Larry’s View

Larry’s view on any and everything.

Snowboarding pants

When going out to purchase snowboarding pants, it is important that you find pants that protect you from the cold, the wind and will also be strong enough to protect you when crashing. It is important that you take your time researching great shops that sell gear suitable enough for you, because who knows what could happen the next time you decide to try that toeside technique?

You have to understand that the main purpose of snowboarding pants should serve the same purpose as any other outdoor apparel. You want to be able to keep warm, be comfortable and stay dry. You also want to be protected from obstacles, scrapes and everything Mother Nature throws at you.

It is important that you snowboarding pants has a three-layer system. The first layer is the only part of the pants that touches your body and its purpose it to make sure that no moisture comes into contact with your skin. The second layer is the insulation layer. This part of the pants is also responsible for keeping moisture off the body, but at the same time, it traps body heat. The third layer, also called the outer shell of the snowboarding pants is the part that has to deal with the outside environment and whatever Mother Nature throws at you. It is important that this part of the pants is windproof and waterproof. At the same time while keeping the coldness out, the pants must allow your body’s moisture to escape.

If you are a beginner, it is important that you follow the tips below when deciding on your snowboarding pants the next time you go out snowboarding.

It is important that you find suitable snowboarding pants. Denims are not suitable, especially for a beginner. Beginners are going to end up on their knees or on their tails most of the time. You have to remember that when wearing casual pants or denims, the snow is going to melt, soak in and freeze. This will process will repeat itself until the pants are removed and you are dried thoroughly. It is not good being cold and wet when practicing. While you are learning, keep warm and keep dry.

Make sure that you don’t go for imitations, because they do not provide you with what you really need when out in the snow. Research products carefully and properly and make sure you purchase a top brand snowboarding pants.

April 29, 2008 Posted by | Blogroll, Snowboarding | 1 Comment

Snowboarding facts

The winter sport of skiing has been around for years. However, it seems as if snowboarding might be becoming much more popular. While skiing is very stress releasing and calming, it can also become boring after several days on the slopes. Snowboarding was introduced for this reason. It is much more exciting and it is a nice way of changing the pace while on vacation at a ski resort. Obviously the board is the first purchase you will need to make.

Some people buy the board before they even learn how to snowboard. Others will rent a board at the resort and then purchase one later if they decide that they want to continue snowboarding. You might be looking into snowboarding because you received a snowboard as a gift. In this article, we are going to talk about the main facts to remember when learning how to snowboard and we are also going to talk about the gear that you will need. The equipment may seem like an unimportant topic, but safety is very important out on the slopes and the correct gear could save your life.

Snowboarding beginners usually think that there is only one type of snowboard and that it will work with all different types of people. That is far from the truth. Snowboards are available in all different sizes, from small for children to larger for adults. If you have a board that fits you the right way, then you will find that it will be much easier to learn. The board choice is based on your height and weight proportion. A snowboard looks very much like skis. They are formed the same way in the front as skis, except for the fact that it is one piece. If you already know how to ski, then snowboarding will come much easier to you. Either way, snowboarding improves balance and agility.

The size of the board is not the only thing to consider. The type of snowboard is also important. As a beginner, you will enjoy using a freestyle board. This type of board has no curve on the front or back and it is easier to use for learning new tricks. While on the slopes, it is important that you relax your whole body, including your legs. If you lock up your legs, you will risk have a nasty fall. Do not loosen your legs completely, but keep them bent slightly. Your legs need to be able to be flexible for any jumps because they will help relieve the shock from your ankles.

April 29, 2008 Posted by | Blogroll, Snowboarding | 2 Comments

Snowboarding jumps

We have entered a new era of extreme sports. No longer are we limited to snow skiing while on vacation during the winter. Those who have became bored with skiing invented a new style of snow sport called snowboarding. To a beginner, it may seem like a very scary experience to try. It looks very much like surfing. Fortunately, with snowboarding, your feet are attached to the board. You may be familiar with the water sport, wakeboarding. Snowboarding is basically the same concept, except the tricks are much more extreme and the boards are slightly different from one another.

Once you perfect snowboarding and you feel comfortable enough to venture on to something more advanced, then you should try jumps. Jumping tricks are in the freestyle category of snowboarding. You do not need to be a professional snowboarder in order to be able to perform jumps. Nor is it required for you to have a long experience with snowboarding. The important thing is that you are comfortable. If you become scared then you will lose your focus and you will not be able to continue through the jump.

Before you venture off for your first jump, there are a few preparations that you need to perform before trying the jump. You should first learn how to “ollie” the board. In snowboarding terms, that means that you jump up off of the ground with your snowboard. To try this, get strapped into your board on a flat surface of land. Bend your knees, and then jump up. You have just performed an ollie. Do this as many times as you can until you have perfected the ollie. It may seem like a simple thing to learn while reading the directions, but after having a large board strapped to your feet, it may not be so simple. The main thing about the ollie that you need to work on is making the front of the board, also called the nose, go up higher than the back of the board while you are in mid-air. After you become comfortable with the ollie on flat land, try it out on a very small slope of land. If you feel confident after trying that, then you are ready for the real jump.

Find a nice long hill that has a good slope to it. You want to make sure that you will not be landing on flat ground because it will be bad for your feet if you do. A slope is much better. Keep your board as flat as possible as you reach the top of your jumping destination. You may also want to ollie slightly to get a nice advance on the jump. Calculate where you are going to land and focus on staying as upright as possible while still landing with the board flat. As you land, bend your knees so that your will not feel the shock of the landing.

