You want to learn to snowboard, but you only have one day to hit the slopes during your trip. Or maybe your meeting your friends, and want to be able to keep up, or maybe you’re just impatient. Whichever the reason, you’ll probably have been wondering if it’s possible to learn to snowboard in a day.
It is possible to learn to snowboard in a day. Having an instructor can speed up the process and save you time, however, it isn’t always necessary, at a certain point you will be continually repeating the same basic maneuvers. Studying YouTube tutorials beforehand and good preparation can help you to learn to snowboard in a day.
If you’ve only got 24-hours to learn to snowboard, then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll cover the key ways to save time, equipment and gear that will help you learn quickly and safely, specific skills that you will need to practice and we’ll wrap it up with some tips to keep you smiling and having fun.
Table of Contents
1. Consider Taking a Snowboarding Lesson
One of the best ways to pick up snowboarding fast is to have a private lesson.
Having an experienced instructor who can run you through the basics can save you a lot of time and frustration. Private lessons offer the advantage of a tailored 1-1 experience where the instructor can point out exactly where you’re going wrong and how to correct it.
If you’re on a tight budget, consider taking a group lesson, which work out at about half the cost. Although not as good as a private lesson, a group lesson will still be beneficial. Snowboarding lessons aren’t essential, but they can certainly help speed things up a bit.
2. Rent your Snowboard and Boots Ahead of Time
Rent your equipment the day before you go to maximize the time you will be on the mountain. Let the professionals at your pro shop know your learning to snowboard, and they will help get you set up on the best board for the job.
Find a local pro shop, and call ahead to find out if they have your size boots. It will take about thirty minutes for the whole process. They will fit you with the appropriate boot. Then they will set your bindings on the board to accommodate your boot. They’ll make sure the size of the board is appropriate for your height. Do all of this the day before so that you will be able to hit the slopes first thing in the morning.
3. Watch Snowboarding Tutorial on Youtube
Do a YouTube search for ‘learn to snowboard,’ and a ton of instructional videos will pop up. Watch as many of these as you can to get your brain thinking about what you’ll be doing. If you can do this every day for a few weeks leading up to your first day, then a lot of the lessons will be already ingrained in your mind.
Watch some videos of professionals snowboarding to get stoked. There is evidence that watching pros perform board sports helps you imitate their movements. You will also see how they carry themselves and look the part.
4. Check the Weather
Check the weather report so that you know what you’ll need to wear to stay toasty. When your body gets too cold, your attitude will become poor and your muscles will stiffen up. This will negatively affect your ability to learn and perform.
5. Wear the Right Outerwear
You’ll want to wear warm, water-resistant pants, and a jacket because you will be spending extra time sitting in the snow. It’s really important that you find a comfortable snowboard specific jacket and pair of pants.
To stay warm and dry they should be waterproof, not water-resistant because you will be falling and sitting in the snow frequently. A longer jacket is good because it will keep snow from getting in your pants. Other than that pick whatever style is comfortable and you think looks right for you.
6. Get Good Gloves
Cold hands are a bummer when you’re out on the slopes. It will negatively affect your attitude, and hinder the learning process. Your shop will carry mittens and gloves. Mittens can be warmer but gloves allow for independent movement of your digits, the choice is yours… Again, make sure they are waterproof, and fit appropriately.
If you tend to get cold, or the weather report tells you the temperatures will be low, you might want to purchase glove liners. These will go inside your gloves, and keep your hands from going numb. You can also buy hand warmer packets that you activate, and place inside your gloves to be really toasty.
7. Wear the Right Under Garments
There are tons of different brands that make thermals. Wear these sets of long underwear for optimal performance. They will wick away extra moisture that accumulates when you sweat and allow for maximal stretch during movement. Most importantly they keep you warm.
8. Wear Wrist Guards and Butt Padding
You should invest in wrist guards and rear padding. All of this will make your day go smoother because you will be safe, and comfortable.
