From Snowboarding Zero To Hero: Basic Pointers To Learn

There is much debate as to where snowboarding originated. But whether snowboarding descended from skiing or skateboarding, snowboarding is a legitimate sport that requires a descent on a snowy slope using a snowboard. It is difficult to really point out who started this fun-filled sport, but one thing is for sure: somebody will always have the idea of sliding down a snowy slope on a board or sled.

The growing recognition of snowboarding around the world is evidenced by its establishment as a sports discipline in 1995. As such, snowboarding has been included in events in Winter Olympics and Winter X-games. It even has a US Open tournament of its own. The growth of snowboarding as a sport is undeniable as more and more people get hooked on it.

Now that you are among the countless ones who want to try out the fun and excitement that only snowboarding can give, it is high time that you learn the basics of making your very first downhill ride on a snowboard. So how do you begin?

First, you need to procure the necessary snowboarding equipment. You need to have the right snowboarding gear, clothing, boots, and of course, snowboard. Make sure that your snowboard is the right size for you; not too expansive or narrow.

If you already have the necessary equipment, you can start learning the basics of riding your snowboard. Here are a few important things to remember as you start to find your destiny in snowboarding.

Keep in mind that snowboarding is similar to snow skiing. The body movements that enable you to control and stabilize your snowboard are the same as the movements in skiing. Therefore, if you are already a skilled skier, there will be fewer problems for you ahead. A skier will have easier time than a skateboard thrasher to learn snowboarding.

Always be in a relaxed position. Like any sport, snowboarding requires a calm and hang-loose mindset. Most accidents and injuries in snowboarding happen when one is in tensed position. As you mount your snowboard, keep your knees bent; a stiff stance will only make you absorb impacts between your snowboard and snow.

Do not start learning how to snowboard by immediately riding down the snowy slope during the first time. Instead, begin with snowboarding across a small patch of snow. Get a feel for the sport. Be conscious of your snowboard and your movement. Are you comfortable in your getup and equipment?

Try steering the snowboard over the small area you are in. Practice making turns, learn the finer points of toe-side turns, which means turning by lifting your heels up while pressing your toes to the snowboard; or heel-side turns, which make use of your heels for your turning. Once you have mastered the basics of balancing and steering your snowboard, you can move to a bigger patch of snow, but do not try a long and steep slope just yet.

Now that you have actually moved on your snowboard, you have to learn how to stop your snowboard. Stopping a snowboard basically requires making more turns until you find your self going for an uphill position. An uphill direction will certainly slow your snowboard down until you are in a complete stop.

After learning all the basic riding movements, you can now try a full-scale ride down a longer and steeper snow slope. Good luck!

Everything You Need to Know About Snowboarding

Snowboarding is not for those who have a faint heart. This is an extreme sport and a very risky one that needs proper training and precaution.

Before attempting to engage yourself in snowboarding, do some research first. Try to assess, if this sport is really intended for you. Can you be a snowboarder who slides on steep mountain slopes or would you rather stay at home and watch others do it for you? The bottom line is you have to be fit and not just healthy to be in this sport. It would help if you consult your health provider first to know whether you are ready for this feat.

After doing some assessment, you still can't just hop on your snowboard right away. Engaging in snowboarding also requires having the right gadgets and proper apparel not only to look sheik on ice but also to ensure your safety. Once you have all you need. you may now begin taking lessons. At least, this time you get to do actual snowboarding even under the eye of a pro.

As a beginner, you first need to undergo a series of lessons before heading to the mountains. Usually, the first things you need to master are about basic safety, proper stretching, injury prevention, and maybe rules and policies of the resort. To learn the basic skills you need to master, you can take private lessons with an instructor but it will be more expensive. A better alternative is to learn with a group. Aside from it's practical, you can also interact from other snowboarders and also learn from them too.

As you advance your skills, you need to immerse yourself more in the sport. You have to learn new skills and continuously practice what you have already acquired especially if you are planning to compete in a tournament. Through time you will also need better and more challenging courses so that you'll learn how to adjust to a variety of settings while performing at the top of your game. Learning how to adapt to any weather condition and knowing what strategy to employ to such will also help you to be more competitive and unaffected by things beyond your control.

