Balance Board Training - Part 2

A few months ago I did a post on using a homemade balance board to fiddle around with rail tricks or just master the finer points of balance.  With any homemade creation, and especially with training exercises, a visual demonstration is always much more valuable.

Braving the 110ºF heat, I managed to get a couple of minutes of footage showing both my homemade balance board setup and how I use it to practice tricks.  It isn't pretty, but training and learning new things rarely is:

So you can see what I mean when I said to try jumping right into tricks.  I also tried a variety of tricks, including 50-50s, boardslides, 270s, switch-ups, nollie on, and a few switch tricks.  My biggest focus with each one is keeping the board nice and flat.  Especially with boardslides, spins and switch-ups, I pay special attention to where I turn my head, and how I manipulate my arms, hips, and shoulders.

You can also see my homemade setup. The deck I have is old, beat up, and practically snapped; if you have friends that skate, or especially if you skate yourself, chances are you have one of these lying around.  The tube is just a 4' long, 4" diameter black PVC pipe I bought at Home Depot--I don't recall there being a choice, but make sure you buy thick so it doesn't buckle when you jump on it.

As mentioned in the first post, balancing these tricks is actually much easier at speed, and I can honestly say I owe a lot of my confidence and the successful outcome of many on-snow attempts this season to the time I put in with my balance board.

Hopefully having this visual example clears up any confusion about balance board training...at least my homemade version of it.  So go find $10 and give yourself something to do while you wait for next season.

Snowboarders Don't Workout: Ledge Hops

Snowboarding is highly physical, and often summer finds us shredheads buried indoors with the air condition cranked and the television remote handy; not a pretty picture when next season comes around. Riding out of shape means not only having to work extra hard to catch up to where you were, but can also leave you open for injury.

The Snowboarders Don't Workout is nothing more than a bunch of exercises meant to work the muscles we use when we ride without expensive equipment or fancy gym memberships.  Today's exercise, ledge hops, is a simple exercise meant to build strength and explosiveness in your legs as well as improve your timing and bodily awareness.

Your first task is to find a suitable ledge or similar object, the fallen tree behind my house works great.  Ideally, you want something high enough that it takes a bit of effort for you to jump onto it--something about knee height or maybe taller if you are in good shape.

Straight Jumps (50-50s)

Start with straight jumps.  These are pretty self explanatory; stand at the side of the ledge like you would to ollie into a 50-50.  Imagine you are approaching this feature on snow... you would load up the tail and pop up onto it, catching the rail lightly with your heel or toe (depending on your stance) to keep from sliding off the other side.

Try doing 5 repetitions of this--frontside and backside--for a total of 10; then do it switch.


Spin Jumps (180-on)

Spinning onto rails and boxes can be a challenge.  A lot of it has to do with being able to trust your body to complete the rotation on.  Practicing this stationary on a ledge is a low consequence way to dial in how you position your head, arms, and shoulders to lock in a proper 180-on.

Again, visualizing that you are riding up to a real feature on snow, do 5 rotations spinning frontside and backside (a total of 10) and then repeat switch.

As you get comfortable with this, start throwing in 180-pretzel-outs where you spin the opposite 180 of the feature that you did on to it (landing in your original stance).  You can even take it one step further to 360-pretzel-outs.

One-legs (boardslides)

While doing this exercise won't teach you how to lock in or balance a boardslide, it can help you become more confident approaching taller feature.  It will also build up the muscles in each leg individually.

From your imaginary stance, ollie onto the ledge and shift yourself so you land sideways on your lead leg.  You will have to play around with your arms and shoulders to get the balance just right.  Especially with frontside boardslides, play around with your upper body.

Watch some videos and try to emulate the body position of your favorite riders' boardslides; Lucas Magoon has a killer front board:

Do these one-legs 5 times both frontside and backside, then repeat switch.  Feeling saucy? Throw in some 270-outs to nail down your technique.

If you follow this workout to a T, you will have hopped onto your chosen ledge or feature 60 times. Feel free to add or subtract repetitions as you see fit.

Even if this exercise won't necessarily help you land these tricks, a day of shred equals jumping hundreds of times; doing ledge hops onto a feature much higher than what you generally hit will leave you far more prepared for your first run of 2011.

Balance Board Training

 

Pushing further into spring, we have ushered in the era of slush; with the size of jumps shrinking in proportion to the amount of speed you can't get to clear them, springtime works great for getting reacquainted with the various jibs our resorts offer... Take advantage of these sunny skies and all of that soft slush by using a balance board to really step up your rail game.

Balance boards provide a safe, controlled way to practice all of the precise movements needed for today's standard rail tricks.  Being able to try these tricks mere inches from the ground takes the pain out of getting things wrong; play with and perfect your body position and weight displacement with very little consequence when things go bad.

Now, owning a Vew-Do or an Indo balance board would be nice, but that's a lot of cash money for what is essentially a skateboard deck and pipe.  Speaking of, find yourself an old skateboard deck and buy a 4"+ diameter PVC pipe at your local hardware shop. Add straps to the deck for that snowboard type feel.

OK, it's trick learnin' time!

If this is your first time on a balance board, or you are not comfortable ollieing into boardslides on a box or rail, you may want to start by setting the board on the pipe and rocking into things; this is a mellow way to get familiar with how a balance board moves while improving your balance. From there you can even add an extra progression by hopping onto the board while it is placed in position.

For those riders comfortable with most spins and slides, try jumping right into tricks.  Visualize the PVC pipe as a rail and set your approach accordingly.  Build your confidence to try any number of tricks; boardslides, 50-50s, spins on, spins off, and don't forget nollies and switch.

Pay attention to your shoulders, where you turn your head, the placement of your arms, hips, and your overall weight distribution (more on your toes or heels, etc).  Most important play with these things to see how they help or hinder your tricks.

Finally, take it on the hill.

First things first, if you are new to sliding then you want to start with wide ride-on boxes.  Take the time to get used to the sensation of sliding so you will be able to adjust your balance accordingly when try more advanced tricks and features later on.

