Snowboarding

[ReFur]

A discussion on another forum started to go off-topic (Thanks to me ) so, I am starting a new thread here.

 

I am primarily a downhill skier. My husband is primarily a boarder. Living in Michigan the terrain gets very boring, especially if you start your season In Colorado, like I use to do. (Before I started selling furs. )

 

So, to liven up my Winter sports, I decided to take up snowboarding. I only snowboard when the snow is soft. And, I wear safety equipment. Of the four ladies who started the same time as I did, I am the only one who did not break a wrist.

 

I also took lessons. The first day was just learning the equipment and dragging the board around on one foot. Then balancing and gliding was next. This could all be done on snow that had only a slight fall line. No lift tickets needed.

 

If you don't have a quality fitting boot you might as well forget it. Your foot will slide forward, your heel will lift in the boot. That means the board does not respond. Then, you guessed it: You are on your butt real fast. I cannot emphasis enough the importance of proper equipment. There also are several different types of boards, boots and bindings.

 

What I absolutely love about snow boarding is the incredible child-like feeling you get. Being on the snow is not failure! It is fun.

 

I am a skier at heart, always will be. But, trying something new and different will keep you young. I will not be snowboarding on ice, I won't be doing jumps or 360's (at least not on purpose ), and I won't be speeding straight down the fall line. I also will not snowboard when there are a lot of people at the resort. (Won't ski then either.)

 

I personally feel that you need to be in decent shape to do this sport. Your abs, back, legs and butt need to be strong to keep your balance and get you off the snow. But, then I see young boarders that look like blobs and they board without a problem.

 

You will be slamming hard the first few days until you get balance. (Note I said SLAM, not fall. This part is NOT fun!!) Just plan on it. That is why I waited for soft snow days to learn. About the third day, for most people, you will get it.

 

So for me basic snowboarding is all I want to do. If I were younger I would definitely be doing tricks. (No, guys tricks in snowboarding is not THAT!! ), I can get off the lift without falling most of the time, even though there is serous hyperventilating going on! . I can stop, I can go toe and heel side. This allows me to go everywhere on the Mountain except black diamonds. And, most importantly I have a great outfit and shades!!

 

Linda

[Unclejoe420]

Hey Linda!!

 

Reckon it's pretty cool you're getting into snowboarding - if there was any decent snow here, would give it a shot myself - but will probably spend most of the time on my backside!! Until then, i guess i will stick to my mountainboard - think the mutant offspring of a snowboard and skateboard and you're pretty much there!! Ok, i will admit - i suck at that too, but i don't really care, since i am pretty much laughing myself stupid!!

 

Unclejoe

[Earendil]

I've been snowboarding for 8 years, but found it to become rather boring the last few seasons. Thats why i switched to Twin-Tip skiing - and what a rush! going backwards at 30 mph while doing pirouettes is just a wild adrenalin kick

 

I also enjoy cross-country skiing (I'm norwegian)

 

Wanna go skiing some day Linda? We've got some wicked slopes here in Norway But it's very very cold! *hint*hint*

[ReFur]

Mountain board? Is that the large snowboard? Or, do mean the wide Mountain skis?

 

I have the wide skiis, too. Great for Spring skiing in sloopy snow and of course Powder, which you rarely get.

 

How long does you ski season last?

 

L

[Guest]

Fur wearers often get stick from snow boarders in swiss resorts. Last year I had to give one a good pasting, and this year blackfox had abuse from one.

The main thing is their routes often are "off road" and disturb the wildlife. A friend who lives in the mountains told me last year when the snows had gone he found a dead eagle with its claw trapped in an empty coke can.

 

So to me snowboarders are a nuisance; though of course I recognise that isnt all of them....problem is one encounters the mouthy ones, and I wont take any crap off them as they are a pollution in the Alps.

[ReFur]

Touch,

 

I agree. But, when there was only skiers, they still existed.

 

There are jerks everywhere! Why is it that so few can be so visible.

 

Part of it is being "high",

 

part of it "youth" and

 

part of it "too much testosterone." Don't you think?