But practicing on the snow with your board is not the only way to make yourself more adept in snowboarding. You may also learn about snowboarding from Transworld Snowboarding magazine. By doing this, you don't need to wear your thermal gears or leave the comfort of your home. Subscribing to this will surely qualify you as a true-blooded snowboarder.

Transworld Snowboarding was a significant catalyst for the recognition of snowboarding as a sport. When snowboarding was still a young sport and skiing dominated the snow, many resorts were initially closed to snowboarders. To counteract this, Transworld Snowboarding hyped the sport by popularizing t-shirts called "Answers," which contains answers to numerous inquiries of curious skiers. Eventually, snowboarding was recognized as an official sport. In 1985, the first World Cup was organized for snowboarding. Then, in 1995, the International Snowboarding Association was founded.

This magazine owned by Time Warner, showcases everything you need to know about snowboarding and snowboarding culture. Whether you are interested about the latest gadgets or has news about your favorite snowboarder, Transworld Snowboarding has it. If you are interested to learn about events or to read just about any article on snowboarding, you'll find it here. It also contains tricks and features great resorts that snowboarding enthusiasts will love to consider as part of his itinerary.

A Look into Professional Skateboarding

Skateboarding has become one of the most popular activities of the youth nowadays. It has evolved from being just a rebellious activity back in its older days to a fully-blown extreme sport that it is today.

According to recent statistics, there are over twelve million skateboarders worldwide and more than 80 percent of these skateboarders are under 18 years old. It has touched the younger markets quite well and has a firm grip on them. Some of these skateboarders skate as a hobby or as a means of transportation, but very few of these skaters go on into the big leagues to become a professional skateboarder.

The industry of skateboarding is a big one. Armed with a huge market, skateboarding has become a multi-billion dollar industry. The mere fact that it is very popular with the young generations and getting into skateboarding is quite easy, there is a lot of money to be made from selling products, advertising and events organizing.

What does being a professional skateboarder exactly mean? Well, as in any other sport, going professional means using the sport as a means to earn money. If you get paid for your skateboarding abilities and skills, then you are a pro skateboarder.

Many of the great skateboarders such as Reese Forbes, Kareem Campbell and Ron Bertino began their careers from humble beginnings. The dynamics of commercialism really gives the much needed financial value to the sport that is skateboarding. But, how does one earn from skateboarding?

One popular way of earning from skateboarding, as many people would see it, is to join and win skateboarding tournaments. Yes, indeed, there is some money to be made from regularly joining these tournaments and these tournaments provide avenues for skateboarders to be recognized, but in reality, the real money in professional skateboarding does not lie in winning tournaments. The bulk of the money comes from deals arising from the endorsements of skateboarding products.

The journey of a professional skateboarder would start in the streets, where he would take endless attempts to do new tricks and perform new stunts. These tricks and stunts are to be displayed in tournaments which the different sponsors are carefully keeping an eye on. If a certain company sees a skateboarder with much talent and has a promising career, they would give him free stuff for him to use. This move is also advantageous for the company since the skateboarder will sort of “endorse” their products. When a skateboarder has become a crowd favorite and catches the attention of everyone, then talks are usually made for endorsement deals, and the money will come in.

Skateboarding shoes and other apparels are the real cash cows in the skateboarding industry and not the skateboards themselves. Actually, other shoe lines have suffered losses because of the rise in popularity of “urban” shoes which cater to the lifestyle of skateboarders.

If you really love the sport that is skateboarding, you’d probably dreaming of being a professional skateboarder someday. There’s no harm in dreaming such things since being a professional skateboarder can really bring in lots of benefits. Going pro can bring things like money and fame into the table, but at the end of the day, what really matters is that you enjoy what you are doing.

Accident-Free Skiing And Snowboarding, Anyone?

