Hello and Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season with family and friends. It's always nice to reconnect with loved ones and have everyone under the same roof again, if only for a short while.
Today is my first day as an intern here at Brimacombe and I already feel like part of the family - everyone has a positive and upbeat attitude! As for myself, I'm ready to conquer my first New Year's resolution of 2010: learn to ski and snowboard.
Just after Christmas I treated myself to a nice Boxing Day sale and purchased my first snowboard! Were any of you lucky enough to have Santa bring you some new equipment for the slopes this season?
While at the shop, I was given some great advice. Read on to discover the same tips and make sure your board will help you ride your way to success.
Choosing a Snowboard
Finding a suitable board length is not just influenced by your height, but by your weight as well. Choosing a board that fits your body structure will make your learning experience easier and smoother.
- New snowboards should have a weight range on the back. Check each board you're considering and make sure your weight falls between the suggestion for that board.
- Lighter people should have shorter, more flexible boards. This is because a lighter person on a longer board commonly has a hard time controlling the board and initiating turns.
- Heavier people should have longer, less flexible boards. Too much weight for your board will make it perform poorly.
- Of course, it's always nice to have a sweet looking ride, so grab a board that catches your eye and reflects your personality!
Getting a Pair of Boots
Finding a great pair of boots is vital to ensure the most comfortable experience on the slopes. A good boot will help your performance and connect your body to your board in a secure way, so it's important to find the perfect fit for your feet.
- When looking into purchasing new boots, you will want a tight fit.
- In a new boot your toe should touch the end, so don't be afraid to go down a size.
- Keep in mind that boots usually expand after wear about half a size.
- Getting new gear doesn't have to be expensive. I purchased a pair of ladies' boots which were brand new, but for half price - simply because they were last year's model. So don't be shy to ask a salesperson about anything they might have in the back.
Finding your Bindings
Finding bindings for your snowboard isn't difficult. If you are a beginner like me, a good salesperson will help you find your bindings easily.
- Bindings typically come in two or three sizes - Small, Medium, and Large.
- The size you choose will depend completely on the snowboard boot that you have chosen in combination with the binding.
- Appearance has a lot to do with bindings. Have some fun with it - choose a color that matches your board or even a pair that will stick out like a sore thumb against the white snow.
- One last tip I was given was to strap my boots into my bindings and leave them in overnight. This will allow the straps to adjust to the shape of your boots.
Safety First
- The most common snowboarding injury are broken wrists. Therefore, wrist guards are a good investment.
- As always, a helmet will protect your noggin' and is highly recommended when you're out on the slopes!
With these tips in mind, I hope you will be finding your equipment with confidence! Next Stop, the Ski Shop! Finding the perfect set of skis…
