Bindings on a snowboard are setup in a duck stance. Typically 15 to 18 degrees on the front foot, and 8 to 12 on the back foot. The reason for these angles are to allow your knees to bend easily and help to pivot and steer your snowboard. Increasing the angle on your back foot allows you to ride switch easier. The width of your stance is also important. Typically you want your feet to be a little more than shoulder width apart. More advanced riders prefer a wider stance which lowers your centre of gravity. Freestyle snowboards also prefer a wider stance for grabs, spins, and rails.
Tuesday 28 June 2011
5 Rules for Moving to Whistler
1. Get Here Early
The mountain opens in November, but if you arrive then it will be hard to find a place to live. I recommend having a place sorted for October 1st. You'll get a place cheaper and with less roomates if you get here early.
2. Buy A Pass!
Too many people party when they get here and run out of money for seasons pass. The reason you came to Whistler was to snowboard. Not to party for a month.
3. Stay Healthy
Take it easy on the mountain the first month. Conditions might not be great, and you may not familiar with the mountain. Early season injuries are your worst nightmare in Whistler.
4. Stick around
When it seems like you cant find a job, and your roomates suck. Just stick around a bit longer. The season pics up, jobs are easy to come by, and your too busy on the mountain to worry about your roomates
5. Act like your in a small town
Whistler is a very small town and word gets around fast. One crazy night at the bar can land you in allot of trouble.
The mountain opens in November, but if you arrive then it will be hard to find a place to live. I recommend having a place sorted for October 1st. You'll get a place cheaper and with less roomates if you get here early.
2. Buy A Pass!
Too many people party when they get here and run out of money for seasons pass. The reason you came to Whistler was to snowboard. Not to party for a month.
3. Stay Healthy
Take it easy on the mountain the first month. Conditions might not be great, and you may not familiar with the mountain. Early season injuries are your worst nightmare in Whistler.
4. Stick around
When it seems like you cant find a job, and your roomates suck. Just stick around a bit longer. The season pics up, jobs are easy to come by, and your too busy on the mountain to worry about your roomates
5. Act like your in a small town
Whistler is a very small town and word gets around fast. One crazy night at the bar can land you in allot of trouble.
Monday 27 June 2011
Epic Powder Day on Blackcomb
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| Checking out our line before dropping into the Couloir on Blackcomb Mountain |
Burton Snowboard - What to consider when buying a snowboard
Everyone has there own favourite snowboard brand. There are also allot of Burton haters out there. The way I see it every company has good and bad snowboards. It's all a matter of finding the right board for you. I think Burton makes about 30 different snowboards each season. Of those 30 I personally would only ride two or three. But I have to find a board thats right for my riding style. Last season I wanted to ride more park and get some tricks dialled, so I got a park specific board. Some people like to ride pow, so they get a huge powder snowboard. If you just want to become better at snowboarding in general you want an all mountain snowboard. Think about what your goals are for the winter, then talk to someone at your local store who can set you up. For the beginners snowboarders out there, don't skimp on your first board. If you spend a bit of money it will pay off, and make your riding much more enjoyable.
Three steps to learn a Backside 360
When learning any new trick you want to first try it off somthing very small. like a small natural jump or side hit. Smaller the better then work your way up from there. I break the frontside 360 into three parts (Line, Wind, Pop)
1. First thing is your line up to jump. You want to do three turns up to the jump. A heal turn, to a toe turn, back to a heal. You want to be on your heals when you come off the lip of the jump so you can pop off your heals.
2. Second you need a good pop. Being on your heal edge will give you a solid base to jump from.
3. Third thing is your wind up. As you appoach the lip of the jump you want to rotate your shoulders back and as you come off the lip of the jump and pop off your heals rotate your shoulders toward the jump. This will give your the rotation to get the spin around. Suck your knees up in the air and look your head around to spot your landing.
You should be nailing frontside and backside 180's before trying the 360. Send me a post if you want tips on those.
1. First thing is your line up to jump. You want to do three turns up to the jump. A heal turn, to a toe turn, back to a heal. You want to be on your heals when you come off the lip of the jump so you can pop off your heals.
2. Second you need a good pop. Being on your heal edge will give you a solid base to jump from.
3. Third thing is your wind up. As you appoach the lip of the jump you want to rotate your shoulders back and as you come off the lip of the jump and pop off your heals rotate your shoulders toward the jump. This will give your the rotation to get the spin around. Suck your knees up in the air and look your head around to spot your landing.
You should be nailing frontside and backside 180's before trying the 360. Send me a post if you want tips on those.
How to Snowboard - Your Online Snowboard Coach
I want to use this blog to coach people online who want to snowboard better. Just post your questions here and i'll do my best to help your nail that trick or learn those turns. I've been coaching teenagers in Whistler now for eight years full time, and ive taught in the park, cliff drops in the alpine, or linking turn in the beginner area. No question is too big or small.
Saturday 25 June 2011
Learn to snowboard in the Southern Hemisphere
Its summer in Whistler so that means in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Chile they get to snowboard. Which is great for all snowboarders because that means its possible to snowboard all year long. If your in one of these countries and are learning to snowboard, or can snowboard and want to learn more, stay tuned and i'll be posting as many snowboarding tips I can possibly think of. I've been teaching snowboarding to all ages for eleven years so I might be able to help. Should be a sick summer/winter!
Friday 24 June 2011
Slack Summer Surgery
Summers are awesome in Whistler. Hanging by the lake or Biking on the mountain. I'm spending my second summer recovering from shoulder surgery. Last summer was AC Joint Surgery. This summer its barkart repair surgery, or in simpler terms my shoulder kept dislocating so they tightened it up. The up side to being mangled in the summers is your healthy to snowboard all winter.
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