Your pro shop will also carry wrist guards and padding. The wrist guards are great because when you fall you’ll be bracing with your arms. These will prevent you from breaking your wrist bones, which is a common snowboarding injury. They will also help with the soreness you will be feeling from pushing up from a seated position throughout the day.
Padding for your rear can’t be underestimated as you’ll be falling backwards onto your butt throughout the day. They look like a pair of shorts with padding lining in the butt area. You’ll put these on over your thermals but under your snowboard pants.
9. Wear a Helmet
A helmet is a great investment not only for the first day, but also down the road. With all the falling you’ll be doing, you want to make sure that you don’t get a concussion. This would end your first day prematurely.
The plus side is that the helmet keeps your head a little warmer while protecting your most vital asset. Try pairing it with a beanie to add extra warmth and comfort. When you start to bomb hills and go down steeper slopes, wearing a helmet is a no brainer.
10. Wear Goggles
Goggles will protect your eyes from the elements. A good pair will have an anti-fog coating so as you heat up, you’ll still be able to see clearly. Any sunlight reflecting off the snow will burn your eyes. Goggles are UV coated to prevent sun damage. Another benefit to wearing goggles, rather than sunglasses, is that when you fall goggles are able to withstand the pressure without breaking. Sunglasses could be dangerous as they could break and damage your eyes.
11. Start Your Day Right
Start your day right, and have some protein with your morning meal. You are going to be burning a lot of calories today. Have your morning caffeine of choice if you normally do, because this will help you stay sharp. You’ll be learning a new skill which requires a lot of brainpower. Protein will help your body, and brain function optimally.
If you don’t eat breakfast normally make sure to bring a protein bar or something you will eat when your blood sugar dips. Drink plenty of water, especially if you enjoy your morning coffee. You’ll want to be properly hydrated because you’ll be sweating a lot once you get moving.
Perform some quick, and simple stretches to prevent injury, and get warmed up. Stretch your forearms by flexing at the wrist, and pulling the fingers back towards your body. Warm up the shoulder joints by circling the arms several times. Fold forward and touch your toes to stretch the hamstrings. Any other stretches you want to do will help you be loose and warm when you get going.
12. Start Slow
Find a flat area away from other people to start practicing riding with one foot strapped in. Preferably, an area where there aren’t other people. If there is a spot near your cabin you could do this there to avoid collisions with people coming down the hill at high speeds. Otherwise, try to find a spot before you get on the chair lift at the bottom of the slope to do this.
From a seated position strap your front foot into your binding. If you’ve done other board sports you know if you are goofy or regular already. Otherwise, the foot you kick a ball with is your back foot. So if you kick a ball with your right foot then you’re a regular stance rider and will strap your left foot in the front binding.
Use your free foot to walk in front of your board, and propel yourself forward. This is similar to the motion performed to get up to speed on a skateboard. Once you have some momentum, put your foot in the middle of the board, and glide. Keep your knees bent, and body-centered over your board. Keep your foot on the middle of your board as long as you are moving. When you slow down, move your foot back to the snow, and pedal yourself up to speed again.
Keep doing this until you are comfortable as this will be the way you move through the lift line, and position yourself to get onto the chair lift. Find a very small slope to practice riding with one foot strapped in to learn how to slow yourself down. As your picking up speed lift your foot up from the middle of the snowboard, and down onto the snow lightly. The more you drag your boot in the snow the more you’ll slow down.
13. Get on the Chairlift Slowly
Now you will be confident that you have the skills to get on, and off the chairlift safely. With one foot strapped in, alternate between pedaling your board to get speed, and putting your foot on the middle of the board to ride through the lift line.
Once your next up to get on the chair let the person working the chair lift know your learning, so that they slow the chair down. If it’s a multi-person chair lift it will be easier to ride alone to avoid falling into people when you get off.