With that out of the way you can trust yourself to slide; all you need to focus on is manipulating your head, shoulders, hips, and arms the way you practiced on your balance board.

Any trick you land on a balance board can be done on the hill.  Just like a bicycle, it's easier to balance in motion than standing still, so if you can land 270s on a stationary balance board then you'll have the upper hand when you take it to a real feature.  That PVC is also round if you haven't noticed; flat boxes and rails are a way more stable sliding surface.

As always, make sure you pick the appropriate feature and trick to your ability. Balance boards are a tool to aid progression; they won't help you skip steps.

Otherwise, get creative! Really, anything you do on a balance board will translate into more control and stability the next time you strap in.

Superfeet Green Insoles

I've used my Vans Hi-Standard boots for a very long time, something far over one hundred days.  When I started noticing a change in control: snowboard not responding appropriately, an inability to support myself in a proper riding stance; and with immense pain and fatigue setting in early on every day, I had to find a way to breathe new life into them while I waited for a warranty on new boots to go through.

Pulling out my old insoles revealed a foam impacted to paper-thin thickness. Since, aftermarket insoles have quickly earned a reputation for their very positive effect on comfort and performance in boots, I decided to invest in some.

So what's all of the science backing the theory of aftermarket insoles? Superfeet claims that their insoles are specifically designed to facilitate proper alignment of the heel and ankle, as well as provide sufficient support to your arches in all of the right places.

Believe it or not, even right out of the box stock insoles don't offer much.  Poor design and weak materials leave a lot to be desired, and all to often cause your arches to collapse leaving your ankle bones and ligaments to carry that weight.  Over time you see where this would become a problem, especially if you spend more than thirty days a year on hill; nobody wants to be twenty-five and walking like they are eighty.

Superfeet Green are their all-around insole meant for most athletic footwear (I chose not to purchase the snowsports specific model as their only difference was heat retention, and my boots get toasty enough). A quick trace of the old insoles and a trim with scissors gave me a brand new insole that fit my boot perfectly.

Superfeet and the shop rep warned that there would be a few hours of mild pain/hot spots while my feet adjusted to the shape and support of the new insoles.  After two days of riding four or so hours, I made it through the break-in and was left with unparalleled comfort and performance.

I never thought my beat up old Vans would feel so good! Standing and walking didn't cause fatigue or cramping anymore, and riding felt even better! Having more support keeps my feet reactive; I'm more on my toes, adaptive and ready to react instantly.  Where I used to apply pressure with little to no result, now my movements transfer right away giving control back to me where it belongs.  My turns initiate quicker, ollies pop on demand, presses flex higher, and I'm able to approach and land bigger kickers with more stability.

The results I've had with a $34.95 pair of Superfeet Green leave me wondering why I put off the purchase for so damn long.  If the $150+ for a custom pair of insoles sits a bit far from your budget (and you are not alone), I'd highly recommend these to any rider from the weekend warrior to the seasoned pro.

To learn more about Superfeet insoles, click right-a-here.

Spring Tuning

With April well underway, Spring is in full effect for the Northern Hemisphere.  Flowers are blooming, allergies are running rampant, and the sun is making more frequent appearances.  This part of the year can be good and bad; on the one hand no more freezing or miserable overcast days, and on the other the impending close of snowboard season.

Riding after next week may not be a sure thing, but at least there is one constant in spring riding: slush slows you down. Here are some last second tips to keep you chugging along in the slop of yesterseason...

Most riders go straight to waxing when things stop moving, making the logical assumption that it's the slush that is slowing them down.  This is partly true, but before you spend any money on wax take your board to get a spring structure.

Spill some water on a flat surface and place a plastic card over it.  The water seals the card to the surface. Really, snowboards aren't gliding on the snow but a thin layer of water; the card is like your snowboard without structure. A shop structures a deck using a stone grinder to create small grooves in the base.  These grooves channel that water, which lets you charge through the wettest, slushiest conditions spring throws at you.

That should keep you moving on snow, but right now amidst the good stuff lies all of the dirt and diesel sludge left throughout the season; who would have thought snow cats aren't environmentally friendly? If you love sliding rails and boxes, you get double the sludge--jibs scrape the crap off of other boards and pass it on to yours.

If you've been riding recently, take a look at your base. It might seem a few shades darker than you remember.

Spring sludge means two things:

1. Once you've had your board structured, you should clean the base daily with orange cleaner. Spray it on, wait a few seconds, and take one smooth swipe with a paper towel. Repeat this until the paper towels come off with little or no dirt.

2. Don't bother waxing.  Really, the carpets to get up the hill plus salted corn snow in the morning will scrape the wax off first run; more importantly things in springs are so dirty, waxing will just seal layers of sludge into your base. Just make sure your base gets cleaned daily and you will stay sliding.

If you really want to wax, make sure you do a hot scrape first--lay a coat of wax and scrape it without letting it cool.  That pulls all of the crud out of the pores in the base, so you can lay a nice clean coat.  Don't forget to rebuild the structure by using a nylon brush nose to tail after polishing.

Counter-Rotation

I remember when my trainer explained counter-rotation to me, adding now that I knew what to look for I would see it everywhere...

Sure enough, chairlift ride after chairlift ride I see about 80% of riders using this technique--and yes it is a technique--the wrong way.

What is counter-rotation? As you probably gathered from the name, it's rotating one thing one way (your shoulders) and another thing the other way (legs and torso).  For general riding and even in the park counter-rotation is just a plain bad habit.

When riding think of your shoulders, hips, knees and ankles as a single unit.  You initiate turns with your knees, hips and ankles, while your shoulders come along for the ride.  Another way to think about it: Your shoulders and hips should keep mostly parallel with the board through your turn.

Riders who most commonly display the symptom of counter-rotation are new, self-taught riders.  You will see them on the hill twisting their upper bodies to create momentum for kicking their back foot, creating a "turn".  Why is this ineffective?  Your weight never stays over the active edge, and you end up with very little control over your snowboard edge to edge.

