Sunday, April 29, 2007

 

The Essential Snowboard Gear

Snowboarding has seen a huge increase in fans in the last few years; people of all age groups and genders seem to enjoy this fun and exciting sport. However, in order to be able to truly enjoy snowboarding safely, you need to have the right gear. Let us run through a quick checklist of the essential snowboard gear.

The Essentials

To protect your head, which is at great risk in case you fall, you need a helmet. There are specially designed snowboarding helmets, which are lightweight but strong enough to protect your head from injury in case of emergency. Some helmets will also have a shield for the face similar to those of the motorcyclists that is essential to cover your face and eyes.

Your face is probably the single part of the body which is exposed directly to the harsh weather and you must wear protection. Snowboard gear contains tinted glasses that will keep the glare away and protect your eyes from direct winds. Your nose and mouth need to be covered and if your helmet does not come with built in protection, you may need to use a scarf.

Gloves for your hands are yet another essential snowboard gear item even if you don't use your hands as much as you would do if you were skiing; the freezing temperature will soon attack your uncovered hands.

There are specially designed suits for snowboarding which are light and warm at the same time, however, they are not part of the essential snowboard gear therefore you may not wear one if you choose not to but remember to wear light clothes that are warm enough to keep your body warm in freezing cold temperatures.

Other essential snowboard gear items are padding for both knees and elbows; due to the fact that you don't have the usual sticks to prompt yourself such as those of used in skiing, if you do fall you will use your elbows and knees to break your fall and therefore you will need extra padding on those areas.

The Snowboard

If you don't yet have your own snowboard you can hire one at any snowboarding resort as well as all the essential gear mentioned above. Many snowboard enthusiasts rent their gear every year, as it is too expensive to invest however, there are a few who will love the sport enough to go ahead and purchase the whole snowboard gear. Whatever the case enjoy snowboarding but only with the right gear in order to have a fan and exciting trip without any unnecessary risks.

Find more information about snowboard gear at http://www.Snowboarderbasics.com

Saturday, April 21, 2007

 

The Importance Of Wearing The Right Snowboard Equipment

As soon as the snowflakes hit the ground, the winter sports enthusiasts take to the slopes for another season of fun and thrills. Snowboarding has been catching up amongst all age groups in the past years due to which there have been specially assigned slopes for snowboarding and specially designed snowboard equipment in order to make it safe.

Practice Safe Snowboarding

The only way to practice safe snowboarding is to wear the right snowboard equipment and, of course, know your way on the snowboard. Snowboarding is a sport inspired by surfing and we all know that if you fall off your surf board you have the water beneath, which will catch you without posing major risks however, when you practice snowboarding, if you fall, you are likely to hit solid ground which can cause serious injuries especially from the height and with the speed a snowboarder travels.

Therefore, it is extremely important you wear the adequate snowboard equipment before you strap yourself to the board in order to be safe and in case of a fall you should not have any major injuries.

The Essentials

There a few items in the snowboard equipment without which you may face a greater risk to injure yourself and therefore, I strongly recommend you consider wearing them whenever you practice snowboarding.

The helmet for your head protection is one of the most important pieces of snowboard equipment. Wearing a helmet will ensure that your head is protected when you happen to fall on the slopes.

Padding of the knees, elbows and hips is required as those are the buffer zones when you fall; your hips need protection as the backbone ends there and that is one of the few parts of the body where a snowboarder will get hurt if he or she happens to fall.

Gloves and body suit are the usual types used for skiing and you can wear them as you like as long as you ensure that your body is warm in the freezing temperature so you don't go into hypothermia.

Every single piece of equipment is important when in extreme temperature for it only takes a few minutes before permanent damages can be done to any of your body parts. All the snowboarding equipment can be hired or purchased as you choose from local store in your hometown or those available at the snowboarding resort. You may however, be able to get some good bargains if you choose to purchase during off season such as in summer time.

Find more information about snowboarding equipment at http://www.Snowboarderbasics.com

Saturday, April 14, 2007

 

The Requirements For Snowboard Boots

Snowboarding is a winter sport that has gained increased popularity over the years from all types of age groups. Snowboarding is inspired from surfing and therefore it offers the same thrills and excitement but on the snow rather than water.

Due to the fact that you are on solid ground you need to be more cautious about the risks involved in this sport; when surfing if you fall off the board you are save because you have the water beneath you but when you fall on solid ground you can get seriously hurt.

Snowboarding Equipment

Out of all the snowboarding equipment, the snowboard boots are the ones that will ensure your grip on the board hence you simply must have the right kind. There are different types of snowboard boots depending on what type of snowboarding you are performing.

Generally, there are three main types of snowboard boots: soft snowboard boots, which are also the most popular as they offer comfort and stability; the hard snowboard boots which usually have the best ankle support and are preferred by racers or professional snowboarders and the hybrid snowboard boots, which have a bit of everything and therefore a popular choice as well.