Many people have different opinions about the relationship between skiing and snowboarding. Some hardcore enthusiasts in these sports maintain that these two are distinct and different from each other. Nonetheless, skiing and snowboarding share the same platforms and manner of execution, namely snowy slopes and downward acceleration. This results to almost the same approach in the preparation and equipment perspectives of the two.

Whether you are a first timer or a veteran at skiing and snowboarding, you must learn how to prepare physically and mentally before subjecting yourself to the unforgettable adrenaline rush that these two sports offer. And that includes protecting yourself against possible injuries that can happen while you are speeding down the slope.

Besides training hard to improve performance level and overall skills, you must completely comply with the safety requirements to become a confident participant in these two sports. As over one hundred thousand people are unnecessarily injured in skiing and skateboarding every year, a serious effort to prepare against injury in these two sports is imperative.

In skiing and snowboarding, the key to an accident-free slide is in the preparation. Before you even take the wild ride down a snowy mountain cap, be sure to do all necessary preparations. The following tips could spell the difference between an enjoyable skiing or snowboarding vacation and a visit to the hospital.

Take skiing and snowboarding lessons. There is no such thing as a born skier or snowboarder. You need guidance from experts who have been into these sports for years so that you will improve your performance and safety in skiing and snowboarding.

With regard to your skiing or snowboarding outfit, wear clothing that is dependable against water and wind. Make sure that your apparel has enough protective features like wide collars that can be enfolded to cover your face against wind and zippers and strings that enable you to adjust your outfit easily and comfortably.

Acquire the proper equipment for skiing and for snowboarding. If you own the equipment, like skis and snowboards, have them custom-fitted to your preferences. If you are renting them, be sure to choose the ones that you will most likely be comfortable in. Having the right equipment will drastically improve your performance and lessen the chances of accidents.

Also, the temperature in the snowy caps rapidly changes. Sometimes the coldness in the slopes can be unbearable and you may find yourself losing much needed heat which could lead to other complication like loss of consciousness and tiredness. To prevent this wear head covering like helmet or headbands and gloves.

The snowy slopes in which you slide down your skis and snowboards have very low temperatures. Dress up in layers of clothing to keep the chill out. But also make sure that the fabric you are wearing on the inside is comfortable on your skin and absorbent of the sweat that is sure to come out of you because of the excitement skiing or snowboarding offers.

Do not forget to wear eye protection devices like goggles and sunglasses. Without eye protection, you are most likely to close your eyes due to cold winds as you speed down on your ski or snowboard. Sliding in closed eyes, you will certainly bump on anything and could even wake up in the infirmary the next day.

Get enough sleep the night before the big day. You need to be alert and sportive on the skiing or snowboarding slopes. A tired mind and body can cause accidents and injuries.

The Time-Efficient Guide to Buying Snowboarding Gear

If you’re eager to hit the slopes as soon as possible and finally learn how to snowboard like a pro but still lack the essential snowboarding gear and equipment to get started on your hobby, here’s a quick shopping list so you can purchase everything you need from the shop in the shortest time possible!

A List of Snowboarding Gear and Equipment for Beginners

Snowboard – Let’s start with the most obvious requirement in snowboard gear. Your choice of snowboard will determine the quality of performance you’ll expect from yourself and from the snowboard itself. Your choice will also determine the level of agility and speed you’ll enjoy when you’re snowboarding.

There are three primary types of snowboards. Freestyle snowboards are short and most suitable for novice snowboarders such as yourself not only because of their size but for its flexibility as well. You’ll be able to control freestyle snowboards more easily than other types of boards.

The second type is known as freeride snowboards. These are best for snowboarders who are one or a few levels beyond the novice stage but can in no way refer to themselves as experts…for the time being. Freeride snowboards, incidentally, are arguably the most popular type of snowboard as it allows people to gauge their snowboarding skills and explore their talents without putting themselves in too much danger.

The last type is called alpine snowboards. Whereas freestyle snowboards are known for its flexibility, alpine snowboards are known for its rigid build. They are great for players with highly advanced snowboarding skills and enjoy the thrills of going downhill in incredible speed. This is also the right type of board to use if you wish to make perfect turns and curves.