If you find it difficult to make quick movements, or turn at high speeds, you should look to your shoulders.

In the park, this exaggerates the danger for a number of scenarios.  We've all hit that jump where we flail back onto our ass.  Guess why it happened? Your shoulder was going one way--probably back--while your lower body was getting tossed by the jump. 

The same is true for jibbing; if you counter-rotate during your approach, you lose control over the board as it touches the feature and this time either your face or your tailbone will land on metal...ouch!

I did label counter-rotation a technique, and there is one area of riding where you can slay it if you master counter-rotation: quick, narrow tree rides.  Here, counter-rotation is used to pivot the board in a small space, shaving off speed to maintain control, while the shoulders continue to lead in the direction you wish to go.

This same technique is used in the park to shave speed without throwing your shoulders out of alignment.

I wanted to point out that counter-rotation is very different from pre-winding.  In freestyle riding, you pre-wind by using your core and shoulders to create tension in the opposite direction of a spin.  Pre-winding does slightly change your shoulder position, but ultimately your shoulders, knees, and hips stay parallel with and centered over the board.

And now you know how the pros stay controlled when they huck those 1260s.

Terrain Park Progression

Each time you get off the lift you see the same sign, “Terrain Park”, like a beacon beckoning you to get gnarly…

This time you give in. Instead of the usual cruiser run, you strap in your back foot, give your snowboard a few hops and glide towards another attempt to slay jumps, rails, boxes or whatever else your local park has in store.

When it’s time to start upping the ante, a little bit of patience and common sense can go a long way in leading to a progressive and injury free season in the terrain park.

Warm Up 
Take a lap; take ten laps, why not? Ride switch, do some ollies, try some flatground tricks. Give your body a chance to realize that it's riding before you huck it off booters, it'll thank you.

Scope it first
Even if its a park you hit every day, snow conditions change daily. Check all the features. Cruise past jibs and take a look at the ramps and landings; do some speed runs up to any bigger jumps and get a feel for how the snow is moving that day, the speed you'll need clear, and feel out the angle of the landing.

Start Stock
New tricks can wait until you know how everything hits. For the first few runs you want to do the tricks you know you can land first. This is where you dial everything in; work out the kinks as it were. Clear all of your jumps and slide all your features to the end so you can try some new tricks without any surprises.

New Trick, Old Feature
You are in the park to learn tricks, but remember to pick a feature appropriate for learning a trick on. Most riders didn’t learn how to 360 off the sixty-foot jumps, and it’s a safe bet that you shouldn’t either. The opposite goes for trying new features; always use your stock “I can land this 10 out of 10 times” trick for first hits.

Know When to Back Off 
Instincts are a really big part of the park game. Know your limits and recognize when they are being pushed too far. Nobody gets better at snowboarding laying on their couch injured, so try to get all gung-ho Joe out there. Of course you can’t get better if you chicken out all the time either; here is an entire post that covers what fears to heed and what fears to overcome.

Safety First
We’ve all heard this cliché phrase used thousands of time, either in the schoolyard or the workplace, but who would have thought it applied to snowboarding too? Be aware of other riders. It’s your responsibility to make sure features are clear before you hit them; call your drops and use signals to communicate with others. Respect gets respect, and being conscious of yours and others safety is all part of enhancing your own progression.

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.

3 Tips for Renting Vs Buying Your Snowboard Equipment

Smelly boots, chintzy bindings, and rock-beaten decks; this is the common snowboard rental experience. How long do you have to use this second-hand crap anyway?

Plus, renting equipment is generally a hassle and can get expensive fast. Wouldn't it just be cheaper and easier to invest in your own gear and pay a one-time fee?

Keep these tips in mind as you consider whether or not owning your own snowboard equipment would be worth it...

1. For first-timers

If you've never been snowboarding before, you should always rent--in fact, you may want to rent the first few times you head to the hill.

Rental boards are tailor-made to help a new rider through the learning process. Plus, with a rental board you don't have to worry about damage when you ride off of the trail and into the dirt.

Even if you are planning a longer vacation and the price of renting seems greater than buying, you are better off sticking with the rental equipment. You might find that after the first few full days of snowboarding, you need a few days off to recuperate; you won't be needing a board the entire vacation after all.

2. Don't rent, demo

If you can shape turns down a green slope, it might be time to start thinking about customized gear as you start to further advance your skills.

But if you don't get that many days on the hill, maybe you don't need to spend all of that money just yet?

A renter who is looking for an upgrade without making a commitment should consider demoing. Demos are legit, name-brand board, boot and binding models available for rent from most rental shops.

Demos usually cost a bit more than average rentals, but they are a great way to start shopping for your first setup by testing several available-for-purchase models. Demos are like sticking your toe in the pool, instead of just jumping in.

3. Go feet first

If you are really itching to get out of your rental gear, but you are unsure how much you will ride or you simply don't have the cash for a decent full setup, consider spending some dough on your first pair of snowboard boots.

Boots are the single worst part of the rental experience. Most rental books reek something fierce; they are all packed out from having so many pairs of feet in them and usually the liners are so beat that the boot offers virtually no support.

Probably 80% of the difficulties people experience when using rentals come from poor boot fit.

One thing in snowboarding you will hear over and over, "Boots are the most important piece of your equipment". Since boots are the first step in relaying your movements into snowboarding, they should be the first piece of equipment you invest in.

I guarantee that owning your own pair of custom-fit boots will make more of difference on snow than any board or binding will.

This article from the Angry Snowboarder features excellent tips on getting a boot that's practically made for you.



One final tip: you will know when you need to buy your own snowboard gear. You will feel like your rental gear doesn't turn hard enough, or go fast enough, or pop high enough; and depending on which of those it is, you will also have a good idea of what to look for in your first setup.

