How to Snowboard

Balancing on a snowboard requires the snowboarder to know where and how to stand on the snowboard. Get snowboarding tips for how to balance on a snowboard from a sponsored snowboarder in this free video on snowboarding.

Expert: Melissa Evans
Bio: Melissa Evans has been snowboarding for the last six years. She recently took first place in both Hot Dogs and Hand Rails in 2007, and Beanies and Bikinis in 2007.
Filmmaker: Devin Boddie

Duration : 0:1:23

I am about a 250 lb female who has been losing weight pretty regularly and have wanted to snowboard for a long time, but never had the courage. I am at a point now where I feel comfortable enough to get out there and make a fool out of myself, but I am really unsure it all still. I have no clue where to start with gear and was hoping I could get some initial guidance as well as any tips for my first time hitting the slopes. Thanks!

hey! congrats on wanting to snowboard :]]

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Gear:
Board [for obvious reasons ]
Boots [makes it interesting to walk in]
Bindings [which secure the boots onto the board]

there are different types of Boards such as:

All Mountain Boards [basically catch it all type boards, good or mulitple snowboard styles](with medium flexibility)

Freestyle Boards [boards thats are well typically softer and are used in the terrain park, they also help the boarder to perform tricks, spins, jumps, jibs etc. more easily. there are freestyle boads that are also made specifically for the Half Pipe and ones made for the ultimate Jib and Rail Sessions]

Freeride Boards [a.k.a Big Mountain. These are boards designed to for freeriding and typically don’t perform well on park features. They are often optimized for powder riding, speed and maneuverability. They do well off of natural or manmade kickers, cliffs, etc. These boards typically have a stiffer flexibility]

Alpine Boards [a.k.a Slalom boards or Race boards. Alpine boards are designed to do one thing very well: go fast in hard, groomed snow conditions. They are typically used by competition racers and are not designed for powder conditions. They are truly directional and not intended to be ridden switch (fakie). They are usually paired with hard boots and metal plate bindings. Alpine boards have a very stiff flexibility]

Bindings:

Strap Bindings [The original and still the most popular Binding System in Snowboarding. because they are not only adjustable and very secure, they are also comfortable. Nowadays, these bindings are designed to be lighter and stronger] ** this is just good to know, Alpine Boarders want the strap bindings with a higher backplate which is the pat of the binding the goes from your ankle to your calf. while Freestyle Boarders wanting the strap bindings with lower high backplates which gives them more flexibility and turn power.

Step in Bindings [youll get these if your renting from a rental shop at the mountain/hill most likely. Simply step down and click into it, which makes it easier for you to get on and off your snowboard. Not as popular as the Strap Bindings though

Flow In Bindings -- dont know too much about them. but theye harder to adjust then strap bindings which is a HUGE disadvantage. Basically like the Strap in however the part that covers your foot looks like a tonque basically.

Plate Bindings [for use of alpine and racers, theyre made for hard boots]

Baseless Bindings [well now becoming more popular, theyre intended for Half Pipe and Park Riders because it allows you to feel more of the board therefore give you a faster edge response] HOWEVER its NOT the only binding or Half Pipe/Park Riders. I love the strap bindings, its all to do with personal preference

Boots

Soft Boots [most comfortable and can be used with highback bindings and flow-in bindings. most popular type of snowboard boots and are preferred by Freestylers and Freeriders]

Hard Boots [designed for precise control. they support your foot, ankle, and lower leg firmly, making them best for racing and high-speed carving on hard snow]

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Snowboard Equipment Size [unless your renting then theyll tell you]

Board:

about 152
I guessed, on your height and boot size. here’s how you can calculate it

http://www.frostyrider.com/tips/size-guide.htm

Boots and Bindings:
I suggest you go to your local board shop for figuring out your right size for boots [especially] and bindings. Some brands of boots are different than others, some are almost equivelent to your shoe size however some brands are not. Bindings come in S M and L sizes, determined by your boot size/

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Stance: Goofy or Regular

Imagine your sliding across your kitchen floor, whic foot goes first? Right or Left?
Left = Regular
Right = Goofy
it is ALSO possible to be both, like I am, however I’m more goofy.

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Some basically info at beginning snowboard
the guy above me answered like amazing, so i probaly won’t be able to match him but heres my input

*You can go down the hill nose end first or tail end first.
*You can go downhill facing downhill, or you can do anything inbetween. Sick, eh?

*The uphill edge:

Toeside:

Keep in mind that while you are boarding, alwys put pressure on the uphill edge of the board. So, if you are going down the mountain backwards, that is, facing uphill, yourpressure will be on your toes. Which is called ‘toeside’

Heelside:

If you are going down the mountain facing downhill, your pressure will be on your heels. this is indeed ‘heelside’

TIP: DON’T put pressure on the downhill edge. It will cause you to tip over. Think about it. If you are heelside (that is, traveling downhill and facing downhill) and you dig