Any snowboarder probably remembers pretty well the first three days they spent repeatedly falling down. Having said that, once you get to grips with it snowboarding is one of the most enjoyable sports there is.
Where to Snowboard in the UK
Within the UK there are many dry ski slopes. The problem with dry ski slopes is when you fall it hurts a lot and as a beginner you WILL fall but you don't want to fall so hard that it puts you off the sport for good. A better way is to go indoor snowboarding at a real snow centre. There are a handful located throughout the UK and not only do they give you the feeling of being on actual snow but when you fall it is a lot more forgiving. You are far less likely to slide to a stop causing you to have to limp around for a few days or even worse a trip to A&E (common on dry ski slopes).
You can find your nearest UK slope here.
Before you start
Before being allowed on the slope you must achieve a minimum level of ability. Essentially you need to know how to snowboard. The snow domes are happy to help you learn to snowboard by providing snowboarding lessons. They are nowhere near the size of a a real mountain but you can get good enough to be able to handle yourself when you finally reach the real slopes.
Etiquette (Safety)
Stopping is one of the first things you will learn to do. This is because it is central to you being able to control your speed and safety of both you and others.
If you are overtaking someone it is your responsibility to get past them safely, you are going faster and approaching them from behind so if you need to slow down and wait for a safer moment then do so.
Take responsibility for your own actions, it is up to you to know your limitations and to stick to them.
Respect the safety of others. If you are wanting to challenge yourself and there is a chance you may fall, bear this in mind and before undertaking your move making sure there is nobody who could get caught up in your fall.
When you decide to stop there are a few things you should do:-
- Don’t stop suddenly.
- Pull to the side of the slope when you plan to stop so you aren’t getting in anyone's way.
- Don’t stop where the oncoming rider's view of you may be obstructed. e.g the landing of a jump
- When starting off again, give way to oncoming riders
What to Wear When Snowboarding
Before purchasing your own equipment you can rent the following from the venue:-
- Helmet
- Goggle
- Bindings
- Snowboard
- Snowboard boots
- Ski boots
- Ski Bindings
Clothing
- Thermal Base layers
- Mid layer
- Jacket
- Snowboard pants
- Snowboard socks
- Gloves or Mitts
It is better to wear too many layers and have the option to remove one if you're too hot than not wear enough and be cold.