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.