Matt Belair - SnowBoarding Academy

An Independent Review Of Matt Belair - Snow Boarding Academy

2008-01-13T04:37:00.000-08:00

In August 2007, I was faced with the same issue that you might be facing right now. I wanted to master Snowboarding without paying a heavy fees for a personal coach. I started reviewing my options over Internet (you might be doing the same at this time) and I was having a hard time finding the right course to buy. There were a plenty of options in terms of free tips and techniques too. But then they were just tips! I was looking for something that can replace the need for a personal coach and teach me snowboarding for the season ahead. Few of my friends are long time into snowboarding, so I buzzed one of them and he messaged this Web site link to me.

Snowboarding Academy

It was an online course on snowboarding. Now I am bit skeptic about online courses in general. I take care to search for the reviews and people's experiences with it. This program turned out to hold an impressive record. I found an expert review (next post) that covered all the aspects of the course and gave a very unbiased review. I knew I was right in making the decision to buy it.

This season I have mastered snowboarding using this SnowboardingAcademy course (preparing for a competition at season end and my girl friend is impressed already :) and I rate it an A+.

It takes you from a beginner to master level with quite an ease. The support and information it provides to you is also good. You will not just learn snowboarding but you will master every aspect of it from the basic safety tips to competition level ideas. These are things that you won't get anywhere else on Internet but only this course provides them. And its not just boring text manuals, you get it all in interesting multimedia format. I specially liked watching those videos - they help you improve a hundred times over.

The course has been designed by Matt Belair, one of Canada’s top professional freestyle coaches. Matt pushes all his experience to make you a top class snowboarding expert. The surprising thing was that even with this kind of coaching and support, the product was priced very low. Now I know that Matt charges quite a heavy amount for his personal coaching and it is amazing how he has managed to squeeze in the same experience at such a low price.

I think for anyone looking to become an expert in snowboarding this is the best program to go for!. Do check out the Website.

Click Here

Get Snowboarding Academy Here.

An Expert Opinion On SnowBoardingAcademy By Matt Belair

2008-01-12T04:40:00.000-08:00

New eBook Reveals Snowboarding Tips & Tricks

By Peter Vandenberg

First some history, snowboarding originated in the U.S. in the 1960's. Early boards were very rudimentary in design compared to the models available today. More recent designs reflect the variety of riding styles that have emerged within the sport.

The growing recognition of snowboarding around the world is evidenced by its establishment as a sports discipline in 1995. Snowboarding competitions have been taking place for approximately 20 years, and include events such as the halfpipe, boardercross, slopestyle and parallel giant slalom. As such, snowboarding has been included in events in Winter Olympics and Winter X-games. It even has a US Open tournament of its own. The growth of snowboarding as a sport is undeniable as more and more people get hooked on it.

Now that you are among the countless ones who want to try out the fun and excitement that only snowboarding can give, it is high time that you learn the basics of making your very first downhill ride on a snowboard. So how do you begin?

First, you need to procure the necessary snowboarding equipment. If you already have the necessary equipment, you can start learning the basics of riding your snowboard. Here are a few important things to remember as you start to find your destiny in snowboarding.

Keep in mind that snowboarding is similar to snow skiing. The body movements that enable you to control and stabilize your snowboard are the same as the movements in skiing. Therefore, if you are already a skilled skier, there will be fewer problems for you ahead. A skier will have easier time than a skateboard thrasher to learn snowboarding.

Always be in a relaxed position. Like any sport, snowboarding requires a calm and hang-loose mindset. Most accidents and injuries in snowboarding happen when one is in tensed position. As you mount your snowboard, keep your knees bent; a stiff stance will only make you absorb impacts between your snowboard and snow.

Try steering the snowboard over the small area you are in. Practice making turns, learn the finer points of toe-side turns, which means turning by lifting your heels up while pressing your toes to the snowboard; or heel-side turns, which make use of your heels for your turning. Once you have mastered the basics of balancing and steering your snowboard, you can move to a bigger patch of snow, but do not try a long and steep slope just yet.

Now that you have actually moved on your snowboard, you have to learn how to stop your snowboard. Stopping a snowboard basically requires making more turns until you find your self going for an uphill position. An uphill direction will certainly slow your snowboard down until you are in a complete stop.

After learning all the basic riding movements, you are ready for the next level. This is where Matt Belair's Snowboard Academy comes in! Matt Belair is a certified Level 2 snowboard instructor who set up an online snowboard camp. The Snowboard Academy provides an ebook manual and three audio's in which you will learn an integrated system of snowboarding that includes: Mental Training, Physical Training and Focused Training. By integrating these 3 key parts in his training program, Matt Belair is able to teach you how to ride the snowboard park, how to make, the snowboard backflips, freestyle from spinning 720's over 55ft table tops to slaying city hand rails with ease and other snowboard tips and tricks.
For more information about the Online Snowboard Academy visit their website.

