How to Build a Snowboard Jump

If you've finally mastered all the usual snowboard jumps on your snowboard stomping grounds and want to work on something more customized and interesting, building a snowboard jump yourself is a great option. It may sound like a lot of work but with the right approach you can have an awesome jump ready to go within hours.

Instructions

    • 1

      Gather a snowboarding posse. Even though you technically could build a jump by yourself, gathering a bunch of other snowboarders to help out will not only reduce the labor time but also give you a group of people to enjoy the jump with. Ask around for a few minutes and you'll probably find lots of able hands ready to help.

    • 2

      Scout the location. As with real estate, building a snowboard jump is all about location. Look for a slope that starts fairly moderately and then steepens towards its base. Also make sure your jump and landing are not surrounded by trees, rocks and the paths of other snowboarders and skiers.

    • 3

      Put the board to work. Use a few snowboards as scaffolding to frame the jump. Place a few snowboards lengthwise into the snow and move them progressively back as the jump progresses. Have another snowboarder or two follow with their boards to smooth the jump out like you would with mortar.

    • 4

      Test the jump progressively. One big advantage of building a snowboard jump yourself is that you can tailor it to perfection. Keep packing the jump down as you go so you can launch off of it to see if it's high enough and smooth enough for a successful run.