Part 1 - Becoming A Certified AASI Snowboard Instructor

Most of us were once-upon-a-time taught by a snowboard instructor. At the time we were struggling to grasp the fundamentals of riding, not entirely sure how much fun this sport called snowboarding really was. While the instructor glided down the hill, often with one foot unstrapped, we were slamming to the ground every five yards. Back then, I would have given anything just to be able to ride like my instructor.

Many of us still relish that dream, but as our riding has advanced so has our definition. As an instructor, you get to be the first "hero" of snowboarding your students will ever meet. You have the answers to their questions; you are the catalyst of their success and progression. To top things off, instructors get to reap the greatest benefit a job could ever offer: guaranteed riding time daily--whether you are teaching or not.

Aspiring instructors need not fear, the steps to make your dream a reality are not as daunting as they seem. Here are some tips to start you on the path towards an incredibly rewarding career...

What's in the Job Description?

But first, let's see how badly you want to do it? It isn't free to become a snowboard instructor. Instructing is a career, and like any career you will have to pay some money to receive the information and training you need.

Learning the skills takes time, so won't be paying everything all at once, but be prepared. You will need to buy educational materials, pay an annual registration fee to be a member of PSIA/AASI, pay for your certification courses, and last but not least pay your way to a resort before any of this can be possible.

Once you are certified you will enjoy an increased pay rate and numerous discounts including lift tickets, hotels, and snowboard gear. Getting there, however, takes a bit of personal sacrifice.

Even when you are certified, this does not guarantee tons of money. Every resort position requires guest attendance. If nobody shows up to the hill that day then you aren't getting paid.

Don't anticipate spending most of your working days coaching up-and-coming Olympians in the halfpipe either. Especially at lower certifications, you can expect to work with lots and lots of children.

Bottom line, the most successful instructors became instructors to teach. It's not about being the star of the show; it's not about raking in cash-money; it's about actually wanting to help other people learn to ride a snowboard.

Still want to give it a go?

Knowledge is Power

One thing you can't, or at least shouldn't want to do, is jump into a certification course without a little prep work. To get started, you need to invest a little bit of study and practice into this endeavor.

There are the three things you need to master in order to successfully gain your certification:

1. Riding concepts - The riding part. You must be able to demonstrate the skills you teach and some advanced riding techniques.
   
2. Teaching concepts - This is a measure of your ability to manage a class as well as relay technical information to your students in a simple manner.
   
3. Movement analysis - You must be able to identify what your students are doing right and wrong, and be able to adapt your lesson plan accordingly.
   

While you can't learn everything there is to know about these concepts in any book, there is one book you will absolutely need to purchase if you are serious about becoming a snowboarding instructor; the AASI Snowboard Instructors Guide. This single piece of literature contains everything you need to know in order to pass the written tests, as well as a breakdown of the teaching system, illustrations of proper riding techniques, and even a full gear guide.

Some other materials to consider in preparation for your exam include Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors, the AASI Snowboard Movement Analysis Handbook and the Rocky Mountain AASI 04-05 Snowboard Standards DVD, which will give you a visual reference of the movements you need to be able to perform and explain.

Now, we've established your motivation for getting mixed up in this certification business, and given you some tools to help open your mind to the world of an AASI certified snowboard instructor.

Be sure to study up, because in Part 2 it all comes together when you sign up for your *gulp* Level 1 Exam!

QandA - What Beginner Riders Should Look for in Snowboard Gear

Great examples of beginner equipment: the 2010 Burton Blunt and Union Cadet binding.

Q: I'm a beginner and I don't know what things I should look out for when buying a board, bindings, or boots? I guess any help is appreciated!

A: Of course the easiest, fastest, and best way to get your gear would be to visit your local shop where the rep will hook you up with gear that a.) fits and b.) is appropriate to your riding level. Fit is the most important thing you deal with when gear shopping, if it doesn't fit than there's nothing you are going to do that will make it work.

As a beginner you should look for a true-twin (nose/tail same length, shape, and flex; binding screw slots are centered on board-;aka no setback).

Most manufacturers rate their board on a flex rating. For beginners, on a scale from 1-10, you want a board around the 3s.

There are two measures of board flex: along the length of the board for presses/ollies, and across the width of the board for control and initiating turns (from heel to toe; if you strapped your board in sitting down and pushed the ball of your foot down on your binding like a gas pedal, your board will twist. This is flex across your board). An beginner board needs to flex just as soft across as it does along the length, since beginners rely on some extra give when they are mastering their balance and turning technique. This will minimize edge catches and maximize board control.

Entry-level boards will have a longer effective edge/shallower sidecut to produce long, controlled turns. Think longboard versus short board in skateboarding or surfing: A bigger, wider board in surfing or skating equals a board with a longer effective edge and shallower sidecut in snowboarding.

In terms of board height, no higher than your chin. Even if you are young and growing, if you get a board too big for your weight and height you are going to have a lot of trouble controlling it.

Now for the big question, should you buy reverse camber or not?

I think reverse camber has a place helping beginning riders who are not able to engage/complete turns or are catching edges frequently, but if you are past that don't rule out camber. I think once riders get over basic errors in connecting turns, they need to progress to intiating the turn, shaping the turn, and changing edges using the loading properties of a traditional cambered board. This is very technical, I know; but trust me, if you get a cambered snowboard you will not regret it as you progress into the park and steeps. Grab yourself a reverse camber deck when you start nailing advanced park stuff, or for deep powder excursion.

A common misconception is that if you get an entry-level board as a beginner that you will end up needing a new board sooner than later to start hitting the steeper and more challenging parts of the mountain, and this is simply not the case. Most any board properly sized to the rider will go anywhere within resort boundaries that you want it to, but one constructed specifically for beginners will make your learning experience more enjoyable.

For binders, get something softer flexing so you don't dig an edge in every time you shift your weight; it goes without saying you want the binding (S, M, L) to fit your boot.

