How to Teach Someone to Snowboard?

teach snowboarding

My name is Lorraine, Iā€™m a certified snowboard instructor. Snowboarding is an activity that not only gets you active and outside but is also incredibly fun.

There are few things more exciting than gliding down a mountain on some fresh powder.

However, for someone who has never done it before, it can be a little intimidating.

Thankfully, nearly everyone can learn to snowboard with the right instruction.

So how do you go about teaching someone to become a better snowboarder?

Well, that is exactly what I’m going to bring you to take a closer look at in this article.

1. Start With the Basics

Before doing anything else, you need to start with the basics. This often begins before you even strap them into the snowboard.

They need to know how to strap in, what stance they are, how to position their body to move successfully and so many other small intricacies and nuances.

The ability to control your body (and the board) is something you should be sure to cover as it is the basis of the whole sport.

If you send them to the slopes without this knowledge, they could get hurt or barely be able to stand. Once they have an idea, take them to a small hill and let them try out what youā€™ve told them.

While they might understand the basics immediately, it might take some time before they are able to proficiently perform them. B

y starting with the basics, you will ensure they know how to stand on a snowboard and the right ways to lean, tilt, and pivot to maneuver down the hill successfully.

2. Teach Them How to Fall

No matter what level of snowboarder you are, there will be some times that you fall. While it might seem trivial, there is actually an art to falling in snowboarding.

If you do it wrong, you could end up severely hurting yourself. When falling, it is important to keep your arms in and try to keep yourself as compact as possible.

Snowboarders will often break their wrists while trying to brace themselves when this really isnā€™t needed. If you tuck your arms and elbows in and simply allow yourself to hit the snow, you will be much better off as a result.

If you are going to teach them to fall, you also need to teach them how to get up. When getting up, get to a sitting position, get your toe edge of the board off the ground, and use your hips and arms to push yourself back up.

3. Show the Proper Ways to Get on and off a Chairlift

Another important part of the overall snowboarding experience is being able to get on and off of the chair lift. It might seem straightforward, but this isnā€™t actually the case.

If you do it wrong, you could hurt yourself or find yourself quite uncomfortable on the ride up.

Snowboarders need to position their body with their rear foot on your toeside edge and once the chair approaches, sit back and quickly scoot to the back of the chair.

When getting off, simply point the nose of your snowboard ahead of you and stand up once the chair gets to the unloading area, and then continue gliding out of harm’s way.

Also, there are different kinds of lifts that they should be accustomed to as well. Every resort may have different types of lifts depending on the size of the hill and the resort.

4. Be Patient

As the teacher, you already have a good idea and knowledge of the things you are telling your child or friend that you are teaching. This can unfortunately lead to some issues of trying to rush the process and get it moving quickly.

However, doing so could lead to your pupil not grasping the concepts. When teaching, especially when it comes to snowboarding, you need to have patience.

Everyone moves at their own pace, so there is no reason to rush someone in a way that will make them uncomfortable.

Remember, the people you are teaching are learning a completely new set of skills, so give them the benefit of the doubt. Some might get it in a few hours, while others might take a few days.

Work with them, and move at a pace they are comfortable with when it comes to instruction.

5. Ensure They Have the Right Equipment and Gear

A big part of being a successful snowboarder is having the right types of gear. It can get cold up in the hills, and you need to be ready for all types of weather. Your gear should always keep you warm and dry.

The type of necessary equipment includes jackets, pants, socks, goggles, and whatever else you decide to wear.

In addition to staying warm, wearing the right gear can even protect you. Every snowboarder should wear helmets, and potentially other types of protective gear like impact shorts, wrist guards, and gloves.

Other pieces of essential equipment are a snowboard, bindings, and boots. These should all be in working condition, in the right size and work well with each other.

Having the wrong types of bindings for a specific board or boot could lead to many issues.

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Final Thoughts

With this guide, teaching anyone to snowboard should be simple. While not everyone will pick it up immediately, snowboarding is certainly something that everyone can learn with enough practice and the right instruction.

About Lorraine
I'm a certified snowboard instructor. My first experience with snowboarding occurred at an indoor resort. One run had me hooked, and it has turned into a lifelong passion ever since then. I'm here to share with you some of the tips and advice I have learned along the way.

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