It is important that you choose the right snowboard boots and, to do that, you must try a few first, ankle and foot supports are a must while flexibility and comfort will allow you to concentrate on the ride with ease.

Depending on what type of snowboarding you enjoy, you can have your pick of boots as well; I recommend you rent for the first few times and experience what each type of boots feel like before you purchase them.

Where You Can Find Snowboarding Boots

A large selection of snowboarding boots should be available in all specialized stores for the same as well as in the snowboarding resorts where they also have them for rent. Online, as well, you can find a large number of stores offering the whole snowboarding gear at great prices and bargains.

Helpful Tip

The right gear will allow you to enjoy snowboarding while avoiding injuries as much as possible. Snowboarding is an exciting game, which can be very dangerous as well, therefore, if you are equipped adequately, you will be protected against fatal injuries. Other essential equipment includes a helmet, gloves, goggles and the snowboarding suit.

Enjoy snowboarding the safe way, every time!

Find more information about Snowboard Boots at http://www.Snowboarderbasics.com

Saturday, April 07, 2007

 

Skiing And Snowboarding In South America

For those who wish to try out something new, skiing and snowboarding in South America should provide ample scope to try out Latin American flavor as there are many skiing and snowboarding resorts sprinkled all across South America including those in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and the Antarctica. For visitors to Chile there are many well developed ski areas and the resorts here in South America that is wonderful for the avid skier and snowboarder.

The Chilean Andes that stretch just north of Santiago and go up to Southern Patagonia provide numerous resorts for skiing and snowboarding. The list of skiing and snowboarding resorts in Chile consist of approximately fourteen top notch resorts that includes Portillo Ski Resort, Valle Nevado Ski Resort, El Colorado Ski Resort, Volcan Antuco and Volcan Lonquimay where there are excellent slopes for skiing and snowboarding.

Ski resorts in Chile, Argentina and Bolivia

The most modern of Chilean as well as South American ski resorts is Valle Nevado which is the home of the Andes Express, a super fast chair lift that allows the skier and snowboarder to make more skiing and snowboarding runs each day. Here, one can find the neighboring resorts of La Parva and El Colorado which is the largest lift served areas in South America.

Argentinean skiing and snowboarding resorts include some pretty new ones like Cerro castor in Ushuaia and the world famous Las Lenas in Mendoza province. Argentina is thought to have the best skiing and snowboarding available in South America and the backcountry is extensive and makes Las Lenas somewhat special.

The most famous Catedral Bariloche ski resort is situated high above Lake Nahuel Huapi and was once two ski resorts called Robles and Catedral but one can purchase a single lift pass and ski both adjacent ski areas because of single management of the resorts. Bariloche ski resort offers outstanding skiing and snowboarding and is very suitable for those who like to ski leisurely as compared with other resorts such as Las Lenas.

Vallecitos Ski Resort is a small ski resort that is situated near Mendoza and is where many residents learn skiing and snowboarding before moving up to bigger and more extensive ski resorts like Las Lenas, Chaperlco and Bariloche. Bolivia has the one ski resort that lays claim to being the highest lift served skiing in the world and it is also possible to ski tour some parts of Bolivia though one needs specialized guidance as well as better awareness of altitude.

Find more information about skiing and snowboarding at http://www.Snowboarderbasics.com

Thursday, March 08, 2007

 

Learn To Ride Snowboards And Enjoy The Ultimate Thrill On The Slopes

Most people pursue a sport because they feel it represents their spirit and personality; it brings them joy, freedom and excitement. Snowboarding is one of those sports that will give you wings each time you ride a snowboard.

Where It All Started

Surfing is at the roots of snowboarding and most of those that ride snowboards surf as well as windsurf. All three sports give you one and the same feeling of freedom and thrill at the same time. Snowboarding is a fairly new game, which has quickly caught on with folks of every age group and gender.

Riding snowboards may look easy, but the truth is it requires a great deal of practice and determination in order to achieve some of the stunts you see on television or real life slopes. However, all the time and effort you can afford to put into learning how to ride a snowboard is well worth it in the end.

Get Started

To get started, you will need the right gear, which will keep you safe; remember, while surfing has the water beneath when you fall the snow only offers the solid ground so, you don't want to miss any of the essential equipment.

The helmet for your head's protection would be my first suggestion and don't get influenced by anyone out there who rides snowboards without them; it may look good not to wear a helmet but, if you fall, you will be glad you wore one.

Padding for your knees, hips and elbows are next on the list; since you don't have the usual ski sticks, those are the areas you will be using to break your falls and therefore they need extra protection.

Glasses to cut the glare of the snow and gloves for your hands would make your snowboarding equipment complete. You don't need to purchase any of the above equipment as you can rent it all at the available store in any snowboarding resort.