 

Linda

[Unclejoe420]

Linda, a mountainboard - also known as an all-terrain board, is essentially a large skateboard with 4 large wheels n tyres. Good for riding on dirt and grass - assuming you have a decent sense of balance (which is me scuppered most of the time)

 

Hope this info helps explain what i meant

 

Unclejoe

[ReFur]

Earendil,

 

I don't know what twin-tip skiing is. It sounds like they are shorter trick skiis with dual tips? Are they soft flex?

[Earendil]

http://www.joeturic.com/albums/lakeplacidandokemo/lakeplacidandokemo-Images/5.jpg

 

Same size skiis as carving or regular slalom, but as the name suggests, they have twin tips, allowing you to twirl pirouettes or ski backwards at high velocity with full control.

 

It's the shezneez for those who want that extra little rush

[ReFur]

 

.... , allowing you to twirl pirouettes or ski backwards at high velocity with full control.

 

It's the shezneez for those who want that extra little rush

 

Only someone your age could say this!!

 

How long are they? Look like a lot of fun.

 

You made an earlier comment about becoming bored with snowbaording. I think the real enjoyment of any sport is learning. Once you have perfected it, it becomes boring.

 

The one thing I will never tire of though is being outside in nature. So, skiing, boarding, snow shoeing and cross counrty skiing will always be a part of my life.

 

I think this is why the game of golf never bored me. Could not perfect that game. But, takes way too much time. Had to give it up. Maybe someday.

[Earendil]

hehe Golf was too slow for me.. I liked the driving range, but that was about it..

[Guest]

In St.Moritz they had skijoring (jockeys on skis behind the horses) and reideer skijoring demostarted by Laps. Awesome!

 

Mountainboarding was invented in Wales one thousand years ago.

 

I dont ski and neither do my friends (well the ones I gave been to white turf with though Blackfox does so maybe next year he can teach me) but I suppose I had better have a go at some point. I asked my friend if we should give it a whirl and he replied "An Irish gentleman Does NOT ski". All the people on crutches around Switzerland put me off a bit.

[ReFur]

Touch,

 

If you do, do a private all day lesson in Switzerland. You will learn more in one day than most will learn in a season.

 

After that you might try the Mountain Touring class. You go with a ski instructor in a very small group and they give you a tour of the mountains. While you are doing that they teach you to ski. These can be for a day, 3 days or a week. The group are all at the same skiing level.

 

Make certain you have a massage afterwards. After the first day your muscles will be fried. Avoid hot tubs and heat. Makes the muscles swell I have been told.

 

Make certain you rent demo equipment at a good ski shop. Don't use the normal rental equipment until you know what you are doing. Some of it can be dangerous.

 

Also, don't miss out on snow shoeing. A wonderful way to see nature. Great workout, too!

 

Linda

[Earendil]

And don't forget to after-ski!

[ReFur]

Where did you get those smilies! They are wonderful.

 

Can you expand our smilies? I was asking FrBrGr about that the other day.

 

Linda

[Earendil]

Sure.. I'll take it up with BrGr when I see him

[Guest]

What we'd really like is some smilies in fur!!! Maybe interacting!!!!

 

Yes Linda I particularly fancy snowshoeing. But I will have a go at skiing next year. And as I am British I suppose i will have to do the Cresta Run too (as I am fully tweeded up)but I will be pushing Blackfox in front of me first!

 

As for your previous post Linda abou too much testosterone, yes; I think you may be right. Thers something of the younger jackals biting at the heels of the more powerful one who gas all the best bitches!!

 

But I think its more to do with percieved wealth and pop culture which has shunned "vulgar" display of wealth as they attempt to market crap to us like petro chemical ski/snow wear. They can buy this in all levels of wealth but its still the same . To wear fur in a ski resort (or anywhere)is saying "I am a powerful animal and not part of the herd; I am wolf not sheep. I am exotic. I am beautiful. I do not bleat with the others.

And people dont like that..........

[ReFur]

Just as we in the US have our curses. You in the UK truly have pressures wearing fur I have never experienced.

 

The issues skiers and snowboards I have found are not social pressures.