Snowboard Bindings – Although they may appear flimsy and useless, snowboard bindings in fact play a significant role in keeping snowboarders safe while practicing their favorite sport. There are several types of snowboard bindings for you to choose from: strapped, flow-ins, plated, step-ins, and those without base (baseless).

Snowboarding Boots – Another equally overlooked factor when it comes to increasing the level of safety and protection that a snowboarder enjoys while he’s making all sorts of turns and jumps in the slopes are snowboarding boots. Besides offering comfort and warmth to your feet, they also prevent this area – which includes the ankles – from physical injury, or at least reduce the risk of encountering it. Again, there are several types of snowboarding boots that you can choose from – hard boots, soft boots, and those that mix the features of both. When purchasing snowboarding boots, make sure that you purchase those which are durable and you feel comfortable wearing for long periods of time.

Snowboarding Outfit – Just like boots, the right snowboarding outfit will keep you safe and secure from physical harm. It will also keep you warm and lessen the risks of getting affected by hypothermia or frostbite. When shopping for snowboarding apparel, important factors to consider are comfort, quality, and durability or protection against all the natural elements that it will be sure to be exposed to!

Snowboarding Goggles – Lastly, contrary to popular belief, snowboarding goggles are not used for aesthetic purposes only. Rather, they are worn by snowboarders to improve their sense of sight. It’s important to see very clearly where you’re going because there are a lot of dangers that you’ll encounter when you’re snowboarding.

Choosing the Right Skateboarding Shoes for a Great and Safe Skateboard Experience

Skateboarding is one of the most popular pastimes in America. Several decades have already passed and it seems that this activity, which was just once a fad, will never lose its popularity. While skateboarding is indeed fun and exciting, it is not devoid of hazards as any pursuit that involves wheels. Special precautions must be made when riding the skateboard and one of the most important things to do is to wear an appropriate pair of skateboarding shoes.

Skateboarding seems to be a very uncomplicated pastime because practically one just needs a skateboard and a paved surface to go about it. For safety, skateboarders are required to wear helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads. But that is not actually enough because one also has to protect a very important part of the body used in skateboarding – the feet. This is where skateboarding shoes come into the picture.

Usually, people would think that any sport shoes would do for skateboarding. However, this is not true. While regular sneakers may seem to work, they might not be able to provide the right protection and maneuverability that skateboarding shoes can offer. And it is not enough to just get the next pair of skateboarding shoes you see off the rack. You have to be careful about buying new skateboarding shoes.

When buying skateboarding shoes you have to look at four important things: the ability of the shoes to give protection, the shoelaces, comfort, and grip.

Protection Features - The most essential role of skateboarding shoes is protecting the skateboarder. Being protective, the shoes simply have to be durable and flexible enough to withstand the rigors of skateboarding. Good skateboarding shoes should have Ollie protection to allow the rider to do those backbreaking tricks. Moreover an excellent pair of skateboarding shoes should have great coverage of Ollie protection, preferably the a large bulk of the toe area, if not the whole area entirely and nothing less.

Shoelaces – skateboarding shoes need special laces that do not easily fall apart especially when subjected to pressure. Normal shoelaces would easily rip off after just a few hours of skateboarding, especially for advanced skateboarders. Thus skateboarding shoes should have laces made of more durable materials than other kinds of shoes. Also, it is also better if the skateboarding shoes have laces that are arranged inside to avoid any accidental tripping due to lose laces.

Comfort – just like any kind of shoes, skateboarding shoes should be comfortable for the wearer, otherwise, it will be difficult to be wearing them for long periods. Uncomfortable shoes may cause sores or blisters when worn during skateboarding for over two hours. Uncomfortable shoes may also make it difficult, if not impossible to do certain tricks during skateboarding.

Grip – last, but not the last, skateboarding shoes should be able to have strong grip on the surface of the skateboard. Shoes that do not have enough gripping power might cause the rider to slip off the board accidentally. The soles should be made of materials with good gripping capacity. Experts recommend skateboarding shoes with soles that are made of gum.