For boots, again it would be smart to go with a softer flexing boot at first. Or if you intend to ride more than 30 days, you can accomodate for added flex during break-in by buying a stiffer boot. BOOT FIT is something so important that I made it bold, then underlined it. Forget personal taste and company preference for a second, you need a boot that is right for your foot and ankle shape. Your boot needs to fit *snuggly*, meaning your big toes should be touching.

Subtract at least a size from your shoe size to adjust for break-in. Again even if you are young and growing, accept the fact that you are buying new boots every year because if your boot doesn't fit you can stifle progression or even end up quitting altogether in frustration; it makes things that unpleasant.

The only fool-proof tip to boot shopping? Go to a shop and try on as many boot companies and models as you can; there will definitely be standouts that felt way more comfortable than others...and bring legit snowboard socks.

I'm not much for specific model recommendations, but here are some companies with solid snowboards, boots, and bindings:

Humanity
Ride
O-Matic
K2
Burton
Salomon
Nitro
Never Summer
Rome
Capita
Nidecker
Head
Vans
DC
ThirtyTwo
Stepchild
LibTech
GNU
Forum
Union

and plenty more, but that's a running start. Most companies will say outright that a board is beginner friendly, but if not you will generally find boards with the construction I described under $400. When in doubt, e-mail the company and ask; they are always stoked to help out a potential customer.

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QandA features real answers to real questions from real people. Help out by sending your snowboard related questions to DesertsDontSnow@gmail.com.

Snowboarding and Twitter

By now you have probably heard of Twitter, a social media application that let's you review updates from hundreds or even thousands instantly; at the other end of the wire, hundreds or even thousands can instantly view your updates as well.

Those who are already on Twitter, and get caught tweeting, are met with one of two mindsets: "What is Twitter?" or "I hate Twitter". The haters have an excellent reason to hate, since it's easy to assume from a constant onslaught of internet marketers that there is nothing more to Twitter than a bunch of con-artists trying to sucker people.

Believe it or not Twitter is an incredibly powerful tool. It is a social extension that opens doors to friendships and opportunities, and it delivers these in a relatively passive manner.

Snowboarders can reap enormous benefits by joining Twitter, and if you haven't started an account already than hopefully after reading this you will reconsider. If you do have a Twitter account but never got around to making the thing "work", maybe this article can help point you in the right direction...

Interact directly with companies

It used to be that you had to keep up with magazines or be heavily involved in the industry to stay up to date. With the internet things became easier when magazines, private sites, and company blogs started bringing us information almost instantly. Now Twitter brings things one step further and faster by allowing companies to engage us directly.

No more rumors or fuzzy press releases; with Twitter snowboard companies are able to announce product launches, team updates, tech updates, factory videos and more instantly! Follow your favorite companies or follow every company and you can get the inside scoop on all of the latest and greatest in the industry.

It's more than just letting the company feed you information; your Twitter account is your one-to-one connection with companies. Didn't like how a product worked? Have a suggestion for improvements? Use Twitter to send direct messages and become more than just a consumer.

Are you a fan of free gear? In the past month my Twitter account has seen at least twenty product giveaways. From Q+As to treasure hunts, this is great way to score an extra pair of gloves, goggles, boots, outerwear, bindings and even a new snowboard.

Snow reports, lodging and pass discounts instantly

All of your local resorts are probably on Twitter. It's October, which means everyone is speculating on resort activity and predicting opening days. Remember that saying, "A watched pot never boils"? Why not just let your resorts tell you what they are up to directly?

Resorts are also using Twitter to offer special discounts and promotions on anything from lodging, to lift tickets, to season passes. We can't all own luxury condos at Vail, and sometimes rentals and hotels seem like they cost almost as much. This is a great way to afford that snowboard trip you canceled because you couldn't afford it.

Make friends with your airlines

Since the majority of the world is not snow capped mountains, this means that many of us must travel to destinations in order to get some turns. Transportation can be a huge expense, especially with our airlines new baggage policies (that can tack on over $100 to bringing your snowboard gear with you).

Most of the major airlines are on Twitter, and you can bet the majority of their tweets are on new flights, discounts and other promotions.

Just flying to your destination won't necessarily get you to a resort. Car rental agencies are also on Twitter, and just like the airlines, here is another chance to save a little money on your next snowboard vacation.

Expand your horizons

Maybe one of the bigger reasons people don't live the dream of following the snow is that they are relatively clueless as to where to start. Do you need training? What positions are there in the snowboard industry? How do you go about moving to a resort town?

Resorts have taken to Twitter as a means to instantly engage potential employees. Some resorts like A-Basin, @WorkattheBasin, have accounts dedicated to human resources. Let these companies bring the opportunities straight to you, and have a platform to request more information.

You don't have to work at a resort, though. Occasionally you will come across a tweet from your favorite snowboard company that they are immediately hiring. Twitter offers an even greater chance to break into the industry and make money doing something you love.

Never ride alone again.

You'd be surprised how many snowboarders are on Twitter. Search for local riders and find new friends to shred with; meet filmers, photographers and other behind-the-scenes industry types or you can even follow some pro snowboarders.

Using Twitter as a social network requires a little more active effort on the user's part. You will have to post regular updates of links, videos and general statements that make you, you; this is what interests people and encourages them to follow you. You will also want to reply to other user's tweets, which means you want to make sure the people you follow interest you.

One of the mistakes new users make with Twitter is feeling obligated to follow everyone who follows you. Things grow very boring, or the account becomes overwhelmed with link posts from marketers. Make sure that whoever you follow, they share interests or commonalities with you... that is the biggest secret to Twitter.

Whether you are looking to sit back and collect updates to score gear, discounts or even jobs; or you are hoping to play an active part in meeting new friends and connecting with companies, Twitter has a lot more to offer your average snowboarder than many give credit.

If you do head over Twitter, be sure to look me up @desertsdontsnow.

Managing Fear

Every snowboarder has that moment where a trick or a feature pops into our mind, but we are just too gripped with fear to try it out; even the greatest pros encounter things they feel unprepared to handle, and with a career/paycheck on the line maybe doubly so.

