Snowboarding Boots!

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!

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

 

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

 

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!