Skateboarding shoes are indispensable in skateboarding. They provide protection, security, comfort and grip during the most difficult rides. It is important to pay much attention when buying skateboarding shoes in order to get the right one.

Do You Know Your Skateboarding Trick?

Skateboarding is one of the many sports that involve displays of skill and expertise. It is essential to know a skateboarding trick or another to be considered a real skateboarder. Many skateboarding tricks have been developed through all the time people have been skateboarding. Here are just some of the most popular tricks:

1. Aerials – also known as airs, these general kinds of tricks are typically done on quarter pipes, pools or half pipes where vertical walls with transitions are available. Aerials are usually combined with other tricks such as grabs and rotations. Among the most popular subtypes of aerials would be the 540, 720, 900, Benihana, Body Jar, Caballerial, Christ Air, Finger Flip air, Gay Twist, Gnar Jar, Judo Air, Lien Air, Madonna, McTwist, Samba Flip, Sean Penn, Sloth Air, Stalefish, Rocket Air, and Method Air.

2. Ollie – this is known as the father of skateboarding tricks because most tricks are derived from this. Invented by and named after Alan “Ollie” Gelfand, this trick involves getting on air without grabbing the skateboard but instead by stomping or popping the posterior end of the board. Variations of the Ollie involve the Nollie, switch Ollie, Fakie Ollie, Power Ollie, Boned Ollie, Ollie North, and Pressure.

3. The Flip – as its name suggests, the flip is a skateboarding trick that involves the flipping or spinning of the board in the air. This trick was originally developed by Rodney Mullen, who then called it the Magic Flip. Among the most popular variations of the flip are the heelflip, kickflip, Casper Flip, Anti-Casper Flip, Backside Flip, Big Spin, Cab Flip, Disco Kickflip, Ghetto Bird, Hardflip, Hospital Flip, Impossible, Late Flip, Mother Flip, Pop Shove-it, Sal Flip, Salabanzi, Sex Change and the Scissor Flip.

4. The Grab – as these tricks are named, grabs involve holding the skateboard, usually during aerials. Grabs are quite useful in keeping the skateboarder on the board during in mid-flight. Examples of grabs are the Airwalk grab, Backside grab, cannonball grab, Crail grab, Christ Air, Early grab, Frontside grab, Gorilla grab, Indy grab, Japan grab, Melon grab, Mosquito grab, Nose grab, Roast Beef, Seatbelt grab, Tail grab and the Tucknee.

5. The Grind – this is a kind of trick where a skateboarder would hide on hangers of the skateboard truck. This trick can be done on any smooth object where the truck can slide. Some of the variations of the grind are the Barley grind, Crooked grind, Darkslide, Fandangle, Freeble grind, Gurl grind, Hurricane, Losi grind, Nosegrind, Novacaine, Overcrook grind, Pole Jam, Salad grind, Smith grind, Sugarcane, Suski grind, Willy Grind, and Csmit grind.

6. The Slide – sliding is somewhat like the grind, but instead of gliding through the trick, this involves gliding using the board itself. Some important slides are the Bertlemann slide, Bluntslide, Boardslide, Booger slide, Crail slide, Ces slide, Darkslide, Lipslide, Noselide, Powerslide, and the Tailslide.

7. Lip Tricks – this skateboarding trick is done on mini ramps, quarterpipes, and half pipes. They are called so because they need to balance on ramp lips. Notable lip tricks are the Andrecht Invert, Axle stall, Blunt, Disaster, Egg Plant, Fakie-Bonk-off, Frontside Invert, Good Buddy, Ho-Ho, New Deal, Nose pick, Nose stall, Pivot, Pogo, Rock and Roll, Smithvert, Tail Stall, Staple Gun, Stelmasky Plant, Sweeper, Tail Block, Tucknee Invert, and the Woolly Mammoth.

There are many other skateboarding tricks out there, and many others are still being developed. To now more about skateboarding tricks, you can read the leading skateboarding magazines or ask a skateboarding expert.