  Talk to a professional at the shop (like Canfield's) to make sure you get the right board for you.  There will probably be several boards that fit you to choose from.

Bindings:

There are different types of bindings (the contraptions that hold your boot to the board).  The most commonly used binding is the strap-in style.  Another style is the step-in, which requires a special boot.  Most bindings have a high back, which helps control the board in a heelside turn.  Your boot should not move when latched into your bindings.  If your binding has straps, be sure they're not too long or too short, and that they fit properly over your boot.  Again, talk to the pros at your local snowboard shop or at the resort.  It helps to rent first so you can try different styles and find out which one you like best before you buy.

The Board:

Snowboards come in a variety of shapes, lengths, and styles for different uses.  The way they're made and the materials they're made of differ, too.  Again, before buying, it's an excellent idea to rent several different boards so you can try different styles and see what you like best. 

When you're carrying your snowboard, be aware of the people around you.  Hold it upright, next to your body if you're in a crowd so you don't whack anyone with it.  If you set your board down on a slope, turn it over and lay it bindings-down so it won't slide away.  An unattended snowboard hurtling down a crowded ski slope, gaining speed and momentum, is a dangerous thing.  Whenever you're using the board, always use a safety leash.  Snowboards don't have brakes like downhill skis do.  The leash is a non-releasing strap that attaches to your leading leg or boot.  If you do have a binding release, the leash prevents your board from becoming a projectile.

Also, be sure to inspect your board before using it.  Make sure the bindings are attached securely and that there are no loose bolts in the straps or highback.  You don't want to lose a strap while you're riding.

Care of your board:

Always keep your snowboard waxed and the edges sharp and free of burrs.  If you're purchasing a new board, you won't have to worry about the edge being sharp right away.  As for wax, a fluorinated all-temperature wax is good to use if you're waxing your board here in Nebraska and then heading to the mountains. 

Waxing your board is easy.  You'll need a table, mounts, a waxing iron, a scraper, a green Scotch Brite scrub pad, and newspaper.  Make sure your board is room temperature - never wax it when it's cold.  Start by laying the newspaper on the floor to catch the wax scrapings, and be sure to cover a wide area.  Then start scraping off the old wax from the board's base with your scraper (you can get a scraper where you buy snowboards, like at Canfield's).  Once the wax is gone, clean the base with snowboard cleaner.  Then you're ready to put new wax on.  Hold your waxing iron over the board with one hand and the wax in your other hand.  Hold the wax against the hot iron so the wax will melt and drip onto the board.  Let it drip all over the base, then use your iron to distribute the wax evenly.  Don't hold your iron in one place too long, especially if you're in the binding area.  Once the wax is spread evenly all over the base of the board, let it cool.  When it's cool, scrape off any lumps or uneven areas to smooth it out.  Always scrape in one direction from nose to tail.  After scraping, using the same nose to tail strokes, brush over the scraped wax with the green scrub pad.  You're done!

At the end of the season, follow the waxing steps above, but don't scrape it off.  Leave the wax on over the summer to help protect the board.  Then, when the snow flies, all you have to do is scrape the wax and you're ready to go!

And finally...

Learn and follow the Responsibility Code for skiers and snowboarders (like it's the uphill person's responsibility to watch out for those lower on the slope).  Know how to read trail markings and study the trail map BEFORE you get on the lift.  You don't want to end up in an area you don't have the skill to get out of!

Snowboarding is not just for kids.  Adult skiers who have knee problems have found snowboarding a great alternative to skiing, since it is much easier on the knees.  Plus, you don't have the added inconvenience of poles.  You only have one piece of equipment to worry about.  Once you've mastered the basic skills, you can head out and explore the mountain.  Snowboarding allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature in the wintertime.  And it's FUN!!!