Learn From An Expert

If you are a beginner and have never practiced surfing before you ride snowboards, you will need a few lessons from a qualified instructor. The reason behind this is that the first moves you are going to learn will stay with you forever, therefore, get them right the first time.

Once you get the hang of it, I warn you, it is addictive, you will never have enough. Snowboarding is an exciting sport that allows you to express yourself for who you are, no boundaries, rules or regulations, just you, the snowboard and nature.

Find more information about how to ride snowboards at http://www.Snowboarderbasics.com

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

 

Protective Snowboarding Gear: A Must For Beginners And Expert Snowboarders

An extreme winter sport, snowboarding can cause injuries to the rider that could be as small as innocent and minor slips or as harsh as crashes that have a high impact and the consequences could be rather dire. The newcomer to snowboarding is often the most vulnerable and gets injured even while undertaking less risky maneuvers. All this implies that the snowboarder requires protective snowboarding gear and this is more relevant to snowboarders that have not yet learnt how to keep a stable stance on a snowboard and so face more threat of being injured. In fact, it is believed that as many as 25% of injuries take place during the first experience a snowboarder has with snowboarding and nearly 50% take place during the first season.

First Time Snowboarders

First time snowboarders as well as regular snowboarders need protective snowboarding gear and some of these are snowboard wrist guards, snowboard knee pads, snowboard hip pads, snowboard helmets, and a safety leash. The most common of all injuries that can be sustained by snowboarders is the wrist injury, which may be caused when one slips backwards or lands on the hands and the hard impact may cause sprains or fractures. Protective snowboarding gear such as Snowboard Specific Wrist Guards are ideal in preventing injuries as it can ease the force of the fall on the joints of the upper body. When hard collisions, such as hitting a tree or impacting from unexpected angles or turning motions occurs, the knees may get injured and so one needs protective snowboarding gear such as knee pads to help prevent contusions.

Another protective snowboarding gear that is used by snowboarders to cushion the fall as well as keep the seat warm and dry is the hip pad which is stretchable and can be pulled on like biked shorts. The extra padding in the backside of the Snowboard Hip Pads prevents tailbone bruises and the beginning snowboarder who does not wish to purchase such protective snowboarding gear may even rent out snowboard hip pads for the first few days of riding on the slopes. It should be kept in mind that even professional riders use protective snowboarding gear such as hip pads, especially when trying out new moves in the halfpipe and terrain parks.

Sometimes the snowboarder may crash with natural objects such as hard snow or ice surface conditions or rocks and trees and this may result in serious injuries. This means that one should use protective snowboarding gear such as a helmet, even if one is very able and has high level of expertise. Finally, one may need another protective snowboarding gear called the safety leash, which is a safety must and is essentially a non-releasing strap that can be wrapped around the leg to prevent the snowboard from getting away accidentally.

Find more information about protective snowboarding gear at http://www.Snowboarderbasics.com

Monday, March 05, 2007

 

Teaching Girls Snowboarding

It may seem like an unenviable task, even to the most heart-struck of instructors, but teaching girls snowboarding is a rewarding tradition that many a ski hill and mountain has established as a part of their integrated programs for the season. It's hard not to get carried away with visions of a line of girls falling over as you instruct them to snowboard, but the reality is that many of the girls will probably end up teaching girls snowboarding skills just like you. You might even learn a thing or two about snowboarding from watching other people learn and you can perfect your own technique from learning from other mistakes and successes.

Never discount the learning experience that you can get through teaching girls snowboarding skills. Even the simplest of techniques can be revised and made even simpler with a little practice, so thinking in terms of keeping it simple and real can be a great way to go about teaching your class. Don't be nervous, either, as girls will catch on to any sort of emotional deviation from the norm and won't be as confident as you need them to be when you start your class. You need to let every girl in your class know that she has the ability to fly down those hills, take that big air, and get down on those moguls with the prowess of a professional female snowboarder.

Teaching Skills For Life

When you teach girls snowboarding skills, you are also teaching them skills for life because you will be preparing them for what to do when they fall and when they fail at something. Do not let them get too discouraged or alarmed at a mistake but rather encourage them to try it again and to try it again a different way. This is important because adapting to new situations is an integral part of life and it is an integral part of teaching girls snowboarding classes. If you are nervous as their instructor, you could take some hints from their confidence so that they can learn to grow as well.

The best part about teaching girls snowboarding classes is the immense reward of instructing people to a skill and an aptitude that they can use for fun and enjoyment. If you teach them well enough, you might find that you have taught a world champion in the future and that you have laid the foundation for success in girls snowboarding for years to come for that one person. That, in itself, is a great reward and a great reason for getting into teaching of any kind.

Find more information about teaching girls snowboarding at http://www.Snowboarderbasics.com

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?