How to Switch From Skiing to Snowboarding

Prepare for the Learning Period

• 1

  Hit the lower mountain. You are a black diamond skier and haven't been on a bunny hill in years. So you should start at least on a blue, right? You could--if you don't mind that your inevitable falling-down period will be more painful than normal. Snowboarding uses the body more like skateboarding or surfing does, so skiing skills don't translate very well. Save yourself a few bucks and start with a lower mountain, learner area, or bunny hill lift ticket.

• 2

  Figure out your forward foot. Most people put their more dominant foot in the back. If that is your right foot, it's called riding "regular." If its your left, it's called riding "goofy." When you rent your equipment, you will have to tell them whether to set the binding regular or goofy -- on your first day just choose one. You can always switch later.

• 3

  Gear up. Snowboarding pants fit looser than skiing pants; many have extra padding on the rear end because of how much time boarders spend sitting in the snow.

• 4

  Protect your hands. The most common snowboarding injuries are broken wrists and fingers. Many people wear special snowboarding gloves with built-in wrist guards, or use wrist guards from rollerblading. These are strongly advised for at least your first couple of days.

• 5

  Protect your head and knees. Helmets have become extremely popular on the slopes. Besides protecting your head, they help you warm. Knee pads are also a very good idea-soft, flexible ones such as those used for volleyball are best.

• 6

  Try on all your equipment. Tie your boots tightly--they should be snug with little or no wiggle room in the interior foam lining of the boot. Make sure you know how to strap onto the board; have the rental clerk show you if you are having trouble.

Master A New Kind of Balance

• 7

  Find the gentlest slope you can and learn how to fall. Start by getting used to the feel of a board. In snowboarding, you balance by using your hips and center of gravity, keeping your rear end and shoulders lined up over the board. Knees are bent and shoulders are parallel with the board. You need to know how to fall and not hurt yourself, so stand at the top of the tiniest slope you can find and slide a few feet down the hill. Let yourself fall on your bottom or knees to stop.

• 8

  Push up back to standing. This movement comes from your abdomen as well as your arms. Push yourself up while contracting your gut, and balance on your board again.

• 9

  Find your heel and toe edges. Boarder ride one edge at a time, only riding the "flat" occasionally. With your hips over your board, practice switching your weight between heels and toes, and try to slightly balance your board on one edge or the other.

• 10

  Try a longer run. On your gentle slope, tuck your hips over your board and get your balance. Very slowly scoot to get started and ride down the hill. Boarding is quite different from skiing--in boarding you move from your hips, but in skiing you push through your knees, lower legs, and thighs. See how far you can go--make sure to hold your center of gravity and keep your knees soft.

Ride The Mountain

• 11

  Ride a heel or toe edge. Keep your knees soft and flexible at all times. Roll your hips to switch from edge to edge. This is a subtle, small movement--you need to roll your hips smoothly. If you jerk your hips forward and back, you will catch the edge rather than ride it--and most likely will fall.

• 12

  Keep your shoulders straight over the board. Your upper body is relatively still in boarding. Like skiing, it serves as a counterbalance, but unlike skiing your body should face sideways down the mountain. You must turn your head to look down. This can feel very odd for skiers.

• 13

  Practice stopping. Boarders stop by bringing their full weight onto one edge of the board. It is easier to start with the heel edge. Push both heels back hard so your board sharply digs into the snow on your heel edge; in this case, it is OK to face your body downhill. Keep you center of gravity under you--if you sit back when you do this you will fall.