Article written by Peter Vandenberg for ebook-scene.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Vandenberg

Click Here For

Snowboarding Academy

Why Snowboarding!

2008-01-11T00:10:00.000-08:00

The Thrill Of Snowboarding For Those Who Are Unfamiliar With The Sport
By Gregg Hall

Even though people didn't really get the concept of snowboarding until the 1970s it didn't really become part of the winter Olympics nor popular until 1998. Today this is the sport that everyone is waiting for when watching the winter Olympics.

So due to many people snowboarding and many people wanting to learn many resorts offer rentals and free lessons on most of their slopes. They would want you to learn from someone who can teach rather than just renting you a board and having you go bust your rear on the hard ice.

Many people say that you should learn how to ski before you snowboard this however is not true I have a friend that a few years back had just started surfing in the earlier months like September through December and in January went snowboarding in Colorado and got pictures of him doing airs and rails. So snowboarding shouldn't and can't be that hard if he can just go for 2 weeks and get good at the sport. He wasn't even that good on a surfboard and he did better on a snowboard it looked then a surfboard and on top of all that he even bought a snowboard. That's how easy and fun he said it was.

A lot of the resorts often host contest for snowboarding so if you are there and have been snowboarding before you can enter to win.

Also there are many big companies that come to these events when being hosted so it may be your shot to get a sponsor or two while boarding in some of these events. You never know if you do well enough you may become a sponsored rider. Just go out and try your best and make the best of what you have.

Today you can even have your snowboard custom made unlike back in the day you had one type of board that you could ride. Not today, today you can custom make a board to the size and figure that you want it and even have it painted the way you want. All you do is go to a shaper or maker and have it made.

One of the problems with snowboarding just like any other sport is injuries. You will need to wear a helmet when snowboarding so that you don't crack your noggin. So when you go to the icy slopes or wherever it is that you may go you need to wear protection so you don't become injured on your trip seeing as that can cause a short trip. So go out today and start riding who knows you might be better at snowboarding then the sport you already do or compete in. it is easy or everyone is the northern states wouldn't be doing it. So go get you a snowboard and start trying to ride before you get to an age to wear you cannot even get out of the house.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about snowboarding as well as sports equipment at http://www.nsearch.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

Check out the Snowboarding Academy if you plan to learn snowboarding!

Learning To Snowboard

2008-01-07T02:47:00.000-08:00

Learning to snowboard can be a mix of different emotions. Some people hate it and never do it again, other's love it and are addicts for life. It all depends on how you learn to snowboard.

Some people aren't sure whether or not they are going to like snowboarding, so they rent some gear, buy a lift ticket and on their own try to ride down the mountain. While this method might be the cheapest way to test out if they are going to like it or not, they really aren't giving themselves a fair shot at enjoying this great sport.

Another alternative to learning to snowboard would be hiring an instructor for the day. With an instructor you learn snowbard tips and are taken to easier spots on the mountain. However, the problem with hiring an instructor is that it costs so much money and right when your starting to figure things out the lesson is over. So you are left with a hundred questions and have to decide whether it's worth it to hire an instructor again.

The best way of learning to snowboard is through pre-training, before you even got to the slopes, physical training, mental training, and on and off hill practicing. I use to be a snowboard instructor and know first hand how beneficial it can be to pre-practice your snowboarding even before your first day. Not to go into too much detail about the benefits but pre-practicing programs your mind and body for snowboarding. When you hit the slopes for the first time it will seem like you can already snowboard.

Snowboarding is one of the best sports ever. You want to give yourself a fair shot at enjoying it. Pre-practicing can make learning to snowboard easier and more fun. Also renting equipment is a good way to test the sport out without spending too much money, but often times rental equipment isn't always in the best condition or not the perfect size for you. So to further increase your chances of loving this sport you should just get your own gear. Reading a snowboarding buying guide will help you learn what to look for when shopping for your perfect gear. Good Luck and Have Fun!
I still love teaching people how to snowboard and have spent a lot of time trying to perfect my teaching. There are many learn to snowboard tutorials available, but I think I found the best one. It focuses strongly on the pre-training and that is the key to snowboarding success. Here is a review I wrote about the tutorial Click here for review.

Don't know what to look for when shopping for new snowboarding gear, check out a snowboarding buying guide Click here for the buying guide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Clemmer

Visit

snowboardacademy

Snowboarding Tips Online

2008-01-05T02:50:00.000-08:00

Snowboarding Tricks - Can You Really Get Snowboarding Tips Online? Shocking Discovery!
By Colin Linnett

Maybe your a Beginner or maybe a Snowboarding Amateur who seriously wants to learn how to master the Snowboard Tricks,we see from the pro's week in and week out,and like thousand of others,seriously wants to improve there Snowboarding Ability.