 

L

[Guest]

Yes I agree....we are cursed with socialism, the politics of envy, and chips on shoulders which you dont appear to have in the USA. We are suffering from decades of labour propaganda against percieved social class. They stir up bitterness and get elected on it.

 

The lad I took to the races yesterday had never been. he couldnt believe how there are no cicial divisions. Within the first hour he had spoken with three top trainers, seven owners and two jockeys, plus stable lads and catering staff. He said he was dumbfounded how there is no snobbery ...he imagined there would be loads. But then when we returned, and went into the pub, we had the inverted snobbery. The snide comments because we were wearing hats and suits on a saturday night, while everyone else wore jeans. This is Britain. I guess you dont get it so much in the US. The British Government has blinded the nation with propaganda and rules with the politics of envy.

And thats why there is so much anti fur crap....its nothing to do with animals.

Glenys Kinnock the Labour euro mp once said:

"I dont really care about the animal issue; what I really object to is the fact that someone has the money to go out and spend

[PokerAce]

Hi All

Been busy the last days (moving to a new home this weekend) so I didn't see this topic...

First some info.. started skiing 12 years ago and after 2 years when I found out that my wife (my girlfriend in those days) is doing better then me (true story, but she had a 2 years experience over me) decided to switch to snowboard.

since than for the last 10 years I was snowboarding for a 10 - 12 days a year in one of the resorts in Europe - always with a guidance (it is very important when you are in the high level and going only off-piste, and you can always learn something new) and with proper gear (my own equipment and a helmet).

I agree with Linda that the beginning is not so fun (I learned on ice.. ouch) but when you get it is something else - pure fun (and I do some jumping and some tricks on the snow park ).

There is nothing like snowboarding on a virgin off-piste snow.

So if anyone has some questions about snow boarding i will be happy to answer

PokerAce

[bob23]

I won't be doing jumps or 360's (at least not on purpose )

 

So for me basic snowboarding is all I want to do. If I were younger I would definitely be doing tricks.

 

This year I went on my second boarding holiday, and whilst I am still a novice I learnt to do a 360 (that's a 360 on the ground, not in the air). And I couldn't believe how easy it was, so I'm going to pass on the knowledge to you Linda and then you can command respec' from those gnarly dudes in baggy trousers.

 

'Lean forward, then lean back'.

 

And that's it. Start off on a gentle slope, as you don't want to be going too quickly when you're learning to do this. Put your weight over the nose of the board ('lean forward'), and you'll gradually move into the fall line and begin to turn. As you naturally move out of the fall line to complete the turn, shift your weight to your back foot and the tail of the board ('lean back') - this will spin your board around to complete the 360.

 

I can't tell you how big the grin on my face was when I pulled this off first time I hope ollies are as easy to learn...

[ReFur]

Actually, I did do the ones on the snow when I was first learning. Not as fast as you probably would, though. You are right, it did give me a big smile!

 

I am just happy going down the hill now!

 

It is the in the air stuff that I am just not going to be doing. I don't care how easy someone says it is!!

 

I am certain this is just me, but I would rather do a controlled 360 anyday than get off those darn chairlifts. I just hate getting off them on a board. I hyperventilate every time!

 

Linda

[Earendil]

Linda, bring a big furcoat and I'll teach you how to do it

[ReFur]

[bob23]

Actually, I did do the ones on the snow when I was first learning.

Totally rad. Xtreme respect!

 

Chairlifts I don't mind too much. My tips:

 

1) If you're regular, sit on the far right of the chair. If you're goofy, sit on the left. That way when the bar is raised you can swing yourself slightly round the side of the chair which makes it easier to get your body turned.

2) Make sure that your board and boot are pretty clear of snow before you get on the chair. You can't put that back foot down properly if there's snow in the way. I found a stomp pad helped greatly for grip.

3) Concentrate on getting your upper body upright as any leaning throws you. Think elegance and posture

4) If you want some extra balance, put your arms out in the 'negative' position.

5) Don't try to push yourself off the chair too hard as it will throw you. In fact, I tend to stand up and just let the movement of the chair push me.

6) If you find yourself falling, remember, 10 points for a skier, bonus for a domino topple.

 

Now button lifts, they really are the work of the devil...