When you’re learning to snowboard, you earn every ounce of skill through practice and more falls than anyone would like to admit. As frustrating as the falls are, what’s even more frustrating is the fact that if you don’t use the skills you earn then you’ll lose them and have to do it all over again.
At Mammoth Bound our goal is to help everyone who visits Mammoth Mountain have the best visit possible. You can’t do that if you’re constantly relearning snowboarding after you’ve spent too long away from the snow, so we’ve put together a guide on how to improve your snowboard skills from home. Start training today by reading all about it below!
Get Your Balance Down
If you have a soft surface like a carpet, then you can practice finding and holding your balance on a snowboard at home.
The most important thing to practice is shifting weight onto your heel and toe edge and balancing it there. Start with whichever edge you’re most comfortable with. For most people, that means their heel edge with their toes lifting off the ground. If you’re more comfortable with your toe edge, then start there by shifting weight to your toes and letting your heels lift off the ground.
As you get comfortable leaning on your edges, keep an eye out for bad habits that might form while you’re practicing. It might feel easier to balance if you squat down or bend your back, but when you’re actually snowboarding those habits will cause you to fall. Cut them out early by staying aware when practicing at home!
Practice Your Stance
Learning to snowboard is hard enough, but if you’re uncomfortable with your stance then it’s nearly impossible.
Most beginners don’t have their own snowboard gear and have to ride the stances already set on their rental gear. If you’re lucky enough to have your own gear or have some extra time with your rentals, then use it to get comfortable with your stance.
If you have access to snowboard gear at home then you’ve probably already spent some time practicing putting on your boots and strapping into your bindings. Now take the next step and practice getting comfortable with your stance. By stance we simply mean the way you stand while you’re riding. Even if you’re not riding, you can still practice standing comfortably with your knees bent and your back straight. It may seem easy when you’re practicing on a flat surface without moving, but the more you make it a habit the easier it will be to do when you’re actually on the snow.
Improve Snowboard Skills by Staying in Shape
If you’re a beginner snowboarder then you’re going to be sore at the end of the day no matter what, but if you work the right muscles beforehand then you can minimize the pain.
The most important muscles to work are in your legs and core, and you won’t need any special equipment to do so. For example, planks and Russian twists are easy exercises that will hone your core so you can balance better once you’re on the snow. Squats, squat jumps, or any type of squat exercise will help you keep your legs fresh all day long while snowboarding!
Practice on a Balance Board
A balance board is an extra piece of gear that will make a world of difference once you get back to a mountain. There are many different kinds, but we suggest the Indo Board. Learning to use a balance board takes time just like snowboarding, so make sure you’re on a soft surface when you start!
Rent your snowboard here before your next visit to Mammoth Mountain!