new to boarding

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Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on November 10, 2009 at 11:21am

There is an old saying, Boarding is hard to learn and easy to master while skiing is easy to learn and hard to master. If this is your first time to ride, I would go for the lessons all three days. Once you get the feel and have recovered from various aches and pains from the countless falls getting to learn to ride, than you can slack off on lessons.

As far as helmets, I would suggest one would be a good idea since you will be taking many falls as you learn. After that, its a personal choice. My observation over 12 seasons at the 'boat is that now it is about 30% helmets and 70% not. I use one while in the trees, on very cold days or racing but not otherwise. It is a good idea to always wear one but I do not take my own advice. ;)

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by SteamboatRider on November 10, 2009 at 11:23am

Definitely use a helmet - yes lots of people use them and it's close to being mandatory for Instructors from my understanding and other posts on this forum.

My brothers took the 3 day LTR program a couple of years ago and whilst it obviously worked, they had a lot more time (10 days total) to put into practice what they learnt on the 3 day course. The only thing I would say was that they felt the pace in the program was slower than they wanted. They felt they didn't learn/progress enough on the first day because a lot of time was spent explaining the equipment/strapping in and walking up the bunny hill.

If the cost of privates isn't an issue, I would definitely choose to go private than on a 3 day LTR group program where obviously the instructor has to work to the lowest common denominator. With that said, even if you take privates, don't expect to be riding from the top of the Mountain on Day 1. For most people I see, riding seems to click on Day 3 and the first couple of days can be both frustrating and painful!

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Permalink Reply by Luv2Ski007 on November 10, 2009 at 12:07pm

with only 3 days I'm not sure I'd do all 3 days in lessons. Do 2 and save the final day to have fun and some freedom to go where you want.

2 more pieces of advice -- it will help if your top coat has an drawstring to seal off your coat at the bottom, or wear overall bibs. 2nd, cushion for your button and wrist guards specifically made for boarding newbies. You will fall on your butt and your wrists often till you get the hang of it. Some get it quicker than others but the first effort can be discouraging. And yes, as a beginner get or rent a helmet for your safety.

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Permalink Reply by trudeska on November 10, 2009 at 12:43pm

Yes, helmet. Yes, padding. My son actually had a colorful array of bruises from his first days on a board. Not to scare anyone, but didn't Natasha Richardson take her ultimately fatal header on a beginner slope? When I learned to ski (in Steamboat) I took a tumble as I was skiing down at the end of the day on the slope that (at the time) led down toward the Sheraton. Not only did it end my day, it ended my trip, and I ended up in the ER with a severe concussion. Everyone in my family wears a helmet now.

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Permalink Reply by Marlene on November 10, 2009 at 12:57pm

Helmets are required for all ski and snowboard students 15 and under and strongly recommended for everyone else - read the press release: INTRAWEST TO RECOMMEND THAT ALL RESORT GUESTS WEAR HELMETS

Basically...

Steamboat recommends wearing helmets for skiing and riding. Skiers and snowboarders are encouraged to educate themselves on the benefits and limitations of helmet usage. The primary safety consideration, and obligation under Your Responsibility Code, is to ski and ride in a controlled and responsible manner.

As far as the lesson goes - I personally think a private is the way to go - like you said it's the fast track and that way it will free up your last day to rip it up! According to many snowboarding has a pretty quick learning curve so you might be just fine to take a lesson for a day or two and then be able to board almost all of the mountain on day 3. There are a few instructors that hang out on this site frequently and they offer their best advice based on their experience - l'll bet they will put their 2cents in as well!

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Permalink Reply by Luv2Ski007 on November 10, 2009 at 6:20pm

re Marlene's link

seems there is a disconnect bet Intrawest info and what I found at gadling.com which says:

"Intrawest, the company that oversees Tremblant and nine other snow resorts across North America, will require helmets for all teen and child skiiers and "recommend" them for other guests. Beginning in 2010, all skiiers and snowboarders at the resorts' freestyle terrain parks will also be required to wear helmets. The new rules will be phased in at Intrawest's resorts in Canada as well as their properties in the United States, including Steamboat . . ."

this sounds like it is not just for employees but for all users. Tremblant in Canada is where Natasha Richardson died last year.

Helmets are no substitute for personal responsibility on the hill. For some it gives a false confidence to hot dog and such and while it clearly has reduced injuries it has not reduce the number of deaths. Helmets for Bono and Kennedy would not have mattered. But $100 is small change to minimize the risk of being a vegetable.

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Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on November 11, 2009 at 5:45am

Sounds like it is mandatory only in the terrain park and for kids and teens but optional elsewhere and adults. I guess they plan card checks in the lift lines and on the hill? ;)

My interpretation is helmets required for lessons and in the Pipe and Park where it is easy to control but I will certainly find out come January.

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by jeff foster on November 11, 2009 at 10:48am

Are you serious??? i wear a helmet 90 % of the time, sometimes i like the wind in my hair. Now its mandatory for people to wear helmets in the park? What are they gonna have some one standing there saying yes,no,yes,no at the top of the park...? What happened to ride at own risk?

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Permalink Reply by Luv2Ski007 on November 11, 2009 at 2:20pm

next it will be someone checking ski bindings for compliance . . . sorry sir but your 5 yr old Salomons are non-current so park it over here.

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Permalink Reply by Nelson Wingard on November 12, 2009 at 12:50pm

The helmet policy at Steamboat is targetting lessons. If you are 15 and under or in a park lesson you will be required to wear a helmet, as will the instructor for that lesson. The Park Lesson piece is unchanged from previous years. The student requirement is new this year. I'm super excited to take this next step, but would be very opposed to requiring helmets on all our guests. Here in CO we allow people to ride motercycles without helmets. Personal choice is valued. When you put a guest in our care, we feel a helmet is significant and should be used. You can do as you choose.

Nelson Wingard
Director, Steamboat Ski and Snowboard School

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Permalink Reply by jeff foster on November 12, 2009 at 9:23pm

Thank you Nelson. I can not wait to get out there.

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Permalink Reply by skisteamboat on November 13, 2009 at 9:12am

Quite reasonable policy and one I agree with 100%.

Cheers

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