How do I teach someone how to snowboard?

[zoltan]

I have a friend who wants to try snowboarding, but refuses to take a lesson. They insist on having me teach them. For many reasons this is a terrible idea, but I'm not going to change their mind.

Therefore, how do I teach someone to snowboard who's never strapped a board on before?

I figure I'll show them how to strap in, push around, and get one and off the lift. Then we'll go to the top of the bunny slope and I'll have them do toe side from one side of the run to the other and then stop (crash). Then I'll have them to heel side back to the other side and stop. We'll keep repeating this for a while. I'll also emphasis bending the knees and not the waist and also keeping weight over the front foot.

As for turning, I don't really know how to explain it to someone. I thought that maybe I'd tell them to ease the edge pressure on their front foot to get the board to start pointing downhill, and then to kick their back foot around to change to the other edge.

[Pat Donnelly]

Insist they take a "package" deal like the one for $49 here http://http://www.libertymountainresort.com/learn-to-ski-ride/ski-snowboard-school/lessons-packages.aspx

They can practice what was taught and you could then help them progress.

I repeated an intro lesson as it was the least costly for gear and a lift ticket.

[zoltan]

Insist they take a "package" deal like the one for $49 here http://http://www.libertymountainresort.com/learn-to-ski-ride/ski-snowboard-school/lessons-packages.aspx

They can practice what was taught and you could then help them progress.

I repeated an intro lesson as it was the least costly for gear and a lift ticket.

I've tried and I've tried to talk them into that, but they refuse. Therefore, I'm stuck either teaching them or letting them learn on their own.

[queequeg]

I've tried and I've tried to talk them into that, but they refuse. Therefore, I'm stuck either teaching them or letting them learn on their own.

Why is your friend so against taking lessons? If it's a matter of cost, they should understand that snowsports are not an inexpensive undertaking and to spend all that money on rentals/equipment/clothing/lift-tickets etc and then cheap out on a lesson is throwing good money after bad.

By ignoring your advice they are demonstrating that they don't listen —which means they'll probably be a bad student. I'd put it to them this way: I'll help you out once you have a day of lessons under your belt with a professional instructor. If they refuse to do that: walk away.

The earliest stages of learning are the most difficult: they're the hardest to teach because the student hasn't yet developed the fundamental tools/knowledge required to grasp the most basic concepts and mechanics in the sport. You will have lots of trouble getting through to them and they are likeley to get super frustrated (as are you). Let someone who knows how to teach this stuff get it out of the way.

If they won't listen to you: let them learn on their own.

Edited November 12, 2014 by queequeg

[BlueB]

I have a friend who wants to try snowboarding, but refuses to take a lesson. They insist on having me teach them. For many reasons this is a terrible idea, but I'm not going to change their mind.

Therefore, how do I teach someone to snowboard who's never strapped a board on before?

I figure I'll show them how to strap in, push around, and get one and off the lift. Then we'll go to the top of the bunny slope and I'll have them do toe side from one side of the run to the other and then stop (crash). Then I'll have them to heel side back to the other side and stop. We'll keep repeating this for a while. I'll also emphasis bending the knees and not the waist and also keeping weight over the front foot.

As for turning, I don't really know how to explain it to someone. I thought that maybe I'd tell them to ease the edge pressure on their front foot to get the board to start pointing downhill, and then to kick their back foot around to change to the other edge.

Pretty good. Just skip the kick part, please!

I'd still put the person with an instructor first, for an hour or two.

[Keenan]

Before he even straps in, teach him how to fall without breaking his wrist. Then buckle both feet in in a flat zone and push him over. If he can get back up, push him over the other way. If he questions you, point to all of the skiers on the slopes standing still and all of the snowboarders on the ground. Then make him hike up and down with one foot out, skating until he is worn out.

[Cuban Carving Gooding]

It looks like you have a good plan in place. It's the same as mine. After they can control the turn to a stop both directions start linking turns. I tell my friends they have to try 3 times. I make them comit to 3 times. Unless you want them to quit. I also tell them to buy my lift ticket at a small local bump.

[RobertAlexander]

This is easy, get him geared up and take him to the bunny hill, get him on heel and you are in your boots only, walking. Get below him and hold both your hands out and both his hands are out, You are now holding hands. Get him to lean back as you hold him and tell him to use his heel edge, now you walk backwards done the hill getting him to control as he edges down , get him going right and then left, Eventually you will let go of one hand, now you slowly get over to is side, holding only one of his hands and tell him to do left and right , this is alled "falling leaf". it gives a newbie control with edging/braking. This is what he should do on his own for a while until comfortable, Then, the next drill is to learn toe the same way, Then, the next drill is a transition from heel to toe and then toe to heel, all while maintaing, slow speed control, all this should be done on one easy slope, then the next step, is to go to another slope, the same level green, just a bit harder. All this is new so take your time, and when you get tired it is time to stop, injuries happen when your tired. And in the beginning you get tired quickly, if you fall do not reach with your arms, to cushion the fall, that is bad, you should tuck and slide/roll, when falling. Helmet, wrist guards, hip pads, anything to get past those first few rough days is good, and then , the skill to commit to the turn with the correct edge, once you start feeling confidence and picking up speed is the danger time, as you will go with the wrong edge, and do a "over the handle bars." ouch.", also as exploring new trails with turns , try making several turns thru the turn, After a while it will happen, but it is important to build foundation skills. I see many straight liners fall over and over, right after taking a lesson, Keep yourself in control, by keeping your speed within your skill, control. nuf said?