One of the most common questions you will come across in any extreme sport is "How to hit ___" or "If there are any tips for doing ____". It can seem as though these are rookies looking for a magical solution to get better at snowboarding, but 9/10 times the rider is usually only looking for reasons not to fear attempting to learn a new skill.

A little bit of the fear is never a bad thing, it is nothing more than a natural reality check... but if we always gave in to our fears than there would be no progression in anything, so when is it appropriate to push through your fears and how can you go about managing that?

We fall so we can get back up

For your average snowboarder, let's say that fear can manifest itself in three different ways: as a familiar encounter that went badly, an acknowledgment of something new and unknown, and in response to something completely beyond our control.

When injured trying a new skill or feature, many are met with great hesitation when they step up for a second try. This is reasonable, since getting hurt sucks; but the key to overcoming this fear is to understand that even though it was negative, what happened was an experience. Remember after the fall when you asked yourself, "what happened?"

You probably realized your weight was wrong, or you didn't pop high enough, etc. Since you know what caused your injury, use your mistakes to adapt a new approach and you have no reason to fear repeating the past.

Build a safe progression

Sometimes "the next step" means moving on to a feature or a trick you have never tried before. The brain, unable to calculate the sensation of what you are attempting, tells you to immediately back down...fear of the unknown.

And it's only logical to be at least a little scared. If a feature is much bigger or a trick much more technical than anything you've tried before there is certainly a risk factor: you can't compensate for everything because, as previously stated, you don't really know how a new feature will pop/slide or what a new trick necessarily feels like.

Make it so that some aspect of the progression is under your control. When trying a new feature or bigger kicker, your stock tricks are your friends--a trick you can land 10/10 times will be your flashlight into dark and unfamiliar territory. As for new tricks, they are always best saved for low consequence features, the things you've fallen trying hundreds of times but never been seriously hurt on.

Also keep in mind that every new trick/feature should be just slightly harder, and ideally should build off a previously learned skill. Building your riding up piece by piece versus giant leaps will not only build a more complete repertoire of skills but will likely keep you injury free.

Patience is worth it, as a slow but steady progression also allows you to get comfortable with your new skills to a point where you can convey style.

Know when to back down

So far we've covered fears that usually can and should be overcome in order to progress. On the other hand, there are times when you should never regret going with your gut instincts. The majority of snowboard injuries and deaths occur when people ignore a very logical signal from their brains telling them not to do something.

An obvious example would be many of the snowboarders who are caught in avalanches each season. Backcountry riding is an incredibly thrilling and rewarding experience, so it's easy to get overanxious and neglect minor details that later become vital. Avalanche training, equipment, and the company of experienced local riders are necessities before thinking about backcountry riding; and even all of those don't offer any guarantees of a safe return.

Bottom line: If there is any hesitation or question about the conditions or outcome of a backountry excursion, this is a fear you should give in to and back down. All of the epic backcountry footage that makes it to your screens is the result of weeks of observation, research and waiting on perfect conditions... and not without reason.

What about those days when things just aren't coming together?

Snowboarding comes with it's share of off days, and when you feel like a stranger to your snowboard it's usually best to just go with it; anything that you aren't confident about, it is best to back off. This doesn't mean the day is anywhere near over, since thankfully cruising the resort and exploring new spots is never boring.

A good point to stress in closing is that fear is always relative to the person. If it comes down to wholeheartedly not wanting to go for something, then always back down. Sometimes confidence alone can make something impossible possible.

Do you have any methods for managing fear on the slope? Feel free to post a comment with any ways you deal with hesitation when it comes to learning new skills...

Snowboarders Don't Workout - The Importance of Fitness

Snowsports are most commonly associated with relaxing vacations, or for the younger generations as party central. Since the ideal day of riding for most is capped with an alcoholic beverage and a few hours in a jacuzzi, it is hard to see snowboarding as a sport that you necessarily "train" for. Yet, snowboarding is an immensely physical activity--think back to your first day of riding and how sore you were... in fact for some who only get a week or two to ride a year, you might remember just how much that first day back on your board can really whip your ass? It's obvious that personal fitness plays a crucial role in every aspect of snowboarding, from how long your day of riding lasts to maintaining an injury-free season.

First Chair, Last Call

Some of us don't get to ride as much as others, which means when the chance to snowboard does come around it has to be from first chair in the morning to last call in the resort bar later that night. If you don't prepare your legs with exercises like squats or activities like skateboarding, they are going to burn out in a couple of days. Even just standing in place and jumping as high as you can 20 times a day can make an enormous impact on leg strength.

What about how winded you can get just riding a snowboard down a hill? High altitude warnings dictate that at least one week after rising into mountain altitudes you should limit physical activity. For those who only get a two-week snowboarding vacation each year, you don't have one week. A lot of people do not maintain their cardiovascular fitness, so when they go on a shred vacation they go from no exercise all year to a full-day of exertion at an altitude where they can't draw as much oxygen from the air... then they pass out or worse. Swimming underwater, practicing how long you hold your breath, is an awesome way to grow accustom to optimizing the oxygen in your body and making the transition to higher altitudes easier on your lungs.


Maintain a Balance, Spin to Win

Balance is not so much how you manipulate your arms or legs, but more your core's ability to keep things centered. Look at the "extreme gymnastics" seen above; those guys have their legs flailing about as though independent of their bodies. If you neglect your core muscles, it can be the difference between sliding a ten foot rail and sliding a 30 foot rail. Your core also puts the umph into your spin tricks; the prewind and release to initiate spins are 100% core muscles, your arms only serve as weights thrown to hold the spins momentum. Otherwise your core serves to initiate and hold your turns, and it also helps keep you upright in general. The core and the legs are two musclegroups you can't neglect if you want to snowboard.

