Snowboarding for beginners (part 2)
Once you have mastered how to position yourself on the board, you need to know about how to start moving and most importantly, stopping!
It is always useful to have some professional help when first learning the basics to moving and stopping. To learn how to stop on a snowboard it is a good idea to have someone gently push you so that you are moving slowly. If you are moving heel side (with your back to the mountain), to stop you need to dig your heels into the snow. If you are moving toe side (facing the mountain), to stop you need to dig your toes into the snow. A simple way of remembering this is, if you are travelling heel side, use your heels to stop and if you are travelling toe side, use your toes to stop!
Now you have learnt how to stop you are ready to learn how to start snowboarding properly! Remember to keep looking forward and not at your feet as this will not help with your balance. You should also keep your knees bent as this will allow you to control your balance more easily and remember that your feet and ankles are what you are using to control the board. Gradually start to pick up speed but remember that you are a beginner so keep your speed controllable.
To turn on a snowboard, gently dig in your toes or heels depending on which way you want to turn. If you dig them in too hard though you will end up stopping! If you dig your heels in your will start to turn heel side and if you dig you toes in you will start to turn toe side.
Finally remember that you are only going to get better with practise!
