Snowboarding

[Surfbum84]

What is up friends?
Here's the deal. I used to be quite the surfer (spent many of my youth years in Australia) but now I'm seeing a new girl and she's a HUGE snowboarder. Does anyone know how well it translates? Obviously water moves and the snow doesn't, but you're also bound in on a snowboard and not on a surf board.

What is the best way to go about learning to snowboard? Do you suggest lessons from a pro? How hard is it?

Thanks friends!

 

[papasmerf]

Take lessons

Unless she is willing to teach you

 

[Surfbum84]

I dont wanna learn from her cuz I've had experiences before learning or teaching things to a SO and it didn't work out so well. I'd rather go and get from a pro and then go spend time doing it with her once im able to stand up aha

 

[dragnbiz]

The closest thing to snowboarding is surfing and skateboarding. It's all about weight shift. You should pick it up more quickly than others.

Even if she is willing to teach you, take lessons. Most snowboarders know how to snowboard but no idea how to teach properly ... they just do it. If you want to impress her, go on your own before you go with her and get a lesson. She'll think you are a natural !! And even if you tell her you went for a lesson she'll be impressed that you did it for her.
Don't expect too much the first time ... you WILL fall and fall a lot. It's the only way to learn. Also learn how to get off the chairlift properly. The lessons never teach this. Nothing more embarrassing than falling getting of the chair ... and taking her with you !!

 

[Iconic One]

I love to ride (a snowboard). Flipped over from skiing about 7 years ago. From what I've learned talking to other riders, there's not really another sport that it really translates to. Skateboarders, surfers, windsurfers, skiers, whomever say it's a completely different sport. So, surfing probably won't help you much, if at all.

The good news is, it's like riding a bike. Once you find your balance, you can do it. It has a difficult learning curve in the beginning, but it's more intuitive and less technical than skiing once you find that balance. For me, I had to go out 6 days before I felt comfortable. Started with a 1 hour lesson that really didn't help at all. Then I just kept at it. Falling, getting up, learning. In less than a month, I was able to go on a ski trip with the guys and at least keep up with the slowest one. 2 months later, I was really pretty competent and could go down any run at Tremblant.

So, don't worry about transferrable skills. Just go out and keep trying. You'll get it, probably pretty quickly too. You see, I was over 40 when I started and seriously, I rock it on my board.