Snowboard Safety - How to Fall Correctly

You're probably thinking "I don't need to know how to fall. I need to know how NOT to!" Fair enough. However, the fact is, if you're headed out for you first time snowboarding, you better plan on falling and knowing how to do it right can make the difference between a tiring, battering first day, and a trip to the hospital. That's only sort of a joke.

Falling Correctly
If you know anything about judo, you know that learning to fall correctly is one of the most important skills in that sport. It's not nearly so important in snowboarding, but you do have to learn one simple concept: land with your forearms. I'll explain what that means and how to do it, but first let's talk about what can happen if you don't do it.

Why does it matter?
On a snowboard, beginners often catch the toeside edge or the heelside edge and that sends you to the ground pretty fast. The natural tendency when you catch the toeside edge is to put your hands out in front of you. Unfortunately, that can result in a broken wrist. When falling backwards, you can hit your head or land hard on your butt and take a fairly jarring fall.

What should you do instead?
In a front fall, you want to dive, landing in a skid on your forearms. Usually you'll be landing on slippery (though sometimes very hard) snow and some padding on your clothing, so this tends to be a relative mild and safe fall. When you fall backwards, you want to slam your forearms against the snow as you hit. This does two things: it absorbs some impact and it also helps get you back a little so you don't come straight down on your spine.

If you take a lesson, a professional instructor will demonstrate the different methods of falling and other things you need to do to stay safe and will have you practice them. An initial lesson really is worth it even if you have a strong ski background. I know this because 1) I did not follow this advice and got pulverized on my first day and rang my head hard and 2) I now teach people to snowboard and it goes so much more smoothly if you find someone who actually has a logical, step-by-step method.

If you decide nevertheless to go out with your friends and wing it, they'll often want to take up the lift and point you down without much in the way of instruction. Before you let them do that, practice falling forwards and backwards at least five times on the flats and then a few more times while gliding on a gentle hill. Get used to the motions and see if you can't overcome that instinctive response to reach out with your hands. Once you have it down, now you can let your friends try to kill you.

Tom Lambert is a lifelong skier. In fact, his ski instructor mom skied with him in the womb. He is a ski instructor and runs Ultraskier, a website with ski tips and, coming in 2009/2010 season, a directory of ski instructors.

Check out Ultraskier if you want to ski better and have more fun?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Lambert

How to Properly Fall When Learning to Snowboard

When you are just learning to snowboard you will encounter quite a few bumps along the way. I don't give a hoot what anybody tells you, when you are just starting out on a board you are going to bail... multiple times. Just like in hockey when they teach you how to take a hit properly so as not to injure yourself, there are certain things you need to know to keep yourself from getting injured when you are learning to snowboard. The most common snowboard related injuries are breaking your wrist, hitting your head on the ground, and hurting your tailbone. So without further ado, read these tips to save your body from a trip to the ER.

1) Wear a helmet!

Now this one is just plain obvious and doesn't need much explaining. If you want to ensure that you keep your head intact, get yourself a brain bucket. My helmet is all dinged up with pitts and scratches but you know what? I have never had a trip to the hospital for a head injury because I always wear my helmet.

2) Falling Forward-

Ok so you got your helmet on, and you are going down the hill and you catch an edge and wind up face first in the snow. What is the first thing that you did on your way down? I'll bet you put your hands out to break your fall and its only natural to do that. But putting your hands out is a common mistake that newbies make when learning to snowboard that often results in sever wrist sprains and breaks. Try this next time-As you are falling make your hands into fists and put your forearms out to break your fall. Once your forearms make contact, the next point of impact should be your chest. Your forearms will have taken the brunt of the impact and your chest will know spread out the rest of the impact. I know it may sound painful but it really isn't.

Practice this on the hill by strapping into your board and facing up hill and kneeling down. From there just fall forward with your fists and forearms out in front of you. Do this about ten times to get a feel for how you should fall forward and once your are comfortable doing this it will become more instinct.

3) Falling Backwards

Falling backwards is a little trickier because you cant see what is behind you when you fall and you have to rely more on instinct when this happens. As a snowboarding beginner falling backwards can be unnerving especially when you catch an edge because it is very unexpected but do the following and save your tailbone.

-Tuck your chin in. As you fall just tuck in your chin, this way you stop your head from whipping back onto the snow and giving you a concussion and/or whip lash.

-Spread out your arms to the side. It seems counter intuitive but by doing this you will spread out the force of the impact across your whole back, shoulders and arms. Most people keep their arms tucked in, or reach down and end up hurting their tailbones and wrists. If you commit to the fall and brace the impact this way you greatly reduce your risk for injury.

Learning to Snowboard doesn't have to be a painful experience. If you have the proper training and a good set of lessons to follow then you will greatly reduce your risk of injury and accelerate through the beginners phase of snowboarding much faster. For more easy snowboarding tips visit http://www.squidoo.com/snowboardingforbeginners and learn more about getting lessons that you can take with you on the hill.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryder_Parks