Wait behind the line as you watch a chair move in front of you. Then walk your board forward. Follow the chair in front of you until you reach the next marker in the snow. The people working the lift will be happy to help you understand where to wait. Look behind you to watch the chair approach, and sit down as the chair basically scoops you up.
14. Rest on the Chairlift
While riding the lift bring the protective bar down in front of you. If there isn’t one, don’t panic, the ride is usually short for the beginners run. If your strapped in ankle is getting sore, use your free foot to raise the snowboard up. Place your free foot under the board and rest the board on top of your boot. Relax, and rest. The more runs you do the more you’ll enjoy and need this part of your day.
15. Get off the Chairlift Slowly
If you told the people working the lift below that you are learning, they most likely radioed up to the people working at the top of the lift. They will be ready to help you, and will hopefully slow down the lift as you get off. If they don’t its because the lift for the bunny slope is typically already slowed down.
When you see the spot where you will get off the lift approaching, raise the protective bar up, over your head, and out of the way. Begin to turn your body in anticipation of riding off the lift. Place your back foot in the middle of your board. The snow will rise up to the bottom of your board. Stay centered over your board, bend your knees, and ride off the lift toward a bench or open spot to strap your binding back on. Slow down by dragging your free foot lightly in the snow. Try to avoid other people.
16. Practice Both Heelside and Toeside Edges
Some instructors will have you begin by performing a falling leaf pattern. To perform this you’ll stand up straighten the board so that you gain some speed, and then carve onto your heelside edge. Then you will traverse back to the other side of the mountain using the same heelside edge. I recommend you start learning both edges right away, so you don’t end up depending on only your heelside edge.
Go straight until you gain a little speed then lean forward towards your toes. Then go straight again and lean backwards towards your heels. Alternate between these two movements the whole way down. Keep your knees bent and maintain your center of gravity. Keep your hips centered over your board. If you lean too far forward or backwards you’ll fall.
17. Practice Falling
It’s important to learn how to safely fall to avoid injury. No matter how advanced you become, falling will still happen. Try to keep your arms close to your body to avoid breaking any bones as you fall. You’ll inevitably have your arms out to catch your fall, but try to remain loose rather than rigid. Let the snow cushion your fall the best it can.
18. Avoid People
When you get back up from falling, always look up the mountain to make sure no one is coming straight at you. Unfortunately, collisions do occur on the mountain. Try your best to stay out of people’s way, especially if they are going fast.
While going down the mountain other riders will look out for you because they will identify that you are going slow, and learning. Your job is to chart a clear path with as few people in your way as possible, knowing that you are still learning to control your board.
19. Take Plenty of Breaks
Don’t beat yourself up, and go easy. You’re asking a lot of your mind and body today. Take plenty of breaks to drink water, and have snacks. If you get cold or tired make sure to take a break and warm up! Snowboarding burns a ton of calories!
Be confident but know your limits. If you burn the candle at both ends and refuse to take any breaks, you will be extra frustrated by the end of the day. This will hinder your ability to learn. You also won’t be having fun anymore, which is what your here to do.
So make sure to stop for hot chocolate, snacks, water, or more caffeine to keep your stoke going. Do some light stretching during your break. Take a mental break by making new friends, or watching some videos on your phone.
20. Maintain a Positive Attitude
You will undoubtedly be frustrated after falling over and over again. You may be tired, and even want to give up. Remind yourself that you’re learning a new skill, and it will take some time. Think about the payoff, and how much fun you will have after you get through this initial process. You will get through this, I promise!
21. Give Yourself a Pat on the Back.
At the end of the day you’ll be sore, and tired. Make sure to stretch, and drink some electrolytes. Have a nice warm meal Hopefully you didn’t hurt yourself, and you made some serious progress. Above all else, reward yourself. You did it! The first day is the hardest, and that’s over. The most important thing is that you had fun, because snowboarding is one the best sports out there! Congratulations on a job well done!
