Never Call Last Run - Call Last Trick!

It was a little past 2 o'clock, and after a long day of riding, Burt decided that he had just about enough. He turned to his buddies next to him on the chairlift and said, "Alright guys, I'm pretty beat; Let's go for one more run and head out?" His friends, just as bushed, quickly agreed.

They got off the lift and strapped in.  Burt hopped up and before he knew it, he hooked his edge and was eating snow.  "Ok, not a great sign," Burt thought as a he brushed himself off.

First hit in the park was a flat box; Burt managed to slip out mid-boardslide and gave his elbow a good bash. Second hit was a small kicker that Burt always spun decent 3s off; arms flailing about, Burt's 360 this time around had everything but style... to top it off he under spun the rotation into a nice wash-out landing. This whole run was cursed from the get-go!

Happy to have made it down the hill alive, Burt unstrapped and headed to the car.  "Worst last run ever."

Ever called last run and experienced a similar outcome? Truth be told, there aren't many snowboarders who find themselves having the best run of their lives after they've called it.

Why is calling your last run so taboo?  It's a self-defeating statement.  If you have been slaying it all day then you are in "the zone", and somehow calling that last run takes you right out of focus.  It's not shred time anymore; it's time to head in to the lodge and eat, drink, and sit.

When you start to lose steam and it's time to go home soon, try using the "Call Your Last Trick" method instead: 

Basically you are picking a trick and a feature you want to do it on; once you land it, you are alright to call it a day.  If freestyle isn't your forte, pick anything.  You can go for one more sick, laid-back slash or even just making toe side turns all the way down (for beginners).

This shifts the focus from going home; you are still snowboarding and now it's all about landing that trick.

Calling last trick works especially well for tricks you've been working on all day, something that you almost have.  You won't want to go home until you get it, which usually means you get to go home with that toasty, accomplished feeling when you put a new trick in the bag...

That's definitely the right way to end a day of snowboarding.

QandA - How Do I Get Good at Snowboarding Fast?

Q: I picked up snowboarding this winter and now I'm hooked. What are some tips on how I can get better fast?

A: This is one of my favorite questions asked by riders just starting out. The bottom line: you can't get better fast. Everyone progresses at their own pace, and to "accelerate" your natural learning curve basically means you'll be visiting the hospital.

There aren't any tips to getting magically better at riding, but the same things riders have been doing since the dawn of snowboarding still hold true if you want forge ahead in the sport.

You still have to practice a shit ton if you want anything to happen. You will progress whether you are riding daily or once every year, but don't expect to get better by leaps and bounds if you have to get a year of rust off your legs first.

Freestyle snowboarding spawned a phrase, "easy style it", meaning you always want to start small and work your way up. This gem of knowledge is key to progression, because it can be hard to snowboard if you are lying injured in bed.

Start by learning to turn on harder slopes, then see about doing small ollies, then take those to small jumps, etc. Eliminate unnecessary risk factors by building your skills in small steps.

"Respect gets respect" is another golden rule of snowboarding. Snaking lines and disregarding the safety of others will get you forced right off the mountain. It just takes a hint of courtesy and awareness and you are all good; some riders might even be down to teach you a trick.

Finally, the age old adage "Have Fun With It!"

Sometimes the harder you focus on something, the more difficult it becomes to achieve. It goes without saying: you shouldn't have to force yourself to snowboard. Keep an open mind and don't think that any time spent riding is wasted.

I know riders these days can huck themselves hundreds of feet into the air, and maybe that's where you would like to be; but line up a row of snowballs and try to spin over each of them and see how much fun something so stupid can be...

and still you'll be practicing, and getting better at, snowboarding.

Why You Should Listen to Your Shop Rep

It seems like everyone is an expert when it comes to snowboards these days: You've got your magazines and private sites posting up review after review (paid or unpaid?); then there are always your favorite pro riders, and if they are rocking it then it should be good, right?

Of course your company reps are here to let you know about all of the coolest stuff Company-X thought up for this season... so who the hell do you trust with such a big purchase?

What about that friend who knows about all the latest and greatest gear, and they ride a ton so maybe they will offer the best opinion?

If your friend happens to be a shop rep, then maybe.

In this internet dependent world, a lot of snowboarders have lost touch with why dealing with their local shop is so damn important. When you are dealing with your shop rep, you are dealing with someone whose job is to know every thing about every product they carry. This means they have to go out and use the shit, and you just can't get a better opinion than that.