Edited November 13, 2014 by RobertAlexander
revision

[BlueB]

Lessons at the mountain try get people going straight the first day,

Nope, unless very horrible school / non-certified instructor.

At CASI, we promote no-hold-hands approach, unless we make a judgement call it was necessary. I personally often make an exception on the first complete turn (through the fall line), where I "dance" the turn with the student.

Some good pointers about protective gear, in the above post. Helmet a must, closely followed by wrist guards. Padded hockey shorts is a good idea too.

[Beckmann AG]

http://beckmannag.com/softboot-snowboard/instruction

Get in touch if you have any questions, etc.

[breeseomatic]

Why is your friend so against taking lessons? If it's a matter of cost, they should understand that snowsports are not an inexpensive undertaking and to spend all that money on rentals/equipment/clothing/lift-tickets etc and then cheap out on a lesson is throwing good money after bad.

By ignoring your advice they are demonstrating that they don't listen —which means they'll probably be a bad student. I'd put it to them this way: I'll help you out once you have a day of lessons under your belt with a professional instructor. If they refuse to do that: walk away.

The earliest stages of learning are the most difficult: they're the hardest to teach because the student hasn't yet developed the fundamental tools/knowledge required to grasp the most basic concepts and mechanics in the sport. You will have lots of trouble getting through to them and they are likeley to get super frustrated (as are you). Let someone who knows how to teach this stuff get it out of the way.

If they won't listen to you: let them learn on their own.

This is probably the best advice given.

Let them crash and burn and never come to the mountain with you again.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rob Stevens]

Why is your friend so against taking lessons? If it's a matter of cost, they should understand that snowsports are not an inexpensive undertaking and to spend all that money on rentals/equipment/clothing/lift-tickets etc and then cheap out on a lesson is throwing good money after bad.

By ignoring your advice they are demonstrating that they don't listen —which means they'll probably be a bad student. I'd put it to them this way: I'll help you out once you have a day of lessons under your belt with a professional instructor. If they refuse to do that: walk away.

The earliest stages of learning are the most difficult: they're the hardest to teach because the student hasn't yet developed the fundamental tools/knowledge required to grasp the most basic concepts and mechanics in the sport. You will have lots of trouble getting through to them and they are likeley to get super frustrated (as are you). Let someone who knows how to teach this stuff get it out of the way.

If they won't listen to you: let them learn on their own.

These comments are really on-point.

Further to the part where the fundamentals can be the most difficult to learn for the student, this applies equally, if not moreso, to the teacher! There are so many little nuances you'll struggle with, that an experienced instructor will move through with less issues. If the instructor is struggling, the student is in trouble.

In Erik's primer (Yes... I read it), he says "Do no harm". Good advice. I'd say that embarking on this lesson with your buddy ignores this standard.

Here's a thought. As I found reading a how-to on teaching a good refresher for someone who's taught literally thousands of beginner lessons and still found it not-so-light reading, and having given courses where even 3 days of clinics is usually only enough to just give a new teacher enough information to be dangerous, you should take a different tack... Why don't you hire the instuctor, but you do the lesson with your buddy? Maybe he just wants the company? Thinking anyone is going to give you the right tools here and now is pretty hopeful.

[softbootsurfer]

lean left go left lean right go right...thats it...oh and have fun

[icebiker]

This is easy, get him geared up and take him to the bunny hill, get him on heel and you are in your boots only, walking. Get below him and hold both your hands out and both his hands are out, You are now holding hands. Get him to lean back as you hold him and tell him to use his heel edge, now you walk backwards done the hill getting him to control as he edges down , get him going right and then left, Eventually you will let go of one hand, now you slowly get over to is side, holding only one of his hands and tell him to do left and right , this is alled "falling leaf". it gives a newbie control with edging/braking. This is what he should do on his own for a while until comfortable, Then, the next drill is to learn toe the same way, Then, the next drill is a transition from heel to toe and then toe to heel, all while maintaing, slow speed control, all this should be done on one easy slope, then the next step, is to go to another slope, the same level green, just a bit harder. All this is new so take your time, and when you get tired it is time to stop, injuries happen when your tired. And in the beginning you get tired quickly, if you fall do not reach with your arms, to cushion the fall, that is bad, you should tuck and slide/roll, when falling. Helmet, wrist guards, hip pads, anything to get past those first few rough days is good, and then , the skill to commit to the turn with the correct edge, once you start feeling confidence and picking up speed is the danger time, as you will go with the wrong edge, and do a "over the handle bars." ouch.", also as exploring new trails with turns , try making several turns thru the turn, After a while it will happen, but it is important to build foundation skills. I see many straight liners fall over and over, right after taking a lesson, Keep yourself in control, by keeping your speed within your skill, control. nuf said?