Brace For Impact

Nobody, and I mean nobody doesn't fall. When you start snowboarding you fall a hell of a lot, and once you've got the basics you'll fall learning learning every new skill from there on out; it's almost guaranteed. In fact many, including myself, have come to understand that snowboarding is nothing more than controlled falling. And as we fall our natural instinct is always hands first. This is why the upper body cannot be taken out of the equation. When you take an impact to your wrist or arms, the muscles and ligaments tense very quickly to oppose the blow. Stiff, unused ligaments are susceptible to snapping when that quick tension occurs. If you aren't taking the time to at least stretch your upper body you are inviting serious injury.

In terms of bone breaking, the force of impact is primarily absorbed by muscle and what bite the muscles don't take off transfers into our bones. So, doing even a few pushups a day helps to keep the muscles in your chest and arms strong enough to avoid minor fractures and breaks. So say you get yourself into some twisted position and not breaking something seems impossible; stretching often improves flexibility and lessens the likelihood of an injury from being put into an awkward position... it's how contortionists do what they do!

Snowboard Magazines - Print v. Digital

It's clear that future of media lies in the digitalization of content. While many will claim environmental inspiration, the truth is that many snowboard magazines are adapting to declining print subscriptions by offering their content digitally on-demand, but are digital subscriptions even worth it?

So what are the benefits to snowboard magazines offering their issues digitally? Put simply, the option saves a lot of green. Digital subscriptions are not only cheaper (for instance it is $16.97 for a 9 issue print subscription to TWSNOW compared to $6.97 for the digital subscription), but drastically decrease paper consumption. Another obvious plus: no more "missing" magazines from the sketchy post-office since issues are available instantly once released. Digital downloads also let you access all issues during your subscription and save them for future reference; no more giant crates of old magazines, every issue fits nicely in your flash drive. In terms of shareability, your computers screen capture makes it easy to grab a shot of that new board coming out and email it to all of your friends.

But print isn't completely without perks. From a green perspective, many magazines are eco-concious and use some form of recycled paper to eliminate unnecessary deforestation. Though more expensive than digital subscriptions, print subscriptions are reasonably priced for a tangible product that you can transport and read easily. Also, not all magazines have the resources, or the desire, to expand into the digital realm. Snowboard Mag offers their back issues for free online, but to get the goods on the new stuff you have to maintain your print subscription; other high-end magazines like Frequency: The Snowboard Journal, offer print subscriptions only.

Both print and digital have their strong points and whichever you choose, obviously you still get the exact same magazine. I personally remain subscribed to the print versions of my favorite snowboard magazines. If I ever need to reference an article, show a friend a photo; if I'm bored on a plane or if I'm just on the toilet and looking to kill some time, being able to pick up a magazine and flip to a page is just easier than adding one more open window to your screen or lugging your laptop everywhere with you (especially the bathroom). Sure, you can print out the digital magazines but that is likely going to be much harder on the environment, not to mention your wallet--printer ink isn't cheap--than the issues the publisher produces from recycled paper.

Now the iPhone and iPod Touch have broken the barriers of portable accessibility, and I'm sure someday soon you will be able to read your digital subscriptions anywhere and anytime on those devices if you aren't able to already... but even then, who wants to try to read that many words on such a tiny little screen? At any rate you've heard the pros, you've heard the cons, and hopefully this makes it easier to decide which subscription is right for you.

When to Buy, Where to Save - Boots, Goggles and Outerwear

Summer is nearing its end and now we make our transition into season-standby mode. Fall is almost like purgatory for shredders. The temperatures start dropping and each day we wake up hoping that guns are blowing. You can almost feel the season in the weather, but knowing its so close but yet so far away is pure agony. That's why, with most companies now stocking the 09/10 stuff and making huge markdowns on leftover 08/09 products, this is as good a time as ever to start shopping around for gear. Unfortunately with the economy having been so down, scrounging up precious cash for snowboard gear can be tough; so how can you make the most of every dollar? To save the most money you have to know what you absolutely need to purchase, so the first step is taking a general inventory of your gear.

Your boots are a good place to start. Snowboard boots usually receive the most wear out of any other piece of snowboarding equipment (unless you jib rocks). Even if your boots show no signs of physical wear, try to think back to your last ride... if they felt incredibly loose or non-supportive than your liners may be shot and boots should be your first "Need to Purchase" item. Expect to spend the most money on your boots for two reasons: your boots are the most important factor in board control and should not be skimped on, and boots are 150% about fit... so if the boot that fits you the best is a brand new 09/10 model retailing at over $300 you are out of luck savings wise. Another thing you need to tack on to the cost of new boots if you use them is the price of custom orthodics. This can range from $30 to $150 depending on your needs (if you don't use orthodics and ride near or over 30 days a year, they come highly recommended). Note because boots must be purchased by fit, your best bet is to head to your local shop and try some on. If you purchase online be prepared; you will either have to buy several boots in several sizes at once or be willing to play a very long game of receive and return (though at least there are several [link]guides to point you in the right direction). It's a good idea to purchase your boots first as they are part of determining your binding and board choices.



The next pieces of gear you should inspect are your goggles, gloves and outerwear. Your board may be delaminating, your bindings may be completely stripped of all padding, but if you are freezing and can't see a damn thing you can be sure those factors above all else will be the end of your day. Check your outerwear for tears or abrasions and replace anything likely to have lost it's waterproofing/warmth capabilities. The good news is outerwear is more or less the same year to year, only styles change, so here is a good place to hunt down gems from seasons past. It is not that difficult to find a legit outerwear setup, pants and jacket, for under $150. If money is an issue, consider sewing a waterproof fabric over any tears and give your outerwear a coat of spray-on waterproofer; this will also give you a unique patchy snowboard-hobo style if that's a route you are interested in pursuing.



Check your goggles for any rips or separations between the plastic and the foam padding. If you find any than your goggles need replacing. Goggles are another fairly unchanging piece of equipment, so here is another good place to take advantage of older models. Obviously, if your lenses are severely scratched than you should invest in replacing them (unless the cost of the lens = the cost of new pair).



