How Do You Fall in a Safe Way on a Snowboard?

It’s only natural to fall when snowboarding, especially if you’re fairly new to this wintertime activity. Even more experienced snowboarders can take a tumble now and then, which usually happens when they’re testing out new terrain or trying more advanced moves. Regardless of your skill level, it’s important to know how to safely fall when snowboarding to avoid wrist fractures and other common injuries associated with this activity. Here are some tips to keep in mind to achieve this goal, brought to you by the mountain sports experts from ASO Mammoth, your one-stop shop for Mammoth snowboard rentals, high-quality snowboarding gear, safety equipment, and tips for hitting the slopes safely.

Keep Your Legs Flexed & Body Low

There are two main ways to fall on a snowboard: forward and backward. With either approach to falling, keep your legs flexed to reduce your risk of ankle or lower leg injuries. Also, try your best to keep your body as low to the ground as possible to minimize the impact. Do both of these things as soon as you feel you’re losing control and getting ready to fall.

Don’t Reach Out with Your Palms

Instinctively, many people put their palms out when falling in any situation. To protect your wrists, this is something you want to avoid when falling forward on a snowboard. Instead, bend your knees when you know a fall is about to happen. Bend your arms forward as you fall so the main force of the impact is on your knees and forearms.

Don’t Stick Your Arms Out if You’re Falling Backward

When you fall backward on a snowboard, there’s a natural inclination to spread your arms out in an effort to regain your balance. What this motion often does instead is increase the risk of dislocating your shoulder. Again, you’ll want to bend at the knees once you realize a fall is inevitable. This puts the force of the impact with the snow on your backside. Also with backward falls, remember to:

• Keep your arms tucked in
• Bend your chin down toward your knees to protect your head
• Scrunch your shoulders inward and move your back upward to increase the odds of landing on your backside more directly

Have the Right Protective Gear

Ultimately, your gear plays a big role in the toll a fall will take on your body. In fact, no matter how you end up falling when snowboarding, the impact on your body will be reduced to some extent if you have the right protective gear. With snowboarding, the safety essentials include:

• Knee pads
• Elbow pads
• Ankle guards
• Properly fitting boots with good ankle and heel support
• A properly fitting helmet to prevent head injuries

There are several options with pads for snowboarding, so take some time to explore different options if you have concerns about comfort and ease of movement. For instance, some elbow and knee pads are made of memory foam, which is designed to absorb more of the impact in a way that doesn’t require added bulk. 

Snowboarding is a fantastic way to enjoy your time on the slopes, so don’t ruin it by getting injured because you don’t know how to fall safely. The first step is to make sure you start with high-quality equipment that’s fitted properly. Mammoth Bound is your go-to shop for snowboard rental in Mammoth as well as safety tips from snow sports experts. We have everything you need to have a blast, including advice on how to enjoy the slopes safely. Drop by when you’re on the mountain or contact us at [email protected].

Whether you’re coming to Mammoth to ski, snowboard, or enjoy the mountain in other ways, don’t forget to stop by Mammoth Bound to pick up one of our great Mammoth t-shirts. We also carry a wide array of hats, beanies, and other Mammoth apparel—the perfect souvenirs!

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