This is exactly how I taught my son, and he was riding within 3 hours. Of course, he already had snow experience being a skier, so he knew what "sliding on snow" felt like. But nonetheless, I found this technique to work well because it focuses on Control first, then Direction.

[piusthedrcarve]

I have a friend who wants to try snowboarding, but refuses to take a lesson. They insist on having me teach them. For many reasons this is a terrible idea, but I'm not going to change their mind.

Therefore, how do I teach someone to snowboard who's never strapped a board on before?

I figure I'll show them how to strap in, push around, and get one and off the lift. Then we'll go to the top of the bunny slope and I'll have them do toe side from one side of the run to the other and then stop (crash). Then I'll have them to heel side back to the other side and stop. We'll keep repeating this for a while. I'll also emphasis bending the knees and not the waist and also keeping weight over the front foot.

As for turning, I don't really know how to explain it to someone. I thought that maybe I'd tell them to ease the edge pressure on their front foot to get the board to start pointing downhill, and then to kick their back foot around to change to the other edge.

Hi Zoltan,

It seems to me that you like to introduce snowboarding to them more than they like to learn.

For this season, I will take my daughter with me most of time. She was able to come down bunny hills without a fall last season but I will likely spend a lot of time with her again this year. As usual, I will post up when I go up. (mostly weekday). If they don't mind learn snowboarding with 5 years old, they are welcomed.

[boostertwo]

Sounds like fun for you both.

In addition to the helpful suggestions and resources mentioned in this thread, there are some useful instructional videos on YouTube. I've found the SnowProfessor and Snowboard Addiction channels to be particularly well-crafted and helpful. Your friend might benefit from watching the ones designed for beginners, to preview coming attractions, before you hit the slopes.

<img src="http://i58.tinypic.com/21kc9b7.jpg" border="0" alt="Jeff Patterson, early-season powder, Vail, Co.">

Best wishes for big fun!

B-2

[Guest]

zoltan,

If this is your significant other I HIGHLY recommend NOT teaching them the basics yourself. I've seen massive fights and terrible experiences result from this (not that I would know anything about that.....!) The first day is frustrating for many people. Obviously, YMMV but I've seen it time and time again.

Good luck, our season is almost here!

[Keenan]

zoltan,

If this is your significant other I HIGHLY recommend NOT teaching them the basics yourself. I've seen massive fights and terrible experiences result from this (not that I would know anything about that.....!) The first day is frustrating for many people. Obviously, YMMV but I've seen it time and time again.

Good luck, our season is almost here!

Some of my most entertaining lessons started with the student saying, "my ex-boyfriend tried to teach me". I had one "my ex-husband tried to teach me" which I asked about, and yes, it was one of the reasons for divorce. There were a lot of, "my friends took me to the top and I had to walk down".

[lowrider]

Same as swimming. Suit em up and throw them in the deep end. If there still around at the end of the day ask them back for more tomorrow ! That is if they have any natural coordination. Never took a lesson in my life and never have any of my kids all three are now instructors. If you are able to communicate you can teach, even if your abilities are not of Olympic caliber. My suggestion is the have your student gear up at home and go through the basics before investing time and money on the expensive slopes. Once the reality of how much work is involved the pressure is off and the chances of success are closer(more realistic).Above all this experience must be fun for all involved.

[eajracing]

Some of my most entertaining lessons started with the student saying, "my ex-boyfriend tried to teach me". I had one "my ex-husband tried to teach me" which I asked about, and yes, it was one of the reasons for divorce. There were a lot of, "my friends took me to the top and I had to walk down".

Even with 10+ years of teaching 3-70+ year olds, I've been that 'ex' on many occasions. Get them a lesson with someone they don't have to go home with.

[NTwoO]

With friends and family it is best to say no. If you see something you think you can suggest, start with the question: "can I give you a tip?" if they say no, then accept it and leave it.

My son was skiing for some years before trying the snowboard for the first time. He said he doesn't want any lessons. I always remained close by and helped him when he fell (was only six then) but left him to explore himself. I did start him off with falling leaf heelside and toeside. Sometimes my friends with instructor certificates will give him a few tips but most of the time he just plays. Due to injury on my wife's side and too many other sports he has not been on the snow that often the last year and a half, but when we do go he will do pirouettes and will try to find the edge from time to time.

Regarding the stance, the phrase I use with him is "stand like an ape" that gets the knees, arms and torso in the good position.

Edited November 14, 2014 by NTwoO

[Neil Gendzwill]

Being self-taught myself, and not having been on a softie set-up in nearly a quarter century, I would pass on teaching a beginner without hesitation. I've also experienced the pain of teaching a (now ex) girlfriend - skiing, not snowboarding, but the same sad result.

Push him/her towards the people in the red suits - it's their job and they are usually pretty good at it.

[NTwoO]

Like my sister says to her husband: "I'm married to you. It is my right not to listen to you." the closer you are, the more openly you disagree. With my son now I'll ask him if he wants to do an exercise or just play. If he wants to do an exercise, I'll think up something within his ability. If he says he only wants to play, then we play.