April 29, 2008 Posted by | Blogroll, Snowboarding | 1 Comment

Snowboarding for beginners

Snowboarding has gained popularity in the past few years. No longer are vacationers limited to skis while staying at the ski resort. If you are taking snowboarding lessons from an instructor at the resort then they will probably supply all of the gear that you will need. After the lessons are over, you will then have to rent a board and the other gear. The most important thing to remember is to bundle up. While on the mountain, it gets very cold and the correct clothing will help a great deal.

The first layer of clothes should be a material that will take the moisture away from your body, such as synthetic polyester. Cotton materials tend to absorb moisture while still allowing it to stay on your body, so avoid this type of clothing. The next layer will act as an insulation barrier. Wool jackets, pullover sweaters and fleece tops are perfect. They can easily be taken off if the temperatures were to rise. The last layer of clothing is your ski jacket and pants. Usually, ski resorts offer the ski jumpers that serve as your ski pants and cover your middle area. You can rent these for a small cost and you will greatly appreciate the extra coverage. Goggles will not only act as a protector from an injury, but they also help block the sun from harming your eyes. When the sun reflects off of the snow, it is very bright and can be harmful to your eye sight.

A helmet may be aggravating, especially when your head starts gaining moisture, but it is beneficial to your safety. A neck wrap is also convenient if the temperatures are very extreme. A nice thick pair of gloves that stretch will keep you from getting frost bite. If the gloves are not thick enough then there is a good chance that the moisture can go through and cause damage. The type of snowboard that you choose should be determined on your body type. There are also different styles depending on the skill level. The staff at the lodge can help you figure out which board is right for you.

The boots are not built into the snowboard. You have to choose those separately. When trying on boots, make sure that they fit securely from your toe to your heel. They will be snug, but that is how they are supposed to be. When you lift the heel of your foot, the boot should go with it. The heel should not come out of the boot. With the appropriate gear on, you may not look very attractive or fashionable, but it is much more important to be safe.

April 29, 2008 Posted by | Blogroll, Snowboarding | Leave a comment

Snowboarding holidays

There are numerous elements that make snowboarding one of the most popular winter sports and these specific elements and details provide this sport with an original print. For this reason we may notice that there are more and more adepts who start practicing this sport or who at least start taking lessons from specialized instructors.

Many people choose to spend their holidays in the mountains and for this reason there are also many opinions that opt for practicing snowboarding in the alpine regions. This fact has brought a great popularity to the specialized sources of snowboarding, to the merchandisers of equipment and last but not least to the specialized trainers for snowboarding. More and more amateurs get the hang of this sport and start practicing it regularly whenever they get the occasion to do it in the mountains.

The secrets of snowboarding relate at some extent to the ones involved by skiing, the only difference being the change in the position of the legs when doing it: while skiing involves the liberty of moving both legs, snowboarding assumes the positioning of both legs on a single board. Many people find it difficult to get used to this position but this is the most important element to take into consideration when practicing such an interesting winter sport as snowboarding.

Specialized instructors have the necessary preparation so as to teach people to get used to the techniques and the positions involved and for this reason we may consider that it is a matter of will and determination whether some people learn to practice it faster or slower. However, the style and the techniques adopted are also a matter of preference, as snowboarding includes a very important personal implication and also personal adaptation to the specific styles and techniques.

Some people are fast learners and some are slow learners but instructors usually think that one thing is for sure: snowboarding is a really fun sport to practice. And this fact is indubitable, as most people who have tried it at least once in their lives have stated that they had a great time, even when trying to understand the movements and the style of practicing this sport. Difficult or not, snowboarding really is one of the most popular winter sports and for this reason we may notice the great popularity that this sport has gained to the public, as the years passed.

More and more people become adepts of snowboarding as this really is a pleasant way to spend one’s holidays in the mountains.

April 29, 2008 Posted by | Blogroll, Snowboarding | 1 Comment

Snowboarding basics

Snowboarding can take some time to get used to. It will take several tries before you finally get the hang of it. After that, practice makes perfect. It is much like riding a bike or roller skating. You never forget how to snowboard once you learn, but your technique might be a little rusty until you practice. Choosing the correct board for your body type will make a world of difference. If you choose the wrong type of board, it could cause you to have a hard time learning how to snowboard. If you are renting a snowboard from a ski lodge, there are usually people there to help you choose the correct one. If you are buying a board, the store clerks are very educated about the topic as well.

If you already know how to ski, you will find that snowboarding is very similar. Make sure that you keep your entire body relaxed. If you tense up, it could cause you to have an injury. While learning to snowboard, it is very easy to tense up when you get frustrated. Try to block that frustration out, because it will cause you to have a serious mishap. Bend your knees as you make a jump. Your legs will take the shock off of your ankles.

Freestyle boards are very appropriate for those who are just beginning to learn how to snowboard. It is much easier to turn a freestyle board than it is to turn a regular board. A freestyle board does not have a curve at the front and it is shorter and much wider than a normal board. A freeride board is very modern. Because it is long and thin, it allows you to go on all different types of jumps and terrain. Once you become advanced at snowboarding, you may want to try an alpine or race board. These types of boards are often found in competitions. They are thin, much more thinner than the freeride boards. They allow the rider to go very fast and make quicker turns. The nose is slightly curved, while the back is completely flat.

Before you try to go down the hill, strap one foot in the front harness and ride on a flat area to see how the board performs. If you are comfortable with the board, strap the back foot in and ride the hill. You front foot is your steering wheel. Press your heel down and then lift your toe up. Then move your hips backward. This is basically all there is to snowboarding. When you are ready to stop, turn so that you are looking up the hill.

April 23, 2008 Posted by | Blogroll, Snowboarding | Leave a comment