Gloves are another almost guaranteed replacement for 30 or more day-a-year riders. Most of the popular glove styles really aren't made to last very long. Check your glove for rips or heavy abrasions around the fingertips, palm and thumb. If money is an issue than duct tape may be your only solution; if you don't find any rips or holes than give you glove a quick coat of spray-on waterproofer
anyway to prolong its life. Again, gloves change more in style than anything else, so you can buy up older models and save a ton of cash.

Coming next: Snowboards and Bindings

Getting the Most From Snowboard Trick Tips

When a new trick has gone awry, many riders and especially newer riders look to trick tips to solve their problems. Believe it or not there is a methodology to getting the most out of a trick tip, and it is never going to be as simple as watching the trick and listening to the demonstrator's instructions. With the addition of the trick tips section here on DesertsDontSnow, I thought it appropriate to share my insights on how to learn the most from a trick tip video and how to use the new section...

Trick tips weren't always around. During snowboarding's rise to fame there were only a few videos available that up and coming riders were able to use as study material, so they would watch said movies over and over for hours upon hours soaking in everything they could about the style and technique of the latest and greatest tricks. My method for digesting trick tips is derived from how those guys did it back then, and here is the philosophy: The only person that needs to understand how to do the trick is you, therefore you need to find a way to put the trick tip into your own words. How do you do that? All you need to do is use your eyes.

Studying a trick has never been easier than it is now; one thing that modern day trick tips have done is isolate footage to one single trick shot from several angles. This means there is very little work for you to do except watch the trick over and over. You can listen to the instructions explained once or twice but the biggest "trick" to trick tips that I use is to mute the demonstrator's instructions altogether as 80% of the time the pro explaining doesn't really know how to explain the trick or doesn't really care. One thing I like to stress is if there aren't any official trick tips for something you are trying to learn, that doesn't mean you are S.O.L. Odds are you are trying the trick because it caught your attention in a video, so figure a way to isolate that footage and you are good to go.

Now that you have your footage, you want to establish the segments of the trick that create the finished product. For example, when reviewing a trick off of a kicker you will want to take a look at the setup (Setup turns and established line into the transition), position through the transition (what edge to be on, when and how much to prewind, etc.), pop (the timing, the amount--note this can change depending on the shape of the kicker), the aerial itself (releasing the prewind, grabbing the board, etc.) and of course the landing (when you spot it, what edge let's you ride away clean, etc.). This might seem simple and a matter of common sense, but it can get fairly complicated fairly quickly. Here is an example to demonstrate:

First, I need to find a good video of my set trick. I chose Eddie Wall's cab switch tailslide 270 trick tip on DC's dragonbox.

This is a box trick, so I'm going to take a look at...

1. The Setup - Right off the bat, this is a switch trick. If I'm not comfortable doing switch 50-50s and switch boardslides on the feature than those would be my first goal in order to avoid almost certain injury. Eddie is approaching from the side pretty much completely parallel to the box; this is what keeps his board traveling straight down the box.

2. Position Through the Ramp - Popping from the tail with the board slightly on its heel edge, he opens his shoulder to rotate 90° into the tailslide and slightly closes it to counter his rotation and maintain the tailslide. Eddie's head focuses straight ahead as he initiates the trick.

3. The Trick Dynamics and Technique - Once the tailslide is established, Eddie opens his shoulder again to allow the board to continue to rotate with its initial momentum. Technically, this trick becomes a slightly tweaked noseslide in your regular stance as it reaches the end, so being comfortable with that trick would be useful here. Because this is a dragon box, there are subtle weight changes happening to adjust as the box angles downward and upward; you don't have to try this trick on a dragon box, but you should always be aware of weight distribution depending on the angle of your chosen feature. Note that Eddie's head remains focused straight ahead through almost the entire length of the box.

4. The Landing - This landing, like all landings, involves mainly the head and shoulders (where the head looks, the body will follow). As Eddie approaches the end of box, he shifts his head back looking at the tail of the board and quickly counters his shoulders in the opposite direction to snap through the final rotation. Essentially the landing is a backside 180, meaning it's blind--you won't turn to see where you are going until after you've landed--and you will also be landing switch. If you are not comfortable with a 50-50, or better yet a noselide, to 180-out than you will probably have some difficulty bringing around the landing to this trick.

So you can see how I've taken the material in the video, pulled apart what I perceived to have the greatest impact on the success of the trick, and put the process into my own words. I had to watch the video above, about 20 times to see all of that stuff. They say visualization is key to success when learning a trick, and by the time you are able to extrapolate all of the information from a trick tip the image is usually burned into your brain.

What to do now? Well, there are two ways you can go: take your knew knowledge of the trick, man up and give it a go, or you can go even further and practice any individual parts you might be unfamiliar with. Let's say, in the example above, you are relatively sketchy on rotating while on a box. The safest bet would be to practice manipulating your balance while spinning in some capacity, either on hill using a wide dance floor box or on a balance board, before you take it to the hill. No trick tip will magically grant you the ability to land a trick, and you are inevitably going to have to try the trick before your learn the trick, but if you take the time to really understand the dynamics of a trick you will be set up for the safest first attempt you could ask for and be able to incorporate these things into other tricks you learn down the road.

Learning a trick doesn't stop when you land it though; what makes the DesertsDontSnow trick tips a little different is that while I include only the best videos, both footage and explanation wise, I also try to include examples of some of the more inventive variations for the tricks that are featured so readers have inspiration to take a new trick and really expand on it rather than just moving on to the next trick, checking them off without putting any personal style into the thing. Snowboarding is supposed to be fun, so once you get the basics down for a new trick you've gotta have a little bit of fun with it; call it mandatory fun?

Remember that it's all about step-by-step progression. Don't take on a trick that's far beyond your ability level as you are sure to mess yourself up something fierce. If you can't land 180s but you are going for 540s, than you can't land switch and that's a disaster waiting to happen. Be smart, stay safe, and most importantly have fun with it!