[Typo3-t3board03] Agenda Snowboard Beginners

[Daniel Hinderink]

Hi,

Mathias and Sacha are absolutely right, it is a lot easier to learn with
good equipment. Good equipment is not the same for everyone though. The top
of the line boards are more difficult to ride, so you should (if you
consider buying) get an entry-level all-round board first.

Protection is a good idea too. I can recommend getting a helmet, you can
also use any ice hockey or climbing helmet, just not a motorcycle or cycling
bomb :-) But the single most important piece of protection for the first two
days are wrist guards, like those you get for roller blading. You just fall
with less worries with these and they are very cheap.

Back and hip protection is btw. very much cheaper in motorcycle stores, but
I don't think you need that.

Clothing should be breathable and lightweight. Don't wear cotton or wool, go
for fleece and goretex layers. As Mathias said, it is something you can use
again in other situations.

Anyway, 15 years ago everyone learned with gear a lot worse than the
cheapest stuff you can buy today. Snowboarding is a lot easier to learn than
skiing and on day three at the latest you should have your first successes.

Just remember to keep it fun and don't get too exhausted trying. 4-5 hours
of training per day is enough for a beginner.

Another important thing for beginners: stay on the slopes. Deep powder looks
tempting, but it is also conceiling traps and including but not limited to
avalanches. We are in a rather safe skiiing area, but it is still the
mountains juust a few meters left and right.

We had no injuries last year, after several people in the hospital, some of
them with severely broken bones, surgery and whatnot in 2003. It would be
nice if we could have another "healthy" snowboard tour. So take it easy.

Cheers,

Daniel


> Hi,
> 
>> Get at leasst snowboard trousers (as a beginner you will spend some time
>> sitting (by contract ;-)) and chances are quite good to get a neat cold
>> or worse things.
> 
> folks please listen carefully to what Mathias says. Last year I spent
> one week in bed after the tour with pneumonia. Normaly I have a very
> good constitution but the weather conditions in the mountains can be
> dangerous. As a beginner you`ll fall a lot - which means that you`ll
> also have to get up a lot which isn`t that easy with your feet connected
> by a long peace of wood and lying in a steep slope. This again means
> that you will sweat quite a bit. As you`ll fall while moving, this nasty
> snow will also sneak into your clothes, melts and makes you even more
> wet. That might not be a problem at first because usually the sun is
> shining and your body temperature is a bit higher because of all the
> movement.
> 
> But after falling and getting up 300 times you`ll be exhausted, stop
> moving and sit down in the snow. Then you`ll notice how cold the snow is
> and also feel the wind coming through your wet clothes.
> 
> What`s my point? Spend a few bucks on good equipment. Buy snowboard
> trousers and jackets with snow-stoppers in them and make sure that they
> are made out of breathable stuff (Gore-Tex or something). You might also
> want some knee protectors and something for your butt as you will
> permanently land on those during the first day(s).
> 
> Those sun goggles are also necessary. The light on the mountains is much
> more intensive and brighter than that of your LCD ;-). Those snow
> goggles might not look as cool as the ray bans you wear on the beach but
> they keep the wind away and as we are all nerds you can wear them over
> your glasses. If you wear glasses, take some anti-fog stuff with you as
> you will sweat and steam like an old train.
> 
> Also take sun protection with you. Those lipsticks are handy. In
> Spluegen this stuff costs at least 3 times as much as in my local
> supermarket so you might want to bring it with you.