I can almost hear you now.

"How do I achieve this"

Where do I start"

And above all else, Is learning how to master Snowboarding Tricks a real possibility simply by browsing the net for tricks and tips.

Well quite simply the answer to the above questions is "Yes" and "No".

What i mean by this is that almost, all of the Snowboarding Tricks and Tips Websites that you see will tell you that if you buy this programme or book then you will instantly become a master of Snowboarding Tricks but like with anything in life,someone,somewhere will be selling you a lie.

Does that mean that you can,t get any help online?

No,not at all,

For every Fifty trash Snowboarding Tricks Websites you will find one quality site,and for every couple of thousand Snowboarding Website you will find a truly amazing site,that will 100% improve your Snowboarding ability to a higher level.The problem is finding these websites.

How do you know that you have found the best Snowboarding Tricks Website.

To put it simply you should use your common sense and ask your self questions like:

Is this a real legitimate Company?

Would masters of Snowboarding Tricks like, Travis Rice,Simon Chamberlain and Mason Aguirre approve of the Website in question?

Is this Site going to improve my Snowboarding tricks?

One excellent Snowboarding Tricks Website which comes to mind has been helping Snowboarders improve there Snowboarding ability at a frantic pace and is regarded by many as the best around for teaching Snowboarding tricks and giving out excellent tips.The minute you start to read you will totally understand there way of thinking about all aspects of Snowboarding,and like everyone else you will become convinced that this is possibly the best Snowboarding Site online today for improving your tricks.

Imagine for a second if you could teach yourself a 360 one day after you learned a 180. Then instantly a week later you teach yourself a 540 and look good doing it! What would it be like to be the best on your local hill and have all your friends wonder how the hell you got so good so fast.

Well if you do the right research then this is a possibility,and I can almost guarantee you that your Snowboarding Tricks will improve.
If you want to know the secrets of learning how to Snowboard like the pro's,and would like to read the three laws of Snowboarding Tricks then i urge you to read my exceptional blog on Snowboarding Tricks and Tips which you can get free access to here.

http://www.snowboardingtricks.tumblr.com

Try out the snowboarding academy.

Technique Of Waxing A Snowboard

2007-12-12T03:16:00.000-08:00

How to Wax a Snowboard
By Andrew Cho

Waxing is the easiest tuning job for snowboards and offers immediate results. Since wax makes it easier for snowboards to glide over snow, a waxed board will slide faster and turn easier. Waxing also protects the base form the harmful effects of moisture, UV rays, snow contaminants, and dirt.

If you're a recreational snowboard, waxing your board every two or three times you go should do the trick. If you're looking to have the smoothest rides, you can always wax more often. Some spray or wipe-on waxes can be used between wax applications and even when you're on the slopes.

To wax your board, you will need wax, an iron (or waxing machine), a plastic scraper, and a brush.

1) Before waxing your board, make sure that the base is clean.

2) Using an iron, hold a bar of wax against the base of the iron and let the wax drip onto the base. Run a bead of wax along the base without ever letting the iron touch the base. The iron should be hot enough to melt the wax, but not so hot that the wax smokes. (250 degrees Fahrenheit is normal)

3) Once the wax has been applied along the entire length of the base, smooth it out with the iron, being careful not to let the iron stall or touch the plastic base. Spread a thin layer of wax evenly over the entire base.

4) Once the wax has completely cooled, scrape off the excess wax by pushing or pulling the scraper from the tip to the tail. Next, use a soft nylon brush to buff the remaining wax. Brush with small, quick strokes until there are no more little white balls of wax.

5) Finally, polish the base lightly with an abrasive pad that can make riding smoother and more enjoyable. Whatever you do, make sure to scrape excess wax from the steel edges so they can cut into the snow.
FindingSnowboards.com was created with one goal in mind: help snowboarders find the perfect gear. Whether you're looking for snowboards, goggles, or jackets, we'll introduce you to hundreds of products to choose from.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Cho

There are certain very important ideas given in this article, although I knew most of them from snowboard academy tutorials you can still note these ones down.

Buying A Snowboard?

2007-12-02T02:54:00.000-08:00

How To Buy A Snowboard
By Eric Clemmer

Buying a snowboard can sometimes be a difficult task. Every snowboard company brags how their boards are better for this and that reason. But before you even get to deciding here are a few guide lines on how to buy a snowboard.

Before you buy a snowboard you should know what kind of board you will get for how much you spend. An entry level snowboard will be $150-$250, a mid-range between $250-$450, and a top end snowboard will cost $450 & up. Don't get caught up on how much a snowboard can cost though. I know plenty of good riders who like the entry level boards because they are softer and very flexible which makes them good for jibbing. On the other hand I see a lot of people riding around on top end snowboards and they can't even get off the lift. The point is that the price of a snowboard doesn't always reflect the riders ability.