The best shop reps have a real passion for product; they will test anything they can get their hands on, even if it is total shit, and offer up an awesome objective point of view on it. Every product has it's use, and with your shop reps hands on experience combined with your own criteria on what you want, you will always get you what you need.

Don't get me wrong, there are some stinkers. Keep an eye out for shop reps that are seemingly uninterested in your business, or start throwing their "best"--aka most expensive--products at you (especially if they are literally throwing things). Also watch out for the catalog regurgitator; the rep who seems to have memorized the company descriptions verbatim but knows not a whole lot beyond that.

If your shop rep is friendly, asks a ton of questions about what you are looking for, and seems to have an endless list of recommendations than you are probably dealing with someone who knows what they are talking about.

And it works both ways. You should be able to ask your shop rep any question from "how does it turn at speed?" to "what binding works best with it?" and they will have your answer. That's how you find gear practically made for you, and that's why your local shop rep is invaluable.

Cheers to local shops, and knowledgeable shop reps who have helped thousands of people get off on the right foot with their snowboarding gear.

Part 2 - Becoming A Certified AASI Snowboard Instructor

A true snowboard instructor becomes one in order pass on not only a sport, but a lifestyle...

In Part 1, you discovered your motives for wanting to teach snowports and were introduced to some of the ins-and-outs of joining the AASI. Hopefully you went out and found a job teaching or shadowing at your local resort, and in the meantime have been studying and practicing diligently in preparation for your Level I examination.

So what do you need in order to pass the Level I test?

• Knowledge - You should have read through at least Chapter 6 of the AASI Snowboard Instructor's Handbook. Visit TheSnowPros.org, or your regional AASI website, to find study guides and other useful documents to help you pass your written test.
• Skills - While AASI is working to come to a national standard, the skills you will need to demonstrate in your riding test can vary from region to region; usually the likes of basic skidded turns, basic carved turns, bumps, fakie and some freestyle (noserolls, flatland 180s). Again, your regional AASI website should have a document that lists the skills they look for in a Level I instructor.
• Experience - In order to receive your certification you need to have at least 20 hours of teaching/shadowing under your belt, which you can easily crank out working as an non-certified instructor.

Most importantly, you need to show up to your exam with a smile on your face and a positive attitude...

The Level I exam is really more of a clinic then anything. Mistakes at this level are often tolerated and used to further your understanding of teaching. Just keep an open mind, show a willingness to learn, and you will likely do okay.

If this all sounds like a piece of cake, then head over to TheSnowPros.org or your AASI regional website and see when the next Level I exam is happening near you.

Most regions accept online registrations, and with a few clicks you will be set to earn your Level I certification, enjoy a larger paycheck, and unlock opportunities to further your career as a professional snowboard instructor.

DryGuy Thermanator Boot and Shoe Dryer

Being that I never stop snowboarding and especially being that my last days on hill each season are often in the middle of the summer; stinky, sopping wet boots can be a real problem for me.

This season I wasn't up for wearing damp boots on cold mornings, so when I found the DryGuy Thermanator on Amazon I decided to give home boot dryers a shot.

The Thermanator had a few features particularly interesting to me: First it was the cheapest boot dryer that held up to four boots and second it used a whopping 30W of power, which meant it wouldn't burn my boots or my electric bill.

When the package arrived there was a short put-together that consisted of two screws and things were cooking. You have the option to either attach floor stands as I did, or you can mount the Thermanator on any wall using the included brackets.

Since this dryer works on the concept of heat conduction, everything on the unit is metal. The heating element is incredibly gentle; you can leave your boots on the thing for days (probably weeks, months, years?) and no harm will come to them.

Because the Thermanator doesn't use a fan it doesn't waft horrific boot odors and turn my small house into a locker room. There are no moving parts to break, and as long as you give it enough time your boots will always be dry in the morning. I have even put a few soaked (washed) liners on it to dry overnight.

The biggest problem is this is not a boot dryer for impatient or forgetful people; if you don't get your boots on the dryer and give them a full night, they won't dry completely. Also, soaked boots--like the liners I washed--take even longer than that.

For your 9am to 4pm full day on the hill, the DryGuy Thermanator Boot and Shoe Dryer does exactly what it was made to do...Since I bought it, I've had yet to go a day without toasty, dry boots on my feet.

DryGuy Thermanator Boot and Shoe Dryer

4/5 Cacti