Most people will tell you a snowboard should measure between your chin and nose. The problem with that rule of thumb is that snowboards don't know how tall you are. They only know how much you weight. You don't want to be a lighter person making turns with a huge board. It will be too difficult and you will end up hating the board. For a lighter person the board should be between the collar bone and chin, an average person between the chin and nose, and for a heavier person the board should measure to the nose and up.

You wanna make sure you don't have toe drag. Toe drag is when your boots extend well past your edges therefore making contact with the snow during turns. You don't want toe drag. Your boots should come to your edges. This will give you maximum control. The best way to check for toe drag is by screwing your bindings on the snowboard and strapping in your boots. Hold up an end at a time and look down the line of the edge and make sure your boots don't hang to far over.

Determining how flexible a snowboard is can also guide you to finding the perfect board . If you are a beginner you don't want a board that is too stiff because it will be harder to turn and less forgiving. A snowboard flexes two ways, from side to side(torsional) and from tip to tail(longitudinal). The more torsional flex the easier it will be to turn. Too little torsional flex and the board will be hard to keep on edge during a turn. You want a balanced flex from tip to tail. If the nose is more flexible than the tail or vice versa there will be an uneven flow between turns.

Knowing how to buy a snowboard involves a little honesty about your skills and knowing what kind of riding you want to do. Other than that follow this snowboard buying guide and you will be well on your way to having a blast with your new snowboard. Good luck and have fun!
You know how to buy a snowboard, now check out the 08' Snowboard Reviews at http://www.bettersnowboarding.com/snowboardreview.html and find the perfect board for you. Plus learn how to get your free copy of How To Tune A Snowboard tune guide at http://www.bettersnowboarding.com/snowboardtuneguide.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Clemmer

I tell you what while this article does talks about snow boards review, Mett Belair has an extensive information on it and even know where you can get best deals.

Check out his Snowboarding Academy.

Basic Steps For Snowboarding

2007-11-13T02:57:00.000-08:00

Snowboarding Tricks - Basic Steps Before Learning Tricks
By Bobby Wilson

Snowboarding by itself is a fun and safe sport that is basically a cross between skiing and skateboarding. Like most adventurous sports, snowboarding is most definitely not for the weak or frail hearted. But for those who are up to the challenge, it promises one of the most exciting blood rushes around.

Here are few basic Snowboarding tricks for a new learner:

1) You have to keep in mind that snowboarding is somehow similar to snow skiing. Body movements for snowboarding are similar to skiing as you control and stabilize your snowboard the same way. So if you are skilled skier you will find it easy to learn snowboarding tricks.

2) A very basic tip is that don't get boots that are very tight. Boots you wear should be comfortable.

3) Don't get long snowboards in the beginning of learning snowboarding tricks.

4) When you are starting to learn snowboarding don't start riding down the snowy slope. You can start with snowboarding across a small patch of snow. Start feeling comfortable about equipments and your movement before starting snowboarding.

5) While snowboarding be in a relaxed position. Similar to any other sports snowboarding requires a calm mindset. Most of the accidents and injuries happen among snowboarders while they are performing snowboarding tricks in tensed position.

6) Before starting snowboarding you should find a flat area or gentle incline. Keep away from high-traffic areas.

7) When you are starting to learn tricks don't practice alone. Always practice with friends so in case you hurt yourself you will have someone to look after you.

8) One of most important things in snowboarding is dress. You should dress comfortable and loose fitting snow clothing. You should wear goggles, glove and hat or helmet. You should also try to get wrist guards and helmet specially in the beginning.

9) You should practice skating around for 10-12 minutes before you go near the chairlift and start snowboarding.
To find out other crucial things you need to do to start learning snowboarding tricks , you should visit this site: http://unique-review.com/reviews/snowboarding-tricks-and-tips/

Bobby Wilson writes articles on different topics that interest him.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bobby_Wilson

This article has very basic ideas of learning this thing, If you are looking for an extended and complete details. Then check out the link below.

Check out his Snowboarding Academy.

Nice Read

2007-11-11T03:31:00.000-08:00

He Crossed Over To the Other Side
By Teresa Scanlon

It was bound to happen. Being married to an adventurous guy I knew that he would want to try it someday. Snowboarding that is. After some thought I realized that there could be some major advantages to all of this. For once, he would be slow. No more "chop chop" and the husband-clock chiming "SGO! SGO! SGO!" (that's short for "let's go") when we are out on the slopes. I decided to see how it would all play out.

He tried snowboarding for the first time one day on a mid-week trip organized by some work buddies. The new guy had a board and everyone admired it from a safe distance. After lunch Husband asked if he could try it for a few runs. Of course the bunny slope was too demeaning to him; he went straight for a green. The mountain that day was particularly icy and not very forgiving to someone who is down more than up. After a few tries and one whiplash-producing wham (thank God he was smart enough to borrow the helmet too) he returned the board to its owner. For weeks he nursed his aching neck. There's nothing like a case of whiplash to bring you to your senses. "Good I thought... the fascination is over."

I was wrong.

"I'm gonna check out the swap meet this weekend" he quietly mumbled. "Hmmm" I thought. He must be going to check out new skis. When he returned with "the wood" I knew there was no turning back for him. Now "the wood" was no ordinary wood. He got the used snowboard from a big kid who was upgrading. I think the kid was simply afraid of the graphics on the board. How could you look down at a distorted man's face in mid-primal scream and not be scared? The kids were scared of it. I was scared of it. Husband was indifferent and anxious to hit the trails. I was already planning on stocking up on Advil.

That was two years ago. Husband now splits his time on the mountain between the two sports, preferring to snowboard in the morning when his muscles aren't tired and aching and going back to his first love of gobbling up black diamonds on the sticks. Logistics for a family ski day has now drastically changed. Husband now has a specific spot on the chairlift, and giving our little one a hop up on the lift seat is now impossible for him since he has to be on the outermost chair spot. Unloading is also confusing since he now needs time to buckle his bindings.

"Riders" must unbuckle their boots from the bindings to keep one foot free for maneuverability in the lift line. But our entertainment factor has increased. The kids no longer look for his flaming red jacket to find him. They look for the lump on the snow now. And runs are now more leisurely since we are no longer trying to catch up with him. He's behind us now, waaay behind us. But with each season he inches closer to our group. Secretly I think he likes hanging back. He's got time to give the boarder-to-boarder head nod that skiers never seem to exchange. It's like some kind of secret sign. What are they really thinking? It must be something like "Ow, my butt took it hard on that last one." Or maybe "Why is this approach so stinkin' flat?"

I guess after all this, the answer is Yes. This Ski Chick does find something in common with her Boarder Dude. We both still enjoy the mountain and everything it has to offer- the snow, the views, and the fun. We give the same war cry on our first runs of the day and enjoy some well deserved après ski refreshment (has the term après board been invented yet?). And hey, I admire him for trying something new. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
Teresa Scanlon is an avid skier and mother to three. She also owns Ski Chick LLC, marketing streetwear and accessories to female snowboarders and skiers of all ages. Visit http://www.skichick.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Teresa_Scanlon

Buying Snowboard Pants

2007-11-11T03:03:00.000-08:00

How to Buy Snowboard Pants
By Eric Clemmer

Finding the right snowboard pants can make all the difference. Pants that are too light in material can leave your legs cold and cut your day in half. Pants that aren't properly ventilated can be very uncomfortable if the day is warm. Knowing the climate that you will be riding in can help you find the right pair.

Snowboarding pants have indications of how well they breath and how waterproof they are. The breath-ability is indicated with a g or gm, for example 10,000g would mean the pants do a good job of circulating the air. The waterproofing is indicated with a mm. The higher the number of mm & g the better they do their job.

This is where knowing your climates comes in hand. Let's say you are riding in the Northwest, like Oregon. The snow is extremely wet there. Buying snowboard pants with a waterproofing of 3,000mm would leave you soaked. For the Northwest and other wet conditions it would be best to buy snowboard pants with a minimum of 10,000mm, better yet would 20,000mm. Getting pants made out of Gore-Tex is also a good idea for wet climates because they do an amazing job of blocking the water from filtering in.

If you are riding in a dry climate like Colorado you would be fine with pants that only have a 3,000g & 3,000mm. But still 10,000g/mm would be best. In really cold temperatures, like in the Northeast, buying snowboarding pants with a high mm & g are recommended, but also find the ones that come with a removable liner for the extremely cold days.

Buying snowboard pants isn't just about climates, it's also about the look. You don't want your pants to look goofy with the rest of your outfit. Most manufacturer's tell you whether the pants are baggy or slim fit. This can be found on their product description which is great if shopping online. Other features that may influence your decision are pockets. I love having lot's of pockets. They are great for storing candy & stuff. Some pants are upgraded with tapped seams and waterproof zippers. Others come with pass holders and air-vents. Vents are needed if your riding in warm climates.

To summarize, buy snowboard pants that will work with both your climate and outfit. Create a theme with your look. Hope this information helps and Good Luck.
Always read a snowboard pants review before you buy. Here is a link to the 08' Snowboard Pants Review at http://www.bettersnowboarding.com/snowboardpantsreview.html Plus learn how to get your free copy of How To Tune A Snowboard tune guide at http://www.bettersnowboarding.com/snowboardtuneguide.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Clemmer

Check out the Snowboarding Academy to find where the best deals are.

Snowboarding Boots!

2007-10-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

Choosing the Right Snowboard Boots
By James Richardson

Along with bindings, snowboards are vital in transferring the movements of your body to the snowboard, not to mention protecting your feet and ankles from injury and the cold. There are three main types of snowboard boots available: soft boots, hard boots and hybrid boots.

Boots are a very important part of your snowboarding experience so it is imperative you really take care of them:

At the end of a days snowboarding, remember to remove the inner lining from your snowboard boots to dry. Dry the liner for at least 24 hours, allowing the boots enough time to dry and air out.

Be careful no to dry your boots in direct sunlight or heat. This can discolor and disfigure the snowboarding boots making them uncomfortable and mis-shaped.

When storing your snowboarding boots ensure they are in a place with a constant temperature. Locations such as the roof, garage or shed are not appropriate as the temperature can vary significantly.

To clean your boots use a damp cloth and some soap. Anything more and you can damage the outer of your snowboarding boots.

At the beginning of the season it is important to check your straps and buckles to ensure they are in prime condition for the season. Get any necessary repairs done before you hit the mountain. Have a great day snowboarding or skiing, and don't forget our tips on choosing the right pair of boots. They can make or break a day so be sure not to neglect this essential piece of outer wear
http://Snowlife.com.au is a snowboarding a skiing community website for the Australian market

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Richardson

Another cool article!

2007-10-13T04:33:00.000-07:00

Snowboard Anatomy
By Robin K Scott

Nose - the nose is the end that usually point's downhill
Tail - the tail is the end that usually points uphill
Toe edge - the side of the board where your toes are
Heel edge - the side of the board where your heels are
binding - the thing that binds your foot to the board.

Regular vs. Goofy

Picture yourself sliding downhill sideways. Which side is facing downhill, you're right or left? Alternatively, imagine yourself sliding across the kitchen floor in your socks. Which foot is forward? If you answered left, you're "regular". If you answered right, you're "goofy". On a snowboard, your feet are not perfectly pointed straight toward the toe edge, they are slightly angled either to the left (regular) or to the right (goofy). Your "leading foot" (the foot that goes down the hill first) for a regular person, this is the left foot, for a goofy person, it's the right. The board pictured above is a regular board. On a goofy board, the nose is on the right and the tail is on the left.

Riding the Board

The first unusual factor you need to get used to thinking about is that you can face any direction while riding downhill on a snowboard. You can go down the slope backwards, that is, with your toes pointed uphill and your back in the direction in which you're traveling. You can go down the hill nose end first or tail end first. You can go downhill facing downhill, or you can do anything in between. Wicked hey?

The uphill edge

bare in mind while you are snowboarding, always put pressure on the uphill edge of the board. So, if you are going down the mountain backwards, that is, facing uphill, your pressure will be on your toes. This way of facing the mountain is called "toeside" for obvious reasons. If you are going down the mountain facing downhill, your pressure will be on your heels. This is called "heel side". DON'T put pressure on the downhill edge. It will cause you to fall over. Think about it. If you are heel side (that is, traveling downhill and facing downhill) and you dig the downhill edge (the toe edge) into the snow, what do you think will happen? The board will stop and you will keep going, causing you to tumble over your board and fall flat on your face. Similarly, if you are toeside (traveling downhill backwards) and your heel edge digs in, what is going to happen? Your board will stop and you won't, causing your backside to slam into the ground. And guess what this is known as?

Balancing front-back

The balance point is the center of your weight relative to the surface of the board. Try this: at a standstill, position the board so that it is perpendicular to the slope and you are facing downhill. Now, tilt the toe edge of the board up and down using your ankles, move yourself front and back until you find the spot where you won't tip over. That's your balance point. The balance point changes with the softness of the snow because in soft snow, you'll have to tilt your board away from the incline more so than you would on hard-packed snow. Try going heel side slowly down an incline by reducing the pressure applied by your heels.

Balancing left-right

For the most part, try to keep your weight evenly distributed between your two feet. You don't want to put more weight on the uphill foot. Why not? The surface of the board under the leading (downhill) foot is largely what steers you. Just think of a sled going down a hill. The steering is in the front; friction on the sides of these blades will make it turn. If that analogy didn't work for you, then consider this one: Ever done a pop-a-wheelie on your bike as a kid? What happens when you steer while your front wheel is in the air? It has no effect on your direction, right? No control. Same thing with a snowboard, if there is no pressure on the leading end (the downhill foot), you have no steering.

Stopping

a stop is a lot like a hockey-stop on ice skates. You bring the board perpendicular to the slope and dig the uphill edge in. If you are heel side (if you are facing downhill) you stop by digging your heels in. If you are toeside, (if you are facing uphill) you stop by digging your toes in. Slowing down is basically the same thing. It's just that when you want to stop you apply a lot of pressure fast. At the same time, you'll be balancing your weight (shifting your balance point) so you don't upset your position to the point where you tip over. Practice stopping heel side. Then practice stopping toeside.

Turning

Okay, this part is important, so pay attention. Start with your board perpendicular to (that is, horizontal across) the slope and then apply less and less pressure to the edge and see what happens. The leading foot tends to go downhill. If you stay in this position, with the lead foot downhill and the board parallel with the slope, you'll go fast. To turn, start digging the heels in. What happens? You turn heel side. If you had dug your toes in instead, you would have turned toeside. WAIT UNTIL the nose of your board is pointed directly downhill BEFORE digging in the edge. Always look in the direction where you want to go. You have a tendency to go where you are looking because your head is followed by your shoulders/upper body and then by your hips. It may help to stick your hand out in the direction you want to go. This will help get your shoulder to turn. Avoid looking at the ground right in front of you, especially when you are toeside. Instead, when you are toeside, look over your shoulder in the direction you think you want to turn. When you want to actually turn, let your shoulder follow your head. Your hips and feet will follow.
For more facts and tips visit http://www.powder-zone.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_K_Scott

Clothes For Snowboarding

2007-10-09T04:27:00.000-07:00

Important Snowboarding Clothes
By Kum Martin

Snowboarding is fun and exciting but if you do not have the correct and appropriate snowboarding clothes, the fun and excitement will disappear very fast.

One of the most important snowboarding clothes is the jacket. Your jacket should have the capacity to keep you warm and dry. Remember, snow can turn into water very quickly once it comes in contact with your body heat and the feeling is never nice. Therefore, you jacket should be waterproof. Make sure that the lining of your jacket is thick enough to keep you warm but at the same time your jacket should not hinder your movement. Your jacket should fit you snugly while ensuring it does not cut into you. You can either opt for a parka with a hood or a ski jacket depending on what you are comfortable with.

Besides the jacket, pay special attention to your pants. They should be waterproof just like your jacket. Clothes manufacturers make snowboarding pants with suspenders which are similar to waders made for fishing. While other snowboarding pants are just like conventional pants.

Do not attempt to do snowboarding without a pair of warm gloves which do not restrict the mobility of your hands. Make sure your gloves fit you well on the wrist to seal out the cold. Though scarves are not essential for snowboarding, they have their use. You can use scarves to cover your nose and mouth if the weather goes from bad to worse. If you are wearing a scarf, make sure it is waterproof.

The most important part of your snowboarding clothes is your helmet. It is designed to protect you from the cold and from any serious head injuries in case of an accident.

Once you have all the necessary clothing for snowboarding, you are all set to conquer the snow.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kum_Martin

I don't know why those links were there and what they mean, ignore them, but yes the article brings out the obvious but important stuff. So many people make this mistake of being there without the right set of clothes. They make a laughing stock of themselves as well as go without any fun.

Get yourself prepared properly.!

How To Do Snowboarding Better

2007-10-08T00:19:00.000-07:00

Become Better Snowboarding
By Eric Clemmer

The ultimate goal with being better at snowboarding is to look good doing anything. Your focus should be on being able to ride everything, from trees, corn snow, moguls, powder...all types of conditions. Get good at riding first and all the tricks will come naturally.

Anyone can go to the park and get pretty good at park within a couple weeks, even people who don't know how to ride at all. A whole season spent at the park and you will have most tricks down, which includes but isn't not limited to half-pipe, jumps, quarter-pipe, and rails. If you ride for 3-5 hours a day that could easily be like 20-50 runs through the park a day. Times that by at-least 80 days a season and your going to get good at park. BUT....

Just riding park you will never get to practice making turns in all kinds of conditions. Not being able to ride the mountain is like not being able to snowboard. I'm not saying park is not a part of this sport, it definitely is, but you need to master basic riding first. If you don't learn your basic snowboarding skills you will look like a beginner forever.

So how do you become better at snowboarding? Ride everything, that includes moguls. There are a lot of riders who think that moguls are for skiing only. That is false, moguls are so much fun, hoping from one mound to another while turning in the air, it's cool. Besides, being able to ride moguls just makes a flat open run that much easier, plus it helps make riding trees easier. Another good tip is keep your knees bent. Bent knees will keep you in a ready position. A ready position means you will be able to execute any movement necessary for snowboarding faster. Bent knees also keep you looking good. Don't stick your butt out though, or you'll be doing the pooping stance(I don't think that needs an explanation). Another benefit to bent knees is that they act as shock absorbers, which will help keep your spine from getting compressed.

Pre-practicing is probably one of the best ways to get better. By pre-practicing I mean mental and physical training off the mountain, at home before you hit the slopes. By using your imagination to make perfect turns along with doing some snowboard fitness exercises you will program your mind and body for riding.

Like mentioned above, better snowboarding is all about looking good. Keep your knees bent, practice riding on all kinds of terrain like park, moguls, making perfect linking turns and don't forget about pre-practicing(this is the the true secret to getting good at riding). Have Fun and Good Luck!
It took a couple years of wasted money with expensive gym memberships and home equipment, but I finally found the best snowboard workout. It's called workout-without-weights and I have never felt so strong before on a snowboard. Here is a review I wrote about the workout program at http://www.bettersnowboarding.com/ultimatesnowboardingworkout.html

For more tips on how to become better at snowboarding check out this informational snowboarding website http://www.bettersnowboarding.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Clemmer

Check out the Snowboarding Academy. I think the stuff out there is much better!

Snowboarding Wtih Protective Gears

2007-09-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

Stay Safe with Snowboarding Protective Gear
By Eric Clemmer

Snowboarding is by far one of the best sports. The only down side to it is that falling does and will always happen. Getting injured and not being able to continue riding is the worst. Fortunately, there is snowboarding protective gear.

A beginner will be doing a bit more falling than other more experienced riders, but with less chances of a major injury. The most common snowboard injuries for a beginner are wrist and butt injuries. It's recommended to wear wrist guards. They can be bought separately from you gloves or you can buy gloves with wrist guards built in. Butt pads are also recommended. The newer generation of butt pads are actually very comfortable. You can get lighter protection butt pads, like wearing boxer shorts, or heavy duty protection pads, either way your coccyx will be a lot safer.

For intermediate or advanced riders who are really pushing their limits as riders, wiping out is definitely going to happen, maybe not as often as a beginner but at higher speeds which increases the chances for a more serious injury. The snowboarding protective gear recommended would be full pads. These pads are also very comfortable and flexible. They make you feel a lot safer which gives you an added sense of confidence.

No matter what level of riding you are at or what type of riding you are doing it is always recommended to wear a helmet. Other than a helmet though all the above protective gear is optional. If you feel like you might get injured or you are prone to injuries then wear the pads, but if you feel like your bones are strong and you usually don't get hurt from falling then don't wear the pads. But it would be nice to own some pads for when you do injure yourself but it's not serious enough to keep you from riding, you can then wear your pads so that if you do fall while riding you will not make a mild injury and turn it into a major one.

Always ride within your own limits. Don't go crazy and start taking runs that your not ready for. Protective gear can greatly reduce your chances of getting hurt, but it's not like a guarantee that you will not get hurt. You need to use your common sense when riding, if it doesn't feel right than don't do it. Always ride with friends also, this way if you do get injured they can always alert ski patrol for you. Good luck, Have fun and Be Safe!
Check out d3o Technologies, they are a company that has made some remarkable breakthroughs with protective gear. Click here to check out what they are doing to make riding a lot safer

To read more about snowboarding protective gear Click here, learn how to prevent injuries from happening to you, plus find the protective gear that you need

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Clemmer

Good Read On Snowboarding!

2007-01-10T03:34:00.000-08:00

Snowboarding Tricks - What Not To Do
By Jessica A

So, you've decided to learn how to do some really neat snowboarding tricks? That's a great idea. You can look really cool in front of your friends, show off your stuff, and maybe even gain a fan club. Okay, well maybe you won't get a fan club, but you will look really cool.

Before you start, you should really do a lot of research and hang out with some experienced snowboarders. However, there are some serious Don'ts that you should learn about as well. Here are some tips and guidelines you can follow.

Do Not:

Buy boots that are too small for you. When you try the boots on, they should feel comfortable. A lot of people think that if they hurt a little, it's okay because you will break them in. This is simply not true. You want your feet to be secure, but not to the point that you feel they are in a vice.

Buy a long board to learn with. Don't buy an expensive board to start with, you want to get a cheap board so you can mess it up during all your learning mistakes without too much worry.You are, after all, just starting out. Getting a long board or anything that costs too much is really not a good choice.

Get frustrated or embarrassed when you fall. Big deal. Do you know how many times professionals like Sean White have fallen? Tons. Everyone falls, it is just something you have to go through if you are going to become really good at any snowboard trick.

Try advanced snowboarding tricks too quickly. Begin with the simple ones. The harder stuff will come with time.

Practice all by yourself. Always have a group of buddies with you when you're practicing your tricks in case you seriously hurt yourself. It has happened to many people in the past and it will in the future. At least have one other person with you.

Alright, well that was enough for today.
Want to look absolutely hot with your snowboarding skills out on the slopes? Visit Snowboarding Tricks.net and get all the advice, tricks and snowboard